# Starbucks vs Krispy Kreme ®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Starbucks at 73% against Krispy Kreme ®'s 8%. Starbucks also leads on ratings volume (8.5M vs 39K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). Krispy Kreme ®'s advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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.

Starbucks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starbucks has 8.5M ratings behind it against 39K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Starbucks's written reviews are positive against 8% of Krispy Kreme ®'s.

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, Krispy Kreme ® fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starbucks | Krispy Kreme ® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714/reviews)** | [4.5 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/krispy-kreme/id482752836/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.5M** | 39K |
| Positive reviews | **73.1% of reviews** | 8.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #66 |
| Size | 232 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starbucks Coffee Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/331177718) | [Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/482752839) |

## What reviewers say

### Starbucks

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

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Food & Drink, #84 Top Free (US App Store)

Easily order and pay for your favorite drinks and food ahead of time. Join the rewards program to earn Stars for free items, exclusive benefits, and birthday treats. Find nearby stores and manage your Starbucks Cards.

**Highlights:** Order ahead and customize drinks, Earn Stars for free food and drinks, Exclusive member benefits and birthday rewards, Save favorite stores and past orders, Send and save eGifts, Find nearby stores with hours and amenities

**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


### Krispy Kreme ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/krispy-kreme/id482752836)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Earn rewards and get free treats with a loyalty program. Order your favorite doughnuts for pickup or delivery. Discover exclusive offers and find nearby locations.

**Highlights:** Krispy Kreme Rewards program, Earn points for free treats, Welcome and birthday rewards, Order ahead for pickup, Delivery ordering, Exclusive offers and updates, Shop locator with Hot Light notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ❤️ Amazing donuts at amazing prices
- 👍 Convenient rewards program and coupons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App is buggy and not working properly
- 🤔 Inconsistent store experiences
- 🤷‍♂️ Poor customer service and communication

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Login and account issues
- Rewards and points not tracking properly

**Requested features**

- Allow adding and using gift cards in the app
- Improve mobile ordering and pickup experience
- Provide better rewards and loyalty program


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starbucks free?

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

### Is Krispy Kreme ® free?

Krispy Kreme ® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Starbucks or Krispy Kreme ®?

Starbucks is rated higher. Starbucks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8.5M ratings, while Krispy Kreme ® averages 4.5 from 39K ratings.

### Do Starbucks or Krispy Kreme ® have ads?

Starbucks shows ads; Krispy Kreme ® does not.

### Which is updated more often, Starbucks or Krispy Kreme ®?

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, and Krispy Kreme ® fortnightly. Most recently, Starbucks was updated on November 8, 2026 and Krispy Kreme ® on November 8, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Starbucks or Krispy Kreme ®?

Starbucks currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and Krispy Kreme ® at #66. 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.*