# Fresh Thyme vs Mariano’s

The clearest difference is rating: Mariano’s at 4.6 against Fresh Thyme's 3.9. Mariano’s also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (5.9K vs 1.7K). 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.

Mariano’s holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 5.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of Fresh Thyme's written reviews are positive against 11% of Mariano’s's.

Fresh Thyme ships an update every 3 months, Mariano’s weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fresh Thyme | Mariano’s |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fresh-thyme/id1460063653/reviews) | **[4.6 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marianos/id1565844369/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K | **5.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 9.8% of reviews | **10.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lakes Venture, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460063652) | [The Kroger Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/403901189) |

## What reviewers say

### Fresh Thyme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fresh-thyme/id1460063653)

Easily shop for high-quality products with this app. Browse your local store's selection, create personalized shopping lists, and add items for curbside pickup. Access mobile coupons to save money on your purchases.

**Highlights:** Browse store assortment, Create personalized shopping lists, Add items for curbside pickup, Clip, scan, and save with mobile coupons, View weekly specials, Access recipes and healthy living resources

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Great store with high-quality products
- 👍 Convenient to view ads and coupons
- 💯 Friendly and helpful staff

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🤯 Extremely frustrating and difficult to use
- 🔍 Inability to search for products or view weekly ads
- 🔑 Constant log-in issues and password resets
- 🤖 Lack of user-friendly features and poor navigation

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load or display content properly
- Issues with account registration and login
- Inconsistent behavior when adding items to cart or list
- Discrepancies between app and in-store inventory/pricing

**Requested features**

- Add ability to view product details and ingredients
- Improve search functionality and organization of items
- Allow seamless integration between app and in-store experience
- Provide better visibility and access to digital coupons
- Enhance app stability and reduce frequent crashes


### Mariano’s

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marianos/id1565844369)

Simplify your grocery shopping with options for delivery, pickup, and in-store purchases. Access digital coupons, weekly ads, and personalized savings to help you spend less. Manage your shopping lists, reorder favorites, and even track pharmacy prescriptions.

**Highlights:** Grocery delivery and pickup, Digital coupons and weekly ads, Personalized savings and rewards, Shopping list management, Pharmacy prescription refills, Store locator

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient online ordering
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 💡 Useful features like 'buy again' list

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy functionality
- 👎 Missing key features from previous app
- 🤔 Confusing layout and navigation
- 😕 Inconsistent pricing and coupon application
- 🙄 Frustrating login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect pricing and failed coupon redemptions
- Inability to change store location or update payment info

**Requested features**

- Ability to specify item substitutions
- Option to sort cart by department
- Improved digital coupon management
- Better integration between app and website


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fresh Thyme free?

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

### Is Mariano’s free?

Mariano’s is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fresh Thyme or Mariano’s?

Mariano’s is rated higher. Fresh Thyme averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Mariano’s averages 4.6 from 5.9K ratings.

### Do Fresh Thyme or Mariano’s have ads?

Both Fresh Thyme and Mariano’s show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fresh Thyme or Mariano’s?

Fresh Thyme ships an update every 3 months, and Mariano’s weekly. Most recently, Fresh Thyme was updated on October 26, 2026 and Mariano’s on October 28, 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.*