Back to Bench

For the work you come back to

Pick up where
you left off.

Save the state of a hands-on project and the next small move. When life interrupts, leave yourself a useful way back.

Public release is in preparation See how it works

Planned US price: $2.99 one-time. No subscription.

Leave a good bookmark

Keep the details
you’ll want later.

A shelf half-built. A garden bed waiting for the next dry weekend. A sketch with one good idea left to try. Back to Bench keeps the little details together so you do not have to piece them back together from memory.

When you pause

Leave your future self a clear next step.

Note the exact state, what to do next, a snag, and where the tools or materials are. Add an optional photo and an estimate for your next session.

When you return

Find your place again.

Search project names and details, revisit recent pause notes, or put finished and on-hold work in the archive.

When time is short

Choose a small window.

Use the visual timebox to make a next step feel manageable. It has no alarm and no streak to maintain.

Room for all kinds of making

One workbench,
many projects.

A look at the app

Made for the next time
you step back in.

Back to Bench workbench screen with a time filter, active project cards, a Save a new project button, and project search.
Active projects and a search to find the details you saved.
Back to Bench project detail for a hallway shelf, showing the next move, where the work stopped, materials location, and Resume button.
The last state, next move, and place to pick things up.

Good to know

A few practical answers.

Where are my projects stored?

Project notes and photos are stored in the app on your iPhone. The app has no account or developer-operated cloud sync. iOS device backups may include app data depending on your device and Apple account settings.

How do I keep a separate backup or delete my data?

In Settings, choose Export a backup to create a JSON copy, then save it to a destination you choose. Export is manual, not automatic; that destination may store, sync, or share the file under its own settings. You can delete a project in the app. Deleting Back to Bench removes its local app data, but exported files and device backups must be managed separately.

What happens when I import a backup?

Normal imports use Merge: projects with new IDs are added, and projects with matching IDs are replaced by the backup copy. Reminders are turned off after import; edit a project to set one again. If the app detects an unreadable saved file, a recovery action can use a valid backup while preserving the unreadable file on the device.

How do reminders work?

Reminders use on-device notifications and require notification permission. Depending on your iOS notification settings, the project name and next step may appear on your Lock Screen. The session timebox is visual only and has no alarm.

Your notes, your choice

Made to stay close to the work.

Projects are stored in the app on your iPhone. There is no app account, advertising, analytics, developer-operated cloud server, or cloud sync. You can export a JSON copy or import one using the iOS file interface. iOS device backups may include app data depending on your device and Apple account settings.

Imports use Merge: new projects are added, matching projects are replaced by the backup copy, and reminders are reset. Backup files support up to 500 projects and 100 MB; each stored photo is limited to 2 MB.

Read the privacy policy

Back to Bench

A good place to leave off.

Public release is in preparation. There is no public App Store or TestFlight download link yet; a link will be added here after Apple approval.

Planned US price: $2.99 one-time No subscription