# Starbucks vs Tim Hortons

Starbucks and Tim Hortons both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 73% of Starbucks's written reviews are positive against 47% of Tim Hortons's. Starbucks also leads on ratings volume (8.5M vs 60K) and chart position (#8 vs #177). Tim Hortons's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 4.7 for Tim Hortons. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starbucks has 8.5M ratings behind it against 60K, 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 47% of Tim Hortons's.

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, Tim Hortons every 11 days. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starbucks | Tim Hortons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714/reviews)** | [4.7 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tim-hortons/id1143883086/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.5M** | 60K |
| Positive reviews | **73.1% of reviews** | 46.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | #177 |
| Size | 234 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Starbucks Coffee Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/331177718) | [Tim Hortons](https://appshunter.io/developer/483413331) |

## What reviewers say

### Starbucks

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

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Food & Drink, #106 Top Free (US App Store)

Order your favorite Starbucks drinks and food ahead of time for quick pickup. Earn Stars with the Rewards program for free food, drinks, and exclusive benefits. Manage your Starbucks Cards and send eGifts easily.

**Highlights:** Mobile ordering and customization, Starbucks Rewards program, Earn Stars for free items, Digital gift cards, Find nearby stores, Save favorite orders

**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


### Tim Hortons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tim-hortons/id1143883086)

**Currently charting:** #177 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order your favorite coffee, baked goods, and meals ahead for pickup or delivery. Earn rewards points with every purchase and access personalized offers and exclusive contests. Save your favorite orders for quick reordering.

**Highlights:** Order ahead for pickup or delivery, Earn Tims Rewards Points, Access personalized offers, Scan & Pay for faster checkout, Save favorite orders, Participate in contests and games

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and quick ordering
- 👍 Convenient for avoiding long lines
- 🚀 Easy to use app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Missing menu items and customization options
- 💰 Incorrect charges and lack of refunds
- 🤔 Inconsistent app experience
- 📍 Issues with location detection and order routing

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing during checkout
- Orders not being received by stores
- Rewards not properly tracking or applying
- Inability to cancel or refund orders

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize orders (e.g. toasted, add butter)
- Option to pay directly with credit/debit card instead of pre-loading funds
- Seamless integration with mobile wallets
- Improved rewards program and redemption options
- Better inventory tracking and menu accuracy across locations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starbucks free?

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

### Is Tim Hortons free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starbucks or Tim Hortons?

Starbucks is rated higher. Starbucks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8.5M ratings, while Tim Hortons averages 4.7 from 60K ratings.

### Do Starbucks or Tim Hortons have ads?

Both Starbucks and Tim Hortons show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starbucks or Tim Hortons?

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, and Tim Hortons every 11 days. Most recently, Starbucks was updated on November 12, 2026 and Tim Hortons on November 12, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Starbucks or Tim Hortons?

Starbucks currently peaks at #8 in the App Store charts, and Tim Hortons at #177. 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.*