CookNow vs Pantry Chef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CookNow
This app helps you discover personalized recipes using the ingredients you already have at home. Simply scan your fridge or manually enter items to get instant meal ideas, reducing food waste and making cooking fun.
- Ingredient photo scanning
- Personalized recipe generation
- Visual recipe previews
- Save and organize favorite recipes
- No sign-up required
- Minimalist design
Read full descriptionHide full description
CookNow – Smart Recipes from the Ingredients You Have at Home No idea what to cook? Only have a few things in your fridge? CookNow helps you turn what you already have at home into delicious personalized recipes — in just seconds. Whether you’re a busy student, a home cook looking for inspiration, or someone trying to reduce food waste, CookNow is your perfect kitchen companion. Why CookNow? Unlike traditional recipe apps that require specific ingredients, CookNow is designed to be fast, flexible, and frustration-free. It helps reduce food waste, save time, and make everyday cooking fun again. Whether you’re planning meals, cleaning out your fridge, or just feeling stuck, CookNow gives you a fresh start — every day. Who It’s For • Students with limited ingredients • Families needing quick dinner ideas • Health-conscious eaters tracking what they use • Anyone trying to waste less and cook more • People who are tired of food delivery apps How It Works 1. Scan Your Ingredients: Just take a photo of your fridge or pantry, but also manual entry is possible. 2. Get Personalized Recipes: Instantly receive a creative, easy-to-make meals based on what you already have. 3. Visualize Your Dishes: Beautiful recipe images give you a clear idea of what your dish can look like before you even start cooking. 4. Save & Organize Favorites: Build your own personal recipe collection and keep your best ideas handy for next time. 5. Stay Inspired: Get new meal ideas, explore different cuisines, and discover what you can make with just a few ingredients. Key Features* • Ingredient Photo Scanning – Find recipes using only what you have at home • Visual Recipes – See what you’ll cook before you start • Favorites – Save your best-loved meals for easy access • History – Quickly revisit past ingredient combos and results • No Sign-Up Needed – Start cooking right away • Minimal, Clean Design – Fast, easy, and distraction-free Download CookNow today and turn your kitchen into your own creative space. Less waste. Less stress. More delicious meals. * Access to the application / features requires a subscription Terms: https://cooknow.app/Terms/
Pantry Chef
Read full descriptionHide full description
Whip up tasty meals using only the ingredients you have on hand – no extra trips to the store! Pantry Chef is your friendly kitchen companion that helps turn pantry staples and fridge leftovers into mouthwatering home-cooked dishes. Save money, reduce food waste, and discover creative new recipes along the way. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner in the kitchen, Pantry Chef makes cooking at home fun, easy, and stress-free. Have just a few ingredients? No problem – you'll get yummy ideas even for the most random ingredient combinations. Say goodbye to the "there's nothing to eat" dilemma and hello to surprisingly delicious solutions! Key Features: Simple Ingredient Input — Easily add the ingredients you have in your pantry or fridge. Just type or select items from a list (e.g. chicken, tomato, pasta) and let Pantry Chef work its magic. Tailored Recipe Suggestions — Get personalized recipe ideas that use your ingredients. Pantry Chef finds dishes you can cook right now, minimizing the need for extra ingredients. See at a glance which recipes require nothing extra or just one quick addition. Step-by-Step Instructions — Each recipe comes with clear, easy-to-follow cooking steps and exact ingredient measurements. It’s like a personal cooking lesson in your kitchen, perfect for both beginners and experienced cooks. Save Your Favorites — Keep track of recipes you love. Save any recipe with a tap to build your personal cookbook of go-to meals, so you'll always be able to find that awesome dish again. Pantry List Management — Keep an inventory of your kitchen staples by saving them in the app. Update your pantry list as you use items, so Pantry Chef always knows what's available and can suggest recipes instantly. Subscription Information - Pantry Chef offers optional premium features via auto-renewable subscriptions. - Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. - Manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings. - Any unused portion of a free trial, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: http://www.openbeta.works/chef/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: CookNow at none against Pantry Chef's shown. Pantry Chef's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). On price, 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
Both are free to download. CookNow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Pantry Chef sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | CookNow | Pantry Chef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | — |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | famwa | Openbeta Limited |
In-app purchases
CookNow
- CookNow - weekly$0.997 Days
- CookNow - monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
Pantry Chef
- Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$3.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Annual Subscription$19.991 Year









