# BentoBook vs Mealyn

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BentoBook at none against Mealyn's 2. BentoBook also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mealyn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. BentoBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BentoBook | Mealyn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mealyn/id6763710778/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Unhook Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883319583) | [GUOHUA DING](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883553550) |

## What reviewers say

### BentoBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bentobook-restaurant-diary/id6760219056)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mealyn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mealyn/id6763710778)

Capture your meals with photos and notes to remember the moments around them. Organize meals, track expenses, and revisit memories through a personal timeline. AI assists with descriptions and weekly reviews.

**Highlights:** Photo food diary, AI-assisted descriptions, Expense tracking, Personal timeline, Weekly reviews, Shareable moments

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mealyn Plus Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Mealyn Plus Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BentoBook free?

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

### Is Mealyn free?

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

### Do BentoBook or Mealyn have ads?

Neither BentoBook nor Mealyn shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BentoBook or Mealyn?

BentoBook ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mealyn every 2 weeks. Most recently, BentoBook was updated on October 31, 2026 and Mealyn on October 31, 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.*