Comparison

Hardens vs Eater

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

Head to head
About

Hardens

Discover brilliant restaurants and avoid disappointing ones with this trusted guide to the UK's dining scene. Features detailed ratings, real-time updates, and curated collections to help you find your next meal.

Highlights
  • Trusted restaurant reviews
  • Detailed ratings and reports
  • Over 3,000 updated entries
  • Powerful search filters
  • Curated collections
  • Restaurant diary
  • Club benefits and access
Features
Read full description

TELLING IT HOW IT IS! Your trusted guide to the UK's Best Restaurants + Avoid bad restaurants & discover brilliant ones + Founded 1991 + Trusted reviews and detailed ratings + Over 3,000 entries, updated in real time + New club with special benefits and access + Powerful search by price, food quality, cuisine + Book online (selected restaurants) + Journal meals out in your restaurant diary + Restaurant news, with constant updates + Browse curated collections of recommendations WHY YOU CAN TRUST OUR REVIEWS Decide where to eat based on socially sourced, carefully curated ratings and reviews. Votes are taken from 1,000s of fellow foodies, who take part annually in the Harden's Annual National Diners Poll. Harden's editors then carefully weed this data for cheats and distil the feedback into statistically-derived ratings and short reports quoting from diner feedback. Since 1991, we've been "telling it like it is" based on one of the UK's most detailed surveys of restaurant-goers. Each year, approximately, 8,000 ‘reporters’ (that's what we call diners who take part in the survey) contribute 50,000 reviews. And now you can even submit reports to us directly from the App. COVERING LONDON & THE UK With detailed coverage of the UK and London, the app features over 1,400 listings outside the capital, and more than 1,400 within London itself. (Outside London, that’s more listings than our rival, the Good Food Guide; and inside London, about five times as many reviews as the Good Food Guide!) INTRODUCING HARDEN’S CLUB (FREE & PLATINUM) Launching in early 2021 (pandemic allowing), Harden’s Platinum is a new level of Harden’s membership linking Harden’s community of diners with the UK’s best Restaurants and Hotels. + Gain access to a kitchen tour or an area that would otherwise be out-of-bounds. + Enjoy a perk like a complimentary course or glass of English Sparkling wine. + Access a special rate as a thank you when you spend more than average at a particular establishment You will also receive priority access and special rates when booking "Harden's Invites" events and online happenings. SUBSCRIBE TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR APP Although you can search for restaurants by name within the free version of the App, its powerful search features and constant updating of its restaurant data are only available to subscribers • Annual subscription - UK & London Restaurants, Pubs, & Cafés • Lasts one year (12 months from purchase) • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable • Visit https://www.hardens.com/terms-and-conditions for terms of use • Visit https://www.hardens.com/terms-and-conditions for privacy policy information

About

Eater

Discover trusted restaurant recommendations curated by expert editors. Find top dining spots in major cities, connect with food enthusiasts, and make reservations directly within the app. Never have a bad meal again with personalized suggestions and smart search.

Highlights
  • Editor-curated restaurant picks
  • Connect with editors and chefs
  • Smart search for dining spots
  • Personalized restaurant suggestions
  • Create and share restaurant lists
  • Direct table reservations
Read 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.

Screenshots

Hardens4 screens
Eater4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Eater at 4.1 against Hardens's 3.5. Eater also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Hardens's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (54% vs 41%). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hardens sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.49 per year. Eater asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Eater holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Eater has 68 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Hardens's written reviews are positive against 41% of Eater's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hardens ships an update every 2 months, Eater weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Hardens versus Eater: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHardensEater
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)4.1 (68 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews — better41.1% of reviews
Number of ratings468 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.2 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB155 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHardens LtdVox Media, Inc.

Customer experience

Hardens

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.4%

Eater

All ratings67 ratings
Positive76.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative20.9%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive41.1%
Neutral7.8%
Negative51.1%

Bugs and requests

Hardens

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or 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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Hardens

Subscriptions2
  • Annual UK + London Restaurants$7.491 Year
  • Annual UK + London Restaurants$9.991 Year
None

Eater

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hardens free?
Hardens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Eater free?
Eater is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hardens or Eater?
Eater is rated higher. Hardens averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Eater averages 4.1 from 68 ratings.
Do Hardens or Eater have ads?
Eater shows ads; Hardens does not.
Which is updated more often, Hardens or Eater?
Hardens ships an update every 2 months, and Eater weekly. Most recently, Hardens was updated on November 13, 2026 and Eater on November 14, 2026.

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