Comparison

Shwidget vs API Widget

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

Head to head
About

Shwidget

Display your Google Sheets data directly on your iOS device's Home or Lock Screen. Monitor key values and KPIs automatically without needing to open the Sheets app.

Highlights
  • Display Google Sheets data in widgets
  • Automatic widget updates
  • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets
  • No account required
  • Privacy-friendly data handling
  • Easy setup with Sheet and Cell IDs
Features
Read full description

Do you have a KPI or important value in Google Sheets that updates automatically, and you want to monitor it without constantly opening the Sheets app? Meet Shwidget, your solution! Shwidget is an iOS app that lets you display any Google Sheets cell value directly in a widget on your device. It automatically updates via iOS’s widget system, meaning you can keep tabs on your important data right from your Home or Lock Screen, without the need to check the Sheets app manually. Key Features: * Automatic updates using iOS’s widget update system. * Home Screen widgets in various sizes, as well as Lock Screen widgets. * Privacy-friendly: No account required, and your data never leaves your device. SETTING IT UP Getting started is easy! All you need is the Sheet ID and the Cell IDs of the data you want to display. Optionally, you can add titles for each value, which will appear in the widget for clarity. 1. Find the Sheet ID: This is the long string of characters in your Google Sheets URL (without the dashes). 2. Set Sharing Permissions: Make sure the sheet is set to “Anyone with the link” and read-only to allow Shwidget to fetch the data securely. Once you’ve set these up in the app, Shwidget takes care of the rest. The widget will automatically update at regular intervals thanks to iOS’s background system. PRO TIPS * How to Find the Sheet ID: Open your Google Sheet, and the ID is the long string of random characters in the URL between the slashes. For example:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CMvaCWBAsrAftZjT5nXlntTUsnmkkZDlxMkXhAd_sBs/
In this case, the Sheet ID is: 1CMvaCWBAsrAftZjT5nXlntTUsnmkkZDlxMkXhAd_sBs.
 Paste only this ID into the Shwidget app. (Tip: Double-check you’re not copying the entire URL!) * Sharing Permissions: Ensure your sheet’s general access is set to “Anyone with the link” and role set to “Viewer” to allow Shwidget access without making unnecessary changes to your security settings. * If your widget says "ERROR empty cell?" Then the cell is empty OR sharing is not properly done OR typo in the cell field. Trust me, its one of these. * Data Privacy: If you’re concerned about sharing sensitive data, consider creating a “proxy” spreadsheet and use Google Sheets’ IMPORTRANGE function to pull only the necessary data into a separate sheet that’s shared with Shwidget. EXAMPLE SETUP Test Shwidget with the example sheet below:
Sheet ID: 1CMvaCWBAsrAftZjT5nXlntTUsnmkkZDlxMkXhAd_sBs
 Try cell IDs like D1, D2, D3 or E1-E7, and open the sheet to see the expected values. FREE vs PRO The free version of Shwidget lets you add one row or data field per widget. To unlock more rows, upgrade to the KPI Lover subscription for expanded functionality. The free version also includes a logo on the home screen widget and a subject text on the lock screen widget, which you can remove by subscribing. No hidden fees, no gimmicks — just more features and a cleaner experience! Cheers, Mikko 
P.S. Your feedback is always welcome! Drop me a line at mikko_a_appsipaja.fi. Terms of use, standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

API Widget

Read full description

API Widget lets you display your own JSON data as customizable iOS widgets on your Home Screen. The app works with a data source you provide and presents the information as a clean, read-only widget. Widgets are updated automatically based on the refresh intervals supported by iOS, making API Widget suitable for monitoring metrics, counters, and status values. You can choose from multiple visual themes to match your style and focus on the information that matters most. API Widget does not require user accounts and does not collect personal information. The app is intended for informational and monitoring purposes only.

Screenshots

Shwidget3 screens
API Widget3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: API Widget at none against Shwidget's 2. On price, ads, 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. Shwidget sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. API Widget asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Shwidget versus API Widget: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShwidgetAPI Widget
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAppsipaja OyValery Shklovskiy

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Shwidget

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly payment7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly payment7 Days trial$19.991 Year
None

API Widget

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shwidget free?
Shwidget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is API Widget free?
API Widget is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shwidget or API Widget have ads?
Neither Shwidget nor API Widget shows ads.

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