SideChef review
A free-to-start cooking app with imports, meal planning, and guided recipes.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
SideChef is a home-cooking app for people who want recipe discovery, meal planning, grocery lists, and step-by-step cooking guidance in one place. It runs on web, iOS, and Android, and its catalog can be filtered by dietary preferences, ingredients on hand, cuisine, and cook time. Recipes can be imported from a URL or clipboard, then scheduled in a calendar-based plan. This makes it a fit for solo cooks and small households who want help organizing meals as well as following recipes, rather than a specialized tool for professional kitchens.
The free offering includes recipes and meal-planning features, while Premium is listed at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Both Premium options include 800+ exclusive on-demand cooking classes, premium recipes in personalized meal plans, cooking tips and techniques, personalized recommendations, and expert step-by-step guided videos. A seven-day free trial is available. Buyers should weigh the recurring subscription against whether classes and premium content are central to their cooking routine; the free tier may be enough for people focused on core planning and recipe functions.
Guided cooking is a notable strength: steps can use photos, videos, voice commands, and built-in timers, and the app connects with Amazon Alexa, Google Home Hub, Samsung Bixby, and Facebook Portal. It also supports creating and saving custom recipes and adding ingredients to a shoppable grocery cart. Walmart checkout availability is limited to users in the United States. SideChef suits cooks who value guided instruction and connected-device support; cooks seeking only a simple recipe organizer may not need its broader planning and paid-content features.
SideChef pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Import online recipes and filter by ingredients, diet, cuisine, or cook time
- Plan meals in a calendar and add ingredients to grocery lists
- Guided steps include photos, video, voice commands, and built-in timers
- Where it doesn't
- Premium is needed for exclusive classes and premium recipes
- Walmart grocery checkout is limited to users in the United States
- Smart-device integrations may matter less to cooks who prefer manual guidance
SideChef fact sheet, pricing and score →
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