Comparison
A Between alternative for couples
Between has been doing this longer than almost anyone. It arrived on the App Store in 2011 as a private messenger for two, and it is still that: a chat just for a couple, with a shared album for photos, videos and notes, a shared calendar, and countdowns to anniversaries and other special days. It also offers calls and a PC version, which very few couple apps bother with.
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That makes it a replacement for your messaging app more than an addition to it. If you like the idea of moving the whole relationship out of a general chat app and into a space that holds only the two of you, Between is built for exactly that and has had more than a decade of polish.
HeartTap does not try to be your messenger. It assumes you will keep texting wherever you already text, and concentrates on the things a chat app is poor at: a widget that puts your partner on your home screen, a canvas you draw on together, questions with hidden answers and a short daily check-in.
Feature by feature
| Feature | HeartTap | Between |
|---|---|---|
| Private chat for two | No messenger; replies and reactions on what you post | Yes, this is the core of the app |
| Calls | No | Yes |
| Shared calendar and anniversary countdowns | No | Yes |
| Shared photos and videos | A shared timeline of everything you post | Yes, a shared album |
| Widget showing your partner’s photo or drawing | Yes, home screen and lock screen | Not the focus of the app |
| Live shared drawing canvas | Yes, both drawing at once | Not a feature of the app |
| Conversation questions | 2000+, answers hidden until both reply | Not the focus of the app |
| Desktop version | No | Yes, a PC version |
| iPhone and Android | Both | Both |
| Price | Free with optional subscription | Free with ads, or Between Plus without them |
Competing apps change quickly. This describes each app’s core positioning as of October 2026, and the feature the comparison turns on rather than an exhaustive audit. Check the current store listing before deciding.
Pick Between if
- You want a private messenger for the two of you, separate from every other chat.
- A shared calendar and anniversary countdowns are things you would actually use.
- You want to call each other from it, or use it from a computer.
Pick HeartTap if
- You are happy with your current messenger and want something it cannot do.
- You want your partner on your home screen without opening an app.
- Drawing together, questions and a daily check-in appeal more than a second chat app.
A note on how this is written
We make HeartTap, so this is not a neutral review and you should not read it as one. What we have tried to do instead is be specific about what Between is genuinely better at, since a comparison page that concludes the author’s own product wins on every row is not telling you anything. If you want the wider view, the best couple widget apps page covers the category, and cross-platform support is worth checking for whichever app you pick.
The HeartTap feature this turns on
Your private timeline
Everything you have sent each other, in one place, visible to nobody else.
Frequently asked questions
Is Between free?
Between is free to use and carries ads. Between Plus is a paid upgrade that removes them and adds extras such as themes. Prices are on the store listing and vary by country.
What is the main difference between HeartTap and Between?
Between is a messenger for two with an album and a calendar attached. HeartTap is a couple widget with questions, drawing and check-ins attached, and it deliberately has no chat. If you want to replace your messaging app, choose Between. If you want to add to it, choose HeartTap.
Does HeartTap have a chat?
No. You can reply to and react to anything in the shared timeline, so a photo or a drawing can start an exchange, but there is no free-standing messenger. That is a decision, not a gap: most couples already have a chat they are not going to leave.
Can we use both?
Easily, since they barely overlap. Between would hold the conversation and the calendar, and HeartTap the widget and the things you do together. Whether you want two couple apps is a separate question.
Put them on your home screen tonight
Free to download on iPhone and Android. Link with your partner in under a minute, then send your first photo, drawing or check-in.