Widgetable Alternative for Couples: Simpler, No Pets or Ads
Imagine you open an app to send your partner a quick "thinking of you."
Twenty seconds later you're feeding a virtual shrimp to a pet you now co-parent. Nobody planned this.
Short answer: Widgetable is a big, playful widget app built mostly around friends and couples sharing small updates. If you want something narrower, where the whole point is a doodle landing on your partner's Home Screen, Twoodle is a reasonable alternative. If you want pets, sleep tracking and a mountain of customization, stay with Widgetable.
What Widgetable actually offers
Per its App Store listing, "Widgetable: Besties & Couples" (subtitle "Share Whatever on BFF's Screen") is a free download with in-app purchases, for iPhone only, requiring iOS 16.0 or later. The listing shows a 4.9 rating from about 389K ratings.
Its description covers Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets, co-parented virtual pets, a sleep widget, mood widgets, a distance widget, a "Miss You" counter, plant widgets, themed wallpapers, and a "Pin It!" feature for sending snaps, emojis, doodles and text to a friend's screen. The listing also notes loot boxes and advertising, and lists in-app purchases such as a Premium subscription (an annual option at $19.99 with a free trial, and monthly options) plus diamonds, pet eggs and pet food. Prices vary, so check the listing for your region.
That's a lot of app, and it's clearly beloved. It's just not a small one.
Why couples look for something else
- The app is built for "besties and loved ones" in general, and they want something made for two.
- They'd rather not have ads or a virtual-currency shop between them and a simple message.
- They want drawing to be the main event, not one feature among dozens.
The narrower option: doodles on a Home Screen widget
Twoodle is an iPhone app for couples. You draw on a blank canvas or a photo, send it, and it appears on your partner's Home Screen widget. Lock Screen widgets cover love notes and a days-together counter, and there's an optional distance widget. You can also share moods, send nudges and draw together live on a shared canvas inside the app.
One honest detail: doodles land on the Home Screen widget, not the Lock Screen. The Lock Screen is for notes and your day counter. Our guide on drawing on your partner's iPhone widgets walks through the setup.
On privacy: no ads, no selling your data, no cross-app tracking. Location is used only if you turn on the Distance widget.
Only want to send a doodle?
Free to download. One Twoodle Pro subscription covers both of you.
Get TwoodleSide by side
| Widgetable | Twoodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Widgets for friends and couples: pets, moods, sleep, distance, wallpapers | Doodles and notes delivered to your partner's widgets |
| Aimed at | Besties and couples | Couples |
| Drawing | Doodles can be sent via "Pin It!"; the listing does not describe a drawing tool | Central: draw on a canvas or photo and send, or draw live together |
| Pets and plants | Yes | No |
| Distance widget | Yes | Yes, optional |
| Ads | Listing mentions advertising | None |
| Platforms | iPhone only, iOS 16.0 or later | iPhone only, iOS 18 or later |
| Price | Free with in-app purchases and Premium; see listing | Free to download; Pro is $3.99/week with a 3-day trial or $49.99/year, for both partners |
When Widgetable is the better pick
- You want pets, plants and lots of cosmetic choice. Twoodle has none of that.
- You want to share with friends too, not just a partner.
- One of you has an older iPhone. Widgetable lists iOS 16.0 as the minimum; Twoodle needs iOS 18.
- You'd like a cheaper annual price than Twoodle's $49.99 and don't mind the in-app extras. Compare current prices on both listings.
When Twoodle is the better pick
- You want drawing to be the main thing, aimed at one person.
- You'd rather have no ads and no in-app currency.
- You both have iOS 18 or later and want one subscription to cover two people.
FAQ
Is Twoodle available on Android?
No. Twoodle is iPhone only.
Does Twoodle have pets or plants?
No. It's about doodles, notes, moods, distance and your days together.
How much does Twoodle cost?
Free to download. Twoodle Pro unlocks pairing: $3.99 per week with a 3-day trial, or $49.99 per year, covering both partners. Check the App Store page for current prices.
Comparing more than two apps? See our roundup of the best couples widget apps for iPhone. If you're weighing another all-in-one app, read our Couple Joy alternative guide, or the noteit and LokLok alternatives.
P.S. Your partner already has a pet. It's you. Send them a doodle.