# Cold Stone vs Panera Bread

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Panera Bread at 75% against Cold Stone's 20%. Panera Bread also leads on ratings volume (1.3M vs 23K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Cold Stone's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Panera Bread holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panera Bread has 1.3M ratings behind it against 23K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Cold Stone's written reviews are positive against 75% of Panera Bread's.

Cold Stone ships an update every 3 weeks, Panera Bread every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cold Stone | Panera Bread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-stone/id690080616/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panera-bread/id692365393/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23K | **1.3M** |
| Positive reviews | 19.5% of reviews | **74.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #129 | **#28** |
| Size | 72 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kahala Management, L.L.C.](https://appshunter.io/developer/563332606) | [Panera Bread](https://appshunter.io/developer/692365396) |

## What reviewers say

### Cold Stone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-stone/id690080616)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order custom ice cream creations, shakes, or cakes for pickup or delivery. Save your favorite orders, earn rewards, and enjoy exclusive birthday treats through a loyalty program.

**Highlights:** Order ice cream creations, shakes, and cakes, Pickup at store or delivery to door, Save favorite orders and re-order easily, Unlimited customizations, Earn points and redeem rewards, Birthday Buy One, Get One FREE offer

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy order and pick up
- 👍 Exceptional ice cream and service
- 💡 Allows store to accept phone number for rewards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app features
- 👎 Outdated and clunky app design
- 🤔 Disconnect between app and store inventory
- 💸 Incorrect orders and missing items
- 🤯 Frustrating login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- Payment processing errors
- Inability to change pickup location
- Rewards not updating properly
- App crashes when trying to add gift cards

**Requested features**

- Ability to reorder previous orders
- Option to select custom ice cream flavors
- Integration with mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Easier way to apply rewards and discounts
- Clearer communication on store closures and order availability


### Panera Bread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panera-bread/id692365393)

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order your favorite soups, salads, and sandwiches ahead for pickup or delivery. Access exclusive deals and rewards, and manage your Unlimited Sip Club membership. Reorder past favorites with ease and send digital gift cards.

**Highlights:** Order ahead for pickup or delivery, Access MyPanera rewards, Join Unlimited Sip Club, Save and reorder favorites, Send digital gift cards, Mix & Match menu deals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient ordering process
- 🔒 Contactless delivery option
- 👍 Customization options
- 👍 Syncs with payment methods
- 👍 Rewards program integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy ordering process
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience
- 🐛 Lack of order tracking
- 🐛 Payment and rewards issues
- 🐛 Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Orders not showing up at the store
- Inability to access past orders
- Rewards not properly applied
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between WiFi and cellular
- App crashes or freezes during ordering process

**Requested features**

- Allow drive-thru pickup option
- Improve customization capabilities
- Provide order history and balance tracking
- Streamline payment and rewards integration
- Enhance app stability and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cold Stone free?

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

### Is Panera Bread free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cold Stone or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread is rated higher. Cold Stone averages 4.7 out of 5 from 23K ratings, while Panera Bread averages 4.9 from 1.3M ratings.

### Do Cold Stone or Panera Bread have ads?

Neither Cold Stone nor Panera Bread shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cold Stone or Panera Bread?

Cold Stone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Panera Bread every 2 weeks. Most recently, Cold Stone was updated on October 2, 2026 and Panera Bread on October 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Cold Stone or Panera Bread?

Cold Stone currently peaks at #129 in the App Store charts, and Panera Bread at #28. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*