# Dumpling vs Dearly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dearly at none against Dumpling's 4. Dearly also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dumpling sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Dearly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dumpling ships an update every 6 weeks, Dearly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dumpling | Dearly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumpling-lock-screen-love/id6758957557/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 41 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Hefferman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1444958558) | [Ethan Dietrich](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786120601) |

## What reviewers say

### Dumpling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumpling-lock-screen-love/id6758957557)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Dumpling Limited Time Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| One Off Payment | $34.99 | one-time |


### Dearly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dearly-couple-widget-and-notes/id6785826300)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dumpling free?

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

### Is Dearly free?

Dearly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Dumpling or Dearly have ads?

Neither Dumpling nor Dearly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dumpling or Dearly?

Dumpling ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dearly every 4 days. Most recently, Dumpling was updated on October 28, 2026 and Dearly on October 19, 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.*