Comparison

Picko vs Companions

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

Head to head
About

Picko

Features
Read full description

Keep your crested gecko close, right on your Home Screen. Turn a single photo of your crested gecko into an adorable AI pixel character. Customize it in your own style, add it to a Home Screen widget, and record precious moments as your gecko grows. Key Features - Create a one-of-a-kind AI pixel character from your gecko’s photo - Customize colors, patterns, and accessories - Add your gecko character to a Home Screen widget - Manage multiple geckos in your gallery - Keep a growth diary for each gecko - Set temperature and humidity alerts Keep your gecko close every day with Picko.

About

Companions

Add a virtual aquarium to your iPhone's Home Screen. Customize your tank with various fish and backgrounds. Enjoy your aquatic companions without the need for maintenance.

Highlights
  • Live fish widget for Home Screen
  • Customizable fish and tank styles
  • Multiple fish packs available
  • Interactive bubble feature
  • Supports five fish per tank
  • Multiple widget sizes
Features
Read full description

A little fish tank, right on your Home Screen. Pick your fish, give them names, and see them every time you unlock your iPhone. No feeding, no cleaning, no guilt. Just a few bright companions who are always there. YOUR OWN TANK Add a fish and watch it drop into the water with a splash. Then give it a name: your best friend, a K-pop star you love, the cast of your favourite sitcom. Tap the glass and a puff of bubbles rises. Or just watch. Every fish swims in its own way, at its own pace, and lets out the odd little bubble. There's room for five, so each one gets a name and a place of its own. YOUR FISH, ON YOUR HOME SCREEN Add the Companions widget and your tank is there every time you glance at your phone. Same fish, same water, no need to open the app. The widget comes in small, medium and large, and the app shows you exactly how each size will look before you place it. MAKE IT YOURS Choose from four tank styles: Minimal, Twilight, Pond and Reed. Pick one and your widget changes to match. MEET THE FISH Every tank starts with a Tang, a Sardine and a Puffer. Want more company? • Reef Pack: Clownfish, Moorish Idol, Regal Tang, Parrotfish and Lionfish. • Pond Pack: Koi, Gold Koi, Catfish, Trout and Terrapin. • Sea Creatures Pack: Sea Turtle, Seahorse, Squid, Jellyfish and Octopus. • Shark Pack: Great White, Manta, Hammerhead, Whale Shark and Thresher. • Whale Pack: Dolphin, Orca, Blue Whale, Sperm Whale and Humpback. • Pond Creatures Pack: Minnow, Axolotl, Frog, Toad and Tadpole. MADE WITH CARE Companions is made by one person in South Korea. If there's a fish you'd love to see, or anything else on your mind, email me from Settings and I'll reply personally. Available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Picko4 screens
Companions4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Picko at none against Companions's 10. Picko also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). Companions's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. Companions sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Picko asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Picko ships an update every 2 weeks, Companions every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Picko versus Companions: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPickoCompanions
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size76 MB82 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developergeunhui nohTiaan Johan van der Riel

In-app purchases

None

Picko

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Companions

Subscriptions1
  • All Fish$3.491 Month
One-time9
  • Whale Pack$1.99
  • Pond Creatures Pack$1.99
  • Reef Pack 2$1.99
Show 6 more
  • Freshwater Pack 2$1.99
  • Reef Pack$1.99
  • Sea Creatures Pack$1.99
  • Shark Pack$1.99
  • Pond Pack$1.99
  • All Fish Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is Picko free?
Picko is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Companions free?
Companions is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Picko or Companions have ads?
Neither Picko nor Companions shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Picko or Companions?
Picko ships an update every 2 weeks, and Companions every 2 days. Most recently, Picko was updated on October 24, 2026 and Companions on October 29, 2026.

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