Fed up with links floating around here, there and everywhere when you’re shopping online? Hate answering the question ‘what do you want for your birthday?’ every year? Solve both problems in one fell swoop with the help of a universal wishlist app.

Universal wishlist apps make it quick and hassle-free to save all the items you like in one easy-to-manage place. That way, you can compare things you like until you’re ready to buy – or share your lists with friends and family when an occasion like a birthday or Christmas rolls around. Here’s the lowdown.

Introduction to universal wishlist apps

You’ve probably heard of a wishlist. Most online stores will let you create one so you can save items you like until you’re ready to buy.

The problem? When I use a store’s wishlist feature, I can only save items from that particular store. So, it can be easy to lose track of where my items are saved and hard to compare similar items across multiple websites.

Universal wishlist apps work in a similar way, but instead of restricting you to items from one store, they’re… well… universal! In other words, they give you one dedicated place to save everything you like from across the web.

That means they’re perfect for keeping track of everything you have your eye on until you’re ready to make a purchase. Or for comparing items across multiple stores so you can invest your hard-earned cash in the perfect one.

Better still, you can use universal wishlist apps to create birthday wishlists, Christmas wishlists, baby registries and more. That way, your friends and family can see what you’re lusting after and get you things you actually want ahead of a special occasion. Nice!

Benefits of using a universal wishlist app

There are so many benefits of using a universal wishlist app. For starters, you’ll be able to:

1. Keep track of everything you like in one easy-to-manage place

2. Compare items you like from across the web

3. Share your wishlist with family and friends who want to buy you gifts

Why Use Moonsift?

If you choose to use Moonsift, you’ll enjoy a whole host of thoughtful features that make gift-listing beautifully easy, and completely free.

☑️ It’s completely free

Creating a wish list on Moonsift won’t cost you a penny. No hidden fees, no subscriptions — just effortless list-making.

☑️ Save as you go

Forget setting aside time to build your list all at once. With Moonsift’s universal ‘save’ button, you can add items as you browse — anytime, anywhere.

☑️ Designed to look good

Moonsift’s clean, stylish interface was created in collaboration with stylists and interior designers. Your list will look just as good as the gifts on it.

☑️ Price drop alerts

Moonsift notifies you when items you’ve saved go on sale — so you can snap them up at the best price.

☑️ Easy to share

Share your wish list with one simple link. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, weddings, or just dropping a hint.

☑️ Avoid duplicate gifts

Set your list to ‘registry mode’ and loved ones can tick off what they’ve bought, helping you avoid doubles.

☑️ Keep gifts a surprise

With registry settings, you choose when to reveal what’s been purchased — ideal for big occasions or secret surprises.

☑️ Add a cash fund

Dreaming of a big-ticket gift? Moonsift lets you include cash fund details, making it easy for others to contribute toward a holiday, home project, or special treat.

☑️ Save from mobile or desktop

Use the Moonsift browser extension or mobile app to save items on the go. Wherever you shop online, you can save it to one beautifully organised list.How to use a universal wishlist app

Universal wishlist apps all work slightly differently. However, the process will generally look something like this:

1. Get the app. Download your chosen universal wishlist app on your phone or tablet and sign up for an account. You might be able to download a browser extension on your desktop too, so you can access your wishlist across all your devices.

2. Add your items. Some apps will require you to manually add the items you like to your wishlist. However, other universal wishlist apps like Moonsift will let you save items directly to your collections as you come across them online.

3. Hone it. Now you have all the items you like in one place, you can compare them and cut your wishlist down to just the items you really want.

4. Get your items! Finally, all that’s left is to buy your items when you’re ready. Or, send your wishlist to friends and family so they can get your gift sorted ahead of a special occasion.

Top Universal Wish List Apps

Looking for the best universal wish list apps?

Here are some of the most popular platforms for creating and sharing wish lists:

➜ Moonsift A beautifully designed, all-in-one platform with powerful sharing, registry, and price-drop features.
➜ WishList.com Simple and straightforward, with browser and app options for saving items.
➜ MyRegistry Popular for weddings and baby showers, with options to sync multiple lists.
➜ Amazon Wish List Great for Amazon users, but limited to Amazon products.
➜ Things To Get Me A minimal, no-login option for quick and anonymous list-making.
➜ Wishbob Focused on easy sharing and privacy options.
➜ Giftwhale A fun and colourful option, especially for birthdays and small events.

All of the apps listed above let you add almost any item in the world to your wish list, no matter where it’s from. (Just a heads up: with Amazon, you’ll need to use the wedding registry feature to add items from outside Amazon.)

They also work seamlessly on both desktop and mobile, so you can add items wherever you're browsing. Handy, right?

That said, most of these apps are designed with special occasions in mind, think birthdays, weddings, and Christmas, rather than everyday browsing or saving things you love until you're ready to buy.

Moonsift is a little different. It's built to do both:
➜ Curate lists for events and
➜ Save items you love all year round, even if you're just window-shopping for now.

2023 update: Amazon no longer allows you to add items from other websites to your standard Amazon Lists.
Explore the best Amazon List alternatives here.

What Are Shopping Apps?

If you’re browsing on your phone or tablet, a mobile shopping app can be a super convenient alternative to using a brand’s website. These apps are designed specifically for smaller screens, making it easier to scroll, tap, and shop on the go.

Chances are, your favourite online brands already have their own shopping apps, and with good reason. Most online purchases now happen through apps rather than traditional websites.

The good news? You can still use a universal wish list app like Moonsift alongside them. Moonsift lets you save items directly from your favourite shopping apps, so you can build one central list of everything you love, no matter where you spotted it.

Benefits of Using a Shopping App

Wondering why you might choose a shopping app over browsing in your mobile browser? Shopping apps are built specifically for your phone or tablet, which means a smoother, more tailored experience. Here are some of the key benefits:

☑️ A more personalised experience
Apps often remember your preferences, past purchases, and favourite items, making it easier to discover what you actually want.

☑️ Real-time alerts
Get notified about sales, restocks, or delivery updates with push notifications, so you never miss out.

☑️ Offline access
Some apps allow you to browse saved items or recent searches even without an internet connection.

☑️ Faster performance
Shopping apps often load faster and run more smoothly than mobile websites.

Popular Shopping Apps

There are thousands of shopping apps out there, but here are a few of the most popular ones:

☑️ Temu Known for ultra-low prices on a wide range of products.
☑️ Shop by Shopify Track orders and discover new brands, all in one place.
☑️ Klarna Shop now, pay later, plus save and track items from multiple stores.
☑️ Etsy Perfect for handmade, vintage, and unique finds from independent sellers.
☑️ Amazon The go-to app for everything from groceries to gadgets.
☑️ eBay Great for secondhand treasures, auctions, and hard-to-find items.

Don’t forget, if you see items you like while you’re using any of these shopping apps, you can save them to your universal wishlist app. That way, you’ll know exactly where they are when you’re ready to buy, or, you can share your wishlist with friends and family so they can get you the perfect gift.

How to Save Items to Moonsift from Any App or Website

Whether you’re browsing on a brand’s website or using a mobile shopping app, saving your favourite finds to Moonsift is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Find an item you like

2. Tap the share button on the product page

3. Select Moonsift from the sharing options

And that’s it, your item will be instantly saved to your Moonsift collections, ready to revisit or share whenever you like.

Ready to get started?

Simply download the Moonsift app for iOS from the App Store.

Oh, and don’t forget to get the browser extension for your desktop too. That way, you can save items to your wishlist wherever you’re browsing. Enjoy!