# MixBowl vs XChef

The clearest difference is monetization model: XChef at freemium against MixBowl's subscription. XChef also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). MixBowl's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MixBowl sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and XChef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MixBowl against 5.0 for XChef. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

MixBowl ships an update every 6 months, XChef every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MixBowl | XChef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mixbowl/id6502915971/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xchef/id6746722729/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 3 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elijah Strauss](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633807343) | [Kyrylo Bielykov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818123915) |

## What reviewers say

### MixBowl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mixbowl/id6502915971)

Discover recipes based on ingredients you already have. This smart assistant helps you manage your pantry, find personalized meal ideas, and reduce food waste with step-by-step cooking instructions.

**Highlights:** Smart ingredient search, Virtual pantry management, Customized recipe suggestions, Step-by-step cooking instructions, Save favorite recipes, Reduce food waste

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $0.99 | one-time |
| Annual | $9.99 | one-time |


### XChef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xchef/id6746722729)

This app uses AI to generate personalized recipes based on ingredients you have. It offers step-by-step cooking guidance, customization for dietary needs and skill levels, and helps reduce food waste with smart shopping lists.

**Highlights:** AI-generated personalized recipes, Smart step-by-step cooking mode, Customizable dietary preferences, Ingredient-based recipe suggestions, Smart shopping list generation, Reduce food waste

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | $4.99 | per month |
| Basic Recipe Package (IAP) | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MixBowl free?

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

### Is XChef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MixBowl or XChef?

MixBowl and XChef are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do MixBowl or XChef have ads?

Neither MixBowl nor XChef shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MixBowl or XChef?

MixBowl ships an update every 6 months, and XChef every 3 weeks. Most recently, MixBowl was updated on November 4, 2026 and XChef on October 30, 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.*