Comparison

McAlisters Deli vs Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

McAlisters Deli

Easily order your favorite deli meals ahead for pickup and customize them to your exact preferences. Earn points with every purchase to unlock exclusive deals and rewards, making every meal more satisfying.

Highlights
  • Order ahead for pickup
  • Customize meals
  • Earn points on purchases
  • Redeem rewards and deals
  • Easy reordering
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The latest McAlister’s app is here, and it's packed with fresh, flavorful updates. Our new app puts everything you crave about our deli right at your fingertips - a user-friendly experience that offers what you want, exactly how you want it, plus a little something extra.​ Earn points with every purchase​ Redeem rewards with the click of a button, including exclusive deals.​ Order ahead​ Skip the line by placing your order in advance and pick it up when it’s ready.​ Customize your order​ Build your meal just the way you like it with easy-to-use customization options.​ Easy Reordering

About

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Easily order homestyle meals for takeout, browse the full menu, and reorder past favorites. Join the waitlist to save your spot in line and find nearby locations. Manage payments and gift cards for a convenient dining experience.

Highlights
  • Browse menu
  • Order To Go
  • Reorder favorites
  • Join Waitlist
  • Find nearest location
  • Save payment methods
  • Manage gift cards
Features
Read full description

The Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen app brings your homestyle American Classic and Comfort Food favorites straight to your fingertips. Browse the menu, order To Go, join the waitlist, reorder your favorite scratch-made meals, manage gift cards, and find your nearest Cheddar’s restaurant all in just a few taps. Find A Cheddar's Near You • Quickly locate the nearest Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen restaurant • Save your favorite restaurant for faster access • View hours, directions, and location details Join The Waitlist • Check current restaurant wait times before you arrive • Add your name to the waitlist in seconds • Save your spot in line and spend less time waiting • Check in when you arrive and get notified when your table is ready Order To Go Or Delivery • Order your favorite Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen meals for pickup or delivery • Browse the full menu, including Scratch-Made Chicken Tenders, Baby Back Ribs, Burgers, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, and more • Save past orders for quick and easy reordering • Enjoy mobile ordering and convenient curbside pickup Favorites & Easy Reordering • Reorder your go-to meals with just a few taps • Save favorite orders for added convenience • Customize meals to your preferences • Discover new scratch-made menu favorites Payment & Gift Cards • Save payment methods for fast checkout • Add and manage Cheddar’s gift cards directly in the app • Reload gift card balances anytime • Enjoy secure mobile payment options Legal: Must be 13+. Prices and participation may vary. View our privacy policy at http://www.cheddars.com/privacy-policy © 2026 Darden Concepts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Screenshots

McAlisters Deli4 screens
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen at free against McAlisters Deli's free with in-app purchases. McAlisters Deli's advantage is ratings volume (167K vs 5.3K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for McAlisters Deli against 4.8 for Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: McAlisters Deli has 167K ratings behind it against 5.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 35% and 35% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

McAlisters Deli ships an update every 6 weeks, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen monthly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
McAlisters Deli versus Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMcAlisters DeliCheddar's Scratch Kitchen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (167K ratings)4.8 (5.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews34.7% of reviews
Number of ratings167K — better5.3K
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#95 — better#209
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB114 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMcAlister's DevDarden Restaurants, Inc.

Customer experience

McAlisters Deli

All ratings159,503 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews773 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative55.0%

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

All ratings5,338 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral8.4%
Negative56.8%

User reviews

McAlisters Deli

From 167K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great app and rewards program
  • 🚀 Convenient ordering and payment process
  • 💡 Useful features like reordering and customization

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Lack of transparency in rewards program
  • 🤔 Inconsistent user experience across locations
  • 🤨 Frustrating payment and checkout issues
  • 🤯 Poor customer service and support

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

From 5.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great food and atmosphere
  • 🚀 Convenient app for ordering
  • 💡 Useful features like curbside pickup

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and issues with the app
  • 🔍 Missing or incorrect location information
  • 🤖 Invasive and controlling app behavior

Bugs and requests

McAlisters Deli

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App fails to load menu items or order options
  • Issues with saved payment methods and order history
  • Location selection and order placement errors
  • Rewards not properly applied or tracked

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improve customization options for orders
  • Add ability to request special instructions
  • Streamline rewards program and make it more user-friendly
  • Enhance location search and order tracking functionality
  • Provide better communication on order status and availability

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when trying to place an order
  • Location services issues causing order mix-ups
  • Payment and gift card integration problems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add wait list functionality to the app
  • Improve app stability and reliability
  • Provide a more user-friendly checkout process

In-app purchases

None

McAlisters Deli

No in-app purchases

None

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is McAlisters Deli free?
McAlisters Deli is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen free?
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, McAlisters Deli or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen?
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is rated higher. McAlisters Deli averages 4.8 out of 5 from 167K ratings, while Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen averages 4.8 from 5.3K ratings.
Do McAlisters Deli or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen have ads?
Neither McAlisters Deli nor Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, McAlisters Deli or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen?
McAlisters Deli ships an update every 6 weeks, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen monthly. Most recently, McAlisters Deli was updated on October 25, 2026 and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen on October 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, McAlisters Deli or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen?
McAlisters Deli currently peaks at #95 in the App Store charts, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen at #209. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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