# Candle vs luv

The clearest difference is ads: Candle at none against luv's shown. Candle also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 3) and chart position (#115 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.

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.

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.

Candle ships an update fortnightly, luv every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Candle | luv |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candle-couples-and-relationship/id6743355635/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luv-note-widget/id6763015481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#115** | — |
| Size | 98 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Encore AI Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1802415524) | [JUSTIN GJONI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895121880) |

## What reviewers say

### Candle

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

**Currently charting:** #115 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 (24)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Candle Pro - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $89.99 | 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 |
| Pro Lifetime | $149.99 | 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


### luv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luv-note-widget/id6763015481)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $7.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked 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 2, 2026 and luv on September 16, 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.*