DrinkistDrinkist vs Untappd
Drinkist vs Untappd
Untappd is a social network for beer — check in, earn badges, see what friends are drinking, browse venue menus. Drinkist is a private journal for every drink — wine, beer, cocktails, whisky, coffee — with AI label scanning and no ads or feed. Pick Untappd for the beer community; pick Drinkist to quietly remember what you actually liked.
The quick version
Untappd is built around the check-in: every beer is a moment you share with friends, complete with badges and a global feed. It’s a community first and a logbook second. Drinkist flips that — it’s a logbook first, with no social layer at all. Nothing you save is broadcast; it’s simply your private taste record.
They also disagree on scope. Untappd is beer-first — its expansion into other drinks famously upset its own community — while Drinkist was multi-category from the start.
Drinkist vs Untappd at a glance
| Drinkist | Untappd | |
|---|---|---|
| Drink categories | Wine, beer, cocktails, whisky, spirits, coffee & tea | Beer-first (other drinks added, controversially) |
| AI label scanning | Yes — identifies any drink from the label | No AI scan; barcode & manual check-in |
| Social network | No — private by design | Yes — check-ins, friends, badges |
| Venue & brewery menus | No | Yes |
| Ads | None | Full-screen ads on the free tier |
| Stats | Free | Advanced stats behind Supporter |
| Tone | Calm, private journal | Social, gamified check-ins |
| Platforms | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Price | Free; optional Premium | Free; Untappd Supporter (~$60/yr) |
Social check-ins vs. a private journal
Untappd turns drinking into a shared game: badges to unlock, friends’ check-ins to scroll, a feed to post to. For a lot of people that’s the whole appeal. For others it’s noise — and reviewers regularly mention the battery drain and friction of checking in every beer at the pub.
Drinkist has no feed, no badges and no followers. You log a drink for yourself, and that’s the end of it. If you’ve ever wanted to just remember a beer without performing it, that’s the difference.
Beer-first vs. every category
When Untappd broadened beyond beer, its core community pushed back hard — dozens of reviews, and cancelled subscriptions, from people who “signed up for a beer app.” The non-beer experience still feels bolted on.
Drinkist treats wine, beer, cocktails, whisky, spirits, coffee and tea as equals because it was designed that way. One app, one history, whatever’s in your glass.
AI scanning vs. barcodes and check-ins
Untappd relies on manual check-ins and barcodes; a steady stream of its own users ask for Vivino-style label scanning that simply isn’t there.
Drinkist reads any label with AI and fills in the details for you — no barcode lookup, no typing, no check-in flow. Point, scan, saved.
Ads and paywalls
On Untappd’s free tier you’ll meet full-screen ads, and the more interesting stats sit behind the ~$60/year Supporter subscription.
Drinkist shows no ads to anyone, and your stats are free. Premium only lifts the limits on how much you log and scan — it never gates the basics.
Which should you choose?
Choose Drinkist if…
A quiet, private record of everything you drink
- You want a calm, private record — no feed, no badges
- You drink more than beer
- You want AI scanning for any label
- You don’t want ads interrupting your logging
Choose Untappd if…
The social home of beer
- Beer is your main thing
- You love the social side — friends, badges, check-ins
- You want brewery and venue beer menus
- The global beer community is the point for you
Frequently asked questions
Is Drinkist a good Untappd alternative?
Yes, if you want a private, ad-free journal for every drink rather than a beer social network. Drinkist adds AI label scanning and covers wine, cocktails, whisky and coffee alongside beer. It’s not a replacement for Untappd’s community, badges or venue menus — those simply aren’t what Drinkist does.
Does Drinkist have a social feed or badges?
No. Drinkist is private by design — there’s no feed, no friends list and no badges. Everything you log stays yours and is never broadcast.
Can Drinkist track more than beer?
Yes. Drinkist handles wine, beer, cocktails, whisky, spirits, coffee and tea in one journal, with shared stats across all of them.
Is Drinkist free?
Yes, free to start on iOS and Android, with no ads. An optional Premium upgrade unlocks unlimited drinks and AI scans.
Remember every drink you love
Log, rate and scan any drink with AI — wine, beer, cocktails, whisky and coffee. Free on iOS & Android, no ads.