# Michaels Stores vs Hobby Lobby

The clearest difference is rating: Michaels Stores at 4.8 against Hobby Lobby's 3.2. Michaels Stores also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (271K vs 1.6K). Hobby Lobby's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Michaels Stores holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Michaels Stores has 271K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 7% of Michaels Stores's written reviews are positive against 11% of Hobby Lobby's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Michaels Stores ships an update every 2 weeks, Hobby Lobby every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Michaels Stores | Hobby Lobby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (271K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michaels-stores/id445458809/reviews)** | [3.2 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hobby-lobby/id535562583/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **271K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 7.5% of reviews | **10.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #97 | **#94** |
| Size | 455 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michaels Stores, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/445458812) | [Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/534544354) |

## What reviewers say

### Michaels Stores

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michaels-stores/id445458809)

**Currently charting:** #97 Top Free · Shopping (US App Store)

Shop for all your arts and crafts needs, find store locations, and access project ideas. Save money with weekly ads and coupons, and earn rewards through the Michaels Rewards program.

**Highlights:** Shop for craft supplies, Locate nearby stores, Voice search for items, Check product availability and prices, Create shopping lists, View weekly ads and coupons, Access project ideas, Join Michaels Rewards program

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💳 Convenient curbside pickup
- 🛒 Wide variety of products
- 💰 Great sales and coupons
- 🎨 Inspiration for crafts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Inaccurate in-stock information
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🤖 Poor customer service
- 🔙 Frustrating navigation and back button issues
- 🔍 Ineffective search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing and freezing issues
- Incorrect order fulfillment and shipping
- Rewards program sync problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to check gift card balance
- Option to filter by in-store availability
- Improved order tracking and status updates
- Better integration between app and website


### Hobby Lobby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hobby-lobby/id535562583)

**Currently charting:** #94 Top Free · Shopping (US App Store)

Discover a vast selection of over 75,000 products for crafts, home decor, and hobbies. Browse weekly ads for savings and easily locate nearby stores for an enriched shopping experience.

**Highlights:** Browse weekly ad, Locate nearby stores, Vast product selection, Craft supplies, Home accents, Custom framing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤗 Helpful customer service
- 💕 Great selection of products
- 🌟 Enjoyable in-store experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unstable app
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🔒 Frustrating login issues
- 🤯 Confusing navigation and user experience
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app

**Reported bugs**

- Constant app crashes and freezes
- Items disappearing from cart
- Inability to complete purchases

**Requested features**

- Ability to check in-store inventory
- Option to order online for in-store pickup
- Improved search with filters and sorting
- Seamless login and account management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Michaels Stores free?

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

### Is Hobby Lobby free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Michaels Stores or Hobby Lobby?

Michaels Stores is rated higher. Michaels Stores averages 4.8 out of 5 from 271K ratings, while Hobby Lobby averages 3.2 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Michaels Stores or Hobby Lobby have ads?

Neither Michaels Stores nor Hobby Lobby shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Michaels Stores or Hobby Lobby?

Michaels Stores ships an update every 2 weeks, and Hobby Lobby every 6 months. Most recently, Michaels Stores was updated on October 20, 2026 and Hobby Lobby on October 19, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Michaels Stores or Hobby Lobby?

Michaels Stores currently peaks at #97 in the App Store charts, and Hobby Lobby at #94. 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.*