We make Recipe Spellbook, so read this with that in mind. It says plainly where Mela is the better choice, and every fact about Mela is dated and linked to where it came from.
Recipe Spellbook and Mela share an idea: pay once, own your recipes. The difference is where they run. Mela is for iPhone, iPad and Mac, with a $6.99 unlock on iPhone and iPad and a separate $14.99 unlock on Mac (October 2026). Recipe Spellbook runs on Android, Windows and Linux too, and one $6.99 Premium purchase covers all of them. It reads Mela's export file, so a mixed Apple and Android home can share one library.
How much do Recipe Spellbook and Mela cost?
Mela prices as of October 2026, from the iOS and Mac App Store listings.
| Recipe Spellbook | Mela | |
|---|---|---|
| Free to download | Yes, with no recipe limit | Yes, with a one-time purchase to unlock all features |
| iPhone and iPad | $6.99 once for Premium | Mela+ for iOS and iPadOS, $6.99 |
| Mac | Included in the same purchase | Mela+ for macOS, $14.99 |
| Android, Windows, Linux | Included in the same purchase | Not available |
| iPhone and Mac together | $6.99 once | $21.98 once |
| Subscription | None | None |
How do the features compare?
Mela features as of October 2026, from mela.recipes and its App Store listings.
| Feature | Recipe Spellbook | Mela |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Sync | Cloud sync in Premium, with an account | iCloud, on by default, no extra account |
| Save recipes from websites | Paste or share a link, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest | In-app browser that spots recipes, a share extension, and feeds from recipe blogs |
| From a printed cookbook | Photograph the page, or scan the book's barcode to add it to your shelf | Text recognition from a printed page |
| Import from other apps | Mela, Paprika and 12 other recipe apps | Not listed on its site |
| Meal planner | Built in: month, week or day | Built in, stored in Apple Calendar |
| Shopping list | Built in, sorted by aisle, live sharing with anyone | Stored in Apple Reminders |
| Cook mode | Voice control, timers and scaling | Full screen, large type, timers, more than one recipe at a time |
| Sharing a library | Up to 5 people in Premium, on any platform | Shared libraries with other iCloud users |
| Nutrition | Yes, with product barcode scanning | Not listed on its site |
| Data collection | No ads, analytics or crash tracking (privacy policy) | Data not collected, per its App Store label |
| Latest version | 1.8.1, October 2026 | 2.6.2 on iPhone and iPad, June 2025 |
Where is Mela better?
- An all-Apple home. Sync runs through iCloud with no account to make, and plans and lists live in Calendar and Reminders, where the rest of the family already looks.
- Nothing collected. Mela's App Store label says the developer does not collect any data. Recipe Spellbook collects nothing for ads or analytics, but an account for sync does hold your email and your synced recipes.
- Recipe feeds. Mela can follow recipe blogs and show their new posts inside the app.
- Polish. The Mac app is an App Store Editors' Choice.
Where is Recipe Spellbook better?
- Every platform. Android, Windows and Linux as well as iPhone, iPad and Mac, so one person's Android phone and another's iPad share the same book.
- One purchase. $6.99 once covers every device. Mela is bought once on iPhone and iPad and again on Mac.
- A free version you can keep. No recipe limit and no time limit before you pay.
- Lists across phones. A live shared shopping list works between Android and iPhone, even on the free version.
- More ways in. Social video links, photos, PDFs, 14 recipe app formats and an AI converter for anything odd.
- Active development. Recipe Spellbook ships updates every month or two; see what's new.
How do I switch from Mela?
- Export from Mela as a
.melarecipesfile with every recipe, or a single.melarecipe. - Move the file to the device you will import on, for example by AirDrop or iCloud Drive.
- In Recipe Spellbook, tap +, then File, and pick the export. Categories become tags.
- Review and import. Untick anything you do not want, then tap Import.
Every format the app reads is in the import guide.
FAQ
Is there a Mela alternative for Android and Windows?
Yes. Recipe Spellbook runs on Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux, with the same library on each once you sign in. It is free with no recipe limit, and Premium is a one-time $6.99 purchase for every device. Mela is only on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Can Recipe Spellbook import my Mela recipes?
Yes. Export from Mela as a .melarecipes file (or a single .melarecipe), then open it in Recipe Spellbook with + and File. Mela categories become tags.
Does Recipe Spellbook need an account?
Not to cook, plan or shop. Sync between devices and family sharing need a free account and Premium. Mela syncs through iCloud with no extra account.
Is Mela a subscription?
No. Mela is free to download with a one-time Mela+ purchase: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, and a separate $14.99 on Mac, as of October 2026. Recipe Spellbook Premium is also one-time, and one purchase covers every platform.