Compare · Updated October 2026
A Whering alternative for people who want a quieter closet app.
Whering is one of the best-known digital wardrobe apps, and for good reason. At the time of writing it is essentially free with no item limit and no ads, it has a large community, and it runs on both iPhone and Android.
Cotton is smaller and narrower. It is an iPhone and iPad app that keeps your closet on your phone, cuts each piece out on-device, and gives you one outfit a day from what you own. If that sounds like what you want, read on. If it doesn’t, Whering may well be the better pick.
At a glance
| Cotton | Whering | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone and Android |
| Free tier | Every feature, up to 40 pieces | No item limit |
| Paid plans | Pro: $2.99/month, $19.99/year or $39.99 once | Optional purchases |
| Ads | None | None |
| Adding clothes | Cut out on-device in about a second; up to 30 photos at once | Background removal; some users report weaker results and the odd upload restart |
| Outfit ideas | One outfit a day from your closet, favoring pieces you haven’t worn lately | Styling and “dress me” features |
| Wear insights | Free for everyone, including cost per wear | — |
| Account and storage | No account; closet stays on your phone | — |
| Community | None | Large community |
| Shopping | None | — |
Getting your clothes in
A closet app is only useful once your clothes are in it, so setup matters more than any feature list. Whering removes backgrounds from your photos. Some users report the background removal is weaker than they’d like and that uploads occasionally need a restart.
Cotton uses Apple Vision on your phone to cut each piece out in about a second. You can pick up to 30 photos at once, and if several pieces are in one shot, Cotton separates them. It measures the real color of each piece, and it never redraws your clothes unless you ask it to with Studio polish.
Outfits and community
Whering leans social and playful: styling features, a “dress me” button, and a large community to browse. If you enjoy seeing how other people wear things, that is a real advantage.
Cotton has no feed. Today shows one outfit a day built from your own closet. Tap a piece to keep it and shuffle the rest. It favors pieces you haven’t worn lately, so the forgotten half of your wardrobe comes back into rotation.
Price and privacy
On price, Whering is hard to beat: free with optional purchases, at the time of writing. Cotton is free up to 40 pieces with every feature, then $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $39.99 once.
What you get for that is a closet with no account and no ads, stored on your phone and in its backup. Cotton collects anonymous usage analytics only. Insights, including cost per wear, are free for everyone.
What Cotton doesn’t do
Cotton has no Android app, no web app, no social feed, and no shopping or affiliate links. If any of those matter to you, one of the other apps here will suit you better.
Who should pick which
- Pick Whering if you want a free app with no item limit, you’re on Android, or you’d enjoy a big community and styling features.
- Pick Cotton if you’re on iPhone, want clean cutouts with little effort, and would rather your closet stay on your phone with no account.
Questions
Is Cotton better than Whering?+
Neither is better for everyone. Whering is free with no item limit, runs on Android, and has a large community. Cotton is iPhone-only and paid past 40 pieces, but it cuts pieces out on-device, needs no account and keeps your closet on your phone.
Can I move my closet from Whering to Cotton?+
There is no direct import. The quickest route is to photograph your clothes again. Cotton takes up to 30 photos at once and cuts each piece out in about a second, so a closet of 40 pieces is a short evening.
Does Cotton need an account?+
No. You open the app and start adding clothes. Your closet is stored on your phone and in its backup. The only time a photo leaves the phone is when you choose Studio polish for that one piece, and the server doesn’t keep it.
How much does Cotton cost?+
Cotton is free up to 40 pieces, with every feature included. Cotton Pro removes the limit and includes 20 Studio polishes a month. It costs $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $39.99 once for lifetime access.
Start with what you own.
Cotton for iPhone and iPad. No account, no ads, free up to 40 pieces.