# Menu Decoder vs Menu Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Menu Decoder at none against Menu Buddy's 2. Menu Buddy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Menu Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Menu Decoder asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Menu Decoder | Menu Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/menu-decoder/id6741658903/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EzLife Limited Liability Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735160271) | [JERZY FRYMARK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756750144) |

## What reviewers say

### Menu Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/menu-decoder/id6741658903)

Translate menus from foreign languages using your camera. Get detailed descriptions of dishes, including flavor profiles and estimated calories. Save your favorite finds for future reference.

**Highlights:** Visual menu translation via camera, Multi-language support for translation, Detailed dish descriptions and cultural context, Flavor profile insights with icons, Save menus and dishes for later

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Menu Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/menu-buddy/id6744620289)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Menu Decoder free?

Menu Decoder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Menu Buddy free?

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

### Do Menu Decoder or Menu Buddy have ads?

Menu Decoder shows ads; Menu Buddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Menu Decoder or Menu Buddy?

Menu Decoder ships an update every 6 months, and Menu Buddy every 6 months. Most recently, Menu Decoder was updated on October 30, 2026 and Menu Buddy 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.*