Customer Reviews (500)

TimmJM • 2025-03-16T18:40:55-07:00

I have been using this Ap to store a ton of recipes. The main features I appreciate are 1: Being able to add my own food category, 2: Being able to either type in a recipe or use my camera to take pictures of recipes I find on line or in magazines. 3. Searching for recipes by name or ingredient. 4. I can easily print out a recipe. 5. I can easily send a recipe to anyone. 6. Seeing a small picture of the recipe next to the name of the recipe, while searching. …… I do not anticipate ever needing another Recipe Saver AP

Saggi-Pisces • 2025-03-13T18:22:31-07:00

Freezes often( app hangs when searched for recipes. Shows the recipe but never opens it up. Just keeps spinning for ever. Restarting the phone or app again doesn’t help either.

J792 • 2025-02-26T05:58:44-07:00

Disappointed with this app, it’s a basic photo organizer. Not updated for 3 years now. The interface is Dated, clunky, does not work properly in landscape mode on an iPhone. No autofocus when taking pictures of recipes.

Summary of Key Insights

The Recipe Gallery app is generally well-received, with a strong positive sentiment indicated by the overwhelmingly positive 5-star reviews. Users appreciate its ease of use, versatility in importing recipes from various sources (photos, web, manual entry), and organizational capabilities. However, there are recurring pain points related to performance issues (slow loading, freezing), occasional data loss, and limitations in syncing and sharing. The lack of advanced features like meal planning and grocery list generation are also noted as areas for potential improvement. The OCR feature, while present, is not seen as a primary strength, with many users opting for image-based storage.

Key Strengths: Ease of use, versatile recipe import methods, organizational features, ability to add notes and photos, iCloud sync. Key Weaknesses: Performance issues (slow loading, freezing), occasional data loss, syncing problems, limited advanced features (meal planning, grocery lists), limited OCR functionality. Overall Sentiment: Positive. Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: High (estimated around 4.7 - 4.8 based on the score distribution)
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 81.6% (408/500)
    • 4-star: 7.6% (38/500)
    • 3-star: 3.2% (16/500)
    • 2-star: 2.8% (14/500)
    • 1-star: 4.8% (24/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

Data Sample Size: 500 reviews. Time Frame: The reviews span several years, with many reviews mentioning long-term usage (years). Analysis Methods:

  • Sentiment Analysis: Manual assessment of review sentiment (positive, negative, neutral).
  • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently used words and phrases to pinpoint key themes and issues.
  • Thematic Analysis: Grouping reviews based on common topics (e.g., ease of use, performance, features).

Key User Pain Points

  • Performance Issues (Slow Loading/Freezing): Many users report that the app frequently freezes or takes a long time to load recipes, especially with a large number of recipes stored. This significantly impacts usability and is a major source of frustration.
  • Data Loss: A significant number of users have experienced data loss (recipes disappearing), which undermines trust in the app and creates anxiety about relying on it.
  • Syncing Problems: Some users have difficulty syncing recipes between devices, particularly after updates or when switching devices.
  • Limited Web Capture: The "capture from web" feature doesn't always work as expected, often capturing ads and requiring multiple screenshots, which can be cumbersome.
  • Category Sort Limitations: Some users find the category sorting feature too simplistic, making it difficult to filter recipes based on multiple categories (e.g., vegetarian AND dinner).

Frequently Requested Features

  • Meal Planning: Users frequently request a meal planning feature that would allow them to plan meals for the week and generate a shopping list.
  • Grocery List Generation: A related feature request is the ability to automatically generate a grocery list based on selected recipes.
  • Android Version: Many users would like an Android version of the app so they can share recipes with friends and family who use Android devices.
  • Improved Sharing Options: Users want the ability to share their entire recipe library or multiple recipes at once, rather than sharing recipes individually.
  • Better Category Management: Users want to be able to edit and organize categories more easily, and create sub-categories.
  • PC/Web Version: Some users would like to access their recipes on a PC or via a web interface.
  • Ability to Add Notes: Some users desire a dedicated notes field to add information about the recipe, such as alterations, nutritional information, or when it was last served.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: The app is generally praised for being user-friendly and intuitive, with a minimal learning curve.
  • Versatile Import Methods: Users appreciate the ability to add recipes from various sources, including photos, web pages, and manual entry.
  • Organizational Capabilities: The app's categorization features and search functionality are highly valued for keeping recipes organized and easily accessible.
  • Ability to Add Notes and Photos: The option to add notes and photos to recipes is seen as a valuable feature for personalizing and enhancing the recipe collection.
  • iCloud Sync: iCloud sync is appreciated for keeping recipes synchronized across multiple devices.
  • Responsive Developer: Several reviews mention the developer's responsiveness to questions and issues.
  • Offline Access: Recipes are accessible even without an internet connection.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Performance Issues: Investigate and resolve the slow loading and freezing issues that are negatively impacting user experience. This is critical for maintaining user satisfaction.
  • Improve Data Reliability: Implement robust backup and recovery mechanisms to prevent data loss and reassure users that their recipes are safe.
  • Enhance Syncing: Fix syncing issues between devices to ensure a seamless experience across all devices.

Medium Priority:

  • Improve Web Capture Functionality: Refine the web capture feature to better extract recipe information and avoid capturing ads. Consider allowing users to manually select the recipe content to capture.
  • Expand Sharing Options: Add the ability to share entire recipe libraries or multiple recipes at once.
  • Add Meal Planning and Grocery List Features: Implement meal planning and grocery list generation features to enhance the app's utility and appeal.
  • Enhance Category Management: Allow users to create subcategories and reorder categories more easily.

Low Priority:

  • Develop Android Version: Explore the feasibility of developing an Android version to expand the app's reach.
  • Develop PC/Web Version: Explore the feasibility of developing a PC/Web version for users who prefer to manage their recipes on a larger screen.
  • Improve OCR Functionality: While not a primary concern, improving the OCR feature could enhance searchability for image-based recipes.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Recipe Suggestion Engine: Integrate an AI engine that suggests recipes based on available ingredients or dietary restrictions.
  • Smart Grocery List Integration: Partner with grocery delivery services to allow users to order ingredients directly from the app.
  • Interactive Cooking Mode: Develop an interactive cooking mode with step-by-step instructions, timers, and voice control.
  • Recipe Community Platform: Create a platform for users to share their recipes, tips, and photos with other Recipe Gallery users.

Trends and Observations

  • Long-Term Users: Many users have been using the app for several years, indicating strong loyalty and satisfaction with its core functionality.
  • Emphasis on Simplicity: Users consistently value the app's simplicity and ease of use, suggesting that any new features should be implemented without compromising the app's core design principles.
  • Value for Preserving Family Recipes: The ability to preserve handwritten family recipes is a particularly valued feature.
  • Recurring Bug Reports: While the overall sentiment is positive, recurring reports of bugs and performance issues suggest a need for more rigorous testing and quality assurance.

Conclusion

Recipe Gallery is a well-regarded app that effectively addresses the need for a simple and versatile recipe organizer. However, addressing the identified pain points related to performance, data reliability, and syncing is crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and preventing churn. Implementing the frequently requested features, such as meal planning and grocery list generation, could significantly enhance the app's value proposition and attract new users. Overall, the app has a solid foundation and significant potential for continued growth and success.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/recipe-gallery/id634675138?uo=2