Backbone Free vs Backbone Plus - similarities, differences, more

Backbone attached to a phone in a promo.
Credit: Backbone

Backbone attached to a phone in a promo.
Credit: Backbone

The Backbone One is a great option for gamers looking to get their fix of video games all from the comfort of their phones. The controller gives users tons of options to mess around with, such as re-mappable controls and joystick calibration. But those looking to get perks beyond this will have to look at the controller's Backbone Plus subscription.

Backbone Plus is a paid subscription that enhances your Backbone controller with a bunch of extra quirks and features. Here's everything new you get with the Backbone Plus subscription.

Also, check out our guides on how to connect your Backbone One to a PC and whether the Backbone One app is free.

Backbone Free vs Backbone Plus - what's the difference?

A subscription to Backbone Plus will set you back about $4.17 US per month. Not steep at all, however, it is an added subscription on top of your purchase of the Backbone One.

Key features of Backbone Plus

  • Ability to connect the Backbone One to iPad, Mac, or PC for gaming on Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming
  • Overhauls the Backbone app with new features for iOS mobile controllers
  • Introduces a new home screen to easily find games on Apple Arcade or cloud gaming services
  • Improved game recording features with 1080p resolution at 60FPS for iPhones with iOS 15
  • Smart Record feature to save the last 15 seconds of gameplay.Twitch integration for seamless livestream setup

Should you buy Backbone Plus?

When deciding between Backbone Free and Backbone Plus, consider your gaming habits and preferences, as well as whether the additional features offered by Backbone Plus are worth the subscription fee for you. Though its features are great, depending on your mobile gaming usage, the subscription could be overkill.

Backbone Plus is suited for users who are looking for specific perks such as Smart Record and Twitch livestream integration. For casual gamers or those on a budget, just having a Backbone One device will provide a significant enough upgrade to your mobile gaming experience.

Person playing COD: Mobile using a Backbone One.
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How to get a free trial for Backbone Plus

If you're still mulling over whether or not a Backbone Plus subscription is right for you, you're in luck! This is because each purchase of a Backbone One controller comes with a year-long free trial of the premium subscription. So you'll have more than enough time to decide whether or not you like the extra perks enough to subscribe to Backbone Plus once your trial ends.

Additionally, if by any chance you created your Backbone One account before 4th November 2021, you're entitled to a free Lifetime Membership to Backbone Plus courtesy of a promotional offer extended to all "founding" owners.

That's all you need to know about the Backbone Plus subscription. For more tech guides, check out the best earbuds for mobile gaming and the best phone for PUBG Mobile.