09 Apr 2025
Food & Drink

A cooking app to help couple decide what to eat and coordinate making ...

...dinner

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.


Your are here

Your idea for a cooking app designed to help couples decide what to eat and coordinate dinner preparation falls into the 'Freemium' category. This means there's a good chance people will enjoy using your app, as evidenced by the 14 similar products we found, suggesting solid user interest and high confidence in this assessment. The high engagement (35 comments) across these similar products is also promising. However, the challenge lies in monetization, as users of similar apps often resist paying. With numerous competitors in the freemium space, differentiation and creating significant value beyond the basic features will be key to convincing users to upgrade to a paid version.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by deeply understanding your target users: couples. Identify their specific pain points when it comes to meal planning and cooking together. Are they struggling with deciding what to eat, coordinating schedules, or finding recipes that suit both their tastes and dietary needs? User research will be crucial here.
  2. Focus on building a unique value proposition. Given the competition, you'll need to stand out. Consider features like personalized recipe recommendations based on both partners' preferences and available ingredients. The criticism from similar "Tinder for food" apps highlights a need for more than just swiping; think about complete recipes, sharing options, and possibly even local restaurant listings.
  3. Given the user criticisms of slow performance in other cooking apps, prioritize speed and a seamless user experience. Ensure fast image loading, easy navigation, and a bug-free experience across different devices.
  4. Think about collaborative features beyond just recipe selection. Implement features that allow couples to easily coordinate grocery shopping, divide cooking tasks, and track ingredients they already have at home, drawing inspiration from apps like Gnocchi.club.
  5. Explore potential premium features that address specific user needs and are worth paying for. This could include advanced dietary filters, integration with grocery delivery services (like Instacart, as seen in Dinnerfy), or personalized coaching and meal planning support.
  6. Consider a tiered pricing model. Offer a free version with basic features, a premium version for couples with advanced needs, and potentially a team or family plan for larger households.
  7. Based on feedback from similar apps, make sure to have very inclusive and up-to-date family role options.
  8. Actively gather user feedback and iterate on your app based on their needs. Pay close attention to user reviews and comments in the app stores and social media channels.

Questions

  1. What specific, unique value can your app offer to couples that existing meal planning apps don't, and how can you communicate this value effectively?
  2. How will you prevent your app from becoming another 'shallow' experience, and ensure it remains engaging and useful for couples in the long term?
  3. What partnerships (e.g., with grocery stores, food bloggers, or cooking influencers) could you leverage to increase the app's visibility and attract new users?

Your are here

Your idea for a cooking app designed to help couples decide what to eat and coordinate dinner preparation falls into the 'Freemium' category. This means there's a good chance people will enjoy using your app, as evidenced by the 14 similar products we found, suggesting solid user interest and high confidence in this assessment. The high engagement (35 comments) across these similar products is also promising. However, the challenge lies in monetization, as users of similar apps often resist paying. With numerous competitors in the freemium space, differentiation and creating significant value beyond the basic features will be key to convincing users to upgrade to a paid version.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by deeply understanding your target users: couples. Identify their specific pain points when it comes to meal planning and cooking together. Are they struggling with deciding what to eat, coordinating schedules, or finding recipes that suit both their tastes and dietary needs? User research will be crucial here.
  2. Focus on building a unique value proposition. Given the competition, you'll need to stand out. Consider features like personalized recipe recommendations based on both partners' preferences and available ingredients. The criticism from similar "Tinder for food" apps highlights a need for more than just swiping; think about complete recipes, sharing options, and possibly even local restaurant listings.
  3. Given the user criticisms of slow performance in other cooking apps, prioritize speed and a seamless user experience. Ensure fast image loading, easy navigation, and a bug-free experience across different devices.
  4. Think about collaborative features beyond just recipe selection. Implement features that allow couples to easily coordinate grocery shopping, divide cooking tasks, and track ingredients they already have at home, drawing inspiration from apps like Gnocchi.club.
  5. Explore potential premium features that address specific user needs and are worth paying for. This could include advanced dietary filters, integration with grocery delivery services (like Instacart, as seen in Dinnerfy), or personalized coaching and meal planning support.
  6. Consider a tiered pricing model. Offer a free version with basic features, a premium version for couples with advanced needs, and potentially a team or family plan for larger households.
  7. Based on feedback from similar apps, make sure to have very inclusive and up-to-date family role options.
  8. Actively gather user feedback and iterate on your app based on their needs. Pay close attention to user reviews and comments in the app stores and social media channels.

Questions

  1. What specific, unique value can your app offer to couples that existing meal planning apps don't, and how can you communicate this value effectively?
  2. How will you prevent your app from becoming another 'shallow' experience, and ensure it remains engaging and useful for couples in the long term?
  3. What partnerships (e.g., with grocery stores, food bloggers, or cooking influencers) could you leverage to increase the app's visibility and attract new users?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 14
  • Engagement: High
    • Average number of comments: 35
  • Net use signal: 0.8%
    • Positive use signal: 13.7%
    • Negative use signal: 12.8%
  • Net buy signal: -11.9%
    • Positive buy signal: 1.2%
    • Negative buy signal: 13.1%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

Tinder, but to decide what to eat

03 Nov 2024 Dating

Hello HN,My girlfriend and I waste too much energy to decide what to eat. Every day, we would text each other, "what do we eat tonight" messages, and go over options and many times spend too much time on deciding. I am an indie dev and created this app to solve my own problem: decide with my girlfriend what to eat for dinner.Initially, I created a simple app, in which we listed all the recipes we ever prepared, and it would propose randomly three of them. We would then choose together one of them. This app[0] turned into a tinder-like app, which would propose every day a set of recipes to my girlfriend and me - we would swipe and go for the first match.If have some time, give it a try and feedback is very appreciated!Cheers, Kiru[0] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meal-planner-dinner-ideas/id64...

The Show HN product has been criticized for limited added value, high cost, and a lack of features such as complete recipes, sharing options, and restaurant listings. Users find the subscription model unjustified and prefer a one-time purchase. The app is seen as basic, with a shallow experience that doesn't justify the price. There are concerns about the effectiveness of the algorithm, the practicality of the swipe feature, and the app's appeal to different demographics. Additionally, there are technical issues like crashes and a lack of cross-platform availability.


Avatar
266
227
-17.6%
-21.6%
227
266
5.3%
2.2%
Relevance

Dinners App - Tinder for recipes

28 Jun 2024 iOS Cooking Food & Drink

Dinners App answers the question "What's for dinner?" You & your family vote on recipes. When everyone likes a recipe, it’s a match! Think Tinder, but for your recipes. And more delicious.

The Dinners App launch on Product Hunt received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users frequently congratulating the team and praising the app's innovative approach to solving the daily 'what's for dinner?' dilemma. The Tinder-like swiping mechanism for recipe selection was highlighted as fun and engaging, making meal planning collaborative and enjoyable for families. Users appreciated the app's potential to reduce dinner planning stress and cater to picky eaters, with some suggesting filters for dietary needs and grocery integration. Some users reported image loading and collaboration errors.

Users criticize the slow image loading (over 10 seconds) and report an error blocking collaboration invites. They request features such as recipes based on available ingredients, more dietary filters, and grocery list integration. A key usability issue is the inability to delete accidentally added food items, hindering user experience.


Avatar
305
58
39.7%
58
305
41.4%
Relevance

Dinder - Find someone to make dinner with tonight

Swipe through meal suggestions for tonight. When someone else picks the same meal, you’ll match and can start shopping/cooking. Chat to share cooking tips & notes. Afterwards, vote to make it again next week.

Dinder's launch is met with positive feedback, users find the name clever and the core idea appealing. Several users express interest in the product and its potential for improving food compatibility. Suggestions include a marketing plan for user acquisition, a dinner party feature, and its utility for large city residents. One user will use Dinder at night and another will suggest it to their sister. A conference call feature is also proposed for a more intimate experience.

Users expressed concerns about the product's marketing strategy, suggesting a need for a more robust plan to attract users. Some also pointed out that interacting with the app while cooking might present practical challenges.


Avatar
91
11
18.2%
11
91
18.2%
Relevance

Gnocchi.club - Organize and collaborate on your weekly cooking

Gnocchi is a cooking app that focuses on what matters and keeps everyone on the same page. Make your weekly list, collect your favorite recipes, and track your pantry. It's local-first and free forever. Upgrade for sync, collaboration, and more!

Users express support for the developer, Forrest, and praise the app for meal planning and grocery shopping, particularly when used with a partner. There is a question regarding the app's recipe scraping process when saving recipes. Appreciation is also shown for the app's icon.


Avatar
74
5
20.0%
5
74
20.0%
Relevance

I made an app to make meal planning easy

My free to use app lets you schedule your favorite recipes with a few clicks

Users appreciate the product as a perfect digital version of a fridge whiteboard. There is interest in a mobile app version, and the comments include laughter and agreement, indicating a positive reception.

Users reported a 500 error without description and slow verification emails. Additionally, there is no mobile app available.


Avatar
9
3
33.3%
3
9
33.3%
Relevance

Kitchen Savvy App - Mealtime bliss is just a click away.

Kitchen Savvy is an AI-powered app that makes meal planning and cooking simple and enjoyable with personalized recipe suggestions based on your tastes, dietary needs, and schedule.

Kitchen Savvy's Product Hunt launch is receiving positive feedback, with users praising its personalized recipes and AI-driven meal planning as a 'game-changer' for simplifying meal planning and catering to dietary needs. Users are interested in future features like grocery list integration, inventory tracking to reduce waste, and improvements to app speed. Some ask about preference learning over time and potential SEO benefits from generated data.

Users suggest adding a smart, automatically updating grocery list feature to enhance the app's utility. Addressing knowledge gaps through clearly defined roles and goals is also crucial. Additionally, a significant concern is the app's slow performance, which needs immediate attention to improve user experience.


Avatar
122
12
41.7%
12
122
41.7%
Relevance

Dinnerfy - Put dinner on autopilot: automated dinner & grocery ordering

Dinnerfy is an AI app for automated meal planning & grocery shopping. Add dietary preferences for weekly menus & recipe suggestions by experts. It compiles a grocery list for easy delivery orders, learning your tastes over time for hassle-free cooking.

Dinnerfy's Product Hunt launch garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users praising its innovative AI-driven meal planning, grocery shopping assistance, and seamless Instacart integration. Many congratulated the team and expressed excitement about the time-saving convenience and personalized recipe suggestions. Several users inquired about recipe selection, AI learning capabilities, delivery options outside the US/Canada, and Instacart availability in the UK. Suggestions included ingredient filtering for vegetarian/vegan options and adding Indian cuisine. Users loved the UI and general concept.

Users criticize the platform's vegetarian and vegan filters, along with the need for better Indian cuisine categorization. Many find the "3-step procedure" on the website confusing and suggest simplification. There's concern about the recipe selection process and a perceived lack of AI, leading some to question the plan's effectiveness. The mechanized recipe approach is deemed cumbersome. Users also point out the outdated and non-inclusive family role options. Finally, there's a question regarding Instacart's limited availability outside the US/Canada and a recommendation to expand to other grocery platforms.


Avatar
373
91
18.7%
91
373
18.7%
Relevance

I built a random meal plan generator to help my wife

27 May 2024 Health & Fitness

Hi HN!I built this tool for my wife to save her the headache of meal planning. She finds it helpful and I think you might too.Please check it out and let me know your thoughts.Thanks!

Users appreciate the idea and the plan overview with meal ingredients. However, they note the absence of an automatic API-transfer to the shopping provider as a drawback.

The product lacks an automatic API-transfer feature, which is a significant drawback for users.


Avatar
5
3
-33.3%
-33.3%
3
5
Relevance

Collaborative recipe manager for iOS, built with SwiftUI and Firebase

25 May 2023 Productivity

I initially created Umami for my family. We'd been using a giant google sheet of recipes that my wife made (one recipe per tab plus a table of contents at the front), but the UX of that left much to be desired, especially on mobile.We also tried a bunch of other recipe apps like Paprika, Whisk, Mela, etc., but most of them don't let you create a shared collection of recipes without using the same login credentials, which we didn't want to share with extended family members.Anyways, I've steadily been working on Umami as a solo side project for about 3 years. At first, just my family and a few friends were using it, but now it's starting to get downloaded by other people. I'd love to get feedback here on what kinds of features would be helpful to y'all. Also happy to answer any questions about the tech stack. Thanks friends!


Avatar
6
6
Relevance

savori - Social cooking app designed with food waste in mind

15 May 2023 Android iOS Home

savori is a social cooking app with emphasis on reducing food waste. In your shared household you manage everything around food: recipes, meal plan and ingredients. In the social part of the app you share what you cook and see what others have been cooking.

Savori is praised as a great tool for reducing food waste through smart recipe search and shared features, making it easier to use leftovers. Users congratulate the team, especially @otim, on the launch of this free service and commend the positive environmental impact. Some are curious about inventory update functionalities, while others highlight the tool's excellent text quality.

Users expressed concerns about unanswered questions regarding ingredient substitutions and dietary restrictions. There were also queries about the app's manual inventory update process, with users finding the process unclear. Finally, one user inquired about the product's monetization plans.


Avatar
129
8
37.5%
8
129
37.5%
Relevance

I made a mealplan generator that will choose meals for you to cook

21 May 2024 Cooking

Hi HN,PlatePickers started as a tool I was building for my wife, because planning meals for the week was her least favorite thing to do.At its core, the service it provides is very simple:- You can choose the number of days to generate a meal plan for - The algorithm will then select the required amount of random meals - You can then swap out any you don't fancy - Once you're happy with the meal plan email it to your inbox - You'll receive an email with links to each recipe and a list of ingredients to go shopping forAfter seeing how helpful she found it and discussing with others, I realised that this could be helpful for other people too.Please check it out!

Meal planning tool with customizable meal plans and recipes.


Avatar
2
1
100.0%
1
2
100.0%
Top