Best App to Save Recipes: Keep Your Favorites Handy

If you’ve ever found a recipe you loved but forgot where you saved it, you’re not alone. Whether it’s from a blog, a family member, or social media, keeping all your favorite meals in one spot can be tricky. That’s where a good recipe-saving app comes in. These apps make it super easy to store, organize, and access your recipes without the hassle. Let’s take a look at some of the best options out there.

1. ReciMe

ReciMe is a digital recipe organizer and meal planning tool that helps users store, manage, and cook from their favorite recipes all in one place. It supports importing recipes from popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, as well as from photos. With its intuitive interface, users can organize recipes into collections, customize them with personal notes, and instantly convert them into smart grocery lists sorted by store aisle or recipe. Whether the goal is to save time, waste less food, or plan healthier meals, ReciMe makes it easy to stay on track. The platform is designed to reduce the friction of everyday cooking by integrating planning, shopping, and organizing into a single workflow.

ReciMe is available on iOS and as a Chrome extension, allowing users to access and manage their recipes across devices. In addition to its app features, ReciMe supports a growing community of home cooks on Facebook and Instagram, where users share recipe ideas, planning tips, and updates.

Key Features:

• Save recipes from social media, screenshots, or handwritten notes
• Create grocery lists that are automatically sorted
• Plan meals for the week in one view
• Available on both mobile and desktop devices

Best For:

• Organizing recipes collected from various apps and platforms
• Creating grocery lists without manual sorting
• Simplifying weekly meal planning across devices

2. Paprika Recipe Manager 3

Paprika Recipe Manager 3 is a recipe organization app that combines several tools in one place. Users can save recipes from the web, build grocery lists, plan meals on a calendar, and keep track of pantry items. It’s designed to help streamline cooking and shopping tasks by bringing them together in a single app.

The app works across Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with syncing available between them. Recipes can be categorized in custom folders, searched by ingredient, and adjusted by serving size. Users can also keep the screen active while cooking, highlight steps, and set timers directly from the instructions.

Key Features:

• Save recipes from websites or add your own manually
• Create grocery lists that sort items by aisle
• Plan meals using a built-in calendar
• Use timers embedded within recipe steps

Best For:

• People who want to manage recipes, grocery lists, and meal plans in one app
• Users who cook from saved online recipes
• Those who like organizing recipes by category or type

3. Umami

Umami is a recipe manager that allows users to collect, organize, and share recipes across devices. Recipes can be saved from websites, social media, handwritten notes, or added manually. The app includes tools for organizing recipes with tags, planning meals with a calendar, and creating grocery lists. Users can also access and manage their recipes from a web browser on a computer.

One of the app’s key features is the ability to collaborate with others. Users can create shared recipe books with family or friends and edit together. Cook mode offers a checklist-style view for ingredients and steps to follow while cooking. Umami also provides multiple export options, allowing users to save or share recipes in various formats, even without an active subscription.

Key Features:

• Import recipes from websites, social media, or by scanning notes
• Organize with tags and search filters
• Cook mode with interactive checklists
• Access and edit recipes from any web browser

Best For:

• Users looking to build a digital recipe book with others
• People who want to organize recipes from multiple sources
• Anyone who needs both app and desktop access to their collection

4. Mealime

Mealime is a meal planning app focused on creating simple weekly plans based on your dietary needs and preferences. It generates grocery lists from selected meals, which you can use to shop in-store or have delivered through supported retailers. Recipes are designed to take around 30 minutes to prepare, with instructions aimed at reducing prep time and minimizing guesswork in the kitchen.

The app includes customization features for different diets like vegetarian, low carb, or gluten-free, and lets users exclude specific ingredients. Each meal plan comes with nutrition information, and recipes are built to reduce food waste by sharing ingredients across meals. A Pro version is available for added features like custom plans and enhanced recipe options.

Key Features:

• Builds grocery lists from chosen meals
• Personalizes plans based on diet preferences
• Includes nutrition info and portion guidance
• Syncs with grocery delivery services

Best For:

• People who want help deciding what to cook each week
• Users looking for fast, easy meal ideas with minimal planning
• Anyone aiming to reduce food waste and save time grocery shopping

5. Recipe Keeper

Recipe Keeper is a flexible app that helps users collect, organize, and plan meals in one place. It supports a variety of input methods, including scanning handwritten recipes, importing from websites, or entering recipes manually. Recipes can be organized by course, category, and rating, with the ability to add photos, make notes, and tag favorites.

The app also includes tools for meal planning and shopping. Users can create weekly or monthly plans, generate shopping lists based on selected recipes, and customize grocery aisles. It supports syncing across multiple platforms (with separate purchases) and allows users to share or print custom cookbooks in various formats.

Key Features:

• Scan or import recipes from websites, photos, and documents
• Organize recipes with tags, ratings, and categories
• Plan meals and build shopping lists with auto-grouped items
• Create and share printable cookbooks

Best For:

• Users who want to digitize family recipes from different sources
• People who like building custom cookbooks and meal plans
• Those looking for a mix of structure and flexibility in recipe management

6. Crouton

Crouton is a recipe organizer and meal planning app that works across Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. Users can import recipes from websites, scan them from cookbooks, or enter them manually. It supports cloud syncing through iCloud and offers tools like timers, grocery list generation, and hands-free cooking steps.

The app includes a step-by-step cooking mode where users can view one instruction at a time and tap on ingredients for details without switching screens. Crouton also allows recipe sharing via iCloud and integrates with Bluetooth scales and cooking probes for more detailed kitchen tracking. It supports organizing with folders and includes features like AI importing and RSS feed tracking for new recipe ideas.

Key Features:

• Import recipes from web, photos, and plain text
• Step-by-step cooking mode with hands-free navigation
• Built-in timers and shopping list creation
• Cloud syncing and recipe sharing with family via iCloud

Best For:

• Users who want step-by-step help while cooking
• People using recipes from both digital and printed sources
• Families looking to share and manage recipes together across devices

7. Copy Me That

Copy Me That is an app that combines a recipe organizer, meal planner, and shopping list in one place. It allows users to save recipes from any website with a single click, or add their own manually. Recipes can be edited, tagged, and organized using search or categories. Photos and notes can also be added for each entry.

The app includes tools for planning meals ahead of time and building grocery lists sorted by recipe or store aisle. Users can decide how much they want to share with others through the in-app community, or keep their content private. All recipes are synced across devices, and users can download their data at any time.

Key Features:

• Save and edit recipes from websites or add your own
• Organize with tags and search tools
• Build shopping lists linked to meal plans
• Sync recipes across all devices with backup access

Best For:

• People who want recipe saving, planning, and shopping tools in one app
• Users who like editing and customizing their recipes
• Anyone looking for a flexible and ad-free experience with optional upgrades

8. Plan to Eat

Plan to Eat is a recipe storage and meal planning app that brings together recipes, weekly meal plans, and grocery lists in one platform. Users can save recipes from the web or enter them manually, then organize them into customizable plans. The app is designed to support both short-term and long-term meal scheduling, including freezer meals and leftovers.

The shopping list feature automatically pulls ingredients from the meal plan and groups them by store aisle. Users can customize lists for different stores and reorder categories. Recipes and plans can also be shared with others, and everything syncs across devices, making it easy to manage meals whether you’re on your phone or desktop.

Key Features:

• Import recipes from websites or add your own manually
• Plan meals by day, week, or month and track frozen meals
• Auto-generate grocery lists based on your meal plan
• Sync and share with family or friends across devices

Best For:

• People who want structured meal planning with flexibility
• Users managing family meals or dietary needs
• Anyone who plans meals in advance and shops accordingly

9. Flavorish

Flavorish is a recipe app built to help users save and organize recipes from a wide range of sources, including social media, websites, handwritten notes, and images. Recipes can be entered manually or imported using AI, which converts photos or text into structured formats. Users can group recipes into custom collections and generate shopping lists directly from saved recipes.

The app offers tools like nutritional breakdowns, adjustable serving sizes, and support for dietary filters like gluten-free, vegan, or diabetic-friendly meals. It also provides offline access and syncing across devices. A meal planner and voice-guided cooking features are listed as coming soon. Flavorish is available for free, with optional upgrades.

Key Features:

• Save recipes from websites, social media, and handwritten notes
• Organize into custom collections and create digital cookbooks
• Generate shopping lists sorted by aisle
• AI recipe suggestions based on ingredients or diet

Best For:

• Users who find recipes across platforms and want to store them in one place
• People looking for flexible recipe organization and customization
• Anyone needing offline access and cross-device syncing for cooking and shopping

10. Pestle

Pestle is a recipe manager that focuses on simplifying the process of saving, organizing, and cooking recipes, especially from online sources. It allows users to save recipes directly from TikTok, Instagram, websites, or scan them from printed sources. Saved recipes can be turned into step-by-step cooking guides, with support for hands-free controls and integrated timers.

The app also includes features for meal planning and grocery list creation. Users can assign meals to specific days, sync across Apple devices, and share recipes with others in a shared household space. Pestle also supports bookmarking recipes when automatic imports don’t work, and offers a discovery feature for staying updated with new content from favorite food blogs.

Key Features:

• Import recipes from social media, websites, or scan from paper
• Guided cooking with hands-free mode and built-in timers
• Plan meals for up to 14 days and auto-generate shopping lists
• Sync across devices and share recipes with household members

Best For:

• People who save recipes from Instagram, TikTok, or blogs
• Users who like following step-by-step cooking instructions
• Families or roommates who want to plan and share meals together

11. Mela

Mela is a recipe manager focused on simplicity and a clean layout. It allows users to save recipes from websites, cookbooks, or by manual entry. The app uses iCloud to sync recipes across devices, with the option to keep recipes private or share them with other iCloud users. Recipes can be viewed in a streamlined cooking mode and organized using basic filters like favorites and “want to cook.”

The app includes tools for meal planning using the built-in calendar and generates grocery lists by sending items to Apple’s Reminders app. Mela also supports scanning recipes from printed materials using text recognition, and subscribing to blogs via feeds to view recipes in a simplified format. A one-time in-app purchase unlocks the full feature set.

Key Features:

• Save and organize recipes from websites or scans
• Sync recipes across devices via iCloud
• Use cooking mode with timers and large text for easy viewing
• Plan meals through Calendar and manage grocery lists via Reminders

Best For:

• Users who prefer a minimalist, distraction-free interface
• People who use Apple’s ecosystem for reminders and calendar planning
• Anyone looking for a clean way to manage recipes without ongoing subscriptions

12. RecipeBox

RecipeBox is a digital recipe organizer and meal planning app that allows users to save, categorize, and plan meals with recipes from across the internet. Recipes can be imported from websites, food blogs, or social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The app pulls just the essential parts of a recipe – ingredients and steps – so users can focus on cooking without distractions.

Meal planning and shopping list tools are built in. Users can schedule meals on a calendar, create grocery lists sorted by aisle, and send items to supported grocery services for pickup or delivery. The app also offers the ability to organize saved recipes into custom categories for easier access.

Key Features:

• Save recipes from websites and social media with one tap
• Create grocery lists and send to services like Instacart or Walmart
• Organize recipes with custom collections and search filters
• Plan weekly or monthly meals using the built-in calendar

Best For:

• Home cooks who save recipes from multiple online sources
• People who want to quickly go from planning to shopping
• Users looking for a clean and easy way to keep recipes organized and accessible

13. Tasty

Tasty is a recipe and cooking app created by BuzzFeed that focuses on video-based guides for home cooks. The app offers a big variety of recipes with step-by-step instructions and videos, along with features like grocery list creation, personalized cookbooks, and social integration. Recipes are presented in a visual, easy-to-follow format, often accompanied by short videos that show the cooking process from start to finish.

Tasty includes a range of tools for planning and shopping. Users can create meal plans, save favorite recipes, adjust serving sizes, and search by ingredients they already have. It also supports grocery ordering through services like Walmart. A built-in AI assistant helps suggest recipes based on your preferences and available ingredients.

Key Features:

• Browse and save recipes with video guides
• Generate grocery lists and connect with Walmart for shopping
• Use ingredient search and AI suggestions for meal ideas
• Create and organize personal cookbooks within the app

Best For:

• People who enjoy learning recipes through short, visual videos
• Users looking for quick ideas based on what’s in their kitchen
• Anyone who wants to cook along with clear, hands-free guidance

14. All Recipes Cookbook

All Recipes Cookbook offers a wide variety of recipes in one app, covering different cuisines, dietary styles, and cooking techniques. Users can search by ingredients, type of dish, or origin. It includes options for meals ranging from quick snacks to multi-course dinners, along with baking and dessert recipes. The app is structured to help users find ideas easily, regardless of their experience in the kitchen.

The app allows you to save favorites, make meal plans, and use a built-in grocery list. It also includes features like timers and a basic nutrition tracker. However, user feedback mentions frequent ads and occasional missing ingredient lists, which may affect the overall experience depending on what you’re looking for in a recipe app.

Key Features:

• Browse recipes by ingredient, cuisine, or category
• Save favorite dishes and build personal collections
• Add recipes to meal plans and shopping lists
• Includes baking, healthy meals, and diet-specific options

Best For:

• Browsing a wide selection of food ideas
• Users looking for free access to diverse recipes
• Beginner cooks needing step-by-step directions

15. BigOven

BigOven is a recipe and meal planning app designed to keep everything in one place. It offers access to a big recipe library, along with tools for planning meals, managing grocery lists, and reducing food waste. You can save recipes from the web, upload handwritten ones, and organize your collection into folders. The app also includes a community feature where users can follow others and see what’s trending.

Meal planning is built in, so you can assign recipes to specific days and automatically add ingredients to a shopping list. BigOven’s leftover tool lets you enter ingredients you have and find matching recipes, which can be helpful when you’re trying to avoid wasting food. While the app includes many features, some users mention that ads and glitches can affect the overall experience.

Key Features:

• Save recipes from the web or by photo
• Plan meals by day or week and build grocery lists
• Use the leftover tool to find recipes with ingredients you have
• Follow other home cooks and share your favorites

Best For:

• Organizing a personal recipe collection
• Planning weekly meals with linked shopping lists
• Finding ideas based on ingredients you already have

16. Recipe Keeper Box – OrganizEat

OrganizEat is designed for people who want to keep their personal recipes in one place without dealing with too much typing or formatting. You can add recipes by taking photos, importing them from websites, or using the in-app browser. The app focuses on making the process of saving and sorting recipes as simple as possible, even for handwritten notes or clipped recipes from old cookbooks.

Once your recipes are in the app, you can tag them, add notes, and organize them into folders. It also includes tools for meal planning and grocery list building. Syncing across devices is supported, and recipes can be accessed even without an internet connection. While it works well for organizing, users looking for built-in recipe discovery features might find it more limited compared to other apps.

Key Features:

• Add recipes by snapping photos or importing from websites
• Organize with tags, folders, and personalized categories
• View recipes offline with a screen that stays on while cooking
• Sync and access across iPhone, iPad, and computer

Best For:

• Storing handwritten or clipped recipes
• Building a digital version of your personal cookbook
• Organizing recipes with custom tags and folders

17. Just the Recipe

Just the Recipe is designed for people who want to save and use recipes without the distractions often found on food blogs. When you find a recipe online, you can share the link to the app, and it pulls out just the ingredients and instructions. This makes it easier to focus on cooking instead of scrolling through unrelated stories or ads.

In addition to simplifying online recipes, the app also acts as a personal recipe keeper. You can save and organize recipes into custom collections, make edits, and even add your own photos and notes. A grocery list feature helps you turn ingredients into a checklist that’s grouped by store aisle, which can be customized to fit your usual shopping routine.

Key Features:

• Extracts clean recipes from websites with no extra content
• Lets you save, edit, and organize your favorite recipes
• Smart grocery lists with aisle grouping and drag-to-reorder
• Syncs across mobile devices and web browser

Best For:

• Quickly cleaning up and saving recipes from websites
• Creating a personal, clutter-free digital cookbook
• Making grocery shopping more efficient with smart lists

Final Thoughts

In summary, the best recipe-saving app for you depends on your cooking habits, organization style, and the features you value most. Whether you need a minimalist tool for decluttering recipe blogs, a powerful meal planner with grocery lists, or a highly visual digital cookbook, there’s an app tailored to your needs. With options available across iOS, Android, and web platforms, it’s easier than ever to collect, organize, and access your favorite recipes from anywhere. Try out a few and find the one that turns your kitchen time into a smoother, more enjoyable experience.