# W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs Hardware Specialty Co.

The clearest difference is update cadence: W.W. Grainger, Inc. at fortnightly against Hardware Specialty Co.'s every 4 months. W.W. Grainger, Inc. also leads on ratings volume (27K vs 1). Hardware Specialty Co.'s advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Hardware Specialty Co. holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 27K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. ships an update fortnightly, Hardware Specialty Co. every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | W.W. Grainger, Inc. | Hardware Specialty Co. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ww-grainger-inc/id526722540/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardware-specialty-co/id6445824966/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 93 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [W.W. Grainger, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379095966) | [Hardware Specialty Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1672672272) |

## What reviewers say

### W.W. Grainger, Inc.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ww-grainger-inc/id526722540)

Access industrial supplies and manage inventory on the go. Quickly search for items, check real-time availability at branches, and scan barcodes to add products to your cart. Get expert help and track orders and pending approvals.

**Highlights:** Real-time item availability, KeepStock inventory management, Barcode scanning for cart addition, Branch locator for pickup, Chat with experts, Manage pending orders and lists, Order history tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved search function
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Efficient ordering and pickup
- 👍 Helpful and knowledgeable staff
- 🚀 Wide product selection and availability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and login issues
- 🔍 Difficult to find products, poor search
- ⚠️ Inconsistent order tracking and notifications
- 💰 High prices compared to competitors
- 🕰️ Slow performance and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Orders not showing up in order history
- Repeated crashes and login issues
- Inability to select shipping options for pickup orders
- Inconsistent behavior when adding/removing items from cart

**Requested features**

- Ability to search order history and personal lists
- Clearer pricing and shipping cost information
- Improved product details and recommendations
- Seamless integration between app and website


### Hardware Specialty Co.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardware-specialty-co/id6445824966)

This app serves as a distributor for commercial and military fasteners, as well as electronic and electro-mechanical components. It offers managed inventory programs and value-added services, backed by robust quality management systems and extensive product inventory.

**Highlights:** Commercial and military fasteners, Electronic components, Electro-mechanical components, Managed inventory programs, Value-added services, Quality assurance facilities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is W.W. Grainger, Inc. free?

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hardware Specialty Co. free?

Hardware Specialty Co. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, W.W. Grainger, Inc. or Hardware Specialty Co.?

Hardware Specialty Co. is rated higher. W.W. Grainger, Inc. averages 4.8 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Hardware Specialty Co. averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do W.W. Grainger, Inc. or Hardware Specialty Co. have ads?

Neither W.W. Grainger, Inc. nor Hardware Specialty Co. shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, W.W. Grainger, Inc. or Hardware Specialty Co.?

W.W. Grainger, Inc. ships an update fortnightly, and Hardware Specialty Co. every 4 months. Most recently, W.W. Grainger, Inc. was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hardware Specialty Co. on July 8, 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.*