Alexis Kestler
Online shopping has become an integral part of our daily lives. A 2021 survey showed that 77% of internet users in the US shop online regularly. With ecommerce sales projected to reach $1 trillion in 2023, it‘s clear that online shopping is here to stay.
Browsing through endless ecommerce sites and social media, we often come across enticing products we want to buy someday. But with so many options, it‘s tough to keep track of all those desirable items spread across different websites. This is where universal wishlist apps prove extremely valuable.
What Are Universal Wishlist Apps?
Universal wishlist apps provide a centralized platform to easily save products from any website into one collection. They typically offer browser extensions that allow you to add items to your wishlist with a single click. The wishlist is stored in your personal account, available to access at any time.
According to 2022 data from Sensor Tower, wishlist app installations increased by 33% year-over-year. This growth demonstrates how useful these apps are becoming for online shoppers.
Here are some great features offered by wishlist apps:
- Receive price drop notifications
- Share wishlists with others to get gift ideas
- Prevent duplicate purchases for gifts
- Organize desired products neatly in one place
- Quickly add items from any online retailer
- Get alerts when out-of-stock products are available
- Analyze price histories and trends
The Benefits of Wishlist Apps
Using a wishlist app can optimize and simplify your online shopping experience:
Never Lose Track of Items Again
Instead of endlessly searching through bookmarks or browser history, you can access all your desired products in one organized wishlist. No more forgetting about items you wanted to buy!
Get the Best Prices
Most wishlist apps monitor price fluctuations on your added items across websites. When the price drops for something on your wishlist, you‘ll get an instant alert so you can snag the best deal.
According to Slickdeals, 73% of consumers indicate getting a good deal plays an important role in their purchase decision. Wishlist price alerts ensure you never miss out on savings.
Effortlessly Share Gift Ideas
Wishlist apps make it incredibly easy to give loved ones a list of gift ideas for you. No more hoping they magically pick the perfect gift.
A 2021 poll revealed 31% of shoppers think picking a gift for someone is challenging. Wishlist apps eliminate the struggle by providing a curated set of items you actually want.
Avoid Duplicate Gifts
When collaborating on group gifts through a shared wishlist, you can instantly see which items have already been purchased. This prevents duplicate gifts from happening.
Detailed Price History Tracking
Many wishlist apps analyze historical price data on each product you add. This allows you to view past price trends and determine the best time to buy certain items.
Stay Organized
Wishlist apps enable you to neatly organize all the products you‘re interested in buying, rather than having them scattereded across various websites and stores. Say goodbye to cluttered bookmarks!
Top 10 Universal Wishlist Apps
Based on features, user experience, and platform availability, here are my top recommended universal wishlist apps:
1. Giftful
Giftful simplifies building shared wishlists and registries. Easily add items from any website using the intuitive bookmarklet or mobile app. You can also connect it to your wedding registry.
Giftful stands out with its sleek interface and ability for others to claim gifts they want to purchase for you.
Platforms: iOS
2. WishUpon
WishUpon allows generating wishlists to share while getting alerts on price drops. It also has a popular Discover feed showing trending and discounted wishlist items.
I like WishUpon for its email integration, browser extension, and good mix of free and premium features.
Platforms: Android, iOS
3. Things To Get Me
Things To Get Me focuses on creating gift lists easily sharable with others. They can view your list and check off gifts as they purchase them for you.
This app stands out with its simple interface, versatility for any gifting occasion, and 100% free model.
Platforms: Android, iOS
4. Listery
Listery is one of the few wishlist apps with unlimited lists on the free tier. You can create as many wishlists as needed and share links.
I appreciate Listery‘s smooth performance, emoji support, and lack of pushy advertisements. It‘s a great basic wishlist manager.
Platforms: Android, iOS
5. Giftbuster
If you need to make wedding, baby, or birthday registries, Giftbuster is fantastic. Save items from any website and get notified of related coupons, deals, and price drops.
Giftbuster really excels at building polished registries and tracking gift inventory/purchases between multiple people.
Platforms: Android, iOS
6. WishList.com
WishList.com makes it incredibly simple to add products from any online store to a shareable wishlist.
I like how WishList.com displays other users‘ popular wishlists so you can easily get gift inspiration. Their templates and widgets also help customize your perfect list.
Platforms: Android, iOS
7. Elfster
Elfster specializes in managing collaborative wishlists and gift exchanges, especially for the holidays.
Elfster is unmatched for group wishlist events like Secret Santa. The free plan handles most needs, and premium adds more administrative controls.
Platforms: Android, iOS
8. Wishr
Wishr makes sharing wishlists incredibly straightforward. Recipients don‘t need accounts – just send the link.
I appreciate Wishr‘s simplicity and focus on seamless wishlist sharing. The interface feels modern and intuitive as well.
Platforms: iOS, Android
9. Make-A-List by Garbek
Garbek‘s Make-A-List provides flexibility to create any type of list you need. Beyond wishlists, you can make shopping lists, to-do lists, etc.
Make-A-List stands out with advanced features like audio notes, reminders, and list sharing – all for free. It‘s one of the most versatile wishlist apps.
Platforms: Android
10. Giftster
Giftster allows families to make collaborative wishlists and prevent duplicate gifts. Items can be marked as purchased by the gift buyer.
For families shopping together, Giftster provides an easy way to coordinate gifts from multiple people.
Platforms: Android
How to Select the Right Wishlist App
With many solid options for wishlist apps, it can get overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. Here are key criteria to consider:
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Pricing – Some apps are free but limit features, while paid versions unlock everything. Decide what budget you‘re comfortable with.
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Lists allowed – If you need multiple lists for different occasions, find an app permitting unlimited wishlists.
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Sharing methods – Evaluate what sharing options the app provides (link, email, social media, etc).
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Privacy – Some apps allow making private lists or password protecting sharing.
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Item availability alerts – Opt for an app that alerts you when wishlist products are back in stock.
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Browser extensions – Extensions make adding items extremely convenient, so check for apps that have this integration.
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Visual appeal – Pick an app with an intuitive, aesthetically pleasing interface.
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Platform availability – Ensure the app has versions for your preferred device type (iOS, Android, etc).
Creative Uses for Wishlist Apps
Beyond creating lists for your own personal shopping, wishlist apps unlock unlimited creative applications:
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Make gift guides tailored to your friends‘ and family‘s interests to share for holidays and birthdays.
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Influencers and bloggers can curate wishlists of their current favorite products as recommendations for followers.
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Share dream wishlists of aspirational items like future vacation destinations, home renovations, car upgrades, etc.
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Help your wedding guests by creating gift registries spanning different price points and styles.
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Organize a wishlist for new baby items like clothes, gear, toys, books, etc. to share with loved ones.
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If you have kids, make wishlists for them to share with grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.
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Planning a move or renovation? Create lists for all the essential furnishing and supplies needed in your new home.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
While wishlist apps provide online shoppers with many benefits, a few potential disadvantages to note:
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Pricing – Paid subscriptions are often required to access the full spectrum of features offered by an app. Free tiers can be limited.
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Privacy concerns – Storing your data with third-party apps always poses privacy risks. Make sure to review their security practices before using.
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Wishlist loss – If an app closes down in the future, you could lose access to your wishlists. Exporting them periodically as a backup is wise.
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Interface issues – Some wishlist apps have bugs and glitches that hamper usability. Checking app store reviews can reveal potential problems.
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Advertisements – Many free wishlist apps monetize with ads, which some users find disruptive. Paid tiers eliminate ads.
Final Take on Wishlist Apps
At the end of the day, wishlist apps provide online shoppers with an invaluable tool to easily track desired products in one centralized place. When selected properly based on your needs, they can help you stay organized, get price drop alerts, seamlessly share gift ideas, and save time keeping your findings across the internet in one spot.
According to your shopping behavior and use cases, apps like Giftful, WishUpon, Listery, and Giftbuster are great well-rounded options. Wishlist apps ultimately serve as amazing productivity enhancers for online consumers. Give one a try next time you come across intriguing products but can‘t purchase just yet!
