# Ralphs vs GathrU

The clearest difference is monetization model: GathrU at free against Ralphs's free with in-app purchases. GathrU also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Ralphs's advantage is ratings volume (62K vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

GathrU holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ralphs has 62K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Ralphs ships an update weekly, GathrU every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ralphs | GathrU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ralphs/id584459861/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gathru/id6759930020/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 13.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | — |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#202** | — |
| Size | 244 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | — |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Kroger Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/403901189) | [Liwei Xu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879417108) |

## What reviewers say

### Ralphs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ralphs/id584459861)

**Currently charting:** #202 Top Free · Shopping (US App Store)

Easily manage your grocery shopping with delivery, pickup, and in-store options. Access digital coupons, weekly ads, and personalized savings to make shopping simple and affordable. Track rewards and manage prescriptions for a convenient experience.

**Highlights:** Grocery delivery and pickup, Digital coupons and weekly ads, Personalized savings and rewards, Fuel points tracking, Pharmacy prescription management, In-store payment with Kroger Pay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient delivery service
- 💡 Helpful shopping list and purchase history features
- 🚀 Flexible ordering and modification options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Poor search and navigation functionality
- 🤔 Inconsistent coupon application and pricing
- 🤷‍♀️ Frustrating substitution and communication issues with shoppers

**Reported bugs**

- Items disappearing from cart
- Login issues and account access problems
- Unreliable delivery scheduling and notifications

**Requested features**

- Improved search and filtering capabilities
- Better integration of coupons and rewards
- Enhanced communication with shoppers during order fulfillment
- Ability to easily modify orders after placement


### GathrU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gathru/id6759930020)

A campus marketplace exclusively for verified college students to buy, sell, and connect. Find textbooks, dorm furniture, subleases, meal swipes, and roommates. Features auctions, buy-now options, and real-time messaging.

**Highlights:** Buy and sell student items, Auctions and buy-now listings, Housing and roommate search, Meal swipe marketplace, Student service listings, Real-time in-app messaging, University email verification

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ralphs free?

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

### Is GathrU free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ralphs or GathrU?

GathrU is rated higher. Ralphs averages 4.7 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while GathrU averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Which is updated more often, Ralphs or GathrU?

Ralphs ships an update weekly, and GathrU every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ralphs was updated on October 18, 2026 and GathrU on October 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*