# 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.

https://getsaucepan.com/compare/mela-vs-crouton · checked November 4, 2026 · "not found" means we did not see it on the app's own pages, not that it lacks it.

## At a glance

### Mela
- Price: Free to download. Mela+ is a one-time unlock: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac, bought separately. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Platforms: iPhone, iPad and Mac. (https://mela.recipes/)
- Sync: iCloud, on by default. You can also share a whole library with other iCloud users. (https://mela.recipes/help)
- Saves from: Its in-app browser and share extension, recipe feeds, and a scanner that reads cookbook pages. It reads YouTube, TikTok and Instagram video descriptions. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Last App Store update: version 2.6.2, June 8, 2025

### Crouton
- Price: 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. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision and Apple Watch. (https://crouton.app/)
- Sync: iCloud, across your Apple devices. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Saves from: Websites, scanned cookbook pages and photos. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Last App Store update: version 2026.5.1, October 26, 2026

## Feature by feature

- Works in ChatGPT: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Works in Claude: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Other AI apps via MCP: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Interactive cards in the chat: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Save from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton not found
- Save from websites: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Scan cookbook pages and cards: Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Meal plan: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Grocery list: Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Shared with a household: Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help); Crouton yes (https://crouton.app/press-kit.html)
- Send the list to grocery delivery: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Pantry: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Receipt scan: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- What can I make from what I have: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Cook mode: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Timers: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Nutrition: Mela partly (https://mela.recipes/fileformat/index.html); Crouton partly (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Widgets: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Live Activities: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Apple Watch: Mela no (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Siri and Shortcuts: Mela not found; Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- Mac and iPad: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1568924476?mt=12); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)
- CarPlay: Mela not found; Crouton not found
- Android: Mela no (https://mela.recipes/); Crouton no (https://crouton.app)
- Web app: Mela no (https://mela.recipes/); Crouton no (https://crouton.app)
- Free plan: Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041); Crouton yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crouton-recipe-manager/id1461650987)

## 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. Crouton: not found.

## Where Crouton is stronger

- Apple Watch: Apple Watch app (watchOS 10+); Live Activities with timers, steps, doneness; double tap. Mela: no.
- Siri and Shortcuts: Expanded Siri and Shortcuts: find recipes, add to plan/groceries, launch step-by-step, interactive recipe cards. Mela: not found.

## 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. It launches on November 13, 2026 and has no ratings yet. It is on iPhone for now. Android is coming soon. Free to use; Saucepan+ is $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial.

## 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.