Ever feel like you're getting nickel-and-dimed by apps? I get it. That’s why, about 18 months ago, we made a big change to Cook’n—one that gave non-subscribers a new way to access premium features without paying a dime.

Before that, people who didn’t have a membership were blocked by a paywall. But now, instead of being denied access, they can watch a short ad and continue using the feature.

To me, that’s a win-win. Most people would probably prefer watching a 30-second ad over being completely locked out, right?


Apparently… not everyone agrees.

The 1-Star Review That Got Me Thinking

I recently saw a 1-star review that stopped me in my tracks. The reviewer said he was tired of seeing ads and frustrated that not all features were free. Then he added this gem:

“…videos of the owner’s family ski vacations in the Alps or Aspen, or wherever it was. Funding other people’s family holidays has never been enough for me to buy a membership to a website…”

At first, I was confused. Ski vacations? In the Alps?! Then it hit me—he must have been referring to my recent newsletter article: Surf, Sun, and Spam? You’ll Never Guess What We Couldn’t Stop Eating in Hawaii!

That comment made me pause and wonder: do other people feel this way too?

Cook’n Is Worth Supporting

My worldview is a bit different. Take Apple, for example. They’ve been the most profitable company in the world. But I don’t resent them—I love their products. I’ve invested in their platform and use their tools every day. I want them to succeed, because if they went away tomorrow, I’d lose a lot of precious photos, memories, and data.

Similarly, Cook’n is more than just an app. It’s the best recipe organizer out there—hands down. We’ve earned the trust of our users for over 33 years. If Cook’n disappeared tomorrow, it would be a big loss for many people who have spent hundreds of hours saving their favorite recipes and building their digital cookbooks.

We’re not a faceless corporation. We’re a small team working hard every day to make Cook’n better. In fact, we’ve never raised our prices—even though just about everything else in life has doubled or tripled in cost. Maybe we should… but we haven’t.

Many people use Cook'n every day to make delicious meals, simplify meal preparation, and to save time and money at the grocery store. If we went out of business tomorrow, it would be to all of our detriment! So, I say: GO COOK'N!!

Why I’m All-In on Cook’n

If I were in this for the money, I’d run things differently. I could cut some of the Cook’n Elves, reduce support, slow down development, and pocket a nice profit. I’ve run the numbers. I could pay off some debt and finally breathe easy.

But I don’t.

Instead, I keep investing back into Cook’n—because I believe in what we’re building. I believe it helps families, saves time, simplifies meal prep, and brings joy to the kitchen. In fact, I've bet the farm on it!



Truth is… I’m just like that 1-star reviewer. Tight on funds. Frustrated when I have to spend money. But I keep betting on Cook’n. Again and again.

The Truth About That Hawaii Trip

So, about that “Alps” vacation…

We didn’t go skiing. We went surfing! And, we weren't in the Alps. I went to Hawaii with my family—and the entire trip cost me nothing out-of-pocket.

• Flights: Covered with credit card reward points
• Lodging: Paid for by my sweet 85-year-old mom, who insisted
• Food: Costco run. Same cost as home.

We would’ve spent that money on groceries anyway. And the trip just happened to fall on my birthday, making it even more special.

I shared it in a newsletter not to brag, but because I was genuinely grateful and wanted to share some joy with the Cook’n family. That’s all.

Let’s Keep This Going—Together

I’m sorry if that newsletter article gave the wrong impression. And I genuinely hope things improve financially for everyone—including the reviewer. These are tough times.

But here's the deal: Cook’n has stood the test of time. Not because we’re perfect—but because people like you believe in what we’re doing. We’re building something that matters.

So thank you—for your support, your loyalty, and your recipes.

Let’s keep it going.

GO COOK’N!!