Apple News+ Food: Apple Enters the Recipe App Market

Apple News+ Food: A New Competitor in the Recipe App Market

Developers of recipe applications are now facing increased competition. Apple recently unveiled a forthcoming feature for Apple News+ subscribers, known as Apple News+ Food. This new section will enable users to search for, discover, save, and conveniently prepare recipes sourced from a wide array of News+ publishing partners.

Rollout and Availability

The feature is scheduled for release alongside iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April. However, initial availability will be limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Focus on Existing Publishers

Rather than creating a separate recipe application capable of importing content from various online sources – such as blogs or TikTok videos – Apple News+ Food will exclusively feature recipes provided by Apple News+ publishers.

At its initial launch, Apple intends to collaborate with over 30 publishers, an increase from the 20 currently involved in testing.

Partnering with Renowned Brands

Existing partners encompass well-established brands including Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, Serious Eats, Epicurious, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, Delish, Real Simple, and Country Living, among others. The service will offer tens of thousands of recipes, according to the company.

Benefits for Publishers

This new platform allows Apple’s publishing partners to reach a larger audience, particularly as Google’s capacity to drive direct traffic to their websites diminishes.

Accessing the Food Section

Users of iPhones and iPads will locate a new “Food” section by scrolling down within the Today feed of the Apple News application. This section will showcase a featured recipe, curated by Apple’s editorial team, followed by a selection of food-related articles, a broader recipe collection, and links to the Food+ recipe catalog and saved recipes.

Recipes and select food stories will also be accessible to users who do not have an Apple News+ subscription.

Navigating Apple News+ Food

The Apple News+ Food service can be accessed through multiple pathways.

Users can tap the “More food” link within the Food section of the Today tab, or alternatively, select the “Food” link from the Following tab. The latter option provides a more direct route to recipes, bypassing news articles.

Personalized Recommendations

Within the Food+ section, users will find a daily-updated featured recipe, alongside a curated selection of stories tailored to their interests. This personalization becomes more refined as users interact with the application.

Curated Recipe Collections

Additional curated sections include links to saved recipes, collections from specific publishers, popular recipes, and themed selections – such as healthy eating or quick weeknight meals.

As users explore recipes, they can save them directly within the News app for future use.

Recipe Search and Filtering

For specific searches, users can browse Apple’s News+ Food recipe catalog, utilizing filters like “dinner,” “easy,” “vegetarian,” “under 30 minutes,” and more. Filters are also available for searching saved recipes.

Ad-Free and Readable Format

Recipes are presented in a clutter-free, ad-free format, designed for easy readability – a contrast to many websites today.

Detailed Recipe Information

Key information – including ingredients, steps, descriptions, cooking time, and serving sizes – is prominently displayed, alongside a photo of the dish and a link back to the publisher’s website.

Convenient Features

Additional features enhance the cooking experience. Tapping on an ingredient reveals the quantity needed, eliminating the need to scroll. Tapping the cooking time initiates a timer on the user’s iPhone or iPad.

Dedicated Cooking Mode

A dedicated cooking mode displays the recipe in full screen with larger text, minimizing scrolling and tapping. The screen remains active during this mode, even if the device’s auto-lock is enabled.

Limitations of the Service

Currently, Apple News+ Food does not allow users to add their own recipes or import recipes from external sources or social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Apple’s Expansion into App Ecosystem

The launch of Apple News+ Food signifies Apple’s continued expansion into the mobile app ecosystem, where it competes with third-party developers. Recent additions include apps like Invites, the Passwords app in iOS 18, the Sports app, and the Journal app.

Competitive Advantage

Unlike independent developers, Apple can launch new applications without relying on a business model beyond iPhone sales, creating a disadvantage for smaller developers.

Publisher Compensation

Publishers were not directly compensated for their recipes; instead, the service extends Apple’s existing partnerships, where Apple retains a 30% commission on ad revenue generated within the publishers’ articles.

Subscription Details

Access to Apple News+ Food requires an Apple News+ subscription, priced at $12.99 per month in the U.S., £12.99 in the U.K., $16.99 in Canada, and $19.99 in Australia. This subscription provides access to over 400 magazines, newspapers, and digital publishers.