# only u vs Away Message

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Away Message at none against only u's 4. Away Message also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). only u's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. only u sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Away Message asks for nothing beyond the download.

Away Message holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

only u ships an update every 9 days, Away Message every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | only u | Away Message |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/only-u-lock-screen-widget/id6670204069/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/away-message-status-sharing/id6757088514/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 58 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Health & Wellness Apps Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618420924) | [Colin Weir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819364334) |

## What reviewers say

### only u

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/only-u-lock-screen-widget/id6670204069)

Send and receive personalized notes and messages directly to your lock screen. Stay connected with friends through fun, low-key updates that appear whenever you check your phone. It's a unique way to share quick thoughts and vibes.

**Highlights:** Personalized lock screen notes, Receive messages from friends, Fun and low-key connection, Customizable widget updates, Share quick thoughts and vibes

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lock Screen Widget Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Lock Screen Widget Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium: lock screen widgets | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| annual only u for lock screen | $24.99 | per year |


### Away Message

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/away-message-status-sharing/id6757088514)

Share your current activity or availability with friends through temporary digital notes. Add locations, photos, or music to your updates, which automatically disappear after a set time. Connect privately with a unique code to keep your circle informed.

**Highlights:** Expiring status updates (30 min - 24 hours), Customizable themes, fonts, and layouts, Location, photo, and music sharing, Private connections via shareable codes, Scrapbook-style note design, Emoji reactions on status cards

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is only u free?

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

### Is Away Message free?

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

### Which has better reviews, only u or Away Message?

Away Message is rated higher. only u averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Away Message averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do only u or Away Message have ads?

Neither only u nor Away Message shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, only u or Away Message?

only u ships an update every 9 days, and Away Message every 8 days. Most recently, only u was updated on October 4, 2026 and Away Message on October 15, 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.*