Comparison

LIVE Datacenter vs AD Background

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LIVE Datacenter

Access real-time environmental data from monitoring projects nationwide. Track weather, water quality, and soil conditions with a clean interface. Receive instant alerts for changes in projects you follow.

Highlights
  • Real-time environmental data access
  • Push notifications for alerts
  • Unified data from multiple projects
  • Optimized layouts for iPhone and iPad
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Access up-to-the-minute data from environmental monitoring projects around the country with ease on any mobile device. Weather, water quality, soil, and other environmental data from WQData LIVE projects, is all gathered together in one simple to use mobile datacenter. Subscribe to push notifications for projects you are interested in to receive immediate alerts about weather conditions or other environmental factors. Don't see a project you're interested in? Contact the organization behind the project and ask them to host their data with WQData LIVE and add their project to the LIVE Datacenter. Features - Push notifications for weather, water quality, or other environmental conditions - Clean, simple, modern interface - Specially optimized layouts for all iPhone and iPad sizes - No ads! - No in app purchases!

About

AD Background

This app helps Assistant Directors manage background actor numbers on set. It allows for easy logging, tracking of booked and present individuals, and vehicle information storage. Collaboration features are available for shared projects.

Highlights
  • Log background numbers for projects/days
  • Store vehicle details and driver info
  • Track needed, booked, and present BG
  • Manage call times for BG arrival
  • iCloud sync for projects
  • CloudKit collaboration for shared projects (Pro)
  • Share daily BG numbers
Features
Read full description

For Assistant Directors who want simplicity in viewing their Background numbers. AD Background is built by Assistant Directors, for Assistant Directors. A streamlined tool to help you view, track, and manage your Background numbers with ease. Whether you’re checking in BG or setting them, AD Background keeps you up to date with characters, vehicles and updated totals. No more need for carrying stacks of skins in your pocket that slowly deteriorate. Have all the updated numbers at your fingertips. Features: • Simple Formatting – Log BG for different Projects or Days with a few taps of your finger. • Vehicle Directory – Store Car Make, Model, Year, Color and Driver Info all in one place. Even call the driver from directly in the app. • All Numbers – Quickly see all the numbers of BG in one place. Such as how many are needed, how many casting booked and then how many actually showed up. • Call Time Management – See the order in which BG are arriving all on one screen. • iCloud Sync – Your Projects automatically sync between your devices. • CloudKit Collaboration (Pro) – Create shared projects so other ADs can collaborate with you in the cloud. • Share Days - Simply share daily Background numbers with other ADs who don't use the app by copying the day to your phones clipboard. • Scan Call Sheets - Scan your Call Sheet to use Apple Intelligence to import your BG info quickly, no more manually entering. • Designed for ADs – Simple, fast, and built to match real-world set needs. Whether you’re working on a short film or a full production, AD Background helps keep your crew connected, informed, and ready to roll. Take the stress out of background, so you can focus on setting. Subscriptions AD Background offers optional auto-renewing Pro subscriptions that unlock CloudKit sharing (creating collaborative shares): - Pro Monthly – $1.99 per month, with a 1-week free trial. - Pro Annually – $17.99 per year, with a 2-week free trial. Only the user who creates a CloudKit share needs Pro. Accepting and using a share is free. Subscription terms - Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. - Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends, at the price shown above. - Free trials automatically convert to a paid subscription unless cancelled before the trial ends. (Not all regions offered free trials) - You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings. - Prices may vary by region. Legal Terms & Conditions: https://byadsforads.wixsite.com/badfads/terms-and-conditions/ad-background-t-c Privacy Policy: https://byadsforads.wixsite.com/badfads/privacy-policy/ad-background-pp Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

LIVE Datacenter3 screens
AD Background4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AD Background at 100% against LIVE Datacenter's 25%. AD Background also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). LIVE Datacenter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (11.3 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AD Background sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. LIVE Datacenter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AD Background holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of LIVE Datacenter's written reviews are positive against 100% of AD Background's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LIVE Datacenter ships an update every 3 months, AD Background every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
LIVE Datacenter versus AD Background: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLIVE DatacenterAD Background
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (8 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.3 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB6 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFondriest Environmental, Inc.By ADs, For ADs LLC

Customer experience

LIVE Datacenter

All ratings8 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative62.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

AD Background

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

LIVE Datacenter

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

AD Background

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pro Annually14 Days trial$17.991 Year

Questions

Is LIVE Datacenter free?
LIVE Datacenter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AD Background free?
AD Background is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LIVE Datacenter or AD Background?
AD Background is rated higher. LIVE Datacenter averages 2.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while AD Background averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do LIVE Datacenter or AD Background have ads?
Neither LIVE Datacenter nor AD Background shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LIVE Datacenter or AD Background?
LIVE Datacenter ships an update every 3 months, and AD Background every 3 weeks. Most recently, LIVE Datacenter was updated on October 24, 2026 and AD Background on October 26, 2026.

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