# Starbucks vs Dunkin'

The clearest difference is ads: Dunkin' at none against Starbucks's shown. Dunkin' also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.5). Starbucks's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 45%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Starbucks against 4.8 for Dunkin'. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starbucks has 8.4M ratings behind it against 1.4M, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Starbucks's written reviews are positive against 45% of Dunkin''s.

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, Dunkin' every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starbucks | Dunkin' |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dunkin/id1056813463/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.4M** | 1.4M |
| Positive reviews | **73.1% of reviews** | 44.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | #18 |
| Size | 232 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starbucks Coffee Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/331177718) | [Dunkin' Donuts](https://appshunter.io/developer/318953209) |

## What reviewers say

### Starbucks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Food & Drink, #133 Top Free (US App Store)

Easily order your favorite drinks and food ahead of time, customize your perfect beverage, and earn rewards with every purchase. Manage your Starbucks Card, send eGifts, and find nearby stores with hours and amenities.

**Highlights:** Order ahead and customize drinks, Earn Stars for free food and drinks, Save payment methods and scan to pay, Send and save eGifts, Find nearby stores and view amenities, Track Starbucks Rewards status

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient mobile ordering
- ⭐ Rewards program and tracking
- 👍 User-friendly app design
- 🕰️ Quick order pickup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable mobile ordering functionality
- 🕰️ Slow order processing at some locations
- 🤔 Lack of customization options
- 💰 Forced minimum reload amount

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and inability to reset password
- App freezing and crashing
- Inconsistent store information and mobile ordering availability

**Requested features**

- Ability to order and pay for just a cup of water or ice
- Option to order pour-over coffee
- Customizable nutrition information for drink orders
- Store-specific ratings and performance tracking


### Dunkin'

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dunkin/id1056813463)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order your favorite coffee and treats ahead of time and skip the line. Earn rewards for every purchase, customize your order with numerous options, and enjoy contactless pickup. You can also send gift cards directly through the app.

**Highlights:** Order ahead and skip the wait, Contactless pickup options, Earn free food and drinks with rewards, Customize orders extensively, Save favorite orders and locations, Schedule orders up to 24 hours in advance, Send gift cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient order ahead
- 👍 Rewards program
- 🚀 Saves time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App glitches and errors
- ⚠️ Inconsistent order fulfillment
- 💰 Deceptive pricing and rewards
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating app experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate order tracking and status updates
- Payment issues and double charges
- Location detection problems

**Requested features**

- Allow customization of orders in the app
- Improve refund and order correction process
- Provide real-time inventory updates in the app
- Make the rewards program more transparent and fair


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starbucks free?

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

### Is Dunkin' free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starbucks or Dunkin'?

Starbucks is rated higher. Starbucks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8.4M ratings, while Dunkin' averages 4.8 from 1.4M ratings.

### Do Starbucks or Dunkin' have ads?

Starbucks shows ads; Dunkin' does not.

### Which is updated more often, Starbucks or Dunkin'?

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, and Dunkin' every 5 weeks. Most recently, Starbucks was updated on October 20, 2026 and Dunkin' on October 21, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Starbucks or Dunkin'?

Starbucks currently peaks at #9 in the App Store charts, and Dunkin' at #18. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*