Comparison

AARP Staying Sharp vs Homemade Method・Meal Planner

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AARP Staying Sharp

This app offers science-based challenges and expert advice to improve brain health, focusing on memory, focus, and digital well-being. It provides interactive tools and exercises to help users build lasting, brain-healthy habits.

Highlights
  • Science-based brain health challenges
  • Expert advice on memory and focus
  • Digital decluttering strategies
  • Interactive tools and exercises
  • Progress saving across devices
  • Earn AARP Rewards points
Features
Read full description

Need to learn a variety of healthy-lifestyle skills? The AARP™ Staying Sharp® app is based on a holistic, lifestyle-based approach to brain health and features expert advice on memory, focus and more. Are you sometimes irritated by little memory slips like forgetting where you placed your keys or phone? In our “Memory Loss – Is it Inevitable?” challenge, you can learn how memory works. In addition, our Digital Declutter challenge teaches you ways to manage your digital world. Discover strategies for shifting technology away from being a distracting force in your life and into something that helps you live life more fully. And if you’re tired of forgetting details about new people you meet, our Faces & Names challenge can help you learn the secrets of those impressive people who never forget a name. Here’s what the app lets you do: Take challenges that are designed to help you learn about the brain and its ongoing health, including tips to incorporate healthy habits into your daily life. Take Staying Sharp challenges on the go. Your progress will be saved, no matter where you start or stop your challenge. And that works on a smartphone, computer or tablet. Who can use the app? Anyone can download and preview the Staying Sharp® app. AARP members and other authorized users have access to it. Plus, there’s more. Access includes the following: * Take the challenges to earn AARP Rewards points*. This loyalty program lets you gain points for participating in activities, including eligible Staying Sharp challenges. * Take advantage of easy access to the AARP Now app. This app lets users tap into news, events and savings, plus earn AARP Rewards points. *Unused AARP Rewards points expire 12 months after they are earned, in monthly batches on a rolling basis. About Staying Sharp and AARP Staying Sharp is an AARP program that shows you how to incorporate the six pillars of brain health into your life. Staying Sharp empowers you to develop meaningful and lasting brain-healthy practices that are based on these pillars: Be social, Eat right, Manage stress, do Ongoing exercise, get Restorative sleep and Engage your brain. The program has received industry recognition in multiple national competitions — including the Digital Health Awards and eHealthcare Awards — earning accolades for videos, interactive content and site design. AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. Terms of Service: https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/about/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://www.aarp.org/privacy/privacy-policy/

About

Homemade Method・Meal Planner

This app offers a women's cooking community focused on healthy eating for long-term weight loss and improved health markers. It provides weekly meal plans, nutritionist coaching, and community support to help users enjoy food without restrictive dieting.

Highlights
  • Weekly meal plans
  • Chef-guided cooking
  • Nutritionist coaching
  • Community support
  • Diet-free approach
  • Health improvement focus
Features
Read full description

Women over 50 listen up! Ready to Lose Weight Without Dieting? Homemade Method is a fun new way to lose-weight and lower high blood sugar/pressure/cholesterol for the long-term. Homemade Method is a women's cooking community, each week we: - Cook a meal-plan with our chef. Each plan is designed to be easy, tasty and healthy. - Learn how to give up dieting and start to really enjoying food #FoodFreedom - Get coaching from our team of nutritionists - Get support/inspiration from our community of amazing women who have transformed their health through food Download the app and try our starter meal-plan for free. --- SUBSCRIPTION TERMS A subscription will be billed to your iTunes account at the end of the trial. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled within 24-hours before the end of the current period. You can cancel anytime with your iTunes account settings. For more information, see our: Terms of Service: https://hmde.me/terms Privacy Policy: https://hmde.me/privacy

Screenshots

AARP Staying Sharp4 screens
Homemade Method・Meal Planner4 screens

Verdict

The call

AARP Staying Sharp and Homemade Method・Meal Planner both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 97% of Homemade Method・Meal Planner's written reviews are positive against 52% of AARP Staying Sharp's. Homemade Method・Meal Planner also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AARP Staying Sharp sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $20.00 per year and Homemade Method・Meal Planner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $46.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for AARP Staying Sharp against 4.8 for Homemade Method・Meal Planner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3K and 2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of AARP Staying Sharp's written reviews are positive against 97% of Homemade Method・Meal Planner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AARP Staying Sharp ships an update every 5 weeks, Homemade Method・Meal Planner every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
AARP Staying Sharp versus Homemade Method・Meal Planner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAARP Staying SharpHomemade Method・Meal Planner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3K ratings)4.8 (2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.4% of reviews96.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3K — better2K
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size76 MB94 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAARPHOMEMADE COOKING INC.

Customer experience

AARP Staying Sharp

All ratings2,705 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral4.8%
Negative42.9%

Homemade Method・Meal Planner

All ratings1,995 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews446 reviews
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.9%
Negative2.2%

User reviews

AARP Staying Sharp

From 3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful and practical exercises
  • 🧠 Effective for improving mental sharpness
  • 🎮 Fun and engaging games
  • 🔍 Useful for monitoring brain health
  • 💡 Recommended by healthcare professionals

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Recurring login issues
  • 🚫 Limited game selection
  • 🔁 Endless login loops
  • 🤯 Confusing user experience
  • 🚫 Inaccessible games

Homemade Method・Meal Planner

From 2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use app
  • 🚀 Convenient shopping list feature
  • 💡 Helpful search and recipe organization
  • 👍 Delicious and healthy recipes
  • 🚀 Quick access to recipes and meal plans

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional login/password issues
  • 🐛 Slow load times for some users
  • 🐛 Difficulty navigating past recipes

Bugs and requests

AARP Staying Sharp

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Games not launching properly
  • App freezing or crashing
  • Inability to access core features

Requested features

4 requests
  • Expand game library
  • Improve login and navigation experience
  • Add more accessibility features
  • Provide clearer instructions and guidance

Homemade Method・Meal Planner

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatibility with older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add ability to save custom recipes
  • Improve search functionality
  • Provide more filtering/sorting options

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AARP Staying Sharp

Subscriptions1
  • AARP Membership1 Year trial$20.001 Year
2 purchases

Homemade Method・Meal Planner

Subscriptions2
  • Homemade Method - Monthly7 Days trial$46.991 Month
  • Homemade Method - Quarterly7 Days trial$124.993 Months

Questions

Is AARP Staying Sharp free?
AARP Staying Sharp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Homemade Method・Meal Planner free?
Homemade Method・Meal Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AARP Staying Sharp or Homemade Method・Meal Planner?
Homemade Method・Meal Planner is rated higher. AARP Staying Sharp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Homemade Method・Meal Planner averages 4.8 from 2K ratings.
Do AARP Staying Sharp or Homemade Method・Meal Planner have ads?
AARP Staying Sharp shows ads; Homemade Method・Meal Planner does not.
Which is updated more often, AARP Staying Sharp or Homemade Method・Meal Planner?
AARP Staying Sharp ships an update every 5 weeks, and Homemade Method・Meal Planner every 10 days. Most recently, AARP Staying Sharp was updated on October 17, 2026 and Homemade Method・Meal Planner on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons