# Handbid vs Drybar

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Handbid at 71% against Drybar's 7%. Handbid also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (27K vs 33). Drybar's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Handbid holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handbid has 27K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Handbid's written reviews are positive against 7% of Drybar's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handbid | Drybar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid/id433831139/reviews)** | [2.5 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drybar/id464998465/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 33 |
| Positive reviews | **70.6% of reviews** | 7.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 126 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Handbid](https://appshunter.io/developer/433831142) | [Drybar](https://appshunter.io/developer/464998468) |

## What reviewers say

### Handbid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid/id433831139)

This app allows users to participate in silent auctions from their mobile devices. Bid on items, manage your bids, purchase items, and complete checkout and payment seamlessly. It's designed to enhance the silent auction experience for bidders and event organizers.

**Highlights:** Mobile bidding on auction items, Manage bids and proxy bids, Purchase items directly, Integrated payment processing, Digital receipts, iPad kiosk app for non-smartphone users

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless and user-friendly experience
- 💡 Innovative features like instant outbid notifications
- 👍 Secure payment processing
- 🚀 Detailed analytics and management tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and technical issues during high-traffic events
- 🐛 Inconsistent login/registration experience
- 🐛 Difficulty finding and accessing previously favorited items
- 🐛 Dynamic island on new iPhones blocks auction time display

**Reported bugs**

- Losing bids after auction closes
- Inability to clear badge notifications after auction ends
- Inconsistent login/registration experience across devices
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to favorite/save items for later
- Clearer display of auction end times
- More user-friendly error messaging during sign-up/login
- Option to disable Dynamic Island time display on new iPhones


### Drybar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drybar/id464998465)

Book and manage professional blowout appointments at your favorite salon. Discover exclusive app-only promotions, join membership programs, and find style inspiration for your next visit. Rebook services and locations with ease.

**Highlights:** Book blowout appointments, Manage appointments, Exclusive app promotions, Barfly Membership management, Find salon locations, Style inspiration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to book appointments
- 💡 Ability to rebook with same stylist
- 🎯 Single platform for all booking needs
- ✨ Modern and sleek interface design
- 🔄 Remembers previous appointments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant login issues and forced re-authentication
- 📱 Unreliable location detection
- 🔄 Doesn't save user preferences despite checkboxes
- ⚠️ Excessive font size and UI scaling problems
- 🔐 Frequent password reset requirements

**Reported bugs**

- Login credentials not recognized despite being correct
- App logs out user every time it's opened
- Password reset emails not being sent
- Server error messages during booking process
- Scrolling issues on date selection screens

**Requested features**

- Face ID or biometric authentication support
- Remember login credentials between sessions
- Show available times across multiple locations simultaneously
- Search appointments by date instead of location
- Save user preferences and settings permanently


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handbid free?

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

### Is Drybar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Handbid or Drybar?

Handbid is rated higher. Handbid averages 4.8 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Drybar averages 2.5 from 33 ratings.

### Do Handbid or Drybar have ads?

Neither Handbid nor Drybar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handbid or Drybar?

Handbid ships an update monthly, and Drybar monthly. Most recently, Handbid was updated on September 24, 2026 and Drybar on September 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*