# Maria's NJ vs NextPlate

The clearest difference is rating: Maria's NJ at 5.0 against NextPlate's 3.7. NextPlate's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 14 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Maria's NJ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 87 respectively.

Maria's NJ ships an update every 14 months, NextPlate every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maria's NJ | NextPlate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marias-nj/id1278033487/reviews)** | [3.7 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextplate/id1608079261/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | — | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 52 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ChowNow](https://appshunter.io/developer/553996348) | [Sponty, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023250680) |

## What reviewers say

### Maria's NJ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marias-nj/id1278033487)

Easily order your favorite meals with this app. Browse the menu, customize your dishes, and securely pay for your order. Receive a notification when your food is ready for pickup.

**Highlights:** Browse and customize menu items, Secure payment system, Save delivery and payment details, Schedule orders up to 7 days in advance, View restaurant location and hours, Receive order readiness notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### NextPlate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextplate/id1608079261)

Discover nearby restaurants and stores offering discounted meals, groceries, and baked goods nearing their best-by date. Save money and reduce food waste by rescuing delicious food before it's thrown away.

**Highlights:** Discounted meals and groceries, Find food nearing best-by date, Save money on food, Reduce food waste, Browse nearby restaurants and stores, Reserve and purchase via app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great concept for reducing food waste
- 💰 Saves money on food
- 🌎 Environmentally friendly
- 👍 User-friendly (mentioned by one user)
- ✅ Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Cannot sign up/create account
- ❌ Phone number verification issues
- ❌ App crashes frequently
- ❌ Geographically restricted (primarily LA)
- ❌ Poor location detection/handling

**Reported bugs**

- Error 102 server error
- Blocked/restricted errors
- App crashes on iPhone 11 Pro
- Blank white screen for campus location
- Cannot enter last name during registration

**Requested features**

- Expand service to more states/locations
- Allow sign-up without phone number
- Improve location services and accuracy
- Clarify app's geographical availability upfront
- Offer alternative sign-up methods (email)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maria's NJ free?

Maria's NJ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NextPlate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Maria's NJ or NextPlate?

Maria's NJ is rated higher. Maria's NJ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while NextPlate averages 3.7 from 87 ratings.

### Do Maria's NJ or NextPlate have ads?

Maria's NJ shows ads; NextPlate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Maria's NJ or NextPlate?

Maria's NJ ships an update every 14 months, and NextPlate every 10 days. Most recently, Maria's NJ was updated on October 24, 2026 and NextPlate on October 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.*