# The Essential — Buy Furniture From The Factory > Buy furniture directly from factories, bypassing designer markups. (iPhone/iPad app by Inhabit.io, Inc.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-essential/id1522395728 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Inhabit.io, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1522395730) - Category: Shopping, Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 3.91/5 from 100 App Store ratings · 29 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 51 MB - Languages: Arabic, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi and 17 more - Released: 2020-07-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-12 - Monetization: ad-supported - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-essential/id1522395728/reviews.md ## What is The Essential? Furniture from the same factories as designer brands. Without the markups. ## Key features - Factory-direct furniture - Designer-quality at lower prices - Avoid retail markups - Access to original factory sources ## Recent user reviews (10 of 29) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-essential/id1522395728/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great furniture *2026-04-14, version 7.3* They launch the deals on the app before the website usually. They sell a lot of dupes but it’s considerably better quality than the junk you’ll get from Wayfair. Good customer support too. ### 1/5 — Logged me out *2025-04-06, version 5.8* Won’t let me log in without creating a paid account with Shopify. I paid for a membership to the Essential and I can’t order anything. There’s no contact information on the app to help. ### 1/5 — Logged me out *2025-04-02* Won’t let me log in without creating a paid account with Shopify. What gives? Why am I having to pay another service to shop here? ### 1/5 — Terrible service would never recommend it *2025-03-14, version 5.7* I placed an order two months ago, and I still haven’t received it. This isn’t the first time I’ve had issues with delayed shipments from your company, but this is beyond reasonable. I reached out to support asking for a refund, but instead, I was offered a $15 credit for a future order. That’s not acceptable. I’m not ordering from you again, and I don’t want store credit—I want my money back. At this point, I’m just disappointed and tired of going in circles. I shouldn’t have to chase down an order for two months or fight for a basic refund. Since I haven’t been able to get a resolution, I’m left with no choice but to share my experience in an app review so others are aware of what to expect. ### 2/5 — Shipping Broken *2024-11-12, version 5.4* I purchased some items, but the shipping option or selector keeps pending and doesn’t pick anything. I’m unable to place an order through Apple Pay or the regular checkout. ### 1/5 — Be ware of this scam *2024-10-25, version 5.4* This nothing but another subscription service with the same over priced garbage you knew you never needed in the first place. Definitely NOT worth the $95 for the privilege of overspending on bad products. ### 5/5 — A simple yet powerful app! *2024-01-30, version 5.1* This app has proven to be the best way to shop The Essential. ### 1/5 — Stay away! *2024-01-23, version 5.1* You have a better chance of getting higher quality items if you order on wish or temu. It’s that bad. Placed an order back in December. Took al ost two months to arrive and i’m being generous by saying the quality is subpar. Save your money and save yourself the headache and avoid this at all cost ### 5/5 — Fantastic products *2023-12-29, version 5.1* Great customer service. ### 1/5 — Do not shop at this site! *2023-12-07, version 4.9* I ordered three items on Nov 10th. Two men’s toilet article kits, and a filing cabinet. I have yet to receive delivery on anything. It is now December 6. I’ve already emailed once, and was given the lame excuse that the company is changing warehouses, and thus the delay. Unfortunately for them, I read the negative reviews about people never getting their orders delivered in a timely fashion, and I should have followed my better judgment. But I didn’t. So now they have my money, and I have not received any deliveries. How do they stay in business? I have no idea, as this method of conducting business is completely unacceptable. I’m concerned that these three Christmas gifts will not even arrive in time to be given for the holiday. No one gets back to you to explain why things may or may not be delayed. They tell me it’s a warehouse move, but the negative reviews about never getting deliveries goes back a ways in time. Do not shop here. It is not worth the aggravation. Shop at Rue La La, gilt, Nordstrom Rack or even W al mart for a better experience. ## Frequently asked questions about The Essential ### What is this app? This app allows you to buy furniture directly from the factories that produce for well-known designer brands. It aims to offer the same quality furniture without the added cost of retail markups. ### How does it save money? By sourcing furniture directly from the factories, the app eliminates the traditional retail markup. This means you get access to high-quality pieces at a significantly lower price point than you would find in a standard furniture store. ### Is this app free to use? The app is free to download and use. It is supported by advertisements, which allow the service to be offered without direct cost to the user. ### What kind of furniture can I find? You can find furniture that is made in the same factories as designer brands. This suggests a range of stylish and quality home furnishings, though specific categories are not detailed in the description. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 7.3 — 2026-04-10 • New and improved user accounts • Easier and faster checkout • View and keep track of your orders ### 7.2 — 2026-03-24 • New and improved user accounts • Easier and faster checkout • View and keep track of your orders ### 7.1 — 2026-03-06 • New and improved user accounts • Easier and faster checkout • View and keep track of your orders ### 7 — 2026-02-11 • New and improved user accounts • Easier and faster checkout • View and keep track of your orders ### 6.9 — 2025-12-10 • New and improved user accounts • Easier and faster checkout • View and keep track of your orders ## Apps similar to The Essential | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Basic.Space](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basicspace/id1163845100) | 4.6 (319) | Free | Shopping | | [jack henry](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jack-henry/id6444266995) | 4.9 (107) | Free | Shopping | | [Yamazaki Home](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yamazaki-home/id6751071805) | 5.0 (181) | Free | Shopping | | [ZeroWasteStore](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zerowastestore/id1573020820) | 4.0 (17) | Free | Shopping | | [Martie: Deal Discovery Store](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/martie-deal-discovery-store/id1665264838) | 4.8 (4,456) | Free | Shopping | | [Shop Public Goods](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shop-public-goods/id1660645621) | 4.2 (32) | Free | Shopping | ## Related topics [furnished the bungalow](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/furnished-the-bungalow) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-12.*