We make Recipe Spellbook, so read this with that in mind. It says plainly where each app is the better choice, and every fact about each app is dated and linked to where it came from.
Of the recipe managers we compare, four sell a one-time purchase as of October 2026: Recipe Spellbook, Paprika 3, Mela and Crouton. Recipe Spellbook is the only one where a single purchase ($6.99) covers Android, Apple devices, Windows and Linux. AnyList, Plan to Eat and Samsung Food sell yearly or monthly plans. If you would rather run your own server, Mealie and Tandoor are free and open source.
What does "one-time" mean here?
You pay once and keep what you paid for, with no renewal. It does not always mean one price for every device: some apps sell a separate copy on each platform, and some sell new features as a subscription later. Both are noted below.
Which recipe apps can you pay for once?
Prices in USD as of October 2026, from each app's own site or store listing; follow a name for the sources.
| App | Price | Runs on | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipe Spellbook | Free with no recipe limit; Premium $6.99 once | Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux | One purchase unlocks every device you sign in on. |
| Paprika 3 | $4.99 on iPhone and iPad, $29.99 on Mac, $29.99 on Windows | Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows | Each platform is bought separately. New Paprika 4 features will need a subscription. |
| Mela | $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Free to download; each unlock is a separate purchase. |
| Crouton | Crouton Plus $24.99 once | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro | Also sells an optional Discover subscription. |
Which recipe apps need a subscription?
| App | Price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| AnyList | Complete: $9.99 a year, $14.99 for a household | Free plan for lists, with 5 recipe imports from websites. |
| Plan to Eat | $49 a year or $5.95 a month | No free plan; a 14-day trial. |
| Samsung Food | Food+: $59.99 a year or $6.99 a month | Free version with ads. |
A subscription is not always worse: it can pay for things a one-time app cannot offer, like a large recipe catalog or a web app. Over three years, though, the yearly plans above cost $29.97 to $179.97.
What about free, self-hosted apps?
Mealie and Tandoor are free, open-source recipe managers that you run on your own server and use in a browser. They cost nothing but your time and hardware, and suit people who already run a home server. Recipe Spellbook imports both apps' JSON exports, so you can move between them.
Which one should you pick?
- Everyone in the house on Apple devices: Mela or Crouton fit right in, with iCloud sync.
- A mix of Android, iPhone and computers: Recipe Spellbook, with one purchase for all of them. Paprika also covers most platforms, bought once per platform.
- Mostly a grocery list: AnyList.
- You want recipes chosen for you: Samsung Food or Plan to Eat.
- You run your own server: Mealie or Tandoor.
FAQ
Which recipe apps can you buy once?
Of the apps compared here: Recipe Spellbook ($6.99 once for every device), Paprika 3 (bought per platform), Mela (bought per platform, Apple only) and Crouton (Crouton Plus, Apple only) all have a one-time option, as of October 2026.
Is there a recipe app with one purchase for both Android and iPhone?
Recipe Spellbook. Premium is $6.99 once and unlocks on every device where you sign in, including Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux. Paprika runs on both but is bought separately on each.
Do one-time recipe apps still get updates?
It varies. Paprika 3 owners get Paprika 4 as a free update but need a subscription for its new features. Mela was last updated on the App Store in June 2025. Recipe Spellbook ships updates every month or two, and Premium has nothing to renew.