# DrinkSmith vs BARTENDER®

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BARTENDER® at none against DrinkSmith's 3. BARTENDER® also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). DrinkSmith's advantage is ratings volume (103 vs 6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DrinkSmith sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BARTENDER® asks for nothing beyond the download.

BARTENDER® holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DrinkSmith has 103 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

DrinkSmith ships an update fortnightly, BARTENDER® every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrinkSmith | BARTENDER® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drinksmith-cocktail-recipes/id6451126617/reviews) | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bartender/id6739690613/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **103** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 80 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Vision Pro | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Ryan Allen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1248135063) | [BARTENDER Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786508890) |

## What reviewers say

### DrinkSmith

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drinksmith-cocktail-recipes/id6451126617)

Master the art of bartending with this comprehensive cocktail recipe guide. Discover hundreds of drinks, explore ingredients, and experiment with flavors using augmented reality. Perfect for both beginners and experienced mixologists looking to elevate their home bar creations.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of cocktail recipes, Augmented reality mixology guidance, Searchable filters by ABV, ingredients, flavor, Dynamic recipe collections, Ingredient information and usage tips, Customizable drink creation, Community sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrinkSmith Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| DrinkSmith Premium Yearly | $23.99 | per year |
| DrinkSmith Premium Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


### BARTENDER®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bartender/id6739690613)

Discover thousands of cocktail recipes, expert tips, and industry trends. This app is your ultimate guide for crafting drinks at home or managing a professional bar. Explore articles, product reviews, and access digital magazine issues.

**Highlights:** Searchable cocktail recipe database, Trending and seasonal drink discovery, In-depth articles on bartending techniques, Expert reviews and product recommendations, Digital BARTENDER Magazine access, Online merchandise store

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DrinkSmith free?

DrinkSmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BARTENDER® free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DrinkSmith or BARTENDER®?

BARTENDER® is rated higher. DrinkSmith averages 4.5 out of 5 from 103 ratings, while BARTENDER® averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do DrinkSmith or BARTENDER® have ads?

Neither DrinkSmith nor BARTENDER® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DrinkSmith or BARTENDER®?

DrinkSmith ships an update fortnightly, and BARTENDER® every 5 weeks. Most recently, DrinkSmith was updated on October 17, 2026 and BARTENDER® on October 16, 2026.

---

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