# West Elm vs The Container Store

The clearest difference is ads: West Elm at none against The Container Store's shown. West Elm also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). The Container Store's advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 30%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 — 4.8 for West Elm against 4.8 for The Container Store. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.2K and 15K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of West Elm's written reviews are positive against 40% of The Container Store's.

West Elm ships an update every 3 weeks, The Container Store every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | West Elm | The Container Store |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/west-elm/id867468341/reviews) | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-container-store/id1604507002/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.3% of reviews | **39.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 257 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Williams-Sonoma, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387049654) | [The Container Store, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604507004) |

## What reviewers say

### West Elm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/west-elm/id867468341)

Discover the latest home decor arrivals and seasonal inspiration. Create and manage your wedding registry easily, and get expert design advice for your dream space. Shop curated room looks and receive personalized recommendations.

**Highlights:** Discover latest arrivals, Seasonal inspiration, Wedding registry management, Virtual design help, Shop by room, Personalized recommendations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent customer service
- 🚀 Quality and style of products
- 💡 Free swatch samples
- 🤩 Unique and beautiful designs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Poor search and navigation functionality
- 🛒 Issues with cart and saved items
- ⏰ Long delivery times and order delays
- 🔌 Buggy and unresponsive app performance

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to return items
- Inability to link rewards account
- Saved items disappearing from cart
- Shipping and delivery information not accurate

**Requested features**

- Add AR view in room feature
- Improve product reviews and ratings
- Allow opting out of promotional emails
- Fix login and account management issues


### The Container Store

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-container-store/id1604507002)

Shop for storage, organization, and custom closet solutions. Get project inspiration, track store pickup orders, and manage your loyalty account. Scan products in-store for details and reviews.

**Highlights:** Shop storage and organization products, Custom closet solutions, Project inspiration and tips, Track store pickup orders, Loyalty dashboard and offers, In-store barcode scanner, Digital wallet for checkout

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient in-store features
- 💡 Loyalty program integration
- 👍 Helpful customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and sluggish performance
- 🔁 Constant sign-out issues
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and layout
- 💤 Slow page loads and app response

**Reported bugs**

- Cart and checkout issues
- App crashes and freezes
- Login and account problems
- Inconsistent user experience

**Requested features**

- Ability to share products
- Improved search and filtering
- Seamless integration with website
- Customizable drawer/closet planning


## Frequently asked questions

### Is West Elm free?

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

### Is The Container Store free?

The Container Store is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, West Elm or The Container Store?

The Container Store is rated higher. West Elm averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while The Container Store averages 4.8 from 15K ratings.

### Do West Elm or The Container Store have ads?

The Container Store shows ads; West Elm does not.

### Which is updated more often, West Elm or The Container Store?

West Elm ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Container Store every 4 weeks. Most recently, West Elm was updated on September 20, 2026 and The Container Store on September 23, 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.*