# Starbucks vs SmoQUP

The clearest difference is ads: SmoQUP at none against Starbucks's shown. SmoQUP also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). Starbucks's advantage is ratings volume (8.5M vs 2) and chart position (#3 vs unranked). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support 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 5.0 for SmoQUP. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starbucks has 8.5M ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, SmoQUP every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starbucks | SmoQUP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (8.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smoqup/id6760578067/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8.5M** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 73.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 232 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Starbucks Coffee Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/331177718) | [SmoQUP LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885129000) |

## What reviewers say

### Starbucks

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Food & Drink, #51 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


### SmoQUP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smoqup/id6760578067)

This app rewards you for shopping at your favorite cannabis dispensary. Earn points, unlock tiers, and get special offers for referring friends and recommending products. Reserve items for quick pickup and track your wait time.

**Highlights:** Loyalty points on purchases, Tier bonuses, Item reservations with live wait times, Refer-a-friend rewards, Product and budtender ratings, Digital loyalty pass and saved offers

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starbucks free?

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

### Is SmoQUP free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starbucks or SmoQUP?

SmoQUP is rated higher. Starbucks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8.5M ratings, while SmoQUP averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Starbucks or SmoQUP have ads?

Starbucks shows ads; SmoQUP does not.

### Which is updated more often, Starbucks or SmoQUP?

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, and SmoQUP every 3 weeks. Most recently, Starbucks was updated on November 6, 2026 and SmoQUP on November 5, 2026.

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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.*