Review Insights · App Store
RecipeBox - Save Your Recipes!
RecipeBox, LLC · 13,687 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
13,687 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 73 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"recipes"
35 negative reviews mention this · 48% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ruined. I had this app long before the in app purchases and it was perfect but recently it’s been changed so you have a limit on your recipes and can’t do a lot without a subscription. Honestly it’s just messed up now. I suggest finding a new app f…" - Isaac-Chan202
2
"recipe"
24 negative reviews mention this · 33% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ruined. I had this app long before the in app purchases and it was perfect but recently it’s been changed so you have a limit on your recipes and can’t do a lot without a subscription. Honestly it’s just messed up now. I suggest finding a new app f…" - Isaac-Chan202
3
"free"
21 negative reviews mention this · 29% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Can’t do anything without paying. Not worth it and far from free. Don’t waste your time. I can’t even import a single recipe from Instagram without singing up for a fee." - Rooskag
4
"save"
19 negative reviews mention this · 26% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Was good but they ruined it. When your big new update blocks previously free features with a paywall I get upset. Specifically, limiting the users ability to save recipes from the internet was stupid." - I don’t usually review things
5
"subscription"
16 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ruined. I had this app long before the in app purchases and it was perfect but recently it’s been changed so you have a limit on your recipes and can’t do a lot without a subscription. Honestly it’s just messed up now. I suggest finding a new app f…" - Isaac-Chan202
6
"doesn"
11 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App doesn’t work?. This is a great idea, especially the ability to send the ingredients directly to your grocery app. But, after several attempts, the app itself doesn’t work. I’ve tried saving several recipes and it’s been stuck on “recipe is saving” for hou…" - Mmk1016
7
"work"
11 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App doesn’t work?. This is a great idea, especially the ability to send the ingredients directly to your grocery app. But, after several attempts, the app itself doesn’t work. I’ve tried saving several recipes and it’s been stuck on “recipe is saving” for hou…" - Mmk1016
8
"update"
11 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Was good but they ruined it. When your big new update blocks previously free features with a paywall I get upset. Specifically, limiting the users ability to save recipes from the internet was stupid." - I don’t usually review things
9
"trial"
10 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "There is a problem with this app right now. I’ve used this app on my iPad for many years, but now there’s a real problem. When I try to add a recipe, your app takes me to a screen that wants me to upgrade to a paid version … and there’s no way to opt out! Even if I search within the …" - kmcarlson
10
"without"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ruined. I had this app long before the in app purchases and it was perfect but recently it’s been changed so you have a limit on your recipes and can’t do a lot without a subscription. Honestly it’s just messed up now. I suggest finding a new app f…" - Isaac-Chan202
11
"until"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "It was great. It was great until it started to charge $30 to save a recipe from a website or socials. Kinda annoying now" - Mr_Magoo.
12
"import"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Can’t do anything without paying. Not worth it and far from free. Don’t waste your time. I can’t even import a single recipe from Instagram without singing up for a fee." - Rooskag
📋 All 73 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Ruined
I had this app long before the in app purchases and it was perfect but recently it’s been changed so you have a limit on your recipes and can’t do a lot without a subscription. Honestly it’s just messed up now. I suggest finding a new app for storing recipes.
Ads in paid version
Now shows an ad for grocery delivery on every recipe. Even on paid version.
REWRITES RECIPES
This app does not directly pull in recipes, it rewrites them. This has happened to me twice recently where the instructions on the blog recipe page and the instructions in the app recipe are completely (and I mean completely) different. The first time I thought I had somehow made a mistake or that the blogger had a decoy recipe embedded or SOMETHING. The second time, completely different blogger and recipe and I almost ruined it but caught the rewrite in time.
This app would be amazing if it did not do this but on this basis alone, it’s unusable and will legitimately ruin recipes for you.
This app would be amazing if it did not do this but on this basis alone, it’s unusable and will legitimately ruin recipes for you.
Nothing Available
Can’t do anything without signing up for a monthly subscription.
There is a problem with this app right now
I’ve used this app on my iPad for many years, but now there’s a real problem. When I try to add a recipe, your app takes me to a screen that wants me to upgrade to a paid version … and there’s no way to opt out! Even if I search within the app for a new recipe, I get this screen offering a trial version (no money due right now) AND THERE’S NO WAY TO OPT OUT. I don’t want to switch, but I can’t use this app in its current form. Please fix!
Can’t do anything without paying
Not worth it and far from free. Don’t waste your time. I can’t even import a single recipe from Instagram without singing up for a fee.
App doesn’t work?
This is a great idea, especially the ability to send the ingredients directly to your grocery app. But, after several attempts, the app itself doesn’t work. I’ve tried saving several recipes and it’s been stuck on “recipe is saving” for hours now.
Unable to get tech help
I am new to app but unable to get features to work. Texted support several times but never get an answer. Categories does not work .
Not importing recipes correctly
I imported a recipe that I just made. Noticed right off the bat that the recipe showed cream cheese. There isn’t any cream cheese in this recipe. Went back and double checked the recipe, nope, no cream cheese. I don’t know here it’s importing this recipe from but it’s not correct. A different recipe app imported it without issue.
A few weeks have passed since I left this review and I just tried to import another recipe. It did but without any of the data. Just the photo and the title.
A few weeks have passed since I left this review and I just tried to import another recipe. It did but without any of the data. Just the photo and the title.
Absolutely hate the ads
Could you fix the major categorizing and sorting glitches with the app? I really don’t care that I can import recipes from instagram. I’ve used this app for years and now I get ads.
Was good but they ruined it
When your big new update blocks previously free features with a paywall I get upset. Specifically, limiting the users ability to save recipes from the internet was stupid.
Big beautiful update
I opened my app today and saw that the app has been updated. I can’t find my recipes. Only one is left. I’ve been collecting these recipes for a long time. They want me to re-organize everything by category. I’ve always used the search feature to find the recipe or category I was interested in. Now I can’t find anything. I’m very very disappointed.
Absolutely horrible
Do I seriously have to pay to save recipes? First time, it keeps urging me to pay. Pay pay pay.
Doesn’t support YouTube
Doesn’t support YouTube
Can’t use without a subscription
This app use to be great when it was free. Now you have to pay in order to use app. Sad.
Subscribe
Another app that wants you to subscribe monthly
requires payment to work now :(
was great when it was free. sad!!!
Vibe coded cash grab
Same as 4-5 others with the same issues seemingly copy and pasted vibe coded garbage. Asks for payments immediately
Doesn’t save info
UPDATE
With a new upgrade, it is impossible to import recipes. So I started to copy and paste, but when I get halfway through adding a new recipe, I lose my work. There is absolutely nothing I like about this app anymore!
When I put in a new recipe I set up categories and sometimes it doesn’t save it. Or, if it does save it, I can go in later and the categories have disappeared.
With a new upgrade, it is impossible to import recipes. So I started to copy and paste, but when I get halfway through adding a new recipe, I lose my work. There is absolutely nothing I like about this app anymore!
When I put in a new recipe I set up categories and sometimes it doesn’t save it. Or, if it does save it, I can go in later and the categories have disappeared.
Disappointing
Used to be so useful when it was free. Not worth paying $60 a year to keep recipe links organized. What a joke. Will just keep the links in a notes app for free.
Started Charging, no free option
I used to love this app until without warning you suddenly need a membership for it? Tried to save a recipe and it tells me to start my $0.00 7-day trial. Won’t tell you how much the membership is either. The next screen says you’ll get a reminder 2-days before you’re charged that your free trial is ending. Back to Pinterest or any other app that doesn’t charge!
Charged me but no access to app
They charged my credit card but they said I canceled my subscription. They promised to refund me if I dropped my credit card dispute. I did that and no refund!!!! Do not buy this app!
Monitized = Unuseable
It’s one thing to have an App That costs an amount or a subscription fee upfront. It’s nothing entirely when an app goes from being Free to use for years to charging a very expensive annual fee for membership.
Disappointed
I used to love this app until your most recent update makes it so I can’t simply copy and paste a link and have a recipe save.
Dissappointed
Used the app for a few days and found it to be a little buggy, but useful for collecting all my recipes in one spot. However, after hitting a certain number of recipes I could no longer add anything else without paying. I cannot express my frustration strongly enough. I am sick of apps hiding any sort of payment or subscription until you've used it enough to have a decent collection of recipes built up. Will not be reccomeneding this app to anyone, and in fact will steer anyone away from it. Be better.
Can’t even create an account
It won’t let me use the Sign in with Apple feature, nor will it let me hit the button to create an account. Just embarrassing.
Can’t get to the recipe
There are so many pop-up ads and offers to enroll that you can’t get to the recipe. Not the best app for recipes!
Best to worst
I’ve used this app for several years and it was great. Lately, it became an ordeal to try to import recipes with them often disappearing or worse after trying several times. So I decided to upgrade to see if that would
fix the problem. Wrong! I was also intrigued with the idea of having an easier way to import recipes from Facebook, etc. So far, that has been a major fail. My first attempt with a Facebook recipe per the app instructions led to something imported but shown as being imported. After that, there was no response beyond the screw showing AI is working, add another recipe, etc.
Opening and
Closing the
App changed nothing. Same with doing a hard reset of my iPhone.
Additionally, I’d also like to see the alphabetical listing on the slide of the screen restored.
Bottom line is this app has degenerated from a great tool to one of the worst. In its current state, I won’t be recommending the app like I used to.
***UPDATE***
Very disappointed. Support responded initially in about a day and addressed the save issues I was having but not the Facebook import issues so I contacted them again re that issue. They requested some FB recipes I tried importing which I provided. Two weeks later & no response. If this remains the case, I’ll probably move my recipes to Stashcook which does what this app claimed re FB etc plus it has some nice ease of use features when using a recipe. Hopefully, I’ll hear something from Support SOON.
fix the problem. Wrong! I was also intrigued with the idea of having an easier way to import recipes from Facebook, etc. So far, that has been a major fail. My first attempt with a Facebook recipe per the app instructions led to something imported but shown as being imported. After that, there was no response beyond the screw showing AI is working, add another recipe, etc.
Opening and
Closing the
App changed nothing. Same with doing a hard reset of my iPhone.
Additionally, I’d also like to see the alphabetical listing on the slide of the screen restored.
Bottom line is this app has degenerated from a great tool to one of the worst. In its current state, I won’t be recommending the app like I used to.
***UPDATE***
Very disappointed. Support responded initially in about a day and addressed the save issues I was having but not the Facebook import issues so I contacted them again re that issue. They requested some FB recipes I tried importing which I provided. Two weeks later & no response. If this remains the case, I’ll probably move my recipes to Stashcook which does what this app claimed re FB etc plus it has some nice ease of use features when using a recipe. Hopefully, I’ll hear something from Support SOON.
Needs to be updated to iPadOS 16
Sometimes difficult to add a recipe from a link. It doesn’t always save the recipe. Can’t even update a recipe now or add a new one. - useless
Not a free app
Not a free app after going through all the questions.
INTRUSIVE
The initial setup felt intrusive, at the end of which you are left with only the option to subscribe. Closing the app and reopening offers the ability to use the basic feature of the app… saving recipes.
That’s after the 20 questions before even seeing if the app is worth using.
That’s after the 20 questions before even seeing if the app is worth using.
No longer free
Can no longer add recipes unless you purchase the plan. Very upsetting.
App does not work
I bought this app about a month ago. It worked great until two weeks ago. I am unable to sync recipes from FB or IG. It just keeps circling around. Customer support has not been helpful. Very disappointed in this app.
They Charge You To Cancel
I was not using the app so went to delete it, which prompted the question of if I wanted to cancel or manage my subscription. I chose to cancel. As soon as I did, I was instantly rebilled for 3 months from the date of my cancellation. In other words, they charged me a penalty of 3 months to cancel.
Used to be great
I have the paid version and haven’t been able to import or save any receipts for a few weeks now.
Lack of consistent functioning
When the app worked it was great, but after about a week of functionality with the $60/yr subscription, it wasn’t saving recipes or adding ingredients or communicating with my grocery app. I reached out to support and they said it was “temporarily” not functioning and they “resolved” it, however when I went back and tried again, it wasn’t working. Either it’s magically down the days I do meal planning or there are issues with consistency.
BEWARE!
App was free and now they want me to buy a subscription to proceed. I have recipes saved for at least 3 years on this app and now they’re holding them hostage. Beware!
Edit function does not work properly
Unfortunately when I attempt to edit a recipe that I have entered in this app, the app will not allow me to make changes. When I begin to type the change, the window closes. It won’t allow me to make the desired changes or save them. Not worth the time to enter recipes you can’t edit.
Tim
It just doesn’t work as advertised. It just saves a link to the original online post. I got two out of sixteen to save as a recipe. The rest were just links which I already had saved. Wasted much time trying to make it work.
Import doesn’t work
Worked fine until the last update. Now I can’t import any recipes. Disappointed 😕
Poor “upgrade”
Can’t save websites. The ones I DO have are blank pictures. When I go in to at least save titles it WONT! Gotta find another app to save recipes
App stopped working with the latest update
I loved this app until it stopped working with the latest update - I can’t save any new recipes, though I updated Safari, I get “code not working”.
Reported it - no response.
Reported it - no response.
Doesn’t work as you want
I couldn’t not make categories or if I did, next time I went on they had disappeared and my other recipes were now uncategorized. I do get some help but nothing worked. Asked for a refund but they do not do that. Don’t pay before you know it works for you!
Wouldn’t install
I could not even install the app. Walked thru the 18 freaking question steps then it would not create the account. Kept saying check network connection. I literally just downloaded the network connection is working.
Can only save 2500 recipes
Don’t care for the shipping list or community functions. I care about the primary function only which is to save recipes and it’s quite a snag when you reach the limit that they’re not transparent about.
Pay To Play
I have been using this app for years and have loved it. I tried recommending it to a friend and the only option now is a paid option. Why not do it what all other apps do and create a free version with limited features… bozos. Once a great app, now rubbish.
Waste of time & hidden fees
They make you do this survey, hand over your email to make an account before they tell you what it’ll cost.
Once you waste your time and given them your info they try to stick you with a REOCCURRING $60 bill
I wouldn’t pay that once let alone every year
Once you waste your time and given them your info they try to stick you with a REOCCURRING $60 bill
I wouldn’t pay that once let alone every year
It costs money after 7 day trial..
No thanks
Charges a Subscription Fee
It looks great but I wanted a free app not one that charges $50 a year. I am writing a review because I don’t think that was clearly conveyed before I downloaded.
Now requires a subscription to import recipes. Shameful.
Bait and switch. Probably one last cash grab before they sell the app. Uninstalled and deleted my account.
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Sentiment summary
93%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
5%
Negative (1-2★)