Comparison

Candle vs luv

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

Head to head
About

Candle

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
Read full description

Candle – The Ultimate Couples Game for Staying Close Most relationships don’t end in one moment, they drift apart over time. Missed check-ins, surface-level conversations, busy lives, and routines replace real connection. Candle helps couples stay emotionally close through 1-minute daily rituals that bring back presence, play, and curiosity. Effortless Connection, Lasting Impact Whether you're long distance, busy, or just want to reconnect more deeply, Candle fits into your life. One minute a day is all it takes to strengthen your relationship. Conversation Starters That Matter - Swipe through meaningful, expert-designed questions - Unlock your partner’s answers to reflect, laugh, and grow together Daily Photo Prompts - Share real-time snapshots like BeReal, just for the two of you - Capture authentic moments and build a private photo journal - Create a visual history of your relationship over time- From lighthearted to deep, always have something to talk about Thumb Kisses - Tap your thumbs in sync to feel a gentle vibration - A playful way to say “I’m here,” even from miles away - Perfect for long-distance couples Curated Local Date Ideas (Beta) - 60+ unique ideas tailored to your location that refresh every week - Swipe to match on something new to try - Updated weekly with real-world, spontaneous experiences Games and Challenges - Play “Who’s More Likely,” fast-paced Q&As, and more - Discover new sides of each other in a low-pressure, fun format - Designed to spark joy and emotional connection Keep Your Streak, Keep Your Spark - Track daily check-ins and build a shared rhythm - Celebrate milestones and keep your momentum alive - Form long-term habits through small, consistent moments Perfect for Every Couple - Long-distance or living together - Just started dating or years in - Busy schedules or just needing more intentional time Private, Secure, and Ad-Free - No ads, no noise. Just time for each other - Encrypted and built privacy-first - Your memories stay between the two of you Why Couples Love Candle - Just one minute a day for real emotional impact - Based on relationship science and expert insights - Flexible for all stages of love and connection Download Candle today and bring back the spark, one question, one photo, one moment at a time. Visit: https://www.trycandle.app Privacy Policy: https://www.trycandle.app/privacy Terms: https://www.trycandle.app/terms Follow us: Instagram: @trycandle.app TikTok: @trycandle.app Reddit: r/candleapp Made with love in San Francisco. Shoutout to Fluent Emoji for the base icons!

About

luv

Send sweet messages directly to your partner's lock screen without needing to open an app. Your words appear like magic, always visible, fostering a constant reminder of your connection.

Highlights
  • Message on partner's lock screen
  • Silent, instant updates
  • No social feed or notifications
  • Shared premium for couples
  • Scheduled message surprises
Read full description

Your words, their lock screen. Luv is a one-to-one note app for one connected pair. Write a short note and send it to the person you are connected with. When a send succeeds, Luv stores the note for them. Luv can request a background refresh, but iOS decides when the widget updates. HOW IT WORKS • Create an account or sign in • Connect with one person using a link or code • Add Luv to the Lock Screen or Home Screen • Write a note of up to 96 characters • See your connected person’s latest note in the app and reply BUILT FOR THE TWO OF YOU • One active connection, with no public feed or follower count • A note archive and saved drafts that stay with the connection they were written for • Thought starters when you need help finding the words • Optional note-ready reminders • Connection milestones and a shared sending streak when Premium is active for both partners PREMIUM Premium unlocks unlimited notes, is shared with your currently connected partner, and is available through the plans shown in the app. Prices, billing periods, introductory-offer eligibility, and renewal terms come from the App Store and appear before purchase. Restore Purchases is available in the paywall and Settings. IMPORTANT Widget timing is controlled by iOS, device settings, connectivity, and service availability. A sent note may not appear on the widget immediately. Visible reminder alerts are optional and separate from background widget refresh. Terms of Use: https://luvnote.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://luvnote.app/privacy Support: https://luvnote.app/support

Screenshots

Candle4 screens
luv4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Candle at none against luv's shown. Candle also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 3) and chart position (#120 vs unranked). luv's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 68%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Candle sells 24 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and luv sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

luv holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Candle has 11K ratings behind it against 3, 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 100% of luv's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Candle ships an update fortnightly, luv every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Candle versus luv: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCandleluv
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (11K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11K — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#120 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB30 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperEncore AI Labs, Inc.JUSTIN GJONI

Customer experience

Candle

All ratings11,256 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews577 reviews
Positive67.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative23.4%

luv

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Candle

Requested features

1 request
  • Different decks or categories for prompts to mix things up

luv

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

24 purchases

Candle

Subscriptions19
  • Pro Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Premium Weekly$4.997 Days
Show 16 more
  • Pro Weekly$5.997 Days
  • Premium Weekly$5.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly2 variants$12.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Candle Pro - Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly2 variants$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$49.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$59.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$89.991 Year
One-time5
  • Bag of Sparks (80)$0.99
  • Word Hint$0.99
  • Streak Reignite$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Bag of Sparks (500)$4.99
  • Pro Lifetime$149.99
1 purchases

luv

Subscriptions1
  • Premium7 Days trial$7.991 Month

Questions

Is Candle free?
Candle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is luv free?
luv is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Candle or luv?
luv is rated higher. Candle averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while luv averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Candle or luv have ads?
luv shows ads; Candle does not.
Which is updated more often, Candle or luv?
Candle ships an update fortnightly, and luv every 10 days. Most recently, Candle was updated on October 1, 2026 and luv on September 16, 2026.

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