Eater vs The Oyster Journal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Eater | The Oyster Journal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (64 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 154 MB | 77 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Vox Media, Inc. | The Oyster Journal, LLC |
Customer experience
Eater
The Oyster Journal
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
Eater
No in-app purchases
The Oyster Journal
- Oyster Journal Premium Monthly$5.991 Month
- Oyster Journal Premium Yearly$56.991 Year









