# Tap Deck vs Build a Beer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tap Deck at none against Build a Beer's 2. Build a Beer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Build a Beer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Tap Deck asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tap Deck against 5.0 for Build a Beer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

Tap Deck ships an update every 18 months, Build a Beer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tap Deck | Build a Beer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-deck/id1388150319/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-beer/id6502470194/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jason Neumeier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1028837598) | [David Vanfleet](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545773619) |

## What reviewers say

### Tap Deck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-deck/id1388150319)

Manage and display your craft beer selection with this innovative system. Showcase your brews on various screens, from large TVs to mobile devices, updating inventory and tap changes in real-time. This management app requires login and integrates social features.

**Highlights:** Real-time tap and inventory updates, Display on TVs and mobile devices, Socially integrated media center, Product showcase for customers, Login-required management app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Build a Beer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-beer/id6502470194)

This AI-powered app assists homebrewers in creating custom beer recipes. It helps generate accurate clone recipes or develop original ones with appropriate ingredients and styles. Explore ingredients and discover new beer styles to brew.

**Highlights:** AI-assisted recipe generation, Clone brew recipe accuracy, Custom recipe creation, Ingredient exploration, New beer style discovery, Easy-to-use recipe format

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tap Deck free?

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

### Is Build a Beer free?

Build a Beer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tap Deck or Build a Beer?

Tap Deck and Build a Beer are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do Tap Deck or Build a Beer have ads?

Neither Tap Deck nor Build a Beer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tap Deck or Build a Beer?

Tap Deck ships an update every 18 months, and Build a Beer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Tap Deck was updated on October 10, 2026 and Build a Beer on October 8, 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.*