# Apple Store vs Steve Madden

The clearest difference is rating: Steve Madden at 4.9 against Apple Store's 3.5. Steve Madden also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 30%). Apple Store's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (168K vs 39K). On price, ads, 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.

Steve Madden holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 168K and 39K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Apple Store's written reviews are positive against 38% of Steve Madden's.

Apple Store ships an update every 2 months, Steve Madden monthly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Apple Store | Steve Madden |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (168K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-store/id375380948/reviews) | **[4.9 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steve-madden/id577653422/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **168K** | 39K |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | **38.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 186 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [Steven Madden Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/478434323) |

## What reviewers say

### Apple Store

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-store/id375380948)

Discover and shop the latest Apple products with a personalized experience. Get tailored recommendations, track orders, and access support. Explore creative tips and book in-store sessions.

**Highlights:** Personalized product recommendations, Browse latest Apple products, Order tracking, Specialist support via phone/text, Find nearest store, Today at Apple session booking, AR product visualization

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient online shopping
- 💡 Customizable product options
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 🚀 Fast delivery
- 👍 Seamless Apple Pay integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Requires iCloud account to use
- 🔒 Restricted to newer iOS versions
- 💰 Overpriced products and accessories
- 🔋 Poor battery life on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- App not working on iOS 12 devices
- Incorrect product information and compatibility
- Delivery issues and lost orders
- Payment processing problems

**Requested features**

- Allow use of separate Apple ID for purchases
- Provide option to save shopping cart
- Improve order tracking and delivery updates
- Expand compatibility to older iOS versions


### Steve Madden

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steve-madden/id577653422)

Discover the latest fashion trends and get exclusive access to new arrivals. Explore influencer styles and unlock helpful styling tips, polls, and more to enhance your shopping experience.

**Highlights:** Early access to new styles, Discover influencer looks, Unlock styling tips, Participate in polls, Receive latest updates via notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💗 Comfortable and stylish shoes
- 🛒 Easy to navigate website and app
- 🤩 Wide selection of trendy products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app experience
- ⏱️ Slow website and app performance
- 🤔 Inconsistent customer service
- 📦 Shipping and delivery issues
- 💸 Quality does not match the price

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Inability to add items to cart or wishlist
- Incorrect product sizing and availability

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and responsiveness
- Wishlist and order tracking functionality
- Better filtering and search options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Apple Store free?

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

### Is Steve Madden free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Apple Store or Steve Madden?

Steve Madden is rated higher. Apple Store averages 3.5 out of 5 from 168K ratings, while Steve Madden averages 4.9 from 39K ratings.

### Do Apple Store or Steve Madden have ads?

Neither Apple Store nor Steve Madden shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Apple Store or Steve Madden?

Apple Store ships an update every 2 months, and Steve Madden monthly. Most recently, Apple Store was updated on October 16, 2026 and Steve Madden on October 16, 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.*