Comparison

Dumpling vs luv

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

Head to head
About

Dumpling

Share spontaneous moments with your partner directly on your lock screen or Dynamic Island. Send notes, emojis, and doodles instantly without needing to unlock your phone. Designed for couples seeking a private, always-on connection.

Highlights
  • Lock screen message display
  • Dynamic Island support
  • Private and secure sharing
  • Instant pairing
  • Always-on live activity
  • Send emojis, doodles, and notes
Features
Read full description

Love, without unlocking your phone. Dumpling helps couples stay close through small, meaningful moments that appear instantly on your lock screen and Dynamic Island. Send sweet notes, emojis, doodles, or heartfelt love messages — and your partner sees them the moment they arrive. No unlocking, no feeds, no distractions. Just the two of you. Designed for couples who want a private, always-on connection — whether you’re long-distance, busy, or simply love sharing spontaneous “thinking of you” moments. Key Features • Lock Screen Moments – Messages appear instantly, no unlocking needed • Dynamic Island Support – Live moments on iPhone 14 Pro and newer • Private & Secure – Only you and your partner can see what’s shared • Instant Pairing – Connect in seconds with a simple 6-digit code • Always On – Live Activity keeps your connection visible all day • More Than Text – Send emojis, doodles, short notes, or love letters Perfect For • Long-distance relationships • Daily “I love you” reminders • Valentine’s Day surprises • Quick emoji check-ins • Anniversaries & just-because moments How It Works 1. Share your unique 6-digit code 2. Enable Live Activity 3. Send something sweet 4. Stay connected — at a glance Dumpling — your partner, one glance away. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

Dumpling3 screens
luv4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Dumpling at none against luv's shown. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Dumpling sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Dumpling against 5.0 for luv. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dumpling ships an update every 3 weeks, luv every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Dumpling versus luv: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumplingluv
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB30 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperChristopher HeffermanJUSTIN GJONI

Customer experience

Dumpling

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

luv

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Dumpling

Subscriptions1
  • 3-Day Trial3 Days trial$4.997 Days
One-time1
  • One Off Payment$34.99
1 purchases

luv

Subscriptions1
  • Premium7 Days trial$7.991 Month

Questions

Is Dumpling free?
Dumpling 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, Dumpling or luv?
Dumpling and luv are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Dumpling or luv have ads?
luv shows ads; Dumpling does not.
Which is updated more often, Dumpling or luv?
Dumpling ships an update every 3 weeks, and luv every 10 days. Most recently, Dumpling was updated on October 1, 2026 and luv on October 3, 2026.

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