Comparison

The NewChef vs Ferment

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

Head to head
About

The NewChef

Discover new recipes based on ingredients you already have. This app learns your preferences and dietary needs to suggest personalized meal ideas, helping you avoid repetitive meals and the need for cookbooks.

Highlights
  • Scan ingredients to find recipes
  • Personalized recipe suggestions
  • Learns user preferences
  • Adapts to dietary needs
  • Favorites tab for saved recipes
  • Ingredient-based meal planning
Features
Read full description

Tired of delivery fees? Buying takeout every night? Welcome to The NewChef, your go-to mobile app for exploring new recipes all around you! Designed to revolutionize your dining experience, our app brings a fresh approach to enjoying delicious meals from the comfort of your own home - no cookbooks needed! The NewChef is designed to provide you with new recipes on the go - using what ever ingredients you have on hand. The NewChef allows you to scan the ingredients you have in your kitchen and create something new! Tired of eating the same foods day in and day out? With The NewChef you won’t have to. Food allergies? Not to worry, The NewChef will tailor itself to your needs and adapts to your scanning habits. Say you love eating potatoes with every meal - The NewChef learns your patterns and starts suggesting new ways for you to elevate your meals. So whether you're new to the kitchen or an experienced cook - The NewChef will keep you on your toes with new recipes to look forward to so you won't have to cook the same meals every day (unless you want to - we've got a favorites tab for that). With a wide array of mouth-watering options at your fingertips, say goodbye to buying numerous cookbooks and endlessly scrolling online for new recipes. Embrace a new way of picking your next meal.

About

Ferment

Read full description

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

The NewChef4 screens
Ferment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The NewChef at none against Ferment's 2. The NewChef also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Ferment sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. The NewChef asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The NewChef ships an update every 2 months, Ferment every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
The NewChef versus Ferment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe NewChefFerment
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB34 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperOshiin Estates LLCRytis U

In-app purchases

None

The NewChef

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Ferment

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

Questions

Is The NewChef free?
The NewChef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ferment free?
Ferment is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The NewChef or Ferment have ads?
Both The NewChef and Ferment show ads.
Which is updated more often, The NewChef or Ferment?
The NewChef ships an update every 2 months, and Ferment every 6 weeks. Most recently, The NewChef was updated on October 3, 2026 and Ferment on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons