Comparison

FermentBuddy vs Fermently

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

Head to head
About

FermentBuddy

This kitchen companion helps you track and manage all your fermentation projects, from sourdough starters to kombucha. It provides smart timers, guided workflows, and troubleshooting assistance to ensure successful ferments. Document your progress with notes and photos, and access your data offline.

Highlights
  • Track multiple ferment types
  • Smart recurring reminders
  • Guided step-by-step workflows
  • Troubleshooting diagnostic system
  • Log ingredients, notes, and photos
  • Home screen widgets
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Fermentation is all about timing — and your sourdough starter won't remind you when it's hungry. FermentBuddy is the kitchen companion that remembers what you forget, so you never kill another starter or over-ferment your kombucha again. TRACK ALL YOUR FERMENTS IN ONE PLACE Whether you're nurturing a sourdough starter, brewing kombucha, culturing kefir, or making sauerkraut, FermentBuddy keeps every project organized with timers, notes, and photo logs. Support for 13 fermentation types including kimchi, miso, tempeh, yogurt, jun, vinegar, water kefir, and pickles. SMART TIMERS THAT ACTUALLY HELP Set recurring feeding reminders for your sourdough starter. Get notified when your kombucha first ferment is ready. FermentBuddy sends push notifications so you can stop setting random phone alarms and sticky notes. Pro users get temperature-adjusted timers that use fermentation science to adapt timing to your kitchen conditions. GUIDED WORKFLOWS FOR EVERY STAGE New to fermentation? Follow step-by-step timelines that walk you through each stage — from mixing your first sourdough starter to bottling your kombucha. Visual progress tracking shows exactly where you are and what comes next. TROUBLESHOOTING THAT ACTUALLY WORKS Mold on your sauerkraut? Starter not rising? Kombucha too vinegary? FermentBuddy's diagnostic system helps you identify problems with 34+ symptoms, causes, severity levels, and actionable solutions. No more frantic googling — get answers in seconds. DOCUMENT YOUR PROGRESS Log each batch with ingredients, dates, notes, and photos. Track what works and what doesn't. Build your personal fermentation recipe book over time. Export your history as CSV or PDF to share or save. HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Check on your active ferments without opening the app. Small, medium, and large iOS widgets show your running timers and next actions at a glance. BEAUTIFUL, WARM DESIGN FermentBuddy's "Artisan Pantry" design feels like a cozy kitchen companion, not a clinical spreadsheet. Warm terracotta and olive tones, organic typography, and signature rising bubble animations bring your ferments to life. Full dark mode support with warm undertones for late-night feeding sessions. WORKS OFFLINE Start tracking immediately — no account required. FermentBuddy works offline with automatic cloud sync when you're connected. Your data is always safe and accessible across devices. FREE TO START, PRO TO MASTER Get started free with 2 active projects, 3 ferment types, smart timers, and basic troubleshooting. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited projects, all 13 ferment types, temperature-adjusted timers, feeding calculator, discard recipe library, home screen widgets, batch export, and more. SUBSCRIPTION & PRICING FermentBuddy Pro is available as: • Annual auto-renewing subscription: $34.99/year (just $2.90/month) • Monthly auto-renewing subscription: $3.99/month • Lifetime one-time purchase: $14.99 Subscriptions auto-renew at the end of each period unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your iTunes Account Settings. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Whether you're starting your first sourdough starter or managing a kitchen full of ferments, FermentBuddy helps you ferment with confidence. Terms of Use (EULA): https://fermentbuddy.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://fermentbuddy.app/privacy

About

Fermently

Features
Read full description

Fermently is the fermentation journal you always wanted — built for home brewers, kitchen fermenters, and anyone who takes their cultures seriously. Track every batch from day one. Log temperatures, pH readings, sugar levels, and tasting notes as your ferment evolves. Fermently visualises your data as scientific charts so you always know exactly where you stand. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Start a batch for kombucha, kimchi, ginger beer, kefir, sourdough, and more • Follow the fermentation timeline and get notified at key stages • Compare batches side by side — spot what made one batch better than another • Detect over-fermentation before it ruins your brew • Browse guided recipes and adapt them to your setup • Keep a complete archive of every ferment you've ever made PERFECT FOR Home brewers and fermentation enthusiasts who want more than guesswork. Whether you're on your second kombucha SCOBY or your twentieth jar of kimchi, Fermently brings the science of fermentation to your fingertips. PREMIUM FEATURES Unlock unlimited batch tracking, advanced comparison charts, and the full recipe library with a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees. By using Fermently, you agree to Terms of Use: https://fermently-legal.vercel.app/terms

Screenshots

FermentBuddy4 screens
Fermently3 screens

Verdict

The call

FermentBuddy and Fermently are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. FermentBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Fermently sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
FermentBuddy versus Fermently: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFermentBuddyFermently
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB79 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperLight Works Studio, LLCTheo Rolino

In-app purchases

3 purchases

FermentBuddy

Subscriptions2
  • FermentBuddy Pro (Monthly)$3.991 Month
  • FermentBuddy Pro (Annual)$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • FermentBuddy Pro (Lifetime)$39.99
10 purchases

Fermently

Subscriptions1
  • Pro$9.991 Month
One-time9
  • Mozzarella Recipe$2.99
  • Doenjang Recipe$2.99
  • Makgeolli Recipe$2.99
Show 6 more
  • Shrub Recipe$2.99
  • Tsukemono Recipe$2.99
  • Water Kefir Recipe$2.99
  • Fresh Cheese Recipe$2.99
  • Ricotta Recipe$2.99
  • Lemonade Recipe$2.99

Questions

Is FermentBuddy free?
FermentBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fermently free?
Fermently is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FermentBuddy or Fermently have ads?
Neither FermentBuddy nor Fermently shows ads.

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