# Thrive vs CHEF iQ

The clearest difference is rating: CHEF iQ at 4.7 against Thrive's 3.8. CHEF iQ also leads on ratings volume (35K vs 1.1K) and review sentiment (42% vs 32%). Thrive's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CHEF iQ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CHEF iQ has 35K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Thrive's written reviews are positive against 42% of CHEF iQ's.

Thrive ships an update every 8 days, CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thrive | CHEF iQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-workday-food-ordering/id1039524157/reviews) | **[4.7 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chef-iq/id1496378504/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **35K** |
| Positive reviews | 31.7% of reviews | **42.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 105 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Compass Group Canada LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/947932794) | [RJ Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1278407317) |

## What reviewers say

### Thrive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-workday-food-ordering/id1039524157)

Easily browse and order food from your workplace's connected menus. Customize your meals, order ahead for convenient pickup, and enjoy secure payments. Reorder past favorites or use Scan & Pay for grab-and-go items.

**Highlights:** Connect to workplace food menus, View breakfast and lunch options, Customize meal choices, Order ahead for pickup, Reorder past favorites, Scan & Pay for grab-and-go

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CHEF iQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chef-iq/id1496378504)

This app acts as a culinary companion for smart cooking appliances, offering guided recipes, remote control, and ingredient shopping. It connects users with a community of home cooks and provides over-the-air updates for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Thousands of pre-programmed settings, Guided cooking recipes with videos, Instacart integration for ingredient delivery, Save favorite recipes and configurations, Appliance sharing with friends and family, Community forum for cooks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate temperature readings
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Guided cooking makes cooking easy
- 🚀 Helpful for new cooks
- 👍 Versatile for different meats

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with WiFi and Bluetooth
- 🔒 Requires account verification to use
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data access
- 🐛 Inconsistent notifications
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Firmware update failures
- Inability to connect to WiFi
- Incorrect temperature conversions
- Cooking time and liquid amount miscalculations

**Requested features**

- Live Activity support for cooking status
- Ability to adjust temperature and time during cooking
- Cooking history and data tracking
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- More generic cooking options beyond recipes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thrive free?

Thrive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CHEF iQ free?

CHEF iQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Thrive or CHEF iQ?

CHEF iQ is rated higher. Thrive averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while CHEF iQ averages 4.7 from 35K ratings.

### Do Thrive or CHEF iQ have ads?

Neither Thrive nor CHEF iQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thrive or CHEF iQ?

Thrive ships an update every 8 days, and CHEF iQ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Thrive was updated on November 6, 2026 and CHEF iQ on November 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*