# Essentialist vs Belmond

The clearest difference is rating: Belmond at 4.9 against Essentialist's 4.0. Belmond also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 12). Essentialist's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Belmond holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Belmond has 1.1K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Essentialist's written reviews are positive against 80% of Belmond's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Essentialist ships an update fortnightly, Belmond every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essentialist | Belmond |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentialist/id1176133286/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/belmond/id1521833472/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 83 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Bellhop](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166864351) | [BELMOND MANAGEMENT LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521833474) |

## What reviewers say

### Essentialist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentialist/id1176133286)

Discover unique travel experiences curated by a global network of experts. Access exclusive recommendations and insider tips for your next adventure.

**Highlights:** Private travel service, Global community of tastemakers, Travel editor recommendations, Beyond-the-obvious experiences, Member access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Belmond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/belmond/id1521833472)

Enhance your luxury travel experience with a personal digital guide. Manage your stay, access property information, and connect with experts for a seamless, non-touch escape.

**Highlights:** Digital pre-arrival information, Online chat with experts, Request management, Menu browsing, Property information access, Concierge recommendations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent hospitality and service
- 🌟 Luxurious and high-quality accommodations
- 🌍 Wonderful travel experiences and destinations
- 💻 User-friendly app and website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Slow service and long wait times
- 🏢 Disappointing room quality and amenities
- 🔍 Limited account and trip tracking features

**Reported bugs**

- App not rotating properly on iPad devices

**Requested features**

- More account and trip tracking options on the website
- Improved app compatibility and functionality on tablets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essentialist free?

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

### Is Belmond free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Essentialist or Belmond?

Belmond is rated higher. Essentialist averages 4.0 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Belmond averages 4.9 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Essentialist or Belmond have ads?

Neither Essentialist nor Belmond shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essentialist or Belmond?

Essentialist ships an update fortnightly, and Belmond every 3 months. Most recently, Essentialist was updated on September 16, 2026 and Belmond on July 23, 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.*