Privacy guide

The best private, local-first recipe apps

Recipe apps that keep your collection on your own device, with no ad tracking and no cloud profile of what you cook.

Most 'free' recipe apps pay for themselves with ads and data. If you'd rather your recipe box didn't double as a marketing profile, you want apps that store data locally and don't require an account.

These are the picks that keep your data close. A couple sync through iCloud (private, but Apple-only); others are fully local or self-hostable.

  1. 2

    Mela

    Recipe manager · iOS, iPadOS, macOS

    Stores data on-device and syncs via your private iCloud. No ads, no separate account. Apple devices only.

    Price
    Free; one-time Mela+ unlock (~$7 iOS, ~$15 Mac)
    Best for
    Apple-only households who want a gorgeous native app.
  2. 3

    Crouton

    Recipe manager · iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS

    On-device with iCloud sync and no separate account. Ad-free and privacy-respecting, within the Apple ecosystem.

    Price
    Free; one-time Crouton Plus unlock (~$25). Optional AI add-on
    Best for
    Apple users who love a modern, playful cooking app.
  3. 4

    Paprika Recipe Manager

    Recipe manager · macOS, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android

    Stores recipes locally and works fully offline; sync uses Paprika's own cloud with a free account. No ads.

    Price
    One-time purchase per platform (~$5 mobile, ~$30 desktop)
    Best for
    People who want a polished, subscription-free app and don't mind paying per platform.
  4. 5

    Recipe Keeper

    Recipe manager · iOS, iPadOS, Android, Windows, macOS

    Local-first and usable with no account at all; sync is optional through their cloud. Cross-platform, including Windows.

    Price
    Free download; one-time Pro upgrade (~$20), per platform
    Best for
    People who want a cheap, cross-platform, no-subscription keeper.
  5. 6

    RecipeSage

    Recipe manager · Web, Android, Self-hosted

    Open source and self-hostable, so you can run the whole thing yourself. The hosted version needs an account.

    Price
    Free, donation-supported; self-host for free (AGPL-3.0)
    Best for
    Technical users who want open source and self-hosting right now.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a recipe app 'local-first'?

Your data is stored on your device and works offline, rather than living on a company's server. Sync, if any, is an add-on, not a requirement to use the app.

Does Gratin's sync see my recipes?

No. Sync passes end-to-end encrypted data through a relay that can't read it. You can also self-host the relay or turn sync off entirely.

Made for my kitchen.
Yours soon.

Gratin is nearly ready. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment it opens up.