Comparison

Barrel Proof vs Whiskey Thief Journal

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

Head to head
About

Barrel Proof

Features
Read full description

Check in the whiskey you're drinking. Find the bottles you're not. Check In Pour something good, log it in two taps — score, flavor notes, who you were with. Barrel Proof remembers. Next time that bottle comes around it tells you you've had it four times, what you gave it last time, and whether tonight beat it. At a bourbon bar or a bottle shop, check in to the venue in one tap. Shoot the back bar and the app reads the labels — several bottles in one shot. See which wishlist bottles have been spotted there. Hunt Keep a wishlist of what you're chasing. The Hunt map shows liquor stores and bars near you, and where members have reported spotting bottles in the wild. Member reports and store locations — not live inventory, and no promise a bottle is still there. Collect Point the camera at a label and Barrel Proof knows it in seconds, off a catalog built from every US federal label approval — new releases, single barrels, store picks, the long tail hand-typed databases miss. Barcodes work too. Every bottle becomes a card, rarity Common through Grail, and the ones you shoot in person earn a BP Certified seal. Connect Follow what your buds are opening. Send anyone a share card of a bottle you caught, with a link that works whether or not they have the app. Ask the Sommelier what to open tonight — it knows your shelf. Free while we're in early access. Barrel Proof is for adults of legal drinking age. It does not sell alcohol and is not affiliated with any distillery or retailer.

About

Whiskey Thief Journal

Features
Read full description

Whiskey Thief is a tasting journal built for collectors — a private, beautiful home for your shelf, your pours, and your palate. Point your camera at a label and Whiskey Thief reads it for you: name, distillery, region, age, and proof, filled in automatically. Scan a barcode, or add a bottle by hand. However it gets there, your collection stays on your device — no account, no cloud. CAPTURE EVERY BOTTLE • Snap a label and let AI identify the bottle • Scan barcodes for instant lookups • Photos, ratings, tasting notes, fill level, and price • Keep samples, minis, and a wishlist separate from your shelf POUR & TASTE • Log each pour and watch your bottles drain • Structured tasting notes — nose, palate, finish • Dictate notes by voice, hands-free • "Tonight's Pour" suggests something from your own shelf by flavor KNOW YOUR COLLECTION • Estimated bottle values, and how your shelf's worth changes over time • A Vault dashboard of stats, top bottles, and regions • The Rare Shelf — a curated reference of bottles worth knowing • Map your collection by distillery UNDERSTAND YOUR PALATE • AI palate analysis reveals the flavors you gravitate to • Compare any two bottles side by side • Find a cigar matched to a bottle's character • Distillery spotlights on the makers behind your pours YOURS TO KEEP • Everything stays on your device • Full backup and CSV export, photos included • No ads, no tracking, no account required WHISKEY THIEF PRO Unlock the AI tools — unlimited label scanning, expert tasting notes, bottle valuations, palate analysis, side-by-side comparisons, and cigar pairings — with Whiskey Thief Pro for $4.99/month. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period; manage it anytime in your Apple ID settings. Privacy Policy: https://getwhiskeythief.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://getwhiskeythief.com/terms For adults of legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly.

Screenshots

Barrel Proof4 screens
Whiskey Thief Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrel Proof at none against Whiskey Thief Journal's 2. Whiskey Thief Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Whiskey Thief Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Barrel Proof asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Barrel Proof versus Whiskey Thief Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarrel ProofWhiskey Thief Journal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB87 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperGood On Me LLCGlenn Capps

In-app purchases

None

Barrel Proof

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Whiskey Thief Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Whiskey Thief Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Whiskey Thief Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$34.991 Year

Questions

Is Barrel Proof free?
Barrel Proof is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Whiskey Thief Journal free?
Whiskey Thief Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Barrel Proof or Whiskey Thief Journal have ads?
Neither Barrel Proof nor Whiskey Thief Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Barrel Proof or Whiskey Thief Journal?
Barrel Proof ships an update every 4 days, and Whiskey Thief Journal every 4 days. Most recently, Barrel Proof was updated on October 21, 2026 and Whiskey Thief Journal on October 14, 2026.

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