# 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.

https://getsaucepan.com/compare/pestle-vs-mela · 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

### Pestle
- Price: 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. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971)
- Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision. The Mac version is the iPad app on Apple silicon. There is a Chrome extension. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971)
- Sync: Syncs recipes and meal plans between your devices. (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971)
- Saves from: Any website, Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. PDFs and photos are Pro. (https://pestlechef.app/)
- Last App Store update: version 4.1.2, October 28, 2026

### 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

## Feature by feature

- Works in ChatGPT: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Works in Claude: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Other AI apps via MCP: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Interactive cards in the chat: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Save from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Save from websites: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app/pro); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Scan cookbook pages and cards: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app/pro); Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help)
- Meal plan: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app/pro); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Grocery list: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app/pro); Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help)
- Shared with a household: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app/pro); Mela yes (https://mela.recipes/help)
- Send the list to grocery delivery: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Pantry: Pestle yes (https://docs.pestlechef.app); Mela not found
- Receipt scan: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- What can I make from what I have: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Cook mode: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Timers: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Nutrition: Pestle not found; Mela partly (https://mela.recipes/fileformat/index.html)
- Widgets: Pestle yes (https://pestlechef.app); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Live Activities: Pestle yes (https://docs.pestlechef.app); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Apple Watch: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela no (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)
- Siri and Shortcuts: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela not found
- Mac and iPad: Pestle partly (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1568924476?mt=12)
- CarPlay: Pestle not found; Mela not found
- Android: Pestle no (https://pestlechef.app); Mela no (https://mela.recipes/)
- Web app: Pestle not found; Mela no (https://mela.recipes/)
- Free plan: Pestle yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pestle-recipe-manager/id1574776971); Mela yes (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mela-recipe-manager/id1548466041)

## Where Pestle is stronger

- Pantry: Pantry list auto-crosses items off shopping list (free); barcode scan into pantry + expiry reminders (Pro). Mela: not found.
- Apple Watch: Apple Watch listed in App Store compatibility (watchOS 10.6+); watch features not described. Mela: no.
- Siri and Shortcuts: Ask Siri what to make or how much of an ingredient; Shortcuts actions incl. adding to Meal Plan. Mela: not found.

## Where Mela is stronger

- Mac and iPad: iPad (universal iOS app) and native Mac app (separate purchase). Pestle: partly.

## 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. 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 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.