# HydroJug vs The Cupboard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HydroJug at none against The Cupboard's 6. HydroJug also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 68%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). The Cupboard's advantage is chart position (#63 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Cupboard sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. HydroJug asks for nothing beyond the download.

HydroJug holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HydroJug has 2K ratings behind it against 218, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of HydroJug's written reviews are positive against 68% of The Cupboard's.

HydroJug ships an update every 4 weeks, The Cupboard fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HydroJug | The Cupboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrojug/id1569734771/reviews)** | [4.6 (218 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cupboard/id6670328491/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 218 |
| Positive reviews | **88.2% of reviews** | 67.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#63** |
| Size | 33 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HydroJug, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1569734773) | [Chase Kunz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1747951510) |

## What reviewers say

### HydroJug

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrojug/id1569734771)

Shop the latest products and stay updated on all company news. Earn loyalty points and never miss a product release with push notifications. Elevate your hydration experience with exclusive insider access.

**Highlights:** Shop latest products, Earn loyalty points, Stay updated on news, Push notifications for releases, Insider access to HQ

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💧 Excellent water jugs
- 🔒 Leak-proof design
- ❄️ Keeps drinks cold for long periods
- 🧭 Helpful measurement markings
- 🧠 Encourages hydration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional leaks
- 🔑 Discount code issues
- 🤔 Confusing app experience
- 🕰️ Slow order processing

**Reported bugs**

- Checkout process issues
- Login problems with app

**Requested features**

- Improved app navigation and filtering
- More size and color options
- Seamless integration of rewards program


### The Cupboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cupboard/id6670328491)

**Currently charting:** #63 Top Grossing · Shopping (US App Store)

Manage your bottle collection, track desired items, and buy or sell with other users. Monitor your progress, view bottle rankings, and analyze market trends. Premium features offer advanced insights and customization.

**Highlights:** Add bottles to collection, Create wishlists, Buy and sell cups in marketplace, Track daily bottle usage, View collection progress and stats, Browse and filter bottle gallery, View purchase and sales history

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Cupboard Premium (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| The Cupboard Premium (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| The Cupboard Premium (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| The Cupboard Premium (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| The Cupboard Premium (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| The Cupboard Premium (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Ability to track collection
- 🚀 Improving features
- 💡 Great concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Lags and freezes
- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
- 💡 Missing brand and product options

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes or crashes
- Unable to delete 'sold' items
- Difficulty adding items to collection

**Requested features**

- Add more brand and product options
- Improve stability and performance
- Provide better customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HydroJug free?

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

### Is The Cupboard free?

The Cupboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HydroJug or The Cupboard?

HydroJug is rated higher. HydroJug averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while The Cupboard averages 4.6 from 218 ratings.

### Do HydroJug or The Cupboard have ads?

Neither HydroJug nor The Cupboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HydroJug or The Cupboard?

HydroJug ships an update every 4 weeks, and The Cupboard fortnightly. Most recently, HydroJug was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Cupboard on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*