At a glance
| App | Free plan | Paid plan | App Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovely (ours) | Daily questions, widgets, canvas | $24.99/yr, both partners | 4.6 (14) |
| Agape | Daily question, core categories | From $9.99/mo | 4.8 (26k) |
| Lovewick | 1,000+ questions, date ideas | $29.99/yr | 4.8 (1.9k) |
| Candle | Free to start | $12.99/mo, $39.99-49.99/yr | 4.8 (11.6k) |
| Flamme | Core features free | $12.99/mo, ~$44.49/yr | 4.7 (418) |
| Love Nudge | Free, no ads | $9.99 one-time (iOS) | 4.6 (18k) |
US App Store prices and ratings, checked October 21, 2026. Paired for reference: free plan is one question a day; Premium $14.99/mo or $74.99-79.99/yr.
Why people look for a Paired alternative
Three reasons come up again and again. Price: Premium is $14.99 a month or around $75-80 a year. The free plan: without Premium you get one shared question a day. Style: Paired is structured and expert-led, which suits some couples and feels like homework to others. Paired is still the most complete app of its kind; if you want courses and quizzes written with therapists, it is worth its price.
1. Lovelyour app
Price: Free; $24.99/yr or $9.99/mo for both · App Store: 4.6 from 14 ratings · Best for: Daily questions plus widgets and games, cheapest yearly plan
Ours, listed first with that disclosure. Lovely does what Paired's free plan does (a daily question you both answer) and adds home-screen widgets: a countdown until you meet, a live drawing that appears on your partner's screen and the distance between you. There is a shared canvas, a journal, 24-hour snaps and two-player games. It works in five languages and between iPhone and Android. One subscription at $24.99 a year covers both of you, about a third of Paired Premium. The honest weakness: it is new, with 14 ratings so far, and it has no expert courses.
2. Agape
Price: Free; Premium from $9.99/mo · App Store: 4.8 from 26k ratings · Best for: One thoughtful question a day, nothing else
The closest to Paired's core idea, with a better free plan: one research-vetted, personalized question a day plus core categories for free. Opt-in categories cover long distance, engagement, parenting and faith. No games or courses, and it had not been updated since April 2026 when we checked.
3. Lovewick
Price: Free; Plus $29.99/yr · App Store: 4.8 from 1.9k ratings · Best for: A generous free plan with date ideas and reminders
The best free alternative if you want more than questions: over 1,000 free questions, 750+ date ideas you can filter by cost and distance, anniversary reminders, wishlists and a memories timeline. Plus removes the daily limit for $29.99 a year.
4. Candle
Price: Free to start; $12.99/mo or $39.99-49.99/yr · App Store: 4.8 from 11.6k ratings · Best for: Playful daily rituals, photo prompts and streaks
A YC-backed app built around one-minute daily rituals: swipeable questions, a daily photo prompt, "thumb kisses" that vibrate on both phones, small games, doodles on the lock screen and streaks. It also sells in-app currency for streak repairs and hints. Popular with younger and long-distance couples.
5. Flamme
Price: Free core; $12.99/mo or ~$44.49/yr · App Store: 4.7 from 418 ratings · Best for: Widgets plus an AI relationship coach
Daily questions, quizzes, Gottman-inspired card decks, feelings check-ins and a shared bucket list, plus an AI coach for date planning and long-distance support. The core stays free; widgets and the AI coach are Premium.
6. Love Nudge
Price: Free; $9.99 one-time on iOS · App Store: 4.6 from 18k ratings · Best for: Practicing the 5 Love Languages for free
The official 5 Love Languages app: take the quiz, link with your partner and set goals to act on each other's love language. Free with no ads. The iPhone app had not been updated since July 2024 when we checked.
How to choose
- Just a daily question, free: Agape.
- Date ideas and reminders, free: Lovewick.
- Widgets and games, cheapest yearly: Lovely.
- Playful streaks and photo prompts: Candle.
- An AI coach: Flamme.
- Love languages: Love Nudge.
No app at all? Our free couple games run in the browser, starting with would you rather and 100 questions for couples.
Take Lovely with you
Daily questions, love widgets for your home screen, a shared canvas and games — with your partner, even long distance.
Common questions
What is the best free alternative to Paired?▾
Lovewick has the most generous free plan (1,000+ questions, date ideas and reminders). Agape's free plan includes a daily question and core categories. Love Nudge is free for love-language goals.
Is there a cheaper app than Paired?▾
Yes. Lovely is $24.99 a year for both partners and Lovewick Plus is $29.99 a year, against $74.99-79.99 for Paired Premium.
Which Paired alternative has widgets?▾
Lovely (countdown, live drawing and distance widgets), Candle (lock-screen doodles and countdowns) and Flamme (widgets on Premium).
Do I need Premium for both partners?▾
Paired and Lovely share one subscription between both partners. The other apps here do not state it clearly, so check before buying.
Is Paired worth it?▾
If you will use its quizzes, games and expert courses, yes. If you mostly want a daily question, a free or cheaper alternative covers it.