Comparison

Combustion Inc. vs Eater

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Combustion Inc.

Monitor and graph real-time food temperatures during cooking. Predict exactly when your meal will be ready using advanced sensor data and a predictive engine. Receive alerts for key cooking events and ensure food safety.

Highlights
  • Real-time core, surface, and ambient temperature graphing
  • Predictive engine for exact 'ready' time estimation
  • Advanced alerts for cooking events
  • Food safety parameter setting
  • Firmware updates for accessories
  • Cloud connectivity for remote monitoring
  • Live Activity and Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

See (and graph!) exact temperatures throughout your food while it cooks. Know exactly when it will be done. View and graph core, surface, and ambient temps in real time. The wireless Predictive Thermometer was built to answer a simple but important question: when will my food be ready? Combustion’s Predictive Engine™ estimates exactly when that will be, using the data from 8 onboard sensors (the most of any cooking thermometer). Important firmware updates! The Combustion App includes the latest firmware updates for Predictive Thermometers and other Combustion Accessories including Boosters, Displays, Giant Grill Gauges and other forthcoming products. Firmware updates improve core functions including time-to-cook predictions, longer battery life, and can add new features. MeatNet™ Cloud – for functionally unlimited range! Use with WiFi Accessories or with a second mobile device to stream your cook data to the cloud. Watch your cook in real-time from anywhere with internet access. Live Activity/Apple Watch support. The Combustion App works with iOS as well as iPadOS and MacOS (M1 or newer). Includes Live Activity (Dynamic Island) display feature so you can watch key temps even when the app is in the background. So handy! Combustion App Features: – Set target temp: so that your food comes out just the way you want it – See predictions in relative time (“ready in” countdown) or in absolute “clock” time – See key temps in real-time: including TrueCore®, TrueSurface™, TrueAmbient™ – Get notifications for important cooking events with advanced alerts (ready alarm, 5-minute warning, disconnect alert, low battery notification) – Set SafeCook™ parameters (integrated food-safety) – Know exactly when your food is safe to eat – Set-up WiFi connectivity for Combustion WiFi accessories – Graph your food’s temperatures in real-time! – See (and graph) temperatures from all 8 sensors with Advanced Cooking Mode – Enables multi-node MeatNet™: use any combination of Combustion accessories to extend Bluetooth signal range + strength – Use with or without Combustion Display – Export cooking data - to fine-tune your technique – Update firmware: get better performance and new features for Combustion tools – Works with most cooking appliances and cookware types – Works with all kinds of foods and most cooking appliances - BBQ smokers, ovens, ranges, grills, and more - indoors and out. – Works with or without WiFi Get more consistent results with all your favorite foods: steak, pork chops, brisket, pork shoulder, roasts, turkey, whole chicken, ribs, fish, bread, and more. Advanced graphing on the Combustion App helps you visualize exactly how heat moves through your food. You will understand the relationship between ambient cook temps and surface temps. And how surface temps really control how long things take – and how evenly food cooks. It may shock you to find out the oven temp (or grill temp) you set is not the same as the food is actually experiencing! The Combustion Inc app puts all that knowledge in front of you – with instant feedback, so you’re not just cooking better, you’re also learning as you go. And learning has never been so delicious.

About

Eater

Discover top restaurant and bar recommendations curated by expert editors. Find new places in any city, get personalized suggestions, and easily make reservations. Never have a bad meal again with trusted insider picks.

Highlights
  • Editor-curated restaurant picks
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Insider community connection
  • Smart search functionality
  • Create and share custom lists
  • Direct table reservations
Read full description

The Eater app is the most trusted way to find great restaurants. Our editors have spent years eating at the best restaurants and bars so you always know where to go next. Get instant access to all of Eater’s restaurant picks in every major city, whether you're exploring a new neighborhood, planning a trip, or need a quick rec on the go. With the Eater app, you’ll never have a bad meal. What you’ll love about the Eater app: - Curated by editors: Trusted recommendations and reviews from people who know restaurants - Insider to insider: Follow and connect with editors, chefs, and friends, and be part of the Eater community - Ask anything: Smarter search that finds the places you actually want - Recommended for you: Eater’s take on restaurants near you and wherever you travel - Create and share: Browse Eater lists, make your own, and share your favorite spots with friends - Browse to book: Reserve tables directly in the Eater app so you’re one step closer to a great meal With the Eater app, the next great place to eat or drink is in the palm of your hand, no matter where the day (or night) takes you. Download the Eater app to find your next great meal.

Screenshots

Combustion Inc.4 screens
Eater4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Combustion Inc. at 4.7 against Eater's 4.1. Combustion Inc. also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (74% vs 42%). Eater's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Combustion Inc. holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Combustion Inc. has 1.7K ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Combustion Inc.'s written reviews are positive against 42% of Eater's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Combustion Inc. ships an update monthly, Eater weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Combustion Inc. versus Eater: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCombustion Inc.Eater
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better4.1 (59 ratings)
Positive reviews74.0% of reviews — better41.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better59
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB154 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperCombustion Inc.Vox Media, Inc.

Customer experience

Combustion Inc.

All ratings1,745 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive74.0%
Neutral3.9%
Negative22.1%

Eater

All ratings59 ratings
Positive74.6%
Neutral3.4%
Negative22.0%
Written reviews89 reviews
Positive41.6%
Neutral7.9%
Negative50.6%

User reviews

Combustion Inc.

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fantastic product
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🔍 Accurate temperature readings
  • 💡 Predictive cooking feature
  • 🚀 Seamless app experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔋 Battery life problems
  • 🐛 Unreliable performance
  • 🐛 Sync and pairing problems
  • 🐛 App bugs and glitches

Eater

From 59 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Convenient access to Eater content
  • 🚀 Curated restaurant recommendations
  • 💡 Ability to save/reference restaurant lists

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes/won't open for some users
  • 🔒 Forced opt-in for data tracking
  • 🗺️ Outdated restaurant information
  • 🌍 Limited to certain regions/cities

Bugs and requests

Combustion Inc.

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Thermometer disconnects during use
  • App unable to stop timer
  • Inaccurate temperature readings
  • App unable to find device
  • Firmware update issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Cooking history and logging
  • Live status widget
  • Apple Watch and Dynamic Island support
  • Ambient temperature alerts
  • Customizable probe labeling

Eater

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Search and account icons smushed on main map page
  • Location settings get stuck after disabling tracking

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add filters and sorting for map/list view
  • Allow sharing of restaurant lists
  • Improve font size and layout on map view

In-app purchases

None

Combustion Inc.

No in-app purchases

None

Eater

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Combustion Inc. free?
Combustion Inc. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Eater free?
Eater is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Combustion Inc. or Eater?
Combustion Inc. is rated higher. Combustion Inc. averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Eater averages 4.1 from 59 ratings.
Do Combustion Inc. or Eater have ads?
Eater shows ads; Combustion Inc. does not.
Which is updated more often, Combustion Inc. or Eater?
Combustion Inc. ships an update monthly, and Eater weekly. Most recently, Combustion Inc. was updated on September 28, 2026 and Eater on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons