No-subscription apps

Recipe apps you can use without a subscription

A cookbook can sit on your shelf for twenty years without charging rent. These apps are the same: free, or paid once.

If your recipes sit behind a subscription, the day you stop paying is the day you lose years of notes and changes.

Every app here is either free or has a one-time price, so there’s no yearly renewal to budget for.

  1. 1

    GratinFree app · $39 one-time sync

    Recipe manager on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    Our app, so we’re biased. Every feature is free on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, with no recipe limit. If you want us to host encrypted sync between your devices, including shared books and the Claude and ChatGPT connector, it’s $39 once for the life of Gratin 1. Or run your own sync server for free.

    Cost
    The app is free. Hosted sync is $12/yr or $39 once, or free if you run your own sync server.
    Good for
    Home cooks who want one private recipe book on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, and want to bring their Paprika folders with them.
    Join the closed beta
  2. 2

    Paprika Recipe Manager

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

    The classic pay-once recipe app. You buy it once on each platform you use (~$5 on iOS and Android, ~$30 on Mac and Windows), and Paprika Cloud Sync has no ongoing fee.

    Cost
    Bought once on each platform: ~$5 on mobile, ~$30 on desktop
    Good for
    Cooks who want a long-running app on every platform, with a built-in browser, and don’t mind paying per platform.
    Paprika Recipe Manager website ↗
  3. 3

    Mela

    Recipe manager on iOS, iPadOS, macOS

    One small purchase on iOS (~$7) and macOS (~$15) gets you the whole app, and sync runs through your iCloud account with no subscription.

    Cost
    Free to try, then a one-time Mela+ purchase (~$7 iOS, ~$15 Mac)
    Good for
    All-Apple households who want a Mac and iPhone app that syncs through iCloud.
    Mela website ↗
  4. 4

    Crouton

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

    A one-time Crouton Plus upgrade (~$25) covers the main app, with sync between Apple devices through iCloud and an optional AI add-on.

    Cost
    Free with a recipe limit, a one-time Crouton Plus purchase (~$25), and an optional AI add-on
    Good for
    Apple users who want a playful cooking app with hands-free step controls.
    Crouton website ↗
  5. 5

    Recipe Keeper

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

    A one-time Pro upgrade per platform (~$20) gets you unlimited recipes and Recipe Keeper cloud sync on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

    Cost
    Free with a recipe limit, then a ~$20 one-time Pro upgrade on each platform
    Good for
    Cooks who want an affordable recipe organizer on several platforms, with no subscription.
    Recipe Keeper website ↗
  6. 6

    Copy Me That

    Recipe clipper on Web, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Browser extension

    Free up to 40 recipes on the web, with a $65 one-time lifetime option if you want unlimited cloud storage.

    Cost
    Free up to 40 recipes, then $0.99/mo, ~$12/yr, or $65 lifetime
    Good for
    People on a desktop browser who want a simple, ad-free recipe clipper.
    Copy Me That website ↗
  7. 7

    RecipeSage

    Recipe manager on Web, Android, Self-hosted

    Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with nothing behind a paywall, supported by optional donations.

    Cost
    Free and funded by donations, or run it on your own server for free (AGPL-3.0)
    Good for
    Technical cooks who want a free, open-source web app with shared lists that they can run on their own server.
    RecipeSage website ↗

Questions about choosing a recipe app

Is Gratin completely free if I don’t need cloud sync?

Yes. Every feature is included, with no recipe limit and no time limit. If you want sync between devices without paying us, you can point Gratin at your own sync server.

Why do Paprika and Recipe Keeper charge separately for each platform?

They include cloud sync in a one-time purchase, and charging separately for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android helps pay for hosting. Gratin is free on every platform and only charges ($39 once or $12 a year) if you use our Hosted sync.

Your recipes, on your devices

Gratin launches soon. Leave your email and I’ll let you know when it’s out.

Want it sooner? Join the beta and get free sync for life →