# McAlisters Deli vs Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

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.

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

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.

McAlisters Deli ships an update every 6 weeks, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | McAlisters Deli | Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (167K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcalisters-deli/id475738160/reviews) | **[4.8 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cheddars-scratch-kitchen/id1511105362/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **167K** | 5.3K |
| Positive reviews | 34.7% of reviews | 34.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#95** | #206 |
| Size | 124 MB | 114 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [McAlister's Dev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479854558) | [Darden Restaurants, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066714420) |

## What reviewers say

### McAlisters Deli

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcalisters-deli/id475738160)

**Currently charting:** #95 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cheddars-scratch-kitchen/id1511105362)

**Currently charting:** #206 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 26, 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 #206. 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.*