Candle: Couples & Relationship

What it does

Candle is an app designed to help couples deepen their connection through daily digital interactions. It moves beyond simple text messaging to offer a suite of shared activities, including thought-provoking questions, photo prompts, collaborative drawing canvases, and interactive mini-games. The app aims to create small, consistent moments of intimacy and fun, helping partners stay connected even when they're busy or physically apart.

Where it shines

Candle excels at creating unique, ownable interactions that simulate closeness. The 'Thumb Kiss' feature (04:13) is a standout example, asking partners to align their thumbs on the screen for a moment of virtual physical contact. The app also successfully gamifies connection with well-designed mini-games like the Wordle-style 'What You Saying?' (02:46). Finally, its onboarding process (01:04-01:30) is thoughtful, gathering relationship-specific data like anniversaries and goals to make the experience feel genuinely personalized from the start.

UX highlights

Tangible Interactions: Features like 'Thumb Kiss' and the shared drawing 'Canvas' (00:10) transform the phone screen into a space for shared, tangible experiences, not just communication.
Diverse Activity Types: The app offers a wide range of interactions, from deep questions ('Wellness' at 05:06) to lighthearted games ('love golf' at 02:46), catering to different moods and energy levels.
Celebratory Reinforcement: Key moments are marked with polished animations and positive feedback. The 'Welcome' screen (01:53) and game completion pop-up (03:15) both use confetti and playful mascot animations to create a rewarding feel.
Purposeful Personalization: Onboarding questions about relationship goals (01:25) and anniversaries (01:13) directly tie into the app's features, making data collection feel meaningful.
Flexible Date Ideas: The 'Date Ideas' feature includes a practical 'Long Distance Mode' filter (04:35), showing an understanding of different relationship contexts.
Asynchronous Connection: Many features, like leaving a thumb kiss or answering a prompt, can be done asynchronously, allowing couples to connect on their own schedules.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is introduced via a paywall (02:22) shown after the user completes the setup and is about to connect with their partner. The paywall presents two options: a monthly plan and a yearly plan with a prominent 'SAVE 68%' badge to anchor the user on the better value. The screen clearly lists the premium features unlocked, such as access to all mini-games and question categories. There is no free trial offered in this flow. The app also uses social proof and a rating prompt (02:04) post-onboarding to build trust and encourage positive reviews.

Who it’s for

Candle is for couples in committed relationships looking for new ways to connect and communicate. It seems particularly well-suited for two main groups: busy couples who want low-effort, high-impact ways to check in daily, and long-distance couples who can benefit from the app's features that simulate shared space and activity. The blend of fun games and deeper questions makes it accessible to both new and long-term partners.

Notes & opportunities

While the onboarding is thorough, requiring email sign-up and verification upfront (00:39) creates a significant friction point before the user experiences any value. Moving this step later or allowing a guest mode could improve initial conversion. Additionally, some features like 'Date Ideas' require pairing with a partner first (04:30), which can be a blocker for a single user exploring the app. Offering a preview or sample ideas could provide a better sense of the feature's value before committing to the pairing step.