Brewtist vs Build a Beer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Brewtist
This app helps homebrewers create and track beer recipes. It guides you through the brewing process, estimates key beer characteristics, and allows for detailed batch logging. Access an extensive ingredient database and import existing recipes.
- Recipe creation and editing
- Batch tracking and comparison
- Brew day step-by-step guidance
- Extensive ingredient database
- Recipe import (BeerXML, .bsmx)
- Equipment profile customization
- Brewing calculators and tools
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The key to making great beer at home is paying attention to the details. Brewtist is a recipe creation and batch tracking app for your iPhone and iPad. Build new recipes anytime and keep track of the important details every time you brew. Compare your beer from batch and batch and decide what you want to tweak the next time. ◆ Works great on all your iOS devices, adapting the interface to size of your screen. Works great in dark mode and split-screen multitasks on iPad! ◆ Brew day steps and timers guide you through your entire brew day, one step at a time. ◆ Works everywhere – no cloud required. ◆ Estimates O.G., F.G., liquid volumes, bitterness, color, and more for extract, all-grain, and BIAB recipes. ◆ Extensive ingredients database built-in: 50+ grains, extracts, and adjuncts; nearly 150 varieties of hops; nearly 200 yeast strains; 50+ sugars, flavorings, and finings. ◆ Even more ingredients are available as free in-app download packs. ◆ Add your own custom ingredients, too. ◆ Add notes, photos and PDFs to remember every last detail of your batches. ◆ Import recipes in BeerXML and .bsmx formats ◆ Dial in your equipment profile to get precise estimates. ◆ Did you know the boiling temperature of water varies based on your altitude? Use your current location on iPhone to get it perfect. ◆ Custom mash and fermentation schedules. ◆ Tools and calculators to adjust your hydrometer reading, fix a high or low mash temperature, and calculate the right amount of sugar to carbonate your finished beer. ◆ Supports U.S. and metric unit systems. ◆ Switch between specific gravity, plato, and brix. ◆ Full BJCP 2015 guidelines to craft your recipe for competitions.
Build a Beer
This AI-powered app assists homebrewers in creating custom beer recipes. It helps generate accurate clone recipes or develop original ones with appropriate ingredients and styles. Explore ingredients and discover new beer styles to brew.
- AI-assisted recipe generation
- Clone brew recipe accuracy
- Custom recipe creation
- Ingredient exploration
- New beer style discovery
- Easy-to-use recipe format
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Expand your beer-brewing creativity with Build-a-Beer. Our AI assistant will guide you to create accurate clone brew recipes, or bring your brewing ideas to life with stylistically accurate recipes with appropriate ingredients. Explore ingredients, play with recipes in an easy-to-use format, and discover new beer styles to brew! Terms of Use: This app uses Apple’s standard End User License Agreement (EULA). https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Build a Beer at 5.0 against Brewtist's 4.5. Build a Beer also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Brewtist sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Build a Beer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Build a Beer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.
Brewtist ships an update every 2 months, Build a Beer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brewtist | Build a Beer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Light Year Software, LLC | David Vanfleet |
Customer experience
Brewtist
Build a Beer
In-app purchases
Brewtist
- Premium Edition$12.99
Build a Beer
- Premium (Monthly)$0.991 Month
- Premium (Yearly)$9.991 Year
