# Hardens vs Eater

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardens | Eater |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardens-restaurant-guide/id949622414/reviews) | **[4.1 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eater/id6469005148/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | **53.6% of reviews** | 41.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 91 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hardens Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/365310174) | [Vox Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/457274452) |

## What reviewers say

### Hardens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardens-restaurant-guide/id949622414)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual UK + London Restaurants | $7.49 | per year |
| Annual UK + London Restaurants | $9.99 | per year |


### Eater

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eater/id6469005148)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient access to Eater content
- 🚀 Curated restaurant recommendations
- 💡 Ability to save/reference restaurant lists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes/won't open for some users
- 🔒 Forced opt-in for data tracking
- 🗺️ Outdated restaurant information
- 🌍 Limited to certain regions/cities

**Reported bugs**

- Search and account icons smushed on main map page
- Location settings get stuck after disabling tracking

**Requested features**

- Add filters and sorting for map/list view
- Allow sharing of restaurant lists
- Improve font size and layout on map view


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