Mela vs Crouton

Mela and Crouton both save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Mela if you want a quiet Apple-only library on iCloud with a one-time price and a Mac app. Its last App Store update was June 2025. Pick Crouton if you use a Mac or an Apple Watch in the kitchen, or you want SharePlay cooking, and you keep everything on iCloud.

At a glance

DetailMelaCrouton
PriceFree to download. Mela+ is a one-time unlock: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac, bought separately.App StoreFree with limits. The App Store lists Crouton Plus at $24.99 and Crouton Discover at $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year.App Store
PlatformsiPhone, iPad and Mac.mela.recipesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision and Apple Watch.crouton.app
Syncs throughiCloud, on by default. You can also share a whole library with other iCloud users.mela.recipesiCloud, across your Apple devices.App Store
Saves fromIts in-app browser and share extension, recipe feeds, and a scanner that reads cookbook pages. It reads YouTube, TikTok and Instagram video descriptions.App StoreWebsites, scanned cookbook pages and photos.App Store
Last App Store updateVersion 2.6.2, June 8, 2025.App StoreVersion 2026.5.1, October 26, 2026.App Store
Ratings4.6 stars from 884 ratingsApp Store4.8 stars from 2.9K ratingsApp Store

Feature by feature

Mela vs Crouton, feature by feature
FeatureMelaCrouton
AI assistants & MCP
Works in ChatGPTNot foundNot found
Works in ClaudeNot foundNot found
Other AI apps via MCPNot foundNot found
Interactive cards in the chatNot foundNot found
Saving
Save from Instagram, TikTok, YouTubeYesApp StoreNot found
Save from websitesYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Scan cookbook pages and cardsYesmela.recipesYesApp Store
Planning & shopping
Meal planYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Grocery listYesmela.recipesYesApp Store
Shared with a householdYesmela.recipesYescrouton.app
Send the list to grocery deliveryNot foundNot found
Kitchen
PantryNot foundNot found
Receipt scanNot foundNot found
What can I make from what I haveNot foundNot found
Cook modeYesApp StoreYesApp Store
TimersYesApp StoreYesApp Store
NutritionPartlymela.recipesPartlyApp Store
Apple extras
WidgetsYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Live ActivitiesYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Apple WatchNoApp StoreYesApp Store
Siri and ShortcutsNot foundYesApp Store
Mac and iPadYesApp StoreYesApp Store
CarPlayNot foundNot found
Platforms & price
AndroidNomela.recipesNocrouton.app
Web appNomela.recipesNocrouton.app
Free planYesApp StoreYesApp Store

Tap a mark for the note. “Not found” means we looked on the app’s own pages and did not see it, not that it lacks it.

Where Mela is stronger

  • Save from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram: extracts recipes from video descriptions via ML importer (v2.5); no Pinterest/Facebook mention App Store Crouton: not found on its own pages

Where Crouton is stronger

  • Apple Watch. Apple Watch app (watchOS 10+); Live Activities with timers, steps, doneness; double tap App Store Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only)
  • Siri and Shortcuts. Expanded Siri and Shortcuts: find recipes, add to plan/groceries, launch step-by-step, interactive recipe cards App Store Mela: not found on its own pages

A third option: Saucepan

Saucepan is our app. It has ChatGPT and Claude connectors, MCP access for other AI apps, interactive cards in the chat, a pantry, receipt scanning, recipes from what you have and nutrition estimates, which neither Mela nor Crouton shows on its own pages.

What to know first: it launches on November 13, 2026, so it has no track record or ratings yet. It is on iPhone, and runs on iPad. Android is coming soon. Where Mela or Crouton is ahead of it: an Apple Watch app and Mac and iPad apps.

Questions

Is Mela or Crouton better?

It depends on what you need. Mela and Crouton both save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Mela if you want a quiet Apple-only library on iCloud with a one-time price and a Mac app. Its last App Store update was June 2025. Pick Crouton if you use a Mac or an Apple Watch in the kitchen, or you want SharePlay cooking, and you keep everything on iCloud.

How much do Mela and Crouton cost?

Mela: Free to download. Mela+ is a one-time unlock: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac, bought separately. Crouton: Free with limits. The App Store lists Crouton Plus at $24.99 and Crouton Discover at $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year. Prices are US dollars from each app's own pages. Checked November 4, 2026.

Which is free, Mela or Crouton?

Mela: yes. Free to download; one-time unlock: Mela+ for iOS/iPadOS $6.99 (App Store IAP), Mela+ for macOS $14.99 (Mac App Store IAP); Mac and iOS are separate purchases. Crouton: yes. Free with limits; Crouton Discover $1.99/mo or $14.99/yr; Crouton Plus $24.99 (Early Bird $17.99); tips $0.99–$7.99 (App Store IAP list).

Can Mela or Crouton save recipes from Instagram and TikTok?

Mela: yes. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram: extracts recipes from video descriptions via ML importer (v2.5); no Pinterest/Facebook mention. Crouton: not found on its own pages.

Do Mela and Crouton work on Android?

Mela: no. Apple platforms only per App Store and mela.recipes; no Google Play listing found. Crouton: no. Official site: 'Available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS & watchOS'; not found on Google Play.

Which has an Apple Watch app, Mela or Crouton?

Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only). Crouton: yes. Apple Watch app (watchOS 10+); Live Activities with timers, steps, doneness; double tap.

Do Mela or Crouton work with ChatGPT or Claude?

We found no ChatGPT or Claude connector from either app on its own pages.

When were Mela and Crouton last updated?

On the US App Store, Mela is at version 2.6.2 (June 8, 2025) and Crouton at version 2026.5.1 (October 26, 2026). Checked November 4, 2026.