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Paprika vs Mela

Paprika and Mela both save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Paprika if you want to pay once, you cook with an Apple Watch or on Windows, or your library already lives in Paprika. Paprika 4 is in beta and says premium features will need a subscription afterwards. 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.

At a glance

DetailPaprikaMela
PriceiPhone and iPad $4.99, once. Mac $29.99. Each version is sold separately.paprikaapp.comFree to download. Mela+ is a one-time unlock: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac, bought separately.App Store
PlatformsiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android and Windows.paprikaapp.comiPhone, iPad and Mac.mela.recipes
Syncs throughPaprika Cloud Sync, its own account, for recipes, grocery lists and meal plans.paprikaapp.comiCloud, on by default. You can also share a whole library with other iCloud users.mela.recipes
Saves fromAny website, through its built-in browser and bookmarklet. Saving from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube is in the Paprika 4 open beta, not in Paprika 3.paprikaapp.comIts in-app browser and share extension, recipe feeds, and a scanner that reads cookbook pages. It reads YouTube, TikTok and Instagram video descriptions.App Store
Last App Store updateVersion 3.8.5, July 16, 2026.App StoreVersion 2.6.2, June 8, 2025.App Store
Ratings4.9 stars from 54K ratingsApp Store4.6 stars from 884 ratingsApp Store

Feature by feature

Paprika vs Mela, feature by feature
FeaturePaprikaMela
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, YouTubePartlypaprikaapp.comYesApp Store
Save from websitesYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Scan cookbook pages and cardsPartlypaprikaapp.comYesmela.recipes
Planning & shopping
Meal planYesApp StoreYesApp Store
Grocery listYesApp StoreYesmela.recipes
Shared with a householdPartlypaprikaapp.comYesmela.recipes
Send the list to grocery deliveryNot foundNot found
Kitchen
PantryYespaprikaapp.comNot found
Receipt scanNot foundNot found
What can I make from what I haveNot foundNot found
Cook modeYesApp StoreYesApp Store
TimersYespaprikaapp.comYesApp Store
NutritionPartlypaprikaapp.comPartlymela.recipes
Apple extras
WidgetsPartlypaprikaapp.comYesApp Store
Live ActivitiesNot foundYesApp Store
Apple WatchYesApp StoreNoApp Store
Siri and ShortcutsPartlypaprikaapp.comNot found
Mac and iPadYesApp StoreYesApp Store
CarPlayNot foundNot found
Platforms & price
AndroidYesGoogle PlayNomela.recipes
Web appNopaprikaapp.comNomela.recipes
Free planPartlyApp 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 Paprika is stronger

  • Pantry. Pantry tracks quantity, purchase date and expiration date paprikaapp.com Mela: not found on its own pages
  • Apple Watch. Watch app shows grocery lists and controls recipe timers; requires paired iPhone (watchOS 6+) App Store Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only)
  • Android. Paprika Recipe Manager 3 on Google Play (sold separately) Google Play Mela: no. Apple platforms only per App Store and mela.recipes; no Google Play listing found

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 Paprika: partly. Only in Paprika 4 open beta (Sep 2026): TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube; not in shipping Paprika 3
  • Scan cookbook pages and cards. Scanner uses text recognition to add recipes from books; Mac can use iPhone camera mela.recipes Paprika: partly. Photo scanning of cookbook pages/recipe cards only in Paprika 4 open beta; not in Paprika 3 guide
  • Shared with a household. Share whole recipe library with other iCloud users (all can edit); groceries via a shared Reminders list mela.recipes Paprika: partly. Paprika 3: devices share one Cloud Sync account; separate family logins sharing recipes/lists/plans only in Paprika 4 beta
  • Widgets. Next-meal calendar widget; Lock Screen widget to open grocery list (iOS 16+) App Store Paprika: partly. Paprika 3 has a Today View widget showing today's meals; new grocery/meal planner widgets only in Paprika 4 beta
  • Live Activities. Cooking timers as Live Activities on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island (iOS 16.1+) App Store Paprika: not found on its own pages
  • Free plan. 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 App Store Paprika: partly. iOS is a $4.99 one-time purchase. The Android version is free, limited to 50 recipes and no sync.

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, receipt scanning, recipes from what you have, nutrition estimates and Siri and Shortcuts actions, which neither Paprika nor Mela 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 Paprika or Mela is ahead of it: an Apple Watch app, Mac and iPad apps and Android.

Saucepan vs Paprika · Saucepan vs Mela · Saucepan pricing

Questions

Is Paprika or Mela better?

It depends on what you need. Paprika and Mela both save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Paprika if you want to pay once, you cook with an Apple Watch or on Windows, or your library already lives in Paprika. Paprika 4 is in beta and says premium features will need a subscription afterwards. 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.

How much do Paprika and Mela cost?

Paprika: iPhone and iPad $4.99, once. Mac $29.99. Each version is sold separately. Mela: Free to download. Mela+ is a one-time unlock: $6.99 on iPhone and iPad, $14.99 on Mac, bought separately. Prices are US dollars from each app's own pages. Checked November 4, 2026.

Which is free, Paprika or Mela?

Paprika: partly. iOS is a $4.99 one-time purchase. The Android version is free, limited to 50 recipes and no sync. 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.

Can Paprika or Mela save recipes from Instagram and TikTok?

Paprika: partly. Only in Paprika 4 open beta (Sep 2026): TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube; not in shipping Paprika 3. Mela: yes. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram: extracts recipes from video descriptions via ML importer (v2.5); no Pinterest/Facebook mention.

Do Paprika and Mela work on Android?

Paprika: yes. Paprika Recipe Manager 3 on Google Play (sold separately). Mela: no. Apple platforms only per App Store and mela.recipes; no Google Play listing found.

Which has an Apple Watch app, Paprika or Mela?

Paprika: yes. Watch app shows grocery lists and controls recipe timers; requires paired iPhone (watchOS 6+). Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only).

Do Paprika or Mela work with ChatGPT or Claude?

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

When were Paprika and Mela last updated?

On the US App Store, Paprika is at version 3.8.5 (July 16, 2026) and Mela at version 2.6.2 (June 8, 2025). Checked November 4, 2026.