Comparison

#Away vs Afterly

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

Head to head
About

#Away

Share your status with friends by displaying custom messages on their lock screens. Stay connected without constant texting, perfect for indicating when you're busy or need space. Reduce screen time and focus on real-life interactions.

Highlights
  • Customizable lock screen messages
  • Automatic status updates for friends
  • No app opening required to view
  • Reduces constant texting
  • Promotes less screen time
Read full description

Away puts your custom message on your best friends' lock screens. Let friends know when you're busy, traveling, or just need space—without the constant "where are you?" texts. Set your away message once, and everyone sees it on their own lock screen. No app opening required. Perfect for staying connected without staying glued to your phone. Less screen time, more real life. NOTES: Away includes an optional premium subscription. This is offered on a monthly basis. If you choose to purchase a subscription, your payment will be charged to your iTunes account. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled within 24 hours before the end of the current period. After purchase, you can turn off auto-renewal at any time by going to your Account Settings in the App Store. LEARN MORE: Privacy Policy: https://away.now/privacy Terms of Use: https://away.now/terms

About

Afterly

This app connects you with real people nearby for relationships, friendships, or casual connections. Browse profiles, match with mutual interests, and engage in real-time chat. Customize your profile to express your true self and control your privacy.

Highlights
  • Browse nearby profiles
  • Swipe for matches
  • Real-time chat
  • Customizable profiles
  • Privacy controls
  • Incognito mode
  • Pro features
Features
Read full description

Afterly is the dating app built for the trans community and the people who admire them. Created by a trans woman, Afterly uses intentional matching so you're introduced to people who genuinely align with who you are and what you're looking for. Afterly was designed from day one to be a welcoming space for the trans community and the people who admire them. Whether you're looking for love, friendship, or something in between, Afterly helps you connect with people who are actually looking for you. INTENTIONAL MATCHING Dating works better when you're shown to the right people. During onboarding, you choose how you identify and who you're interested in meeting. Afterly uses those preferences to create intentional matches, so you're only shown to people who align with what you're looking for, and they're only shown to you if you're what they're looking for, too. FIND YOUR PEOPLE Explore nearby profiles in a familiar grid or discover new people one at a time. Like who interests you and let the right connections happen naturally. MATCH & MESSAGE When the interest is mutual, it's a match. Start chatting instantly with real-time messaging, share pictures from your private album, and get to know someone beyond the profile. BE YOURSELF Your profile should reflect you. Share photos, write about yourself, highlight your interests, and customize your preferences so people get to know the real you. PRIVACY FIRST You stay in control of your experience. Manage your visibility, control who can interact with you, and block or report users whenever you need to. UPGRADE TO AFTERLY PRO Unlock premium features, including: * Advanced Smart Filters to find exactly what you are looking for * Unlimited Swipes * Unlimited Profile Boosts * Screenshot Protection for added privacy * Delete Messages & Photos * Ad-Free Experience BUILT WITH COMMUNITY IN MIND Safety, authenticity, and respect are at the heart of Afterly. We believe everyone deserves a place where they can date confidently and be seen for who they are. Download Afterly today and start making connections that matter. You’re not an afterthought. You’re on Afterly. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.afterlysocial.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.afterlysocial.com/privacy

Screenshots

#Away4 screens
Afterly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: #Away at none against Afterly's shown. #Away also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Afterly's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. #Away sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month and Afterly sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

#Away holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Afterly has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

#Away ships an update every 2 weeks, Afterly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
#Away versus Afterly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter#AwayAfterly
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (6 ratings)
Number of ratings16 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.116.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB63 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperGomeo Inc.Afterly LLC

Customer experience

#Away

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Afterly

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

#Away

Subscriptions1
  • Away Premium$7.991 Month
1 purchases

Afterly

Subscriptions1
  • Afterly Pro$9.991 Month

Questions

Is #Away free?
#Away is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Afterly free?
Afterly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, #Away or Afterly?
#Away is rated higher. #Away averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Afterly averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.
Do #Away or Afterly have ads?
Afterly shows ads; #Away does not.
Which is updated more often, #Away or Afterly?
#Away ships an update every 2 weeks, and Afterly every 4 days. Most recently, #Away was updated on October 13, 2026 and Afterly on October 21, 2026.

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