# Drybar vs Hand and Stone

The clearest difference is rating: Hand and Stone at 3.3 against Drybar's 2.5. Hand and Stone also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 7%) and ratings volume (384 vs 34). Drybar's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). 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.

Hand and Stone holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hand and Stone has 384 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of Drybar's written reviews are positive against 29% of Hand and Stone's.

Drybar ships an update monthly, Hand and Stone every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drybar | Hand and Stone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drybar/id464998465/reviews) | **[3.3 (384 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hand-and-stone/id1593378103/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **384** |
| Positive reviews | 7.5% of reviews | **29.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 47 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Drybar](https://appshunter.io/developer/464998468) | [Hand and Stone Franchise Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/962029113) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Hand and Stone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hand-and-stone/id1593378103)

Easily book and customize spa appointments at over 500 locations. Manage your membership, purchase gift cards, and enjoy quick rebooking for your favorite services. Members can also utilize self check-in for a seamless experience.

**Highlights:** Find spa locations, Book and customize appointments, Purchase gift cards, View membership credits, Quick rebooking, Self check-in for members

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙌 Excellent customer service
- 💆‍♀️ Skilled and experienced massage therapists
- 🧘‍♀️ Relaxing and rejuvenating experiences
- 🏆 Consistent high-quality services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in membership details
- 🕰️ Difficult to schedule appointments
- 🤷‍♀️ Poor customer support
- 📵 Inability to link membership to app

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset issues
- Appointment booking errors
- Inconsistent app functionality across locations
- Outdated app version issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to book different massage types through the app
- Option to select preferred massage therapist
- Display of membership details and package information in the app
- Improved app navigation and user experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Drybar free?

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

### Is Hand and Stone free?

Hand and Stone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Drybar or Hand and Stone?

Hand and Stone is rated higher. Drybar averages 2.5 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Hand and Stone averages 3.3 from 384 ratings.

### Do Drybar or Hand and Stone have ads?

Neither Drybar nor Hand and Stone shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Drybar or Hand and Stone?

Drybar ships an update monthly, and Hand and Stone every 5 weeks. Most recently, Drybar was updated on October 23, 2026 and Hand and Stone on October 25, 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.*