The landscape of recipe apps is about to change with the introduction of Apple News+ Food, a new feature that will be available to Apple News+ subscribers. This feature, launching with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April, will enable users to search, discover, save, and cook recipes from various News+ publishing partners in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.

Instead of developing a standalone recipe app that aggregates content from the web, Apple News+ Food will focus exclusively on recipes from Apple News+ publishers. At launch, the service is expected to feature over 30 partners, including renowned brands such as Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, and Serious Eats, offering tens of thousands of recipes.

The new experience allows Apple’s publishing partners to reach a wider audience at a time when Google’s ability to refer direct traffic to their websites is declining. iPhone and iPad users can access the Food section by scrolling down in the Apple News app’s Today feed, where they’ll find a featured recipe, curated stories, and links to the Food+ recipe catalog and their saved recipes.

Select food stories and recipes will also be available to non-Apple News+ subscribers. Users can access the Apple News+ Food subscription service through multiple channels, including the “More food” link from the Food section in the app’s Today tab or the link to “Food” from the Following tab.

In the Food+ section, users will see a featured recipe updated daily, along with an expanded set of recommended stories related to their interests. The personalization improves the more users engage with the app. Other curated sections include links to saved recipes, publisher-specific collections, popular recipes, and themed recipes, such as healthy eating or weeknight dinners.

Users can save recipes directly to the News app for later reference and browse through Apple’s News+ Food recipe catalog using filters like “dinner,” “easy,” “vegetarian,” and more. Recipes are formatted to be clutter-free and easy to read, with key information highlighted and a photo of the dish.

Apple News+ Food includes features such as the ability to tap on an ingredient to see the amount needed, start a timer by tapping on the cooking time, and a dedicated cooking mode that displays the recipe in full screen with larger text. However, it lacks the ability to add personal recipes or import/export recipes from other apps, and users cannot save recipes directly from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Other convenient features include the ability to tap on an ingredient to see the amount needed without scrolling back to the ingredients list and a dedicated cooking mode that keeps the screen on, even if the device is normally set to turn off after a period of inactivity.

The launch of Apple News+ Food puts the tech giant in direct competition with third-party developers who generate revenue through App Store purchases. Apple’s ability to launch new apps without needing a standalone business model gives it an advantage over smaller and indie developers.

Publishers were not compensated additionally for their recipes; instead, the experience is an extension of Apple’s existing relationship with its partners, where Apple generates revenue by selling ads within the publishers’ articles. The new service requires an Apple News+ subscription, which costs $12.99 per month in the U.S., £12.99 in the UK, $16.99 in Canada, and $19.99 in Australia, and includes access to over 400 magazines, newspapers, and digital publishers.

This move by Apple signifies its continued expansion into the mobile app ecosystem, posing competition to third-party developers. The company has recently launched several new apps, including Invites, Passwords, Sports, and Journal, which do not require separate business models to support them. This puts smaller developers at a disadvantage, as they need to rely on revenue from App Store purchases to sustain their businesses.

Unlike independent developers, Apple can launch new apps without needing a business model beyond iPhone sales. This allows the company to offer services like Apple News+ Food, which may not be viable for smaller developers. The service’s limitations, such as the inability to add personal recipes or import/export recipes from other apps, may be addressed in future updates as Apple continues to refine its offerings and compete in the recipe app market.