Consider Pairly if…
You want one calm widget for notes, drawings and photos from your partner, live drawing on the iPhone Lock Screen, or surprises like Scratch to Reveal and Time Capsule.
A comparison by Pairly
A Widgetable alternative for couples who want one simple widget
Widgetable turns your screens into a playground of widgets: pets, plants, moods, distance and more, shared with friends or a partner. Pairly does one thing: it puts notes, drawings and photos from your partner on your Home Screen. If Widgetable feels like a lot to keep up with, Pairly is the quieter option.
| What matters to you | Pairly Widget | Widgetable |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Two linked partners. | Friends ("besties") and couples; you can connect with several people. |
| Main idea | Notes, drawings and photos from your partner on your Home Screen widget. | A collection of interactive widgets: virtual pets, plants, sleep, mood, distance, "Miss You" and more. |
| Notes and drawings | Handwritten notes, doodles and photos are the core of the app. | Its "Pin It!" feature shares snaps, emojis, doodles and texts to friends' screens. |
| Drawing together live | Live Canvas sessions, with an iPhone Lock Screen Live Activity. | Not described in its listing. Check the current app. |
| Surprises | Scratch to Reveal and Time Capsule (Pro). | Love bombs, mood bubbles and other playful interactions. |
| Paid access | Optional Pro; one purchase covers both linked partners while active. | Premium subscription for unlimited access to all features. |
Based on the official listings linked below, checked 21 October 2026. This is a Pairly product guide, not an independent ranking or a hands-on test. Features, availability and prices can change.
Widgetable is a widget collection; Pairly is a single widget for two
Widgetable's listing highlights co-parenting virtual pets, tracking each other's sleep, a distance widget, mood jars, plant widgets and themed wallpapers. It is built to be played with, often with a group of friends.
Pairly is built around one gesture: you draw, write or snap something, and it shows up on your partner's Home Screen. There is nothing to feed or water, and no streak to protect. That makes it a good fit for couples who want a small daily touchpoint rather than another game.
Where Pairly goes further for couples
- Live Canvas. Draw together in real time. On iPhone, your partner can follow the strokes from their Lock Screen through a Live Activity.
- Scratch to Reveal. Hide a note or photo under a scratch layer for your partner to uncover (Pro).
- Time Capsule. Write now, unlock later: on a birthday, an anniversary or tomorrow morning (Pro).
- One Pro for both. When one partner has an active Pro subscription, both linked accounts get Pro.
Privacy between two people
Pairly connects exactly two accounts and has no friend list, public profile or feed. Once both phones have set up their encryption keys, the notes and photos you send are end-to-end encrypted. Read how Pairly handles encryption and each app's privacy policy before you choose.
Consider Widgetable if…
You enjoy virtual pets, plants, mood and distance widgets, and want to share them with friends as well as a partner.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Pairly and Widgetable at the same time?
Yes. They are separate apps with separate widgets. Some couples keep a playful widget from one app and a notes widget from another.
Does Pairly have a distance or mood widget?
No. Pairly focuses on notes, drawings and photos between two partners, plus Live Canvas, Scratch to Reveal and Time Capsule.
Does Pairly work between iPhone and Android?
Yes. Partners can share notes, drawings and photos between iPhone and Android. The Lock Screen Live Activity for Live Canvas is an iPhone feature.
A little surprise for your person
Pairly is free to download on iPhone and Android, with usage limits and optional Pro. One Pro subscription covers both partners. Pricing details
