# SmartCave vs Wine

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Wine at 76% against SmartCave's 25%. Wine also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (17K vs 1). SmartCave's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartCave sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Wine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Wine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wine has 17K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of SmartCave's written reviews are positive against 76% of Wine's.

SmartCave ships an update every 4 weeks, Wine every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartCave | Wine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcave/id442935847/reviews) | **[4.8 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wine-searcher/id599836194/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **76.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#23** |
| Size | 19 MB | 133 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Passion Dégustation](https://appshunter.io/developer/442935850) | [Wine-Searcher Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/599836197) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartCave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcave/id442935847)

Manage your wine collection with this app. Browse a vast wine database, track your cellar's inventory, and get personalized drink date alerts. Discover food and wine pairings and estimate your collection's value.

**Highlights:** Extensive wine database, Cellar inventory management, Drink date tracking, Food and wine pairing suggestions, Collection valuation, Offline cellar access, Bulk import from Excel

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Abo. 3 mois au Wine-Detector | $23.99 | one-time |
| Abo. 6 mois au Wine-Detector | $45.99 | one-time |
| Compte premium 1 an | $89.99 | one-time |


### Wine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wine-searcher/id599836194)

**Currently charting:** #23 Top Grossing · Food & Drink (US App Store)

This app helps you find, compare, and buy wines, beers, and spirits globally. Scan labels or search by name to access pricing, critic scores, and purchase locations. Discover new drinks and expand your knowledge with its extensive encyclopedia.

**Highlights:** Scan wine labels, Compare prices, Find purchase locations, Access critic scores, View vintage information, Rate and review wines, Explore drink encyclopedia

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wine-Searcher PRO | $10.99 | per month |
| Wine-Searcher PRO | $98.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔍 Comprehensive database
- 💰 Helps find best prices
- 🔍 Detailed wine information
- 🔍 Useful for wine collectors
- 🔍 Excellent resource for wine enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate label recognition
- 💰 Paid version not worth the cost
- 🔍 Limited search functionality in app
- 🔍 Outdated information on some wines

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Saved wines not syncing properly
- Landscape mode not working on iPad

**Requested features**

- Wish list feature for wines to buy
- Improved label scanning and recognition
- Ability to save and rate tasted wines
- More integration with wine critic reviews


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartCave free?

SmartCave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Wine free?

Wine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SmartCave or Wine?

Wine is rated higher. SmartCave averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Wine averages 4.8 from 17K ratings.

### Do SmartCave or Wine have ads?

Neither SmartCave nor Wine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartCave or Wine?

SmartCave ships an update every 4 weeks, and Wine every 9 days. Most recently, SmartCave was updated on October 1, 2026 and Wine on October 19, 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.*