Comparison

Hardens vs Indy Coffee Guide

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

Indy Coffee Guide

Discover top independent coffee shops and roasters with expert-curated listings. Find detailed profiles, brew methods, and insider tips for the finest speciality coffee experiences across the UK.

Highlights
  • Expertly curated coffee shop listings
  • Up-to-date opening times and menus
  • Detailed profiles of cafes and roasteries
  • Information on beans and brew methods
  • Insider tips from coffee professionals
  • Nationwide coverage of the UK coffee scene
Features
Read full description

Find the Best Independent, Speciality Coffee – Curated by Experts Discover the ultimate guide to the independent coffee scene in a beautifully designed, easy-to-use app. Whether you're a seasoned coffee aficionado or just starting your speciality coffee journey, this is your essential companion to finding the finest brews in the capital. Why Coffee Lovers Choose This App * Expertly Curated: Every listing is handpicked by experienced food and drink writers and coffee professionals. * Up-to-Date & Accurate: Get the latest info on opening times, menus, brew methods, and even the equipment used. * Trusted for Over a Decade: From the award-winning Indy Coffee Guide series, trusted by thousands since 2014. * Independent & Authentic: We champion venues that are passionate about quality, independence and community. * Nationwide Credibility: The only publisher covering the entire UK coffee scene What You’ll Find Inside * Detailed profiles of top speciality coffee shops and roasteries * Info on beans, brew methods and food at each cafe * Insider tips from the people behind the coffee About Us Published by Salt Media and curated with help from leading coffee experts, this guide features only venues that meet strict criteria: independent ownership, a commitment to quality, use of speciality-grade beans, and at least two brew methods or coffee options available at all times. Join our coffee-mad team on a journey through London’s most exciting cafés, roasteries, and espresso bars. Whether you're hunting for the perfect flat white or a rare single-origin pour-over, this app will lead you there.

Screenshots

Hardens4 screens
Indy Coffee Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hardens at 54% against Indy Coffee Guide's 0%. Hardens also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.1). Indy Coffee Guide's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Indy Coffee Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hardens ships an update every 2 months, Indy Coffee Guide every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hardens versus Indy Coffee Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHardensIndy Coffee Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.2 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHardens LtdSaltmedia Limited

Customer experience

Hardens

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

Indy Coffee Guide

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Hardens

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

Indy Coffee Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hardens free?
Hardens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Indy Coffee Guide free?
Indy Coffee Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hardens or Indy Coffee Guide have ads?
Neither Hardens nor Indy Coffee Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hardens or Indy Coffee Guide?
Hardens ships an update every 2 months, and Indy Coffee Guide every 4 weeks. Most recently, Hardens was updated on November 1, 2026 and Indy Coffee Guide on October 30, 2026.

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