App Comparison

Locket Alternatives in 2026: Apps Like Locket Widget, Compared

Locket Widget made one simple idea popular: a friend takes a photo, and it appears on your home screen. No feed, no likes to chase. For many people that is all they need.

But people look for alternatives for different reasons. Some want a daily ritual. Some want photos that feel more like film. Some want a reason to go out and shoot. This list compares the main options as of October 2026. If you only want the head-to-head, read Rawly vs Locket.

What Locket does well

Locket is easy. You add a few close friends, put the widget on your home screen, and their photos show up when you unlock your phone. It works on iPhone and Android, makes a recap video every month, and has added chat reactions and Lockets from music artists. TechCrunch reported in August 2025 that the company counts more than 80 million downloads and more than 9 million daily users; these are company figures. A paid plan, Locket Gold, adds extra features.

If your friends are already on Locket and you like it, you may not need anything else. The apps below do different jobs.

Locket alternatives compared

1. Rawly: something to shoot every day

Rawly is a photo and video challenge app. Every day there is something to shoot. RAW NOW arrives for everyone at the same random time: you have 20 minutes and one shot, a photo or a 5 second clip, of whatever is in front of you. The Daily Event gives everyone the same everyday object. Challenges come from people and brands, and the community votes for the winner.

Everything is shot live in the app. There are no gallery uploads and no filters. Every photo you share carries a short code, and anyone can check at rawly.app/verify when it was taken. Some challenges carry a real prize pool, paid in by the person or brand who starts them. Withdrawals are currently open in the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and Switzerland. Actual earnings depend on challenge outcomes.

Good for: people who want a daily reason to take photos and a fair vote. Less good for: a quiet space for only two or three friends; Rawly is public by default, though you can make your account private. Rawly is for people 18 and over.

2. BeReal: one real photo a day

BeReal sends everyone a notification at the same random time each day. You post one photo from the front and back camera, and you see your friends' posts. It is the app that made this kind of daily, unedited photo popular. BeReal has been owned by Voodoo since 2024. For a full comparison, see Rawly vs BeReal and our list of apps like BeReal.

Good for: a daily check-in with friends. Less good for: challenges or contests.

3. Lapse: a disposable camera on your phone

Lapse works like a disposable camera. You take shots in the app, and the photos "develop" after a wait before you and your friends can see them. TechCrunch reported in 2024 that Lapse had millions of users and raised 30 million dollars. The most recent reports we found describe it as an iPhone app only.

Good for: people who like the feeling of film and waiting for photos. Less good for: Android users.

4. Snapchat: messages that disappear

Snapchat is built for photo and video messages between friends, many of which disappear after they are seen. It is much bigger than the other apps here and does much more, from stories to maps.

Good for: chatting with photos. Less good for: a calm, simple app; you can also send photos from your gallery, so it is not live-only.

5. Instagram Close Friends: stories for a short list

If your friends are already on Instagram, you can share stories with a Close Friends list only. It is not a separate app, and it lives inside a feed with ads and an algorithm.

Good for: people who already use Instagram every day. Less good for: getting away from feeds and edited photos.

How to choose

• You want your friends' photos on your home screen: stay with Locket.
• You want one honest photo a day with friends: try BeReal.
• You like film and waiting for photos, and you use an iPhone: try Lapse.
• You want a reason to shoot every day, and votes that decide a winner: try Rawly.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest app to Locket?

For sharing everyday photos with a few close friends, BeReal and Lapse are the closest. BeReal asks everyone to post once a day at the same random time. Lapse works like a disposable camera. If you want a daily game with votes instead, try Rawly.

Is there a Locket alternative where photos compete?

Yes. Rawly is a photo and video challenge app. Every day there is something to shoot, everyone shoots it live in the app, and the community votes for the winner. Some challenges carry a real prize pool; actual earnings depend on challenge outcomes.

Is Lapse still available?

As of October 2026 we found no news of Lapse closing. The most recent reports we found describe it as an iPhone app only. Check the App Store for the current status.

Is there a Locket alternative for Android?

Locket itself works on Android. Rawly, BeReal, Snapchat and Instagram also work on Android. The most recent reports we found say Lapse is iPhone only.

How can I check that a photo is real?

On Rawly, every photo is shot live in the app and every shared photo carries a short code. Type it at rawly.app/verify to see our copy of the photo and the minute it was taken.