Cartridge

Cartridge is an iPhone game tracker for players who want one place to manage a backlog, record opinions and share themed collections. Its free plan covers the core tracking and discovery tools; Plus is worthwhile chiefly for playtime stats and game-scanning or identification features.

Overview

The Library follows games you want to play, are playing or have played, including completed and abandoned titles. It can include games from PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and other platforms, giving multi-system players a consolidated record. But Cartridge itself requires iOS 26 or later, and an account is needed to save a Library; it is a poor fit for Android users or anyone seeking account-free tracking.

Discovery is built into the workflow: save game finds from TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Reddit through the iPhone share sheet or Cartridge’s Link tab. Saved ratings and reviews are public under your handle, while the full Library and private Stacks are not. That split suits users comfortable sharing opinions, but not those who expect private reviews.

Key features

Library and Stacks

The Library covers the main backlog states without tying entries to a single console family. Unlimited named Stacks add a more deliberate way to group games, attach notes and share collections as cards or public links. Public Stacks can receive likes and comments, so they can function as recommendation lists as well as personal organization. The privacy distinction matters: private Stacks and the complete Library stay private, but ratings and reviews do not.

Capture and Plus tools

Free social-link capture makes it practical to save a promising game while browsing supported social platforms. Plus adds playtime stats by week, month and year, cover and barcode scanning, identification from Steam and supported links, and personalised lore. These upgrades serve players who want more than a manually maintained catalog; they are less compelling if backlog status and collections are all that is needed.

Cover scans, barcodes and submitted links containing relevant content may be sent through Cartridge’s server to Google Gemini for game identification. PostHog’s European service handles account-linked product analytics and diagnostics, but Cartridge excludes search terms, game titles, review text, Stack notes, social URLs and captured video frames from those analytics events. Apple and RevenueCat handle subscription payment details, which Cartridge says it never sees. Free accounts may see contextual ads; ad personalisation is disabled, Apple tracking permission is not requested, and the Library is not sent to Google for ad targeting.

Account setup checks that users are at least 13. The check happens on-device, and only the birth year is stored. Account, capture and subscription help is available at [email protected].

Pricing

Cartridge is freemium, with three Plus purchase options. The free plan costs nothing and includes Library and search, ratings and reviews, unlimited Stacks, social-link capture and share cards. It is a substantial starting point for organizing and sharing a backlog, but does not include Plus’s statistics, scanning, identification or personalised lore.

Plus Monthly costs $3.99 a month and includes all four Plus features. It suits someone who wants to try the extra tools without making a longer commitment. Plus Yearly costs $19.99 a year, includes the same features and offers a 7-day free trial to eligible new subscribers; it is the lower-cost recurring option for users who expect to keep using Plus. Plus Lifetime costs $49.99, paid once, where offered, and does not renew. It suits a committed user who prefers a one-time purchase, though the monthly and yearly plans offer a lower initial outlay.

Platforms

Cartridge runs on iOS 26 or later and has no Android app at present. The Library can track games played on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and other platforms, but that broad catalog does not remove the iPhone requirement.

Who it's for

Choose Cartridge if you use an iPhone, want to track a backlog across gaming platforms, and value shareable collections or capturing recommendations from social links. The free plan is enough for core tracking. Look elsewhere if you need Android access, private ratings and reviews, or a tracker that does not require an account.

Pros and cons

Pros: The Library spans major gaming platforms and records wanted, playing, played, completed and abandoned states, which makes it useful for a varied backlog.

Pros: Unlimited Stacks, share cards and social-link capture connect personal organization with sharing recommendations.

Pros: The free plan includes the core Library, ratings, reviews and collections rather than restricting basic tracking to a paid tier.

Cons: iOS 26 or later is required and there is no Android app, ruling it out for many mobile users.

Cons: Ratings and reviews are public under a handle, so users cannot treat them as private notes.

Cons: The account requirement prevents saving a Library without signing up.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, see Game Backlog Trackers.

Logged is a stronger fit for users who need broader device coverage: it runs on Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows, and its free plan includes unlimited tracking, ratings, reviews, collections, imports and exports, with light ads.

GameTrack is worth considering for someone who wants a tracker across Android, iOS and macOS; its free plan includes unlimited games but caps custom lists at three and tags at three.

BAKLOG is a desktop alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows users who value open source; its full app is published under the MIT license, with a public repository and threat model.

MioLog suits users seeking a free, open-source, offline-first tracker without an account, and runs on Android, iOS and web.

Playloggr is an Android and web option whose free plan offers an unlimited library and wishlist, plus up to 10 folders and three rankings.

Stash is another freemium option for Android, iOS and web users.

Backlog Zero is a free macOS and Windows alternative with all features included and no account or tiers.

Grouvee is a web-based alternative for users who prefer tracking through a browser.

Verdict

Cartridge is a good choice for iPhone owners who want a cross-platform game backlog, unlimited shareable collections and quick capture from social links, with a useful free tier. Its clearest reasons to look elsewhere are the iOS-only requirement, public ratings and reviews, and account requirement; Plus makes most sense for users who will use its stats, scanning or identification rather than for basic tracking alone.