When comparing BigOven vs Cookbook, the Slant community recommends BigOven for most people. In the question“What are the best recipe manager apps for iOS?” BigOven is ranked 6th while Cookbook is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose BigOven is:
Use a single grocery list and menu plan with multiple accounts.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Household grocery list and menu planning sharing
Use a single grocery list and menu plan with multiple accounts.
Pro Can scan in handwritten and printed recipes
Can convert images to text.
Pro Offers a big list of recipes to search through and an advanced search
Has over 350.000 recipes to search through and an advanced search that allows setting dietary restrictions, ingredients to be added or excluded and what categories to search through.
Pro Allows ad-free use
With optional membership, lets you get rid of all ads and add unlimited recipes; great free trial model.
Pro Everything syncs with web and other devices
Pro Great organizational options
Great use of Folders -- can set them up for occasions, people you cook for, and more. Also the separate "Favorite" and "Try" list let you keep track of things that you'd like to try apart from those that are truly your favorite.
Pro Good grocery list creator
Pro Offers a free trial
Pro Breaks down ingredients into nutritional info
Users can see the nutritional information of any meal based on the contents of the ingredients.
Pro Good menu planner
Pro Reasonable site-clipping
Pro Allows importing recipes
Cookbook can import recipes and has a long list of supported websites.
Pro Upload and show images per step
They have made the app really personable by being able to add descriptions and upload an image to each step for your recipe.
Pro Sleek and easy to use design
The user interface of the app is great and easy to use.
Cons
Con Limited organizational options
Recipes can be saved to "Try", "Favorites" and "Folder" (creating folders requires a subscription). Additionally there are categories for recipes added and made.
Con Charges for image scanning
BigOven lets users take pictures of handwritten or typed recipes and have them transcribed. The first 3 are free, and then it costs $20.00 per year for up to 25 additional scans.
Con Directions and ingredients are on separate screens
Directions and ingredients are on separate screens, makes it hard to cook when you need to flip back to the ingredients to see what the quantity is and then back to the instructions to see what to do with the ingredients.