# Smith's vs Mariano’s

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Smith's at 90K against Mariano’s's 5.3K. Smith's also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Smith's holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smith's has 90K ratings behind it against 5.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Smith's's written reviews are positive against 11% of Mariano’s's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smith's | Mariano’s |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (90K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smiths/id584462519/reviews)** | [4.6 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marianos/id1565844369/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **90K** | 5.3K |
| Positive reviews | **15.1% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 243 MB | 245 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Kroger Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/403901189) | [The Kroger Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/403901189) |

## What reviewers say

### Smith's

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smiths/id584462519)

Simplify your grocery shopping with options for delivery, pickup, or in-store purchases. Access digital coupons, weekly ads, and personalized savings to manage your budget effectively. Refill prescriptions and track fuel points for additional benefits.

**Highlights:** Grocery delivery and pickup, Digital coupon clipping, Weekly ad browsing, Personalized savings and rewards, Fuel points tracking, Pharmacy prescription management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient pickup/delivery service
- 💳 Integrated loyalty program and coupons
- 🛒 Saves shopping history and preferences
- ⏱️ Accurate delivery/pickup time estimates
- 🌟 Overall great customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find products
- 🛒 Issues with order accuracy and substitutions
- 🔌 Weak in-store WiFi connectivity
- 🗓️ Inconsistent pricing and sales information
- 🤖 Confusing app updates and UI changes

**Reported bugs**

- Items randomly disappearing from cart
- Incorrect inventory and out-of-stock information
- Syncing issues between devices and accounts
- Checkout and order placement errors

**Requested features**

- Ability to sort and filter cart by aisle, category, or price
- Option to save custom shopping lists and favorites
- Improved search functionality and product browsing
- Better integration between app and in-store experience
- Clearer communication on order status and substitutions


### Mariano’s

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marianos/id1565844369)

Simplify your grocery shopping with options for delivery, pickup, and in-store purchases. Access digital coupons, weekly ads, and personalized savings to help you spend less. Manage your shopping lists, reorder favorites, and even track pharmacy prescriptions.

**Highlights:** Grocery delivery and pickup, Digital coupons and weekly ads, Personalized savings and rewards, Shopping list management, Pharmacy prescription refills, Store locator

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient online ordering
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 💡 Useful features like 'buy again' list

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy functionality
- 👎 Missing key features from previous app
- 🤔 Confusing layout and navigation
- 😕 Inconsistent pricing and coupon application
- 🙄 Frustrating login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect pricing and failed coupon redemptions
- Inability to change store location or update payment info

**Requested features**

- Ability to specify item substitutions
- Option to sort cart by department
- Improved digital coupon management
- Better integration between app and website


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smith's free?

Smith's is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mariano’s free?

Mariano’s is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Smith's or Mariano’s?

Smith's is rated higher. Smith's averages 4.8 out of 5 from 90K ratings, while Mariano’s averages 4.6 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do Smith's or Mariano’s have ads?

Both Smith's and Mariano’s show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smith's or Mariano’s?

Smith's ships an update weekly, and Mariano’s weekly. Most recently, Smith's was updated on September 26, 2026 and Mariano’s on September 21, 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.*