# Thai Basil vs Cafe Rio

The clearest difference is ads: Cafe Rio at none against Thai Basil's shown. Cafe Rio also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Thai Basil's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, 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.

Thai Basil holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cafe Rio has 15K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Thai Basil ships an update every 2 months, Cafe Rio fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thai Basil | Cafe Rio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thai-basil/id576687189/reviews)** | [4.5 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cafe-rio/id966569884/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 6.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 101 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ChowNow](https://appshunter.io/developer/553996348) | [Cafe Rio, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1376703501) |

## What reviewers say

### Thai Basil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thai-basil/id576687189)

Easily order your favorite Thai dishes with this app. Browse the menu, customize your meal, and pay securely. Receive notifications when your order is ready.

**Highlights:** Browse and customize menu items, Secure payment system, Save delivery addresses and payment methods, Schedule orders up to seven days in advance, Restaurant location and contact information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cafe Rio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cafe-rio/id966569884)

Earn and redeem rewards for your purchases at a popular restaurant chain. Customize your loyalty program and enjoy exclusive offers. Order ahead for convenient pick-up or curbside service.

**Highlights:** Customizable rewards program, Earn points for purchases, Mobile ordering for pick-up/curbside, Order status tracking, Location finder with directions, Exclusive app offers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🍔 Great food quality
- 🤝 Friendly staff
- 💰 Rewards program

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🕰️ Slow order processing
- 🗣️ Inconsistent customer service
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate menu and options
- 💳 Issues with gift card and payment integration

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and loses order progress
- Issues with login and password reset
- Incorrect orders and missing items
- Rewards and gift card balances not updating properly

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and user experience
- Allow editing of orders in the app
- Integrate loyalty program better with app
- Provide more transparency on order status


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thai Basil free?

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

### Is Cafe Rio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Thai Basil or Cafe Rio?

Thai Basil is rated higher. Thai Basil averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Cafe Rio averages 4.5 from 15K ratings.

### Do Thai Basil or Cafe Rio have ads?

Thai Basil shows ads; Cafe Rio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Thai Basil or Cafe Rio?

Thai Basil ships an update every 2 months, and Cafe Rio fortnightly. Most recently, Thai Basil was updated on October 2, 2026 and Cafe Rio on October 18, 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.*