Want your own numbers (revenue, signups, server health, prices, counts) on your iPhone Home Screen or Lock Screen? Here is how the main options compare, and when each one is the better choice. We make WidgetDash, so we tried to be fair about where other tools fit better.
| How data gets there | Code needed | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WidgetDash | You push values to an HTTP API from anywhere; the widget shows the latest | One HTTP request (curl, Zapier, n8n, a script) or none for built-in sources | Any number from any source, including private systems, with Live Activities |
| Scriptable | JavaScript you write runs on the phone and fetches data | Yes, JavaScript per widget | Developers who want full control over layout and logic on-device |
| Widgy Widgets | Visual layer-based designer, with some data sources and JavaScript | Optional | Highly designed, custom-looking widgets |
| Numerics | Connects to business services through built-in integrations | No | Business KPIs from supported services |
| Pushcut | Notifications and widgets driven by Shortcuts, webhooks and automation | Low | Automation-heavy workflows with actionable notifications |
| Home Assistant | Widgets for entities in your Home Assistant server | Setup of Home Assistant | Smart-home sensors and device states |
| Widgetsmith, Color Widgets | Built-in sources (time, weather, calendar, photos, health) | No | Home Screen personalization, not custom data |
| ntfy, Pushover | Push notifications via HTTP | One HTTP request | Alerts, not an always-visible number |
Scriptable is a powerful free app for running JavaScript on iOS, including widgets. The widget itself fetches data, so the phone needs direct access to every API it reads, and any credentials live in scripts on the device. With WidgetDash the direction is reversed: your server, script or automation pushes the final number, so secrets stay where they already are and the phone only ever sees the value. Choose Scriptable if you want to hand-code layouts; choose WidgetDash if you want a number on your widget with one request and no on-device code.
Widgy is a visual widget designer with layers and effects. It is great when the look is the point. WidgetDash is built for the opposite priority: the data is the point, with a clean native layout, metric colors and status indicators handled for you, and Live Activities for real-time values.
Numerics connects to many business services through built-in integrations. If every number you care about comes from a service it supports, it is a solid choice. WidgetDash does not need an integration to exist: anything you can compute (an internal database query, a spreadsheet cell, a scraper, a sensor) can be pushed with one request.
Pushcut is primarily an automation and smart-notification tool that also offers widgets. WidgetDash focuses on displaying structured metrics (numbers, statuses, progress) across Home Screen, Lock Screen and Live Activities, with a simple data API.
Notification services are ideal for "tell me when X happens." They are not a good way to keep a number in view, because notifications scroll away. Many people use both: a notification for the alert, a WidgetDash widget for the current state.
Pricing: free for up to 5 data sources; Pro is $4.90/month or $29.90/year. See how to set it up in two minutes.
Last reviewed September 2026. Other apps change often, so check each app's App Store listing for its current features and pricing. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners.