Comparison

Ripples vs First Crack

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ripples

Manage drink designs, order supplies, and access expert guidance for a drink printer. Create custom mobile sites for customer creations and learn tips to enhance print quality. Designed for on-the-go teams in bars and cafes.

Highlights
  • Manage drink designs
  • Order supplies
  • Create custom mobile sites
  • Access expert guidance
  • Upload and schedule content
  • Restock cartridges and accessories
Features
Read full description

Already have a Ripple Maker drink printer? This app is a must. It puts content management, supply ordering, and expert guidance right at your fingertips. No desktop required, designed to support your busy team on the road or behind the bar. New to Ripples? The Ripple Maker is a countertop-sized drink printer that uses natural, plant-based extracts to print images, logos, and messages directly onto foam-topped drinks. Transform your lattes, beer and cocktails into shareable moments that boost your bottom line. What you can do with the Ripples App: • Manage your designs Upload, select, and schedule drink-top content in just a few taps. From seasonal LTOs and brand promotions to birthday prints and trending memes, it’s never been easier to keep your drinks relevant and on-brand. • Order from the store Running low on cartridges? Need to print on macarons? Restock supplies directly through the app. Fast, secure, and mobile-first. • Update your own mobile site for customer creations Set up your custom customer-facing mobile site especially to match your venue or for a special holiday or event. Your customers will then be able to scan a QR code and upload their own pictures or select a favorite image to be printed on their drinks, no download required. Perfect for events, activations, and creating a customizable experience for every customer. (Requires the Advanced Design Plan). • Learn tips and tricks Get expert advice from the Ripples team on how to perfect your pour, improve print quality, and use your machine to its full potential with full access to the Ripples Training Academy video library. Still need help? Easily connect with your Customer Success Rep. • Track machine stats (coming soon) Get weekly updates with print counts, top-performing designs, and usage trends to understand what’s working and plan your next menu move. Download the Ripples App today and start running your drink marketing from your phone.

About

First Crack

Discover independent specialty coffee shops and roasters in the Southeast. Find hours, brew details, and directions on a map. Save favorites and track your coffee journey.

Highlights
  • Map-based discovery
  • Cafe and roaster filtering
  • Real-time hours and brew details
  • Save and share favorite spots
  • Personal coffee journal
  • Directions and parking info
Features
Read full description

First Crack is a curated guide to the independent specialty coffee worth seeking out. No chains, no filler, just the cafes and roasters we think you'll love, hand-picked and growing across Georgia and the wider Southeast. Open the map to see what's brewing around you. Tap any shop for the things that actually matter: today's hours (holiday hours included), what they brew, which roasters are on bar, the vibe, parking, and one-tap directions. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Explore on a map-first view built for finding your next cup. - Filter by cafe or roaster, what's open now, or roasters that ship nationally. - Save your favorites and keep them close in your own collection. - Build and share lists, or save a copy of one a friend shares with you. - Keep a little journal of the places you've been. CURATED WITH CARE Every shop is reviewed before it makes the map, so everything you find is a place worth your time. This is a guide made for people who love good coffee. NO ACCOUNT NEEDED Search, filter, browse, and get directions without signing up. When you're ready to save favorites, build lists, and track your visits, create a free account with Sign in with Apple or Google. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No third-party tracking. Your account simply powers your favorites, lists, and visits, and nothing more. WHERE WE ARE We're currently pouring in Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah, with more of the Southeast on the way. Know a spot we're missing? Tell us right from the app. We'd love to check it out.

Screenshots

Ripples4 screens
First Crack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: First Crack at 100% against Ripples's 27%. First Crack also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Ripples's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

First Crack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ripples has 20 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Ripples's written reviews are positive against 100% of First Crack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ripples ships an update every 2 months, First Crack every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ripples versus First Crack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRipplesFirst Crack
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (20 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.5 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB9 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSteam CCKORTNEY SEVON STINSON

Customer experience

Ripples

All ratings20 ratings
Positive45.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative45.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive26.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative66.7%

First Crack

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ripples

No in-app purchases

None

First Crack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ripples free?
Ripples is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is First Crack free?
First Crack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ripples or First Crack?
First Crack is rated higher. Ripples averages 3.0 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while First Crack averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Ripples or First Crack have ads?
Neither Ripples nor First Crack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ripples or First Crack?
Ripples ships an update every 2 months, and First Crack every 2 days. Most recently, Ripples was updated on November 2, 2026 and First Crack on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons