Private and simple
Reviewers praise its privacy, its clean design, and how easy it is for older relatives to use.
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A BackThen alternative for both parents' photos.
BackThen comes from the team behind Lifecake, and it is the closest app to Our Little World. Photos are sorted by child on a timeline, and there are no ads. Most recent reviews are positive. The difference is where the photos come from. Our Little World sorts both parents' photo libraries into each child's space, so neither parent has to upload.
From recent App Store reviews
What parents say about BackThen
Sorted by child
Parents like the age timeline and having each child's photos kept apart.
Price increases
Some reviewers cite price rises, one from about $2 to about $7 a month.
Uploads and support
A smaller group report photos failing to upload or going missing, and slow replies from support.
Paraphrased from recent US App Store reviews, read October 2026. Prices are as reviewers cite them.
Side by side
Our Little World and BackThen
| Our Little World | BackThen (as of October 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ads | No | No, per its listing. Some reviewers read in-app announcements as ads |
| Public feed | No | No. A private family journal |
| Second parent | Built for two parents | Invite family and set their permissions |
| How photos get in | Sorted from both parents' libraries, with your permission | Uploaded from phone or desktop, then sorted by child |
| Devices | iPhone | iOS, web, email, and other mobile platforms |
BackThen details come from its App Store listing and recent reviews, as of October 2026.
A different approach
How Our Little World differs
No uploading
With your permission, both parents' photo libraries are sorted into each child's space from birth, with no duplicates.
Recognition that learns
Face recognition runs on your iPhone and learns from the photos you confirm.
Words alongside photos
Add Firsts, letters for later, and voice notes in your own words.
No feed, no likes, no ads
There is no public feed, no likes, no followers, and no ads.
To be fair
Who should stay with BackThen
Stay with BackThen if relatives use Android or the web, if you want full-resolution storage and timelapse, or if uploading works fine for you today. It is a strong app. Our Little World fits parents who want both phones' photos sorted without uploading.
Questions parents ask
Quiet answers before you switch.
Is BackThen the same as Lifecake?
BackThen says it comes from the team behind Lifecake. Lifecake is no longer on the US App Store, and some BackThen reviewers say they moved over from it.
How is Our Little World different from BackThen?
Both sort photos by child. BackThen sorts what you upload. Our Little World sorts both parents' photo libraries, with your permission, so neither of you has to upload.
Is Our Little World on Android?
No. Our Little World is an iPhone app.
Our Little World
Gather the beginning while it’s still close.
A private baby book for photos, firsts, notes, and letters.
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