Blackbird vs Eater
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blackbird
This app rewards users for dining out and paying at participating restaurants. Earn restaurant-specific currency and unlock VIP perks like exclusive access and events as you increase your status. Discover new dining experiences and connect with other food lovers.
- Earn $FLY rewards on dining
- Unlock VIP perks and status tiers
- Access guaranteed reservations
- Discover new restaurants and events
- Seamless cashless payments
- Split checks with groups
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Blackbird is the better way to pay and earn points at restaurants. Discover great restaurants, tap in when you arrive, and earn dining points on every check. No check dance, no waiting. Blackbird is the loyalty company that rewards people who love restaurants, featured in The New York Times, Time, Fast Company, and Fortune. THE RICHEST REWARDS IN DINING Earn up to 7X dining points every time you dine. That is 7% back on every check, on top of your credit card perks. Your points are $FLY, our universal rewards currency. Think airline points, but for restaurants. 100 $FLY equals $1 in spending power, and you spend it like cash at any restaurant in the network. Your $FLY never expires. COFFEE CLUB: 10X ON COFFEE Pay with Blackbird at participating coffee shops and cafes and earn 10X points, 10% back, stacked on top of your base multiplier. No subscription, no monthly fee, live in all markets. HOW IT WORKS Download the app, load your wallet or vault a card Tap in at the Blackbird puck when you arrive, usually near the host stand or register Enjoy your meal Tell your server you are paying with Blackbird Pay in the app and earn points on every check BLACKBIRD CLUB The more you support the spots you love, the more rewards come back to you. As you spend, you unlock higher tiers of Blackbird Club, our loyalty program. Member, 4X dining points, 4% back on every check Regular, 5X dining points, plus priority reservations, Members' Nights, exclusive access to ticket drops, and a monthly newsletter Friends and Family, 7X dining points, plus a private concierge text line, Double Points at My Spot at 14X, restaurant preview invites, the Soignee Series, and limited merch drops Qualify by spending at Blackbird restaurants or by loading your wallet. You only need to hit one. Unlock instantly with a $FLY deposit, or earn your way through dining on Blackbird Pay. Once you reach a tier, you keep it through the end of the following year. DISCOVER AND RESERVE Blackbird restaurants are the best restaurants. Discover the ones that match your dining personality and connect to them. You can even DM for reservations. Regular and Friends and Family members get priority access to tables at more than 100 Blackbird Club restaurants through our concierge team, including reservations not available on public platforms. Tap Explore to see restaurants near you. Planning a date night, a group dinner, a birthday, a coffee run, or private dining? Blackbird helps you decide where to go and keeps you coming back. PAY AND SPLIT Load your wallet, vault a card, or spend $FLY like it is cash money. Set your tip, switch payment methods, and close out your tab from your phone. Splitting the bill in the app makes it easy. INVITE A FRIEND Blackbird is better with friends. Send your referral link, and when your friend pays with Blackbird for the first time, you both get 2,000 $FLY. WHERE YOU CAN USE BLACKBIRD Live in New York City, the Hamptons, Charleston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge. More cities launching soon and new restaurants added every day. COMMON QUESTIONS What is $FLY? $FLY are the points you earn when you pay with Blackbird. 100 $FLY equals $1 in spending power. Do my points expire? No. Your $FLY never expires and remains in your account until you choose to use it. Is there a subscription or monthly fee? No subscription is required. Pay with Blackbird and earn points automatically. Can I still use my credit card? Yes. Dining points are earned on top of your credit card perks, so you collect both on the same check. Can I split the bill? Yes, and splitting the bill in the app makes it easy. Who can see my information? Only the restaurant you tap in at. Basics like your name, your Blackbird status, and things that help them take better care of you. Questions? Email support@blackbird.xyz. Know a restaurant that should be on Blackbird? Email restaurants@blackbird.xyz. Restaurant lovers unite.
Eater
Discover top restaurant and bar recommendations curated by expert editors. Find new places in any city, get personalized suggestions, and easily make reservations. Never have a bad meal again with trusted insider picks.
- Editor-curated restaurant picks
- Personalized recommendations
- Insider community connection
- Smart search functionality
- Create and share custom lists
- Direct table reservations
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The Eater app is the most trusted way to find great restaurants. Our editors have spent years eating at the best restaurants and bars so you always know where to go next. Get instant access to all of Eater’s restaurant picks in every major city, whether you're exploring a new neighborhood, planning a trip, or need a quick rec on the go. With the Eater app, you’ll never have a bad meal. What you’ll love about the Eater app: - Curated by editors: Trusted recommendations and reviews from people who know restaurants - Insider to insider: Follow and connect with editors, chefs, and friends, and be part of the Eater community - Ask anything: Smarter search that finds the places you actually want - Recommended for you: Eater’s take on restaurants near you and wherever you travel - Create and share: Browse Eater lists, make your own, and share your favorite spots with friends - Browse to book: Reserve tables directly in the Eater app so you’re one step closer to a great meal With the Eater app, the next great place to eat or drink is in the palm of your hand, no matter where the day (or night) takes you. Download the Eater app to find your next great meal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Blackbird at 4.8 against Eater's 4.1. Blackbird also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Blackbird holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackbird has 13K ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of Blackbird's written reviews are positive against 42% of Eater's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Blackbird ships an update every 9 days, Eater weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blackbird | Eater |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (13K ratings) — better | 4.1 (59 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 36.9% of reviews | 41.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 59 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 175 MB | 154 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Blackbird Labs, Inc | Vox Media, Inc. |
Customer experience
Blackbird
Eater
User reviews
Blackbird
From 13K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Great rewards program
- 🚀 Smooth check-in process
- 💡 Unique NFT and token features
- 👍 Fun and engaging experience
Room to improve
- 🐛 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Technical difficulties and glitches
- 🐛 Poor restaurant staff training
- 💡 Unclear how to use rewards/tokens
- 🐛 Deceptive concept with 'fly coins'
Eater
From 59 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Convenient access to Eater content
- 🚀 Curated restaurant recommendations
- 💡 Ability to save/reference restaurant lists
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes/won't open for some users
- 🔒 Forced opt-in for data tracking
- 🗺️ Outdated restaurant information
- 🌍 Limited to certain regions/cities
Bugs and requests
Blackbird
Reported bugs
3 issues- Authorization process not working
- Inability to update account information
- Inconsistent check-in and payment experience
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to view list of available restaurants
- Improved restaurant search and discovery
- Better integration with restaurant systems
- Clearer explanation of rewards and payment process
Eater
Reported bugs
2 issues- Search and account icons smushed on main map page
- Location settings get stuck after disabling tracking
Requested features
3 requests- Add filters and sorting for map/list view
- Allow sharing of restaurant lists
- Improve font size and layout on map view
In-app purchases
Blackbird
No in-app purchases
Eater
No in-app purchases









