OnlyRecipe vs Honeydew: AI Recipe Manager Showdown 2025
Both OnlyRecipe and Honeydew offer AI-powered recipe management with social media imports. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose the right one.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | OnlyRecipe | Honeydew |
|---|---|---|
| AI Premium Pricing | $3.99/mo or $34.99/yr | Freemium (pricing varies) |
| Social Media Import | ✓ TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook | ✓ TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook |
| Screenshot Import | ✓ AI-powered | ✓ AI-powered |
| Handwritten Recipes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| AI Meal Planning | ✓ Yes | ✓ Weekly plans in seconds |
| Nutritional Tracking | ✓ Auto-calculated | ✓ Detailed (vitamins & minerals) |
| Grocery Lists | ✓ Smart lists | ✓ Auto-generated + Instacart |
| Copycat Recipe Generator | ✗ Not available | ✓ Photo to recipe |
| Cookbook Translator | ✗ Not available | ✓ International recipes |
| Web App | ✓ Beta available | Mobile-focused |
| Offline Access | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
The Bottom Line
Choose OnlyRecipe if: You want a straightforward AI recipe manager with transparent pricing, social media imports, and all essential features without extra bells and whistles.
Choose Honeydew if: You want advanced features like copycat recipe generation (photo to recipe), cookbook translation, and Instacart integration, and don't mind a potentially higher price point.
Detailed Feature Comparison
🤖 AI Features
OnlyRecipe
- AI video recipe extraction (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook)
- AI screenshot and handwritten recipe recognition
- AI meal planning suggestions
- Automatic nutritional analysis
- Smart recipe organization
Honeydew
- AI video recipe extraction (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook)
- AI screenshot and handwritten recipe recognition
- AI meal planning (weekly plans in seconds)
- Detailed nutritional tracking (vitamins, minerals, macros)
- Copycat recipe generator (snap restaurant dish → get recipe)
- Cookbook translator for international recipes
- Smart ingredient substitutions
🏆 Winner: Honeydew (by a small margin)
Both apps excel at core AI features. Honeydew edges ahead with unique features like copycat recipe generation and cookbook translation, though these may not be essential for everyone.
📥 Import Capabilities
Both apps are virtually identical when it comes to import capabilities:
- Social media videos (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook)
- Screenshots and saved photos
- Handwritten recipes with AI recognition
- Website recipe import
- Manual recipe entry
🏆 Winner: Tie
Both apps offer the same comprehensive import options that modern cooks need.
📅 Meal Planning & Grocery Lists
OnlyRecipe
- AI-powered meal planning
- Smart grocery lists from recipes
- Ingredient scaling and conversion
- Shopping list organization
Honeydew
- AI meal planner (weekly plans in seconds)
- Dietary customization (Keto, vegan, paleo, high-protein, gluten-free)
- Auto grocery lists with exact quantities
- Store section sorting
- Instacart integration (one-click ordering)
- Ingredient substitution suggestions
🏆 Winner: Honeydew
Honeydew's Instacart integration and advanced dietary customization give it an edge for meal planning power users.
💰 Pricing & Value
OnlyRecipe
- Free: 20 recipes, 3 AI imports/day
- Premium: $2.99/month or $24.99/year
- AI Premium: $3.99/month or $34.99/year (unlimited AI imports)
- Transparent, straightforward pricing
Honeydew
- Freemium model with premium subscription
- Pricing varies (check app for current rates)
- Ad-free in premium version
🏆 Winner: OnlyRecipe (for transparency)
OnlyRecipe offers clear, upfront pricing. At $34.99/year for unlimited AI features, it's competitively priced and transparent.
📱 User Experience
OnlyRecipe
- Clean, modern interface
- Fast and responsive
- Web app available (beta)
- No screen lock while cooking
- Cross-device sync
Honeydew
- Intuitive mobile interface
- No screen lock while cooking
- Household sharing
- Works offline
- Instant recipe discovery
🏆 Winner: Tie
Both apps offer excellent user experiences with modern, intuitive interfaces.
Pros & Cons
OnlyRecipe Pros
- ✓ Transparent pricing
- ✓ All essential AI features
- ✓ Web app available
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Straightforward, no-nonsense approach
OnlyRecipe Cons
- ✗ No copycat recipe generator
- ✗ No Instacart integration
- ✗ No cookbook translator
Honeydew Pros
- ✓ Copycat recipe generator
- ✓ Instacart integration
- ✓ Cookbook translator
- ✓ Advanced dietary customization
- ✓ Detailed nutritional tracking
Honeydew Cons
- ✗ Less transparent pricing
- ✗ More features = steeper learning curve
- ✗ Mobile-focused (no web app mentioned)
Which App Should You Choose?
Choose Honeydew if you:
- • Want copycat recipes from restaurant photos
- • Need Instacart integration for grocery delivery
- • Cook international recipes and need translation
- • Want the most advanced AI features available
- • Need detailed nutritional tracking (vitamins, minerals)
Choose OnlyRecipe if you:
- • Want all essential AI features without extra complexity
- • Prefer transparent, straightforward pricing
- • Need a web app in addition to mobile
- • Want to import from social media, screenshots, and handwritten recipes
- • Prefer a simpler, more focused app
Frequently Asked Questions
Are OnlyRecipe and Honeydew similar?
Yes, very similar! Both are AI-powered recipe managers with social media imports, screenshot recognition, and handwritten recipe support. The main differences are in advanced features (Honeydew has more) and pricing transparency (OnlyRecipe is clearer).
Which app is cheaper?
OnlyRecipe has transparent pricing at $34.99/year for unlimited AI features. Honeydew's pricing varies, so you'll need to check the app for current rates. Both offer free tiers to try before committing.
Can I use both apps?
Absolutely! Both offer free tiers. You can try both and see which interface and features you prefer. Many users test multiple apps before settling on their favorite.
Do both apps work offline?
Yes, both OnlyRecipe and Honeydew store recipes locally for offline access. However, AI features (like importing from videos) require an internet connection.
Final Verdict
Both OnlyRecipe and Honeydew are excellent AI-powered recipe managers that excel at importing recipes from social media, screenshots, and handwritten sources.
Honeydew is the power user's choice with advanced features like copycat recipe generation, Instacart integration, and cookbook translation. If you want every possible AI feature, Honeydew delivers.
OnlyRecipe focuses on doing the essentials exceptionally well with transparent pricing and a clean interface. If you want all the important AI features without the complexity, OnlyRecipe is your app.
The good news? Both apps offer free tiers, so you can try them risk-free and choose the one that fits your cooking style.
Try OnlyRecipe Free
Start with 20 recipes and 3 AI imports per day. No credit card required.
