AnyList vs NYT Cooking
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
AnyList is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.2. AnyList wins on 3 of the 5 scores, NYT Cooking on 2.
Households that shop together and want one shared, always-current list
Cooks who want reliable recipes and don't mind paying for them
Score by score
The details
| Feature | AnyList | NYT Cooking |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Food & Cooking | Food & Cooking |
| Category rank | #2 of 7 | #7 of 7 |
| Developer | Purple Cover | The New York Times Company |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is AnyList better than NYT Cooking?
AnyList is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.2. AnyList wins on 3 of the 5 scores, NYT Cooking on 2.
Which is cheaper, AnyList or NYT Cooking?
AnyList: Free; AnyList Complete is $9.99 a year, or $14.99 a year for a household. NYT Cooking: Free to browse; unlimited recipes need a Cooking or All Access subscription. On value for money, AnyList scores higher.
Do AnyList and NYT Cooking work on the same devices?
Only AnyList runs on Mac.
Which is more private, AnyList or NYT Cooking?
AnyList scores higher on privacy (8.6/10). App Store label: purchases, contact info, contacts, your lists and recipes, identifiers, usage and diagnostics may be linked to you. No tracking. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
AnyList
- Shared lists update live while someone shops
- Categories can match your own store layout
- Complete costs less than $10 a year
- Meal planner and web import need Complete
- Recipe features are simpler than a dedicated recipe app
AnyList is the grocery list couples stop arguing about. Share a list and you watch items get checked off as your partner shops, and the list sorts itself into categories you can rearrange to match your store. Add recipes from websites, drop them on a meal plan, and send every ingredient to the list in one tap. The free version covers shared lists; Complete adds the web and Mac apps, meal planning and photos for a small yearly fee.
Full AnyList review
NYT Cooking
- Every recipe is tested before it's published
- Reader notes add real-world tips
- Clean, appetizing design
- Full access needs a subscription
- Heavy tracking for an app you pay for
NYT Cooking is the recipe source you trust when dinner matters. More than 20,000 recipes, each tested by the Times, come with ratings and reader notes full of practical tips, plus short videos from cooks like Samin Nosrat and Ina Garten. The Recipe Box and grocery list keep plans together. You need a subscription for full access, and the app tracks you more than any other pick here.
Full NYT Cooking review
