Eater vs Nectar
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
Nectar
Discover curated lists of NYC's top cafés, restaurants, and bars, filtering out chains and tourist traps. An algorithm analyzes venues for atmosphere, uniqueness, and quality to provide a trustworthy map for locals and visitors alike.
- Curated NYC food and drink spots
- Filters out chains and tourist traps
- Algorithm-based venue analysis
- Adaptable map lenses for different needs
- Discover new openings quickly
- Save favorites and track visited places
- Explore by neighborhood or nearby
Read full descriptionHide full description
Discover NYC's best cafés, restaurants, and bars - without the noise. Nectar filters 25,000 NYC food and drink spots down those worth visiting. No chains. No tourist traps. Just places worth your time. How it works: Our algorithm analyzes thousands of venues across atmosphere, uniqueness, quality, and context. The result: a curated map that shows you only places that matter. Find what you need, when you need it: Switch between lenses to match your moment. Looking for coffee? New openings? Date night spots? The map adapts instantly. Discover before the crowds: Our automated system finds new openings within days. See what's worth trying before the lines form. Built for exploration: Save your favorites. Track where you've been. Explore by neighborhood or let the map guide you to something unexpected nearby. Why nectar is different: Most discovery apps show you everything. We show you what's good. Every spot on nectar has been filtered for quality, character, and authenticity. The result is a map you can trust - whether you're a local looking for your next regular spot or a visitor who wants to skip the tourist traps. No subscriptions. No paywalls. Just a better way to find your spot in New York City.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nectar at 100% against Eater's 41%. Nectar also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and ads (none vs shown). Eater's advantage is ratings volume (62 vs 3). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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.
Nectar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Eater has 62 ratings behind it against 3, 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 Nectar's.
Eater ships an update weekly, Nectar every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Eater | Nectar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (62 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 62 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 154 MB | 75 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Vox Media, Inc. | Nectar - Find Your Spot |
Customer experience
Eater
Nectar
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
Nectar
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Eater
No in-app purchases
Nectar
No in-app purchases
