# Eater vs OpenTab Pay

The clearest difference is ads: OpenTab Pay at none against Eater's shown. OpenTab Pay also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Eater's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (61 vs 5). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Eater against 4.2 for OpenTab Pay. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Eater has 61 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Eater ships an update weekly, OpenTab Pay every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Eater | OpenTab Pay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (61 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eater/id6469005148/reviews) | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opentab-pay/id6749553895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **61** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 41.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 154 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Vox Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/457274452) | [OpenTab Solutions Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831121652) |

## What reviewers say

### Eater

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eater/id6469005148)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient access to Eater content
- 🚀 Curated restaurant recommendations
- 💡 Ability to save/reference restaurant lists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes/won't open for some users
- 🔒 Forced opt-in for data tracking
- 🗺️ Outdated restaurant information
- 🌍 Limited to certain regions/cities

**Reported bugs**

- Search and account icons smushed on main map page
- Location settings get stuck after disabling tracking

**Requested features**

- Add filters and sorting for map/list view
- Allow sharing of restaurant lists
- Improve font size and layout on map view


### OpenTab Pay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opentab-pay/id6749553895)

Streamline your bar and restaurant experience by opening and closing tabs directly from your phone. Avoid waiting for servers or checks, allowing you to enjoy your night without delays. Securely pay and leave at your convenience.

**Highlights:** Open and close bar/restaurant tabs, Pay securely from your phone, Find participating venues, Save time on visits, Keep card secure, Leave without delays

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Eater free?

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

### Is OpenTab Pay free?

OpenTab Pay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Eater or OpenTab Pay?

OpenTab Pay is rated higher. Eater averages 4.1 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while OpenTab Pay averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Eater or OpenTab Pay have ads?

Eater shows ads; OpenTab Pay does not.

### Which is updated more often, Eater or OpenTab Pay?

Eater ships an update weekly, and OpenTab Pay every 6 months. Most recently, Eater was updated on October 17, 2026 and OpenTab Pay on October 12, 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.*