You know what? I got tired of sticky notes and random screenshots. I shop at a lot of places—Target, Sephora, Etsy, REI, Home Depot. My cart would sit open, and I’d forget what I even wanted. So I tested a universal wishlist app called Wishupon for three months, plus Savelist for a week on the side. I used the iPhone app and the Chrome add-on.
Setup That Didn’t Make Me Cry
I signed in, added the little “Save” button to Chrome, and started saving things from all over. Tap the button on a product page, boom—saved. The photo and price came in clean most of the time.
Real items I saved:
- Dyson Airwrap from Sephora (my hair is thick; I wanted the long barrel kit)
- Le Creuset 5.5-qt Dutch oven from Williams Sonoma (flame orange because joy)
- Patagonia Better Sweater for my husband from REI (size L, nickel)
- LEGO Space Shuttle from Target for my nephew (age 8, loves rockets)
- A hand-drawn house portrait on Etsy for my mom
- A Milwaukee drill set from Home Depot for me, because, drywall happens
I made lists for each thing: “Birthday,” “Kitchen,” “Gifts for Kids,” and “Home Projects.” It felt like tiny drawers for my brain.
The Part That Hooked Me
Price drop alerts worked better than I expected. I got a ping when the Le Creuset went on sale—$60 off. I added a note right on the card: “Wait for Labor Day sale.” It sounds small, but it saved me from panic buys.
Sharing was smooth. I sent my “Kayla’s Birthday” list to my sister. She bought the Caraway muffin pan I’d saved from their site, and it auto-marked as purchased so no one doubled up. No more awkward “Oops, two of the same gift” moments.
I also liked:
- Notes for sizes and color. I wrote “husband runs warm, no black” on the sweater.
- Tags. I used “winter,” “host gifts,” “school.”
- “Back in stock” alerts helped me snag Nike Pegasus 41s in the sea glass color after two misses.
Where It Stumbled
Not gonna lie, a few bumps:
- Some stores fought the “Save” button. Small indie shops on Shopify saved fine, but one boutique fed in the wrong photo. I had to upload a screenshot.
- Prices weren’t always exact. Best Buy showed a bundle price; the app grabbed the base price. I added a note to fix it.
- Currency got weird. A UK site showed GBP, then my list flipped to USD later. It corrected itself, but the alert was late.
- The Android app (I borrowed my friend’s phone to test) ran a bit slow on older hardware. My iPhone felt snappier.
- The Savelist extension was fast, but it didn’t catch “pickup only” flags. I almost saved a patio set I couldn’t ship.
Nothing broke my flow, but it wasn’t perfect-perfect.
Little Moments That Sold Me
- Back-to-school: I made a “Supplies” list and added the exact SKU for my kid’s graphing calculator from Staples. No mix-ups at the store.
- Early holiday prep: I tagged “stocking stuffers” in August. When Black Friday hit, I already had a plan. I felt calm. That’s rare.
- House projects: I pinned a tile sample from a local shop, then the matching grout from Home Depot. Seeing them together helped me decide. And my budget didn’t scream.
Tips I Wish Someone Told Me
- Add sizes, colors, and “do not buy if…” notes. Future you will thank past you.
- Make event-based lists. “Fall Wardrobe” beats one giant blob.
- Archive bought items. It keeps the list clean, and it’s fun to see the wins.
- Turn alerts on, but trim them. I muted sale alerts from fast-fashion stores. Too noisy.
- Teach your people. I told my family: if you buy, mark it purchased. It actually worked.
Wishupon vs. Savelist (Quick Feelings)
- Wishupon felt more polished for price drops and back-in-stock. Good for gift seasons.
- Savelist was super fast at grabbing links. Nice for quick saving on the couch.
- For weddings or baby stuff, MyRegistry is still better. It handles group gifts and big-ticket items. For Secret Santa, I still like Elfster. For selling or swapping pieces you no longer need, I’ve tested a few apps like Depop and can vouch that a good resale app pairs nicely with a universal wishlist.
On a totally different wavelength, if your “wishlist” ever shifts from products to people, you can try PlanCul, plancul.app, which offers a discreet, streamlined space for adults to arrange no-strings dates without the endless swiping and clutter of mainstream dating apps. And if your version of treating yourself involves booking a relaxing massage while you’re up in Scotland, take a peek at this well-vetted directory of Aberdeen’s most talked-about parlors: Rubmaps Aberdeen—you’ll find candid reviews, service details, and price info so you can choose a spot that actually matches your comfort level.
If you’d like a minimalist hub that blends wish-listing with mood boards (it scratches the same itch as apps like Pinterest) and smart price tracking, give Loup a look—it’s a fresh take on corralling every shopping idea in one place.
What I’d Change
- I want a clean print view for grandparents who don’t like apps.
- Better size detection. Some shoes saved as “Size: Default,” which means nothing to me.
- A simple “gift ideas by price” filter. Show me everything under $25 in one tap.
Final Take
A universal wishlist app sounds extra. It’s not. It’s a cart for your whole life. I buy less junk now. I wait for sales. People can gift me things I actually want. And I feel lighter—like my brain got a tidy drawer.
Wishupon gets a 4.3 out of 5 from me. Savelist is a neat backup. If you shop across a bunch of stores, it’s worth it—especially before birthday season, Prime Day, or the holiday rush. Honestly, why was I juggling screenshots for so long?