# The Rex Cafe vs PlateBuilder

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Rex Cafe at none against PlateBuilder's 2. The Rex Cafe also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). PlateBuilder's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlateBuilder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. The Rex Cafe asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Rex Cafe ships an update every 7 months, PlateBuilder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Rex Cafe | PlateBuilder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/platebuilder/id6767017681/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 44 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Claire Louise Onesti](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816228273) | [PlateBuilder LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896346985) |

## What reviewers say

### The Rex Cafe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-rex-cafe/id1139723259)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PlateBuilder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/platebuilder/id6767017681)

Simplify meal preparation by transforming basic ingredients into family-approved dishes. This app assists with healthier eating, utilizing existing pantry items, and solving the daily "what's for dinner" dilemma.

**Highlights:** Ingredient-based meal planning, Family-friendly recipes, Pantry inventory management, Healthy eating guidance, Dinner solution finder

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlateBuilder Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| PlateBuilder Plus | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Rex Cafe free?

The Rex Cafe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PlateBuilder free?

PlateBuilder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Rex Cafe or PlateBuilder have ads?

Neither The Rex Cafe nor PlateBuilder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Rex Cafe or PlateBuilder?

The Rex Cafe ships an update every 7 months, and PlateBuilder every 2 weeks. Most recently, The Rex Cafe was updated on October 11, 2026 and PlateBuilder on October 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*