# Starbucks vs Panera Bread

The clearest difference is ads: Panera Bread at none against Starbucks's shown. Starbucks's advantage is ratings volume (8.4M vs 1.3M) and chart position (#7 vs #30). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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 4.9 for Panera Bread. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starbucks has 8.4M ratings behind it against 1.3M, 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 75% of Panera Bread's.

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, Panera Bread every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starbucks | Panera Bread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (8.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starbucks/id331177714/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panera-bread/id692365393/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8.4M** | 1.3M |
| Positive reviews | 73.0% of reviews | **75.2% 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 with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | #30 |
| Size | 232 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Starbucks Coffee Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/331177718) | [Panera Bread](https://appshunter.io/developer/692365396) |

## What reviewers say

### Starbucks

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

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Free · Food & Drink, #98 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


### Panera Bread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panera-bread/id692365393)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order your favorite soups, salads, and sandwiches ahead for pickup or delivery. Access exclusive deals and rewards, and manage your Unlimited Sip Club membership. Reorder past favorites with ease and send digital gift cards.

**Highlights:** Order ahead for pickup or delivery, Access MyPanera rewards, Join Unlimited Sip Club, Save and reorder favorites, Send digital gift cards, Mix & Match menu deals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient ordering process
- 🔒 Contactless delivery option
- 👍 Customization options
- 👍 Syncs with payment methods
- 👍 Rewards program integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy ordering process
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience
- 🐛 Lack of order tracking
- 🐛 Payment and rewards issues
- 🐛 Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Orders not showing up at the store
- Inability to access past orders
- Rewards not properly applied
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between WiFi and cellular
- App crashes or freezes during ordering process

**Requested features**

- Allow drive-thru pickup option
- Improve customization capabilities
- Provide order history and balance tracking
- Streamline payment and rewards integration
- Enhance app stability and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starbucks free?

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

### Is Panera Bread free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starbucks or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread is rated higher. Starbucks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8.4M ratings, while Panera Bread averages 4.9 from 1.3M ratings.

### Do Starbucks or Panera Bread have ads?

Starbucks shows ads; Panera Bread does not.

### Which is updated more often, Starbucks or Panera Bread?

Starbucks ships an update every 10 days, and Panera Bread every 3 weeks. Most recently, Starbucks was updated on October 25, 2026 and Panera Bread on October 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Starbucks or Panera Bread?

Starbucks currently peaks at #7 in the App Store charts, and Panera Bread at #30. 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.*