ProofPal vs The Espresso
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ProofPal
This app helps sourdough bakers meticulously track their recipes and baking processes. It offers smart timers for fermentation and proofing, logs stretch and fold sessions, and provides real-time notifications. Users can also share their baking journey and recipes with friends.
- Recipe experimentation tracking
- Smart baking timers
- Stretch and fold logging
- Apple Watch integration
- Live notifications
- Recipe sharing with friends
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Your next great loaf starts here. ProofPal keeps your sourdough recipes, starter care, baking timers, and bake journal together. Know what comes next, keep track of the details, and learn from every loaf. FOLLOW YOUR BAKE, STEP BY STEP Move from mixing to cooling with guided instructions and an estimated baking schedule. Get timing suggestions based on your kitchen temperature, choose room-temperature or cold proofing, and adjust steps, durations, and temperatures to suit your dough. MAKE EVERY RECIPE YOUR OWN Create recipes for sourdough loaves, sweet loaves, pizza dough, and gluten-free loaves. Work in grams or baker's percentages, adjust hydration, and add your favorite mix-ins. Keep favorite recipes close and share them as a ProofPal link, PDF, or plain text. BRING IN RECIPES FROM THE WEB Import Beta turns recipes from supported websites into editable ProofPal recipes. Paste a link, review the ingredients and baking workflow, then save it to your collection. Website compatibility varies, and you can check and adjust the recipe before importing. KEEP YOUR BAKE ON TRACK See active bakes and your next action in Today. Use guided step timers, stretch-and-fold reminders, bulk-fermentation countdowns, and multiple Quick Timers. Follow supported timers on your Lock Screen, in Dynamic Island, and on Apple Watch. CARE FOR YOUR STARTER Track an established starter or follow a schedule to create one from scratch. Log feedings, manage counter and fridge routines, and plan starter preparation for bake day. REMEMBER WHAT WORKED Add notes and photos throughout a bake. Record a final photo, rating, and dough temperature, then revisit your baking history. Explore Bake Insights to compare your results, timing, and kitchen conditions. View photos full screen and save favorites to your photo library. KEEP YOUR RECIPES TOGETHER Use iCloud to sync reusable recipes, including their notes and photos, across your devices. Active bakes and timers stay on the device where you start them. From your first starter to your favorite weekend loaf, ProofPal helps you bring more confidence and consistency to your baking.
The Espresso
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Pull better espresso, pour cleaner latte art, and finally understand why a shot tastes the way it does. The Espresso is your personal barista school, right in your pocket. Step-by-step coffee lessons, an espresso shot analyzer, and progress tracking come together in one beautifully designed app for home baristas and specialty coffee lovers. Latte Art & Milk Steaming Get precise guidance on milk steaming, cup angle, pitcher position, milk flow, and timing. Learn the techniques behind silky microfoam and clean pours for every cappuccino and latte, from the basics to more advanced free-pour skills. Espresso Shot Analyzer Log each espresso shot and get clear feedback to dial in your extraction. Track dose, yield, brew time, grind setting, and tasting notes to learn what works best for your beans, your machine, and your workflow. Statistics & Progress Tracking Review your shot history, compare results over time, and spot patterns in your espresso routine. Helpful charts and logs show how consistent you are, so you can refine your technique and make better coffee every day. Coffee Knowledge Explore the fundamentals of specialty coffee: roast profiles, origin, brewing methods, extraction, crema, and milk texture. Build a deeper understanding of the craft behind every cup. Why The Espresso? • Learn espresso and latte art step by step • Analyze and improve every espresso shot • Track your coffee progress over time • Discover specialty coffee knowledge • Enjoy a clean, intuitive, and beautiful design Download The Espresso for free today and turn your daily coffee routine into a craft you can measure, improve, and enjoy. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: The Espresso at Free against ProofPal's $1.99. The Espresso also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). ProofPal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On 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
The Espresso is free to download; ProofPal costs $1.99 up front. The Espresso sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ProofPal asks for nothing beyond the download.
ProofPal ships an update every 3 months, The Espresso weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ProofPal | The Espresso |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 56 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chris Markson | Gianluca Zgur |
In-app purchases
ProofPal
No in-app purchases
The Espresso
- The Espresso Pro Lifetime$149.00









