BottleDrop vs Before You Burn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BottleDrop
Easily return deposit containers and receive your refund. Access your account card, view your balance and bag history, and find nearby return locations. Manage your account information and receive important notifications.
- Return deposit containers
- Receive refunds
- Access account card
- View account balance
- Track bag history
- Find return locations
- Update account information
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BottleDrop is the easiest way to return your deposit containers and get your refund. With the app, you can access your account card, view your account balance and bag history, find locations, update your account information, receive account notifications, and more.
Before You Burn
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Check before you burn and keep your community safe. BeforeYouBurn makes it easy to know if burning is allowed in your area and gives you the tools to burn responsibly. Features * Real-time burn status – Instantly see if outdoor burning is open, restricted, or closed in your district. * Local fire danger levels – View current fire conditions including weather, risk, and safety alerts. * Agency updates – Stay connected with your fire district for closures, safety information, and local guidelines. * Simple check-in – Let your district know when you start and finish burning (Pro subscription required in participating districts). * Safe practices – Access educational resources and safety reminders to reduce wildfire risk. Why BeforeYouBurn Outdoor debris burning is one of the leading causes of human-started wildfires. BeforeYouBurn gives residents, fire districts, and state agencies a single trusted platform to share up-to-date information and encourage safe, compliant burning practices.
Screenshots
Verdict
BottleDrop and Before You Burn are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BottleDrop ships an update every 2 months, Before You Burn every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BottleDrop | Before You Burn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (104 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 10.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 104 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 57 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative | Alpine Internet Solutions, Inc. |
Bugs and requests
BottleDrop
Reported bugs
18 issues- Unexpected logout after period of inactivity
- Login failed errors despite correct credentials
- App won't progress past splash/start screen
- Crashes when accessing locations tab
- Internet connectivity error messages despite active connection
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- QR code unreadable by kiosk scanners
- Transfer buttons hidden behind other UI elements
- Venmo/PayPal transfer functionality non-functional
- Password expiration without notification
- Account recognition failures after logout
- Brightness settings not respecting system preferences
- App freezes during account activation
- Bag history not displaying or updating
- Virtual card not appearing in app despite website signup
- Force close required to restore functionality
- Deposits showing as pending indefinitely
- QR code positioning incompatible with larger phones
- Facial recognition not working despite activation
Requested features
11 requests- Dark mode for reduced eye strain in low light
- Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, PIN)
- Manual QR code entry option for unscanned bags
- Transaction history and detailed bag credit breakdown
- In-app bag and label ordering
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- Apple Wallet integration for digital card
- GPS-based location finder instead of manual entry
- Persistent login sessions to avoid constant re-authentication
- In-app cash withdrawal/transfer without kiosk visits
- Email notifications for password resets and account changes
- Account activity notifications
Before You Burn
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BottleDrop
No in-app purchases
Before You Burn
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BottleDrop free?
Is Before You Burn free?
Do BottleDrop or Before You Burn have ads?
Which is updated more often, BottleDrop or Before You Burn?
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