# Candle vs Pookie

Candle and Pookie both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 68% of Candle's written reviews are positive against 46% of Pookie's. Candle also leads on chart position (#177 vs unranked) and ratings volume (12K vs 1.4K). Pookie's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Candle sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Pookie sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Candle holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Candle has 12K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Candle's written reviews are positive against 46% of Pookie's.

Candle ships an update fortnightly, Pookie weekly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Candle | Pookie |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candle-couples-and-relationship/id6743355635/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pookie-couples-widgets-games/id6756569878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | **67.6% of reviews** | 45.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#177** | — |
| Size | 127 MB | 192 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | +12 |
| Developer | [Encore AI Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1802415524) | [TYLER JAMES ROBINSON VOSS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807174658) |

## What reviewers say

### Candle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candle-couples-and-relationship/id6743355635)

**Currently charting:** #177 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app helps couples deepen their connection through quick daily rituals. Engage with meaningful questions, share private photos, play games, and discover local date ideas to foster presence and curiosity in your relationship.

**Highlights:** Daily conversation starters, Private photo sharing, Syncing thumb kisses, Local date ideas, Relationship games and challenges, Daily check-in streaks

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Bag of Sparks (80) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Word Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| Streak Reignite | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Sparks (500) | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Perfect app for long distance couples
- 👍 Unexpectedly great for reconnecting
- 👍 Low-commitment, high-impact way to encourage connection
- 👍 Doesn't require subscription for full use
- 👍 Fun games and prompts

**Requested features**

- Different decks or categories for prompts to mix things up


### Pookie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pookie-couples-widgets-games/id6756569878)

This app provides a private digital space for couples to strengthen their connection. Engage in shared virtual activities like raising a pet or plant, send intimate messages, and track important dates. It also offers date ideas and fun quizzes to foster intimacy.

**Highlights:** Raise a virtual pet together, Grow a virtual plant as a couple, Send private love notes and doodles, Secure photo vault for couple memories, Share and view mood updates, Track important dates and anniversaries, Browse and suggest date ideas, Engage in weekly quizzes

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| 100 Hearts | $0.99 | one-time |
| 300 Hearts | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Hearts | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Candle free?

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

### Is Pookie free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Candle or Pookie?

Candle is rated higher. Candle averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Pookie averages 4.6 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Candle or Pookie have ads?

Neither Candle nor Pookie shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Candle or Pookie?

Candle ships an update fortnightly, and Pookie weekly. Most recently, Candle was updated on November 7, 2026 and Pookie on November 7, 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.*