Crouton is charming: a modern, playful recipe app with a clever hands-free cook mode, tidy organisation, and a friendly one-time unlock instead of a forced subscription. On Apple hardware, it's lovely.
But like other iCloud-based apps, Crouton is Apple-only. If you cook off a Windows laptop or an Android phone, it's not an option. Gratin keeps the on-device, no-account experience and runs across all of them.
Gratin vs Crouton, side by side
Based on how each product generally works today. Product names belong to their owners. Visit Crouton ↗
On Apple, Crouton's one-time unlock is the cheaper path, and we won't dress that up. Gratin's fee pays for two things Crouton can't give you: sync that runs across Windows and Android rather than iCloud only, and a relay you can host yourself. The app itself is free; you only pay if you want us to run that sync, at $12 a year or a one-time $39.
See how Gratin is priced, and why →What Crouton gets right, and where it grates
Where Crouton shines
- Elegant, award-winning native design
- Hands-free cook mode plus Shortcuts and Reminders integration
- Affordable one-time unlock, not a mandatory subscription
Where it can frustrate
- Apple devices only, no web, Android, or Windows
- Free tier has a recipe limit; AI import needs the add-on
- Sync is tied to iCloud
Why people move to Gratin
Every platform, not just Apple
Mac, Windows, and mobile. Crouton lives inside the Apple ecosystem; Gratin doesn't ask what devices you own.
No account, sync you control
Both apps skip the mandatory account. Gratin goes further: sync is an encrypted relay you can self-host, not iCloud-only.
Free, with nothing fenced off
Crouton gates unlimited recipes and AI import behind paid tiers. Gratin's app is simply free.
The verdict
Crouton is a great pick for an all-Apple kitchen. Choose Gratin if you want that same easygoing, no-account experience on Windows or Android, for free.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gratin have a hands-free cook mode like Crouton?
Gratin gives you a clean, distraction-free recipe view that's easy to cook from. Crouton's gesture-based cook mode is a standout, so if that specific feature is a must-have, factor it in.
Is Gratin free?
Yes. Unlike Crouton's paid unlock for unlimited recipes, Gratin doesn't cap or gate features. Optional hosted sync is $12/year or a one-time $39, or self-host the relay yourself if you're technical.
Can I use Gratin on Windows or Android?
Yes, and that's the main reason to pick it over Crouton, which is Apple-only.