"Three kids means three birthday lists plus Christmas. Before this, my family would text each other asking 'did you already get the LEGO set?' Now they just check the list. Problem solved."
Jenny M.
Mother of 3
WishApp
WishMindr vs WishApp
WishMindr has been running since 2006. That's almost 20 years. It's free, works with any store via a bookmarklet, and covers iOS, Android, and even Amazon Appstore. But the Chrome extension was removed, the design hasn't kept up, and there's no way for friends to reserve gifts secretly. WishApp is the modern alternative. Here's the full breakdown.
We built WishApp, so we're biased. But we'll be honest.
Last updated: February 2026
The quick version
WishMindr
Free universal wishlist that's been running since 2006
- Completely free, no paid tiers or subscriptions
- Works with any store via a bookmarklet (no browser extension install needed)
- Available on iOS (4.3/5 stars), Android (3.9/5 stars), and Amazon Appstore
- One of the longest-running wishlist services on the web
WishApp
Modern wishlist built for real gift coordination
- Browser extension for one-click adding from any website
- Hidden reservations keep gift surprises intact
- Group gifting, Secret Santa, and collaborative wishlists built in
- Free forever, no premium tier, no ads
Feature-by-feature comparison
How WishMindr and WishApp stack up on the things that actually matter.
| Feature | WishMindr | WishApp |
|---|---|---|
| Completely free | ||
| Mobile app (iOS) | ||
| Mobile app (Android) | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Works with any store | Bookmarklet only | |
| Hidden reservations | ||
| Group gifting | ||
| Secret Santa | ||
| Collaborative wishlists | ||
| Price tracking | ||
| No account to view lists | ||
| Actively developed |
What actually sets them apart
The Chrome extension is gone
WishMindr used to have a Chrome extension. It had a 4.83 rating. And then it got pulled from the Chrome Web Store. Gone. The bookmarklet still exists on their site, but WishMindr's own website warns it no longer works on Chrome either. So Chrome users, which is most people on the web, have no reliable way to add items from external sites. WishApp has a proper browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. One click while you're on a product page and the item is saved. That difference adds up fast when you're building a real list.
No way to coordinate gifts secretly
This is the big one. WishMindr lets friends mark items as purchased, but that shows up to everyone, including the list owner. So if your partner is looking at their own wishlist and sees an item crossed off, the surprise is dead. There's no way around it. WishApp handles this differently. Friends reserve items privately. You never see who picked what until after the gift. Group gifting lets multiple people chip in on a single expensive item. Secret Santa does the draw automatically. WishMindr has none of this.
Appears to be in maintenance mode
WishMindr is part of WrightLabs, a side-project portfolio run by John Wright out of Burbank, California. The other projects are Got Free Shipping?, ThyNews, and AskJot. That context matters. WishMindr pulls around 39,000 unique visitors a month (about 48% from India, 26% from the US). The iOS app got a minor bug fix update in November 2025. But there's been no meaningful feature development in years. It runs, but it's not being actively built. WishApp is a focused product with a team behind it.
The design and experience feel dated
WishMindr launched in 2006 and it shows. Users on Google Play and review sites consistently call out slow performance, crashes, and a UI that hasn't kept pace. One Play review puts it bluntly: "The app is sooo clunky. It's tricky to use and half of the time it doesn't respond at all." The Android app sits at 3.9/5. The iOS version does better at 4.3/5, but the design gap is real. WishApp is built for today, not 2006.
When to pick each one
Pick WishMindr if you...
- Want something completely free with no strings attached
- Have a Kindle or Fire device and want Amazon Appstore support
- Are comfortable with a bookmarklet and don't need a browser extension
- Only need basic wishlisting and don't care about gift coordination features
Pick WishApp if you...
- Want friends to reserve gifts without spoiling the surprise
- Need group gifting, Secret Santa, or collaborative wishlists
- Want a browser extension that actually works today
- Want a product that's being actively built and improved
52,000+ wishlists and 150,000+ gifts reserved for birthdays, weddings, and every occasion worth celebrating
"My girlfriend and I share lists with each other. I can reserve stuff without her knowing, which makes birthdays way less stressful. The hidden reservation thing is actually clutch."
Theo P.
College Student
"We used this instead of a traditional registry. Added items from 11 different stores. Stuff we actually wanted, not just whatever one store had. Our guests said it was easier too."
Leila R.
Recent Bride
Frequently asked questions
WishMindr vs WishApp: the full picture
What WishMindr is
WishMindr is a universal wishlist app founded in 2006 by John Wright through his company WrightLabs, LLC, based in Burbank, California. It's one of the oldest wishlist services still running. The platform is completely free and ad-supported, works with any online store via a bookmarklet, and lets users share lists by email, Facebook, Twitter, or text. Apps are available on iOS (4.3/5 stars), Android (3.9/5 stars on Google Play), and Amazon Appstore, which makes it one of the few wishlist tools with Kindle and Fire device support. The site attracts around 39,000 unique monthly visitors, with roughly 48% from India and 26% from the United States. The Chrome extension was previously available with a 4.83 rating before being removed from the Chrome Web Store. The bookmarklet also no longer works on Chrome, per WishMindr's own site.
Where WishApp is different
WishApp is built around the coordination problem that WishMindr doesn't address. Friends can reserve items privately without the list owner knowing who picked what, so gift surprises stay intact. Group gifting lets multiple people chip in on one item. Secret Santa draws happen inside the app. Collaborative wishlists let groups build shared lists together. The browser extension works properly today across Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. And everything is visible to your friends the moment you send them a link. No account creation required to view.
Which one should you actually pick?
WishMindr is fine for very basic wishlisting if you have zero coordination needs and are comfortable with a bookmarklet that no longer works on Chrome. But if you want to use this for a birthday, Christmas, or any occasion where friends are buying gifts for you, WishMindr falls short. There's no hidden reservation system. The Chrome extension is gone. And the product hasn't seen meaningful feature updates in years. WishApp handles all of that. Try it free. Your friends don't need accounts to see your list, and the whole thing takes about two minutes to set up.
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