Comparison

Fermentation Journal vs Ferment

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

Head to head
About

Fermentation Journal

Features
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Fermento keeps pickles, sourdough, cheeses, kombucha, charcuterie and more on schedule with smart timelines, reminders, calculators and exportable logs—for beginners and pros. Projects & timelines - Unlimited batches with custom milestones and photo notes - pH, salt %, weight and observations—timestamped in one place - Smart reminders for feeds, flips, checks and cures Culture management - Starters, SCOBY hotels and kefir grains—health, feeds and lineage together HACCP (for pros) - Decision-tree builder for hazards and CCPs - Monitoring/verification logs with corrective actions - Export tidy PDFs for audits and compliance Calculators & scaling - Hydration, salt %, inoculation ratios and timing helpers - Instant scaling and saved methods Insights - Compare batches, spot trends and review pH/tempo curves - Equipment notes and calibration history (keep sensors honest) Why Fermento? Made by fermentation obsessives. Private, focused and practical—whether it's your first kimchi or a full curing chamber. Terms of Use: https://drobinin.com/apps/terms/fermento/

About

Ferment

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Ferment helps you make real sour pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi at home. No vinegar, no canning, no special gear. Just vegetables, salt, and time. Whether this is your first jar or your fifth, the app stays in your pocket to answer the questions that come up along the way. These are naturally fermented foods. You salt the vegetables, keep them under the brine, and let them sour on the counter for a week or two. The result is crunchy, tangy, and alive. Ferment walks you through it and keeps you company the whole time. Ask the helper anything (new) The biggest part of this update. When a question comes up, just ask. Type it out, snap a photo of your jar, or leave a quick voice note, and you get a clear, plain answer back in seconds. Is this white film okay? Why did my kraut go soft? What can I make with this cabbage? It knows fermentation, it can read your photo, and it can help you build a simple recipe you can start tracking with one tap. Included with Premium. Get your salt right Salt is the one thing that really matters, and the math trips everyone up. The calculator does it for you. Use dry salt for shredded vegetables like cabbage, or a brine for whole vegetables like cucumbers. It handles different salt types and jar sizes, so you measure once and move on. Know what you are looking at See a cloudy brine, soft vegetables, or a film on top and not sure what it means? The visual guide walks you through what you are seeing, with reference photos for the common ones, and gives you a plain verdict: this is fine, do this, or start over. Most of what looks alarming is completely normal, and now you will know. Track your jars Keep an eye on up to 10 batches at once. Each one shows where it is in the process and what to expect next, with gentle reminders to press the vegetables back under the brine and to taste along the way. Log your notes, rate the sourness and crunch, and tap to make a good batch again. Recipes to start from One solid, tested recipe per type, written to actually work the first time. Sauerkraut, kimchi, garlic dill pickles from half-sour to full-sour, curtido, hot sauce, fermented carrots, and more. Each one points out what to watch for, and you can start a batch with reminders in a single tap. Straight answers on safety Plain, honest answers to the questions everyone has. Why salted vegetable ferments are safe to make at home, and how to trust your own eyes, nose, and taste. A quick per-batch checklist means you never have to second-guess. Made for everyday cooks You do not need to be an expert or know any of the lingo. If you have ever wanted to make your own pickles and were not sure where to start, this is for you. Calm, friendly guidance from someone who has made a few jars, not a textbook. 7-day free trial. Then $29.99/year or $4.99/month. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Ferment Premium is available as an auto-renewable subscription with two plans: - Ferment Annual: $29.99/year (7-day free trial) - Ferment Monthly: $4.99/month (7-day free trial) Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://heyferment.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://heyferment.com/privacy

Screenshots

Fermentation Journal4 screens
Ferment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Fermentation Journal at none against Ferment's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Fermentation Journal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Ferment sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fermentation Journal ships an update monthly, Ferment every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Fermentation Journal versus Ferment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFermentation JournalFerment
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB34 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDrobinin LimitedRytis U

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Fermentation Journal

Subscriptions4
  • Starter Culture Pro Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Culture & Probiotic Pro$7.991 Month
  • Culture & Probiotic Pro3 Days trial$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • HACCP Safety Compliance Pro$179.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime (Personal)$199.99
2 purchases

Ferment

Subscriptions2
  • Ferment Premium3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Ferment Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Fermentation Journal free?
Fermentation Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ferment free?
Ferment is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Fermentation Journal or Ferment have ads?
Ferment shows ads; Fermentation Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Fermentation Journal or Ferment?
Fermentation Journal ships an update monthly, and Ferment every 6 weeks. Most recently, Fermentation Journal was updated on October 17, 2026 and Ferment on October 8, 2026.

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