MyRegistry has run the universal gift registry since 2005, with cash funds, store sync and a big retailer network. Here is how it stacks up against WishApp on price, ads, the devices you can use, and the way gifts stay a surprise.
Last updated: June 2026
Looking for a MyRegistry alternative? MyRegistry is a mature universal registry with cash funds and store sync, but it runs ads and lets the owner see who bought what. WishApp stays free and ad-free, hides reservations, and works on every browser plus macOS. Among MyRegistry alternatives, WishApp is the one we'd pick.
Every row reflects what each app actually does today. MyRegistry genuinely wins several, so we marked those too.
| Feature | MyRegistry | WishApp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & value | ||
| Free to create and share | Free | Free |
| Ad-free experience | Shows ads | No ads |
| Cash gift funds | Yes, fees apply | Not offered |
| No fees on gifting | Cash fund fees | No fees |
| Platforms & devices | ||
| iPhone and Android apps | Yes | Yes |
| iPad and Android tablet layouts | Phone only | Yes |
| macOS desktop app | Browser only | Yes |
| Browser extensions | Chrome only | Five browsers |
| Raycast quick-add | No | Yes |
| Sharing & privacy | ||
| Share with one link | Yes | Yes |
| Friends view without an account | Yes | Yes |
| Hidden reservations (owner cannot see) | Owner can see | Hidden |
| No ads to your guests | Guests see ads | No ads |
| Gifting features | ||
| Sync existing store registries | Yes | No sync |
| Group gifting / pooled contributions | Yes | Not offered |
| Secret Santa / gift exchange | Yes | Yes |
| Reserved and received tracking | Purchase marks | Yes |
| Collaborative lists | No | Yes |
| Ease of use | ||
| Add from any store by pasting a link | Erratic capture | Auto-fills |
| Barcode scanner for in-store items | Yes | No |
| Save a product in one click while browsing | Chrome, desktop | Yes |
Both apps are free to create and share. The real cost difference is ads and fees. MyRegistry is free because it's ad-supported, so you and your guests see display ads and sponsored product suggestions throughout. Its cash gift funds add fees too: a 2.5% PayPal cut plus a flat $3.95 to $6.95 handling charge per gift. WishApp has no ads, no cash fund, and no fees on anything.
MyRegistry covers the basics: a web app, an iPhone app and an Android app. It stops there. No macOS app, no Firefox or Safari extension, no Raycast, and only a Chrome extension that's desktop only. The iOS app is iPhone-sized with no iPad build, and Android has no tablet layout. WishApp runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet, macOS, plus extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari, and a Raycast add-on.
This is the biggest split. Both apps share with one link and let friends view without an account. But MyRegistry uses visible purchase tracking: guests mark gifts bought, and the registrant can often see what's been claimed, which thins out the surprise. WishApp hides reservations completely, so the owner never sees who claimed what. And MyRegistry shows ads to your guests inside the registry. WishApp doesn't, ever.
MyRegistry wins on breadth here, and we'll say so plainly. It can sync an existing Amazon or Target registry into one list while keeping retailer perks, run group gifting toward a pricey item, host a full Secret Santa exchange, and accept cash or nonprofit donations. WishApp doesn't sync registries or pool contributions. It does run Secret Santa, supports collaborative lists, and tracks what you've reserved and received with notes like 'from Sarah'.
MyRegistry is powerful once you're set up, but capture is uneven. The Chrome extension is the reliable way to add items, and it's desktop only. On mobile, multiple reviews report that pasting a link often fails to pull in the product, leaving you to type the price by hand, and listed prices don't update if a sale ends. WishApp grabs any product link and fills in the title, image and price, or saves it in one click from the browser extension.
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