Comparison

CookNow vs Pantry Chef

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Ingredient photo scanning
  • Personalized recipe generation
  • Visual recipe previews
  • Save and organize favorite recipes
  • No sign-up required
  • Minimalist design
Features
Read 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/

About

Pantry Chef

Features
Read 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

CookNow4 screens
Pantry Chef4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
CookNow versus Pantry Chef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCookNowPantry Chef
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB46 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperfamwaOpenbeta Limited

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CookNow

Subscriptions2
  • CookNow - weekly$0.997 Days
  • CookNow - monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
4 purchases

Pantry Chef

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Annual Subscription$19.991 Year

Questions

Is CookNow free?
CookNow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pantry Chef free?
Pantry Chef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CookNow or Pantry Chef have ads?
Pantry Chef shows ads; CookNow does not.

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