Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Panera Bread vs Starbucks

Panera Bread 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Panera Bread
Starbucks 4.9★ · Free to download 60

For a more reliable ordering experience and better customization options, Panera Bread's app generally has the edge over Starbucks, despite some recent issues.

Full reviews: Panera Bread · Starbucks

Panera Bread's app is praised for its ease of use and quick service, though some users report recent issues with login and customization features. Starbucks' app offers convenience for ordering and rewards, but is frequently criticized for technical glitches, unreliable mobile ordering, and a less generous rewards program.

Head to head

Ease of Use & Ordering edge: Panera BreadR5R10R14R24
Panera Bread Panera Bread users frequently describe the app as easy to use, simple, and fast for ordering, with many appreciating the rapid pickup process R5. However, some recent reviews mention issues with the app changing pickup times without consent and difficulty logging in after updates R10R14R24.
Starbucks Starbucks users find the app convenient for pre-ordering and skipping lines . Despite this, many report frequent crashes, infinite loading, and mobile ordering being unavailable or not sending orders to the store instantly .
Customization & Features edge: Panera BreadR4R8R16R20
Panera Bread Panera Bread's app is generally seen as good for customization, though some recent updates have removed features like customizing coffee or adding notes for no ice R8R16R20R28. There's also a notable complaint about the lack of an iPad app for large group orders R4.
Starbucks Starbucks allows users to customize drinks through the app . However, users report missing customization options for certain toppings or cold foam, and a lack of features like requesting 'no lid' or 'tea bag on the side' . The delivery feature is also described as poorly implemented and buggy .
Rewards & Payments edge: Panera BreadR1R3R11R12
Panera Bread Panera Bread offers rewards and a 'Sip Club' which users appreciate R13R52. However, some find the rewards program not very generous R11R22 and there are issues with gift card usage for online orders and a new rewards signup requiring a new email R3R12. The app also had a currency display bug for international travelers R1.
Starbucks Starbucks' app allows users to earn reward points (stars) for free items . However, there is widespread dissatisfaction with the rewards program changes, including stars expiring quickly, the requirement to pre-load funds onto a card, and the inability to use multiple payment types or gift cards for partial payments R79.
Reliability & Support edge: Panera BreadR6R14R16R17
Panera Bread Panera Bread's app is generally described as dependable R17. However, recent reviews highlight issues with frequent updates requiring re-login, login death loops, and customer service being unhelpful for app issues R14R16R24. Some also note frequent out-of-stock items at locations R6.
Starbucks Starbucks' app suffers from frequent crashes, infinite loading, and mobile ordering downtime, making it unreliable for many users . Customer support is also criticized for being unhelpful with app issues and delivery problems .
Pick Panera Bread if

You prioritize an app that is generally easy to use for ordering, offers good customization (despite some recent removals), and has a more reliable mobile ordering experience, even with some recent login and rewards program frustrations R5R17.

Pick Starbucks if

You are a frequent Starbucks customer who values earning rewards and the convenience of mobile ordering to skip lines, and are willing to tolerate occasional app glitches and a less flexible rewards system .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for both show a negative skew, particularly regarding app functionality and rewards programs. Starbucks has significantly more reviews overall.

Frequently asked

Which app has better rewards?
Panera Bread's app offers a 'Sip Club' and rewards for repeated visits, which many users appreciate, though some find the overall rewards program not very generous R11R13R22R52. Starbucks' app allows users to earn stars for free items, but many recent reviews criticize the program for stars expiring quickly, requiring pre-loading funds, and reduced benefits R79.
Can I customize my order on these apps?
Yes, both apps generally allow for order customization. Panera Bread users have historically appreciated customization options, though some recent updates have removed specific drink customization features R8R16R20R28. Starbucks also allows drink customization, but some users report missing options for certain toppings or cold foam .
Are there issues with payments or gift cards?
Panera Bread's app has a limitation where you cannot pay with more than one payment type, and gift cards can only be used in-store if the order exceeds the gift card balance R3. Starbucks' app frequently requires users to pre-load a minimum amount onto a digital card, even if the order is less, and does not allow using multiple gift cards or partial payments with gift cards R79R87R90.
Do the apps have technical problems?
Panera Bread's app has faced recent issues with login difficulties after updates, a currency display bug, and some users reporting the app changing pickup times without consent R1R10R14R24. Starbucks' app is frequently criticized for crashing, infinite loading, mobile ordering being unavailable or not sending orders to the store instantly, and not working on older iPhone models .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Panera Bread 5/5 · US App: Easy for ordering
  2. [R10] Panera Bread 2/5 · US App Changed My Pickup Time Without My Consent: I placed an order at 8:51 PM, expecting a same-day pickup. Instead, the app automatically scheduled it for 6:09 AM the next morning without asking for my confirmation. I never selected that time, and I do not wake up that early. When an app changes the pickup date or time, it should require the customer’s explicit approval before processing payment.
  3. [R14] Panera Bread 2/5 · US Pain in the butt updates and spam: App frequently updates, and every single time I have to reenter my login information, as if I carry my Panera password around in my pocket all the time. Also, WAY too many promotional notifications and emails.
  4. [R24] Panera Bread 1/5 · US Login death loop: Most recent update will not permit login with a valid username. Insists that the email is not associated with any account despite using it to log in on the Panera Bread website without incident. Support is no help. By the looks of it others are intermittently suffering from the same bug. Needs a development code rescue desperately. Cancelling my Sips Club subscription.
  5. [R4] Panera Bread 1/5 · US iPad app is PAINFULLY missing: An iPad version of this app is PAINFULLY missing. On a daily basis, our office passes around an iPad to place a large $250+ group order, but it’s never for Panera Bread since there’s no iPad app. What a shame, since Panera Bread is a popular/favorite on our floor, but it’s just too hard to place a 25+ person order on an iPhone-sized app when we need 10+ customizati
  6. [R8] Panera Bread 4/5 · US Pickles are a problem: I love the App! So easy to use! I have severe allergies to pickles, the app does not allow me to indicate no pickle spear. They wrap a pickle spear on a second wrapper behind the sandwich wrapper. If I do not get to throw it out immediately, I cannot eat the sandwich. Please fix this.
  7. [R16] Panera Bread 1/5 · US Dysfunctional: Panera app used to be decent but not the greatest. Recently, they made it dysfunctional. You can no longer order a customized coffee through the drive-in. If I want milk in my coffee, I have to go into the store. That is unacceptable for a coffeehouse. In addition, the app often logged me out and I have a lot of difficulty logging back in. I have contacted customer service and they
  8. [R20] Panera Bread 1/5 · US Keep removing important features: I like extra half-and-half in my iced coffee, and hot coffee. That feature is now gone they used to have a customized section or you could tell him light ice. Mix half with green tea when you got the hibiscus pomegranate. They keep taking what made this great away. Now this app is so bad. I have to go up and order it myself making this app worthless.
  9. [R1] Panera Bread 1/5 · US Can't change currency: This app was working fine until it didn't. I went to Japan back in April and came back and ever since the app didn't update from yen to USD and I have no way to fix this. I deleted and reinstalled the app, logged in via website and the currency shows USD so I don't understand why it won't fix it when I've also enabled location services so it sees I'm in the United States. I
  10. [R3] Panera Bread 3/5 · US Payments feature: I don’t like that you cannot pay with more than one payment type. For instance, I had a gift card and I wanted to use it online, but it can only be used in the store if the order is more than the gift card balance.
  11. [R11] Panera Bread 4/5 · US More rewards or discounts please: Wish there were more discounts or rewards
  12. [R12] Panera Bread 2/5 · US New rewards signup requires a new email address: I received the email explaining the new rewards program and attempted to follow the steps to create a new membership. I was not allowed to use my current email address as it was “already in use”. Ridiculous. I had to use another email address that I happen to have but don’t use.
  13. [R6] Panera Bread 3/5 · US Why is Panera constantly out of items of late???: It’s a bit frustrating of late when ordering as each time they are out of this that or the other…. And it’s not just one location. Seems like they need to get their demand and supply chain sorted
  14. [R17] Panera Bread 5/5 · US Easy to use and fast service!: Great app for hot food delivered quickly. Very dependable and delicious!
  15. [R13] Panera Bread 5/5 · US Sip Club tea-oholic: My mom says it’s a good place; she sure loves her hibiscus tea.
  16. [R22] Panera Bread 2/5 · US App works: The app works fine but the rewards are trash. 5 visits only gets $2 off of a pick-two? Seriously?
  17. [R52] Panera Bread 5/5 · US I love Panera: I love the rewards you get from the sip club, app, and repeated visits
  18. [R28] Panera Bread 5/5 · US Customization of drinks: I’ve been using the Panera app for years and I really like it the only problem I have is they took away the customization for drinks so I can no longer put a note in for no ice. You can tell them when you check in, but by that time they’ve already made the drink and now they have to throw some away, I hate waste!.
  19. [R79] Starbucks 1/5 · US Just let me pay for my order: You shouldn’t have to add funds greater than your order. Just let me pay for my order like literally every other fast food app.
  20. [R87] Starbucks 3/5 · US It’s great but…: Starbucks is great their drinks are amazing but i don’t like how when ordering off the app online the reload card is strange. My order was only $5 plus tax, it took $10 dollars off of my card and didn’t give me an option to just pay the regular price.
  21. [R90] Starbucks 3/5 · US Mandatory Reload: So far everything good I had an issue with bonus stars but I call to the customer service an they help me. I tried tu purchase on the app with a. Gift card a friend gave me but it wouldn’t let me pay the difference which was 5 dollars instead I have to reload mandatory 10 dollars minimum. Other than that everything is working good

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store