H&M vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against H&M's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

H&M
This App
ZARA
Nemesis
AE + Aerie
Contender
Core Identity
DeveloperH&MIndustria de Diseno Textil, S.A.American Eagle OutfittersGap Inc.ROADGET BUSINESS PTE. LTD.TargetNike, IncMacys IncStockX LLC
CategoryShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShopping
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOSiOSAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOSiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.8 / 54.9 / 54.9 / 54.7 / 54.9 / 54.9 / 54.9 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count225,191406,6791,182,3111,375,0381,953,5676,700,0771,699,1402,264,1961,217,343
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateJul 7, 2018Aug 1, 2012Oct 6, 2011Dec 11, 2009May 20, 2014Nov 25, 2008Aug 2, 2016Dec 14, 2009Jun 6, 2014
Last UpdatedApr 30, 2026Apr 28, 2026Apr 23, 2026Apr 23, 2026Apr 10, 2026May 12, 2026Apr 29, 2026Apr 16, 2026Apr 23, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixedterriblepositivepositivepositivemixedmixedpositivemixed
Score55/10025/10078/10075/10072/10055/10045/10062/10055/100
Praises
  • Wide variety of clothing options and high quality materials keep long-term customers satisfied with their purchases
  • Fashion forward styling and quality apparel keep long-term shoppers engaged with the brand
  • Extensive product selection and sizing options drive high satisfaction for diverse body types
  • Broad product selection and consistent sizing options drive high customer satisfaction across diverse family needs
  • Affordability and Value
  • Convenient curbside pickup and delivery services save time for busy families and multitaskers
  • Fast shipping and delivery times keep customers satisfied with their online shopping experience
  • User-Friendly Navigation
  • Competitive Pricing and Deals
  • Authentication process provides confidence in product legitimacy for sneaker and apparel collectors
Complaints
  • Navigation regressions post-update cause the search results to reset to the top when returning from items
  • Persistent login failures and circular authentication loops prevent users from accessing accounts post-update
  • Post-update login and authentication loops prevent users from accessing their accounts
  • Technical instability including application crashes and loading failures prevents users from completing purchase transactions
  • Deceptive Marketing and Gamification
  • Customer Service and Returns
  • Inaccurate online inventory and stock status lead to order cancellations and customer frustration
  • Automated bot activity during limited product drops prevents genuine customers from securing purchases
  • App Stability and Crashes
  • Order Fulfillment and Cancellations
  • Post-update technical regressions cause navigation failures and search functionality issues for mobile users
Requests
  • Improved inventory transparency and stock notifications for specific sizes to prevent wasted search time
  • Detailed model size references including height are requested to improve garment fit expectations
  • Advanced review filtering by height and weight to improve sizing accuracy
  • Integrated account management features for store credit cards to avoid external banking application reliance
-
  • Enhanced filtering options to exclude online-only items from in-store pickup search results
  • Dark mode interface requested to improve visual comfort during late-night browsing sessions
-
  • Order bundling functionality to reduce total shipping and processing costs per transaction
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Loyalty program gamification drives repeat purchase frequency
  • Scan & Find feature bridges physical-digital inventory gaps
  • Editorial-style campaign imagery sustains brand-led aspirational engagement
  • Store Mode bridges physical-digital inventory to reduce cart abandonment
  • Zara QR unifies transaction data for efficient returns
  • Real Rewards program creates high-switching-cost retention loop
  • Omnichannel inventory visibility drives physical store foot traffic
  • Integrated loyalty dashboard gamifies repeat purchase frequency
  • Proprietary credit card integration increases switching costs
  • Broad family-focused catalog sustains high organic install velocity
  • Strong brand equity in the fashion vertical
  • Mature social features (SHEIN LIVE)
  • High-velocity supply chain for trend alignment
  • Proprietary Drive Up service creates a physical-digital fulfillment barrier
  • Circle loyalty program integrates payment and savings into a single barcode
  • AR-based virtual try-on reduces return rates in high-margin beauty
  • Exclusive access to Jordan-brand inventory
  • Deep integration of Nike Member rewards
  • High-fidelity in-store barcode scanning tools
  • Massive user base (2.2M+ ratings)
  • Exclusive high-end brand partnerships (Nike, lululemon)
  • Integrated Macy's Pay for seamless rewards application
  • Verification process functions as a trust barrier
  • Real-time market data drives high-frequency trading
Weaknesses
  • Navigation regressions in the latest version force search restarts
  • Inconsistent return and refund processing damages customer trust
  • Persistent login loops post-update drive high churn
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform-specific stability issues
  • Rigid return policies frustrate users
  • Recurring authentication loops post-update
  • Inconsistent reward application at checkout
  • Lack of granular review filtering by body type
  • Persistent app crashes during checkout
  • Lack of in-app credit card management
  • Inconsistent pricing display during Apple Pay transactions
  • Friction in refund and return processing
  • Perceived deceptive gamification mechanics
  • Inconsistent sizing and material transparency
  • Inaccurate inventory data leads to frequent order cancellations
  • Complex payment flows block transactions
  • Search results lack relevance for specific item discovery
  • Bot-driven inventory depletion during drops
  • Frequent login loops and app crashes
  • Inaccurate local store inventory filtering
  • Critical 'filter crash' bug in search
  • High frequency of order cancellations/verification issues
  • Maintenance-only update cycle (v2604.2.0)
  • High processing fees per item
  • Technical regressions in the latest update
  • No order-bundling functionality
Pricingfreefreefreefreefreefreemiumfreefreefreemium
MomentumActiveIntenseActiveActive-ActiveActiveMaintenanceActive
Update Cadence5 versions, ~9d avg5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~5d avg5 versions, ~5d avg5 versions, ~10d avg-5 versions, ~9d avg5 versions, ~5d avg5 versions, ~11d avg5 versions, ~7d avg

Compare H&M head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by H&M, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0