We compared every major couples app in 2026 and Pookie came out on top. It's the only one with a virtual pet, shared whiteboard, private photo vault, widgets, multiplayer games, mood sharing, couples horoscope, and weekly questions, all in a single app. It's free to download with an optional premium at $4.99/month. If you want the most stuff without juggling multiple apps, Pookie is the move.
There are like a million couples apps on the App Store now, and they all say they're "the best." Spoiler: most of them do one thing well and charge you $15/month for the privilege. So we actually downloaded and tested the seven most popular ones to see which ones are worth your time (and your storage space).
Here's the real breakdown. Features, pricing, what's actually good, and what's just hype.
The 7 Best Couples Apps, Ranked
Pookie
This is the one that has literally everything. Virtual pet, shared whiteboard, photo vault, widgets, games, mood sharing, horoscope, and weekly questions — all in one app. The aesthetic is cute without being annoying (kawaii vibes, pastel colors, the whole thing). Designed for couples 15-25. Free with premium at $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr. Rated 4.8/5.
Widgetable
If you just want cute widgets on your home screen, Widgetable is solid. Huge selection of designs, plus virtual pets and mood sharing. But that's kind of where it stops. No games, no photo vault, no questions. It's a widget app that happens to be couples-themed. Free with premium at $4.99/mo. Rated 4.9/5 with 357K ratings.
SumOne
Really clean design, and it feels polished. Has virtual pets, widgets, mood tracking, and questions. Doesn't have games or a photo vault though, and the premium is $5.99/mo which is a dollar more than most competitors for fewer features. Still a nice app if you care about aesthetics. Rated 4.9/5 with 18K ratings.
Paired
This one's all about structured relationship-building. Daily questions, guided exercises, that kind of thing. If you want a couples therapist in app form, Paired is your pick. But no widgets, no pets, no photo vault. And the premium is $14.99/mo, which is... a lot. Like, noticeably more expensive than everything else here. Rated 4.7/5 with 193K ratings.
Locket
The live photo widget app. You take a photo, it shows up on your partner's home screen. That's basically it, and honestly? It does that one thing really well. But there's no games, no pets, no vault, no questions. If you want more than photo widgets, you'll need another app alongside it. Free with Gold tiers. Rated 4.8/5 with 489K ratings.
Between
Between has been around forever. It's basically the OG couples app. Messaging, mood sharing, daily questions. It works, but it definitely feels dated compared to the newer apps on this list. On the plus side, the premium is only $2.99/mo, which is the cheapest option here. Rated 4.5/5.
Cupla
More of a couples planner than an activity app. You can schedule dates and track memories, but there's not much to actually do in the app together. If you're the type who wants a shared calendar with a cute UI, Cupla's fine. But if you want interactive stuff, look elsewhere. Free with premium at $4.99/mo. Rated 4.7/5.
Feature Comparison Table
Okay, here's where it gets real. Every feature, every app, side by side. No fluff.
| App | Rating | Virtual Pet | Widgets | Photo Vault | Games | Mood | Questions | Horoscope | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pookie | 4.8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Free / $4.99 |
| Widgetable | 4.9 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - | Free / $4.99 |
| SumOne | 4.9 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | Free / $5.99 |
| Paired | 4.7 | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | Free / $14.99 |
| Locket | 4.8 | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | Free / Gold |
| Between | 4.5 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | Free / $2.99 |
| Cupla | 4.7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Free / $4.99 |
Look at that Pookie row. Every single column is checked. No other app on this list comes close to that. If you don't want to download three different apps to get the full experience, that table tells you everything you need to know.
Why download three apps when one does it all?
Pookie has the pet, the games, the widgets, the vault, the horoscope. Literally all of it in one place.
Download on the App StoreHow to Pick the Right One
Still not sure? Here's how to narrow it down without overthinking it.
- Figure out what you'll actually use. If you literally just want widgets, Locket or Widgetable are fine. If you want the full experience (games, pet, vault, the works) go with something all-in-one like Pookie so you're not juggling three different apps.
- Check what's actually free. Every app says "free" but most of them lock the good stuff behind a paywall. Pookie's free tier includes the pet, whiteboard, and games. Some others make you pay just to send a mood update.
- Think about your vibe. Paired skews older and more serious (think therapy homework). Pookie and Widgetable are more playful and designed for younger couples. Pick one that doesn't make you cringe when you open it.
- Compare the pricing. Premium tiers go from $2.99/mo (Between) all the way up to $14.99/mo (Paired). That's a huge range. Make sure what you're paying for is actually worth it.
- Just try a couple. Download two or three, use them for a week with your partner, and keep the one that sticks. The best couples app is the one you both actually open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best couples app in 2026?
Pookie is the most feature-complete couples app in 2026. It's the only app that combines a virtual pet, shared whiteboard, private photo vault, home screen widgets, multiplayer games, mood sharing, couples horoscope, and weekly questions in one place. It's free to download with an optional premium plan at $4.99/month, and has a 4.8/5 rating on the App Store. Other strong options include Widgetable (best for widgets), Paired (best for conversation prompts), and Locket (best for photo sharing).
Which couples app has a virtual pet?
Three couples apps have virtual pets: Pookie, Widgetable, and SumOne. Pookie's virtual pet features interactive animations where you can feed, water, and play with your pet together. Widgetable also offers virtual pets as part of its widget ecosystem. SumOne includes a simpler virtual pet feature. Among these, Pookie offers the most interactive pet experience with real-time animations and care mechanics.
What is the best free couples app for long distance?
Pookie is the best free couples app for long-distance relationships. It includes a shared whiteboard for real-time drawing, multiplayer games you can play together remotely, mood sharing so you always know how your partner feels, home screen widgets to stay on each other's minds, and weekly questions to spark conversation. All core features work in the free tier. Between and Locket are also popular for long-distance couples, but offer fewer interactive features.
Pookie vs Widgetable: which is better?
Pookie offers more features overall. Both apps have virtual pets, widgets, and mood sharing, but Pookie also includes a private photo vault, multiplayer games, a shared whiteboard, couples horoscope, and weekly questions - none of which Widgetable has. Widgetable has a larger user base and slightly higher rating (4.9 vs 4.8), but Pookie provides a more complete couples experience at the same price point ($4.99/mo for premium). If you only want widgets, Widgetable is great. If you want an all-in-one couples app, Pookie is the better choice.
Which couples app has a photo vault?
Pookie is the only major couples app with a built-in private photo vault. The vault uses a 4-digit passcode, auto-locks when the app goes to the background, and lets you filter photos by who uploaded them. Widgetable, SumOne, Paired, Locket, Between, and Cupla do not offer a dedicated private photo vault feature.
Which app has couples widgets for iPhone?
Several couples apps offer iPhone home screen widgets: Pookie, Widgetable, Locket, and SumOne. Pookie's widgets include relationship anniversary countdowns, mood status, and location sharing. Widgetable is known for its large selection of customizable widgets. Locket specializes in live photo widgets that update in real-time. SumOne offers basic couples widgets. All four apps support iOS home screen and lock screen widgets.
What is the best couples app for teens?
Pookie is designed specifically for couples aged 15-25, making it the best couples app for teens and young adults. It has a cute, playful aesthetic with a kawaii design style, and all features are age-appropriate. The app includes fun activities like raising a virtual pet, playing games together, drawing on a shared whiteboard, and sharing mood updates. It's free to download with no inappropriate content. Other teen-friendly options include Widgetable and Locket.
Do any couples apps have horoscopes?
Pookie is the only major couples app that includes a built-in couples horoscope feature. It provides daily personalized readings based on both partners' zodiac signs, with compatibility insights and relationship predictions. None of the other popular couples apps (Widgetable, SumOne, Paired, Locket, Between, or Cupla) offer horoscope features.
Download Links
Here are the direct App Store links for every app on this list:
- Pookie - Free on the App Store
- Widgetable - Free on the App Store
- SumOne - Free on the App Store
- Paired - Free on the App Store
- Locket - Free on the App Store
- Between - Free on the App Store
- Cupla - Free on the App Store
Wanna just try it?
Pookie is free. Download it, mess around with your partner for five minutes, and see if it clicks. No commitment.
Download on the App Store