Pestle vs Mela

Pestle and Mela both save from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Pestle if you want a design-led recipe manager with an Apple Watch app and a Chrome extension, and you are fine paying for Pro. 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

DetailPestleMela
PriceFree for 15 recipes. Pestle Pro is $24.99 a year, with a 14-day trial. The App Store also lists a monthly plan and lifetime purchases.App StoreFree 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 and Apple Vision. The Mac version is the iPad app on Apple silicon. There is a Chrome extension.App StoreiPhone, iPad and Mac.mela.recipes
Syncs throughSyncs recipes and meal plans between your devices.App StoreiCloud, on by default. You can also share a whole library with other iCloud users.mela.recipes
Saves fromAny website, Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. PDFs and photos are Pro.pestlechef.appIts 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 4.1.2, October 28, 2026.App StoreVersion 2.6.2, June 8, 2025.App Store
Ratings4.7 stars from 1.8K ratingsApp Store4.6 stars from 884 ratingsApp Store

Feature by feature

Pestle vs Mela, feature by feature
FeaturePestleMela
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 StoreYesApp Store
Save from websitesYespestlechef.appYesApp Store
Scan cookbook pages and cardsYespestlechef.appYesmela.recipes
Planning & shopping
Meal planYespestlechef.appYesApp Store
Grocery listYespestlechef.appYesmela.recipes
Shared with a householdYespestlechef.appYesmela.recipes
Send the list to grocery deliveryNot foundNot found
Kitchen
PantryYesdocs.pestlechef.appNot found
Receipt scanNot foundNot found
What can I make from what I haveNot foundNot found
Cook modeYesApp StoreYesApp Store
TimersYesApp StoreYesApp Store
NutritionNot foundPartlymela.recipes
Apple extras
WidgetsYespestlechef.appYesApp Store
Live ActivitiesYesdocs.pestlechef.appYesApp Store
Apple WatchYesApp StoreNoApp Store
Siri and ShortcutsYesApp StoreNot found
Mac and iPadPartlyApp StoreYesApp Store
CarPlayNot foundNot found
Platforms & price
AndroidNopestlechef.appNomela.recipes
Web appNot foundNomela.recipes
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 Pestle is stronger

  • Pantry. Pantry list auto-crosses items off shopping list (free); barcode scan into pantry + expiry reminders (Pro) docs.pestlechef.app Mela: not found on its own pages
  • Apple Watch. Apple Watch listed in App Store compatibility (watchOS 10.6+); watch features not described App Store Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only)
  • Siri and Shortcuts. Ask Siri what to make or how much of an ingredient; Shortcuts actions incl. adding to Meal Plan App Store Mela: not found on its own pages

Where Mela is stronger

  • Mac and iPad. iPad (universal iOS app) and native Mac app (separate purchase) App Store Pestle: partly. iPad yes (Handoff between iPhone/iPad); Mac only via iPad app on Apple silicon ('Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS')

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 and nutrition estimates, which neither Pestle 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 Pestle or Mela is ahead of it: an Apple Watch app and Mac and iPad apps.

Questions

Is Pestle or Mela better?

It depends on what you need. Pestle and Mela both save from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, save recipes from websites, plan meals, build a grocery list and have a cook mode. Pick Pestle if you want a design-led recipe manager with an Apple Watch app and a Chrome extension, and you are fine paying for Pro. 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 Pestle and Mela cost?

Pestle: Free for 15 recipes. Pestle Pro is $24.99 a year, with a 14-day trial. The App Store also lists a monthly plan and lifetime purchases. 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, Pestle or Mela?

Pestle: yes. Free (15 recipes); Pestle Pro $2.99/mo, $24.99/yr, Lifetime $39.99 or $49.99 (App Store IAP list); 14-day free trial. 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 Pestle or Mela save recipes from Instagram and TikTok?

Pestle: yes. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube via share sheet. Mela: yes. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram: extracts recipes from video descriptions via ML importer (v2.5); no Pinterest/Facebook mention.

Do Pestle and Mela work on Android?

Pestle: no. No Android link on official site ('Free forever on iPhone and iPad'); not found in Google Play search. Mela: no. Apple platforms only per App Store and mela.recipes; no Google Play listing found.

Which has an Apple Watch app, Pestle or Mela?

Pestle: yes. Apple Watch listed in App Store compatibility (watchOS 10.6+); watch features not described. Mela: no. Not listed in App Store compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch only).

Do Pestle and Mela run on Mac and iPad?

Pestle: partly. iPad yes (Handoff between iPhone/iPad); Mac only via iPad app on Apple silicon ('Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS'). Mela: yes. iPad (universal iOS app) and native Mac app (separate purchase).

Can you use Pestle or Mela in a web browser?

Pestle: not found on its own pages. Mela: no. Official site offers only iOS/iPadOS and macOS apps.

Do Pestle or Mela work with ChatGPT or Claude?

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

When were Pestle and Mela last updated?

On the US App Store, Pestle is at version 4.1.2 (October 28, 2026) and Mela at version 2.6.2 (June 8, 2025). Checked November 4, 2026.