Comparison

Shimagurashi vs MessageBottle Widget

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shimagurashi

Connect with Japanese users through anonymous message exchanges. Features automatic translation, avatar customization, and a relaxing, storybook-like world. Earn rewards by interacting to liven up your virtual island.

Highlights
  • Anonymous messaging
  • Automatic translation
  • Virtual island customization
  • Avatar fashion
  • In-app rewards system
  • Relaxing world view
Features
Read full description

【Let's interact with Japanese people】 Shimagurashi is a messaging app made in Japan. It is used by so many Japanese. This app is especially recommended for those interested in Japan. 【English and Japanese automatic translation function】 Because there is an automatic translation function, you can enjoy message exchange even if you do not understand Japanese. 【Message sent from your own island】 Fill your thoughts with your letter in a bottle and let it flow into the sea! The message you sent may shake the mind of someone somewhere. 【Let's relax in the world of Shimagurashi】 Please enjoy the world view and community in the app. Since logins like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are unnecessary anonymous services, you will never see someone you know. All you need to get started is the name of your island. 【Let's make the island lively】 You can get Precious Shells by exchanging messages. If you collect it, you will get various things as a reward, and the island will gradually become lively. 【Please enjoy the gentle view of the world】 In the world of Shimagurashi, the same time as reality flows. A peaceful morning, noon, but a gentle sunset, a calm time of night, and BGM combined with it also create a gentle space. Depending on the season, the scenery of the island may change slightly. 【Let's enjoy fashion with avatar】 There is an avatar called "Shimanoko" on your island. Shimanoko can be changed with various items. Please give me your own Shimanoko cute. ■■■ Recommended for such people ■■■ ・ Someone who is interested in Japan ・ Those who want a Japanese friend ・ A person who likes a gentle view of the world like a picture book ・ Person who is interested in correspondence ・ A person who is tired of dealing with real ・ Person who has trouble and consultation that can not talk to real acquaintance ・ A person who wants to communicate with a person who can not usually get acquainted ・ Mothers who can not leave the house easily ・ A person who wants to talk to a person with the same taste but is not around ・ A person who came up with nice words and poems but can not express easily to the people around ・ People who are not satisfied with the current community ・ A person who wants to enjoy a little conversation with a stranger ■■■ Recommended at such time ■■■ ・ When you were happy or sad ・ When you want to tweet ・ Good morning to someone, when you want to say good night ・ When you want to have a love consultation or trouble consultation ・ When you want someone to listen to you ・ To kill time ・ When you want to relax ・ During commuting, during breaks, a short time before going to bed ・ When you want to make a small complaint ◯◯◯ Notes ◯◯◯ "Shimagurashi" is an application that offers the pleasure of talking with someone who does not know, based on the concept of correspondence and bottle mail, and is not an application for the purpose of dating. Please do not send messages that may be offensive to others, or exchange personal information such as IDs of SNS and communication services such as LINE, KakaoTalk, WeChat, Skype, Facebook, etc., and phone numbers. Any act that would destroy the worldview is prohibited. Please check the terms and conditions for details. When exchanging messages, treat each other with compassion. If you give kindness to the other party, the other person will surely reply to you. Please use the block / report function if you find a unpleasant person . It is safe because the opponent who once blocked will not be displayed after that. Please enjoy the world of splendor calmly.

About

MessageBottle Widget

Receive a daily message from someone directly on your iPhone's home screen. This widget allows you to add a touch of the unexpected to your daily routine by delivering a new message each day, and you can also send messages to others.

Highlights
  • Daily message delivery
  • Home screen widget integration
  • Send messages to others
  • Adds extraordinary to home screen
Features
Read full description

A message sent by someone will be delivered to your iPhone. If you install the widget on the home screen, you will receive a message from someone every day. You can also send a message to someone. Would you like to add a little extraordinary to your home screen?

Screenshots

Shimagurashi4 screens
MessageBottle Widget3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MessageBottle Widget at none against Shimagurashi's 10. MessageBottle Widget also leads on ads (none vs shown). Shimagurashi's advantage is review sentiment (48% vs 20%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shimagurashi sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. MessageBottle Widget asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shimagurashi ships an update every 5 weeks, MessageBottle Widget every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Shimagurashi versus MessageBottle Widget: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShimagurashiMessageBottle Widget
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.7% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size376 MB14 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMeisterBrain Inc.YUTA MIYOSHI

Customer experience

Shimagurashi

All ratings35 ratings
Positive77.1%
Neutral5.7%
Negative17.1%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive47.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative50.0%

MessageBottle Widget

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Shimagurashi

One-time10
  • Glass Pieces 100$0.99
  • Stylish Tickets 30$2.99
  • Sticker Tickets 300$2.99
Show 7 more
  • House Tickets 30$2.99
  • Glass Pieces 500$4.99
  • Stylish Tickets 63$5.99
  • House Tickets 63$5.99
  • Glass Pieces 1200$9.99
  • Glass Pieces 2500$19.99
  • Glass Pieces 6500$42.99
None

MessageBottle Widget

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shimagurashi free?
Shimagurashi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MessageBottle Widget free?
MessageBottle Widget is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shimagurashi or MessageBottle Widget have ads?
Shimagurashi shows ads; MessageBottle Widget does not.
Which is updated more often, Shimagurashi or MessageBottle Widget?
Shimagurashi ships an update every 5 weeks, and MessageBottle Widget every 4 months. Most recently, Shimagurashi was updated on November 6, 2026 and MessageBottle Widget on November 3, 2026.

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