Disclosure: this guide is published by Lovestruck, which is one of the picks. Every app is described from its own website and app store listings as of October 2026.
Long distance is mostly about two problems: feeling close in the moments between calls, and finding things to do together when you can't be in the same room. No single app solves both, so here are the best options for each need.
If you want relationship advice rather than apps, read our guide on how to stay connected in a long-distance relationship.
Picks by Need
| Need | Best pick | Also good |
|---|---|---|
| Daily connection across time zones | Lovestruck | Agapé |
| Video calls with games | Cupie | Discord |
| Watching shows together | Teleparty | Discord |
| Seeing each other on your home screen | Locket | Widgetable |
| Knowing how far apart you are | Flamme | Widgetable, Couple Joy |
| Private chat and a shared calendar | Between | |
| Sharing location | Find My / Google Maps | Life360 |
Staying Close Between Calls
Lovestruck
Lovestruck is designed for the small moments that long distance takes away. The daily question arrives at midnight in each partner's local time, so you both get it at the start of your own day and see each other's answers once you've both replied. Pings let you say "thinking of you" or "I'm home" in one tap without needing a reply, which matters when your waking hours barely overlap. Love notes appear on your partner's home screen widget, and on the iPhone lock screen. Date ideas include a Long Distance category, and time capsules let you seal notes, photos and songs to open on a future date, like the day you close the distance.
Without Premium: 10 pings a day, 1 love note every 24 hours, 1 time capsule in progress. Premium is optional and one subscription covers both of you. Not included: chat, video calls and games.
Agapé
A daily question app with research-vetted questions. Answers reveal once you've both replied, and you can reply to each other. A good pick if you want one meaningful conversation a day and nothing else.
Doing Things Together
Cupie
Cupie combines a video call with two-player games (minigolf, chess, pool, cup pong and more), plus quizzes and a widget showing your partner's local time and distance. It was free with no in-app purchases at the time of writing, and works between iPhone and Android.
Teleparty
A browser extension that syncs playback and adds a chat across Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Max, Hulu, Prime Video and more. Free to start.
Discord
Free voice and video calls with screen sharing, which many couples use to watch or play together. Works on desktop, mobile and consoles.
Note: Rave, another popular watch-together app, was removed from Apple's App Store in 2025, so it's currently Android and Windows only.
Feeling Each Other's Presence
Home screen widgets are the quietest way to feel close across the miles; our guide to widgets for couples has ideas and setup steps.
Locket
Not a couples app, but hugely popular with couples: a photo you take shows up straight on your partner's home screen widget. Free for up to 20 friends.
Widgetable
Home screen widgets you share, built around raising a virtual pet together, plus mood, distance and "miss you" widgets. Free with in-app purchases.
Flamme
A couples app with daily questions, quizzes, Premium widgets for countdowns and an AI coach that includes a long-distance mode. If you both opt in, it can show the distance between you. Flamme was acquired by Arya in 2026.
Couple Joy
Daily questions and games plus widgets for days together, distance and countdowns.
Talking and Planning
Between
A private messenger for two with free voice calls, shared photo albums and a shared calendar for visits and anniversaries. Free with ads.
Find My, Google Maps or Life360
If you want live location sharing, the free options built into Apple's Find My and Google Maps are usually enough. Life360 adds place alerts and paid safety tiers. Only share location if you both genuinely want to.
A Simple Long-Distance Setup
You don't need seven apps. A setup that covers most couples:
- One daily ritual app (like Lovestruck) for the moments between calls.
- One way to do things together (Cupie, Teleparty or Discord) for your weekly date.
- A countdown to your next visit. Most of the apps above have one.
New apps built only for long distance keep appearing too, such as Miles Apart, which launched on iPhone in 2026 around a daily photo challenge. They're worth a look, but check recent reviews before committing.
For more options across every category, see the best couples apps of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free app for long-distance couples?
For video calls with games, Cupie was completely free as of October 2026. For daily connection, Lovestruck includes a daily question, 10 pings a day and love note widgets without a subscription. Teleparty and Discord are free ways to watch things together.
Do couples apps work across time zones?
Some handle it better than others. In Lovestruck, the daily question arrives at midnight in each partner's local time, so both of you get it at the start of your own day.
How can long-distance couples watch movies together?
Teleparty syncs playback across Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Max, Hulu, Prime Video and more in your browser. Discord's screen sharing also works. Rave is currently not available on iPhone.