# Handy vs DoodleBuds

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DoodleBuds at none against Handy's 10. DoodleBuds also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Handy's advantage is ratings volume (26K vs 2) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Handy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. DoodleBuds asks for nothing beyond the download.

DoodleBuds holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handy has 26K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Handy ships an update every 9 days, DoodleBuds every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy | DoodleBuds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-live-widget-wallpaper/id1595736086/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodlebuds/id6761285174/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#58** | — |
| Size | 206 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FAT, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580953186) | [Atent LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378465166) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-live-widget-wallpaper/id1595736086)

**Currently charting:** #58 Top Free · Graphics & Design, #80 Top Grossing · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Transform your phone's look with aesthetic themes, icons, and live wallpapers. This platform connects users with independent artists, offering one-click installation and creative tools. Monetize your designs by selling them worldwide.

**Highlights:** One-click icon installation, Manage themes in one place, Create live wallpapers from videos, Generate shareable theme links, Sell your custom themes, Native icon installation experience

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Joy Club Membership - Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Joy Club Membership - Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Joy Club Membership - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Joy Club Membership - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Joy Club Membership - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Joy Club Membership - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Price Tier A | $0.99 | one-time |
| Price Tier B | $1.99 | one-time |
| Price Tier C | $2.99 | one-time |
| Price Tier D | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 Cute and customizable designs
- 💡 Supports indie artists
- 🤝 Great customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Limited free options
- 🐛 Glitchy performance
- 🤔 Confusing setup process

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not working as expected
- Installed icons not showing up on home screen
- Subscription issues and unexpected charges
- Crashes and freezes when trying to use the app

**Requested features**

- More sign-in options besides Apple ID
- Ability to preview widgets before installing
- Option to shuffle dynamic/GIF widgets
- Easier way to manage downloaded content


### DoodleBuds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodlebuds/id6761285174)

Connect with friends by creating shared doodles in real-time. Receive notifications for new drawings and view them on your home screen widgets to stay updated.

**Highlights:** Create Doodle Groups, Real-time doodling, Push notifications for new doodles, Home screen widgets, Connect with friends

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handy free?

Handy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DoodleBuds free?

DoodleBuds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Handy or DoodleBuds?

DoodleBuds is rated higher. Handy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while DoodleBuds averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Handy or DoodleBuds have ads?

Neither Handy nor DoodleBuds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy or DoodleBuds?

Handy ships an update every 9 days, and DoodleBuds every 6 weeks. Most recently, Handy was updated on November 7, 2026 and DoodleBuds on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*