6
I kept tweaking my recipes and losing changes — so I built a free web app to version and collaborate on recipes
r/indiehackers
7/10/2025
Content Summary
A college student developed BranchBite, a free recipe management web app that solves version control and collaboration issues in recipe development. Key features include recipe branching, AI nutrition estimates, grocery list builder, and collaboration tools. The creator seeks feedback from the indiehackers community.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions praise the app's version control approach and AI features. Users appreciate collaboration capabilities and grocery list functionality. Controversy exists around nutrition estimation methods - some question image-based analysis (as in Cal AI) versus ingredient-based calculations. Debate centers on technical feasibility and accuracy of different approaches. Multiple users expressed interest in fitness integration and sharing features.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BranchBite | https://www.branchbite.com/ | Recipe Management | Version control, collaboration, AI nutrition estimates, grocery list builder, recipe import, folders, unit converter, recipe scaler, search/sort, ratings |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Losing recipe versions when tweaking
- Existing tools lack version control and collaboration
- Difficulty tracking recipe changes
Problems to Solve:
- Version control for recipes
- Collaborative recipe development
- Organizing and managing multiple recipe variations
Potential Solutions:
- Branching/remixing system for recipes
- Shared workspace for collaboration
- Visual version tracking interface
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Solving specific niche problem (recipe versioning)
- Offering free tier to attract users
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Community engagement in indiehackers subreddit
- Direct user feedback collection via Google Forms
Monetization & Product:
- Premium features behind sign-in (potential freemium model)
- Focus on AI-powered features as differentiators
User Engagement:
- Shareable grocery lists and recipes
- Public remixing/rating system
- Social features for collaborative cooking