Comparison

Eater vs The Oyster Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Editor-curated restaurant picks
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Insider community connection
  • Smart search functionality
  • Create and share custom lists
  • Direct table reservations
Read full description

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.

About

The Oyster Journal

Discover, track, and share your oyster experiences with a global community. Explore over 600 oyster varieties, log tasting notes and photos, and see what others are enjoying.

Highlights
  • Explore 600+ oyster varieties
  • Track oyster count, variety, location
  • Create personalized journal entries
  • Add tasting notes and photos
  • Browse community journal entries
  • Submit new oyster varieties
Read full description

The Oyster Journal — Discover, Track, and Share Oysters Embark on a journey through the world of oysters with The Oyster Journal — the ultimate companion and community for discovering, tracking, and sharing your oyster experiences like never before. Whether you are just beginning your oyster journey or are already a seasoned enthusiast, our app brings the oyster world to your fingertips. Explore • Browse a growing collection of over 800 oyster varieties from around the globe • From renowned classics to hidden gems, explore the rich diversity of flavors and textures the oyster world has to offer • Learn curated details about each oyster, including species, body of water, and taste profile • Discover and explore nearby restaurants and oyster bars • See which oysters others have enjoyed and journaled at each restaurant Personal • Track your oyster adventures by count, variety, and location • Create personalized journal entries for each oyster you try • Add tasting notes, ratings, and photos to capture every experience • Build a comprehensive profile of your oyster journey and watch your progress grow over time Community • Browse authentic journal entries shared by fellow oyster enthusiasts • See which oysters are trending within the community • Follow friends and stay inspired by their tasting journeys Contribute • Don’t see an oyster you are having? • Submit new oysters directly to our team so the entire community can discover them The Oyster Journal is your personal space to explore, document, and share the world of oysters, one entry at a time. Privacy Policy: https://theoysterjournal.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://theoysterjournal.com/terms

Screenshots

Eater4 screens
The Oyster Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Oyster Journal at 100% against Eater's 41%. The Oyster Journal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and ads (none vs shown). Eater's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months). On price, monetization model and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Oyster Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Eater asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Oyster Journal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Eater has 64 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Eater's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Oyster Journal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Eater ships an update weekly, The Oyster Journal every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Eater versus The Oyster Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEaterThe Oyster Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (64 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64 — better9
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 7 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB77 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperVox Media, Inc.The Oyster Journal, LLC

Customer experience

Eater

All ratings61 ratings
Positive75.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative21.3%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive41.1%
Neutral7.8%
Negative51.1%

The Oyster Journal

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

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

The Oyster Journal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Eater

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

The Oyster Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Oyster Journal Premium Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Oyster Journal Premium Yearly$56.991 Year

Questions

Is Eater free?
Eater is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Oyster Journal free?
The Oyster Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Eater or The Oyster Journal?
The Oyster Journal is rated higher. Eater averages 4.1 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while The Oyster Journal averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do Eater or The Oyster Journal have ads?
Eater shows ads; The Oyster Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Eater or The Oyster Journal?
Eater ships an update weekly, and The Oyster Journal every 7 months. Most recently, Eater was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Oyster Journal on October 27, 2026.

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