# Matalan vs British Essentials

Matalan and British Essentials both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of British Essentials's written reviews are positive against 45% of Matalan's. British Essentials also leads on ratings volume (259 vs 61) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.2). Matalan's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Matalan against 4.9 for British Essentials. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61 and 259 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of Matalan's written reviews are positive against 100% of British Essentials's.

Matalan ships an update every 3 weeks, British Essentials every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Matalan | British Essentials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (61 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matalan-online-shopping/id877554374/reviews)** | [4.9 (259 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/british-essentials/id6477825501/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 61 | **259** |
| Positive reviews | 44.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 116 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matalan Retail Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454251039) | [B.E. ESSENTIALS LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1730722064) |

## What reviewers say

### Matalan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matalan-online-shopping/id877554374)

Shop a wide range of clothing, fashion, and homeware items from a leading retailer. Discover new arrivals, exclusive deals, and create stylish outfits. Manage your loyalty rewards and enjoy convenient payment options.

**Highlights:** Browse full department range, Notifications for deals and new arrivals, Outfit builder, Matalan Me Rewards program, Wishlist functionality, Multiple payment options, In-store barcode scanning

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy navigation and user-friendly interface
- 💰 Great prices and frequent discounts
- 🛍️ Wide product selection and variety
- 📦 Convenient click and collect service
- ⭐ Excellent in-store customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐢 Slow app and website loading times
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 💳 Payment processing issues and failures
- 🔐 Login and authentication problems
- ❌ Discount codes not applying at checkout

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup with red splash screen
- Freezing during checkout process
- Keyboard visibility blocking voucher code entry
- Basket clears when app is closed
- Back button doesn't return to previous page

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option for accessibility
- Barcode scanner functionality
- Google and Facebook sign-in options on app
- Add Matalan card to Apple Wallet
- Improved wishlist with easier navigation


### British Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/british-essentials/id6477825501)

Discover and purchase a wide array of authentic British food and drink items from around the world. This app offers global accessibility to classic British groceries, exclusive deals, and a user-friendly shopping experience, all while supporting UK producers.

**Highlights:** Extensive selection of British groceries, Worldwide shipping, User-friendly interface, Authentic UK products, Exclusive app offers and discounts, Personalized product recommendations, Fast and reliable shipping

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Matalan free?

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

### Is British Essentials free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Matalan or British Essentials?

Matalan is rated higher. Matalan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while British Essentials averages 4.9 from 259 ratings.

### Do Matalan or British Essentials have ads?

Both Matalan and British Essentials show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Matalan or British Essentials?

Matalan ships an update every 3 weeks, and British Essentials every 3 months. Most recently, Matalan was updated on November 12, 2026 and British Essentials on November 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.*