Zip Recipes alternatives
Zip Recipes has a long history, but on the day we checked its vendor site had an expired security certificate, its pricing page returned a database error, and a notice said the plugin had been acquired and was being moved. Its last update was in June 2026. We would not start a new site on it, and we suggest existing users plan a move.
Why people look for an alternative
- The vendor site's security certificate expired in September 2026.
- The pricing page returned a database error when we checked.
- It was last tested with an older WordPress version than every other plugin here.
- It has the smallest install base in this comparison, about 1,000.
The alternatives
- Best overall for food blogs
WP Recipe Maker
The safest destination. It ships a free importer for Zip Recipes and has the largest user base.
Active installs: 50,000+ · 4.96 / 5 (355 ratings) · From $49 / year
WP Recipe Maker review → - Best free nutrition calculation
Create
Free importer for Zip Recipes, plus free nutrition calculation.
Active installs: 6,000+ · 4.32 / 5 (25 ratings) · From $150 / year
Create review → - Simplest paid plans
Tasty Recipes
Its free Lite edition imports from Zip Recipes.
Active installs: 2,000+ · 5.0 / 5 (2 ratings) · From $49 / year
Tasty Recipes review → - Best free option for a recipe directory
Plugixa Recipe
An option if you are rebuilding as a recipe directory. Its Zip Recipes importer is in Pro.
Active installs: Fewer than 10 · No ratings yet · From €39 / year
Plugixa Recipe review →
Moving your recipes
WP Recipe Maker, Create and Tasty Recipes all list Zip Recipes among their import sources, and Plugixa Recipe has a Zip Recipes importer in Pro. Take a full backup first, run the import on a staging copy, and keep Zip Recipes installed but inactive until you have checked the results.
The picks side by side
Scroll sideways to see more plugins, or untick some above.
| Feature | WP Recipe Maker | Create | Tasty Recipes | Plugixa Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured data | ||||
| Recipe schema (JSON-LD)Outputs Recipe structured data as JSON-LD, the format Google recommends for recipe rich results. | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree | YesFreeRecipe JSON-LD with breadcrumbs on recipe pages and an ItemList on listings. It can be switched off site-wide or per recipe. |
| Guided Recipes markupMarks each step so the recipe is eligible for step-by-step guidance on smart displays and Google Assistant. | YesFree | Not checked | YesFree | YesFreeSteps are marked as HowToStep, and named step groups as HowToSection. |
| Editors and placement | ||||
| Block editor (Gutenberg)Has its own block for adding a recipe in the WordPress block editor. | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree | YesFreeA Recipe block that embeds one existing recipe, and a block for recipe listings. Recipes are written in the plugin's own editor. |
| Classic EditorRecipes can be added to posts from the Classic Editor. | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree | PartialFreeThrough the shortcode. There is no editor button. |
| ElementorHas its own Elementor widget. | YesFree | Not checked | YesFree | YesFreeA widget that embeds one recipe and a widget for recipe listings. |
| ShortcodeA shortcode displays a recipe or a recipe listing anywhere shortcodes run. | YesFree | YesFree | Not checked | YesFree |
| Recipe card inside a postA full recipe card can be placed inside a normal blog post, under your own writing. | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree | YesFreeEmbeds an existing recipe in a post; the recipe's own page then names the post as canonical. |
| Standalone recipe pagesEach recipe gets its own page and URL, separate from blog posts. | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | YesFree |
| Design | ||||
| Templates and layoutsHow many recipe designs come with the plugin. | Template Editor with unlimited custom templates (free); extra templates in Premium | 5 card styles free; 2 more in Pro | 3 templates free; 11 on paid plans | 4 listing layouts, all free; 1 recipe page template, plus print and round-up views |
| Template editorA visual tool for changing the structure of a recipe template, beyond colours. | YesFree | PartialPaid: Create ProCustom CSS only, in the paid plan. | PartialFreeA template styler for colours and options, not a structural editor. | PartialFreeA visual editor for listing designs (columns, colours, type, spacing). The single recipe page has one template, changed only by a theme template override. |
| Ingredients | ||||
| Ingredient groupsIngredients can be split under headings such as "For the sauce". | YesFree | Not checked | Not checked | YesFree |
| Adjustable servingsReaders change the number of servings and the quantities recalculate. | YesPaid: Premium | YesPaid: Create Pro | YesPaid: Basic | YesFree |
| Unit conversionReaders switch between US and metric units on the recipe. | YesPaid: Pro | YesPaid: Create Pro | YesPaid: Basic | YesFreeConverts the volume and weight units in the site's units table, which ships with the common ones. Other lines stay as written. |
| Ingredient linksIngredients can link out, for example to an affiliate product. | YesPaid: Premium | Not checked | YesFreeLinks are added by hand. Automatic linking needs the separate Tasty Links plugin. | YesFreeA link per ingredient, entered by hand and marked nofollow. There is no global link manager. |
| Equipment listA section listing the tools a recipe needs, shown to readers. | YesPaid: PremiumEquipment links are confirmed in Premium. Whether a plain equipment list is free was not checked. | Not checked | PartialPaid: All AccessNeeds Tasty Links, included in the All Access plan. | YesFree |
| Instructions | ||||
| Step photosA photo or video can be attached to an individual step. | YesFree | Not checked | Not checked | YesFreeA photo and a video per step in the editor; the public form takes a photo per step. |
| TimersTimes in the instructions become timers the reader can start. | YesPaid: Premium | YesPaid: Create ProPart of Interactive Mode. | Not checked | YesFree |
| Nutrition | ||||
| Nutrition labelNutrition values are entered by hand and shown as a nutrition facts label. | YesPaid: Premium | YesFree | YesPaid: Basic | YesFree |
| Automatic nutrition calculationNutrition values are calculated from the ingredient list using a food database. | YesPaid: ProUses the Spoonacular API. | YesFreeUses API Ninjas, relayed through the vendor's service. | PartialPaid: NutrifoxThrough Nutrifox, a separate paid service from the same company. | YesFreeCalculated from USDA FoodData Central with your own free API key. It is off by default, and you confirm each ingredient match and weight. |
| Reader tools | ||||
| Star ratingsReaders can rate a recipe out of five stars. | YesFreeRatings through comments are free. Rating inside the card needs Premium. | YesFree | YesFreeStar ratings are taken from comments. | YesFreeIts own review system with moderation, optional photos and helpful votes. It does not use WordPress comments. |
| Print viewA print button opens a clean, printable version of the recipe. | YesFree | Not checked | YesFree | YesFree |
| Jump to recipeA button at the top of a post scrolls straight to the recipe card. | YesFree | Not checked | YesFree | YesFreeOn posts that embed a recipe, with a print button next to it. Recipe pages do not need it. |
| Cook modeA switch keeps the reader's screen awake while cooking. | YesPaid: Premium | YesPaid: Create ProInteractive Mode, a hands-free view with checklists. | YesPaid: Basic | YesFree |
| Saved recipesReaders can save recipes and find them again later. | YesPaid: Premium | Not checked | PartialPaid: BasicReaders can email a recipe to themselves or save through Grow or Slickstream. There is no built-in saved list. | YesFreeLogged-in users save recipes and see them on a "saved recipes" account page. |
| Meal planner and shopping listReaders build a meal plan or shopping list from recipes on the site. | YesPaid: Elite | Not checked | Not checked | PartialFreeVisitors have a shopping list, kept in the browser or in their account. Meal plans are made by site editors in the admin. |
| Building a recipe site | ||||
| Recipe index and searchListing pages where visitors browse, filter and search all recipes. | PartialFreeRecipe search is free. A browsable index needs the separate WP Ultimate Post Grid plugin. | PartialFreeA List card type for round-ups. A searchable recipe index was not confirmed. | Not checked | YesFree |
| Visitor-submitted recipesVisitors send in recipes through a form on the site, for you to moderate. | YesPaid: Elite | Not checked | Not checked | YesFree |
| WPML or Polylang supportDeclares compatibility with a multilingual plugin so recipes can be translated. | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | YesFreeWPML and Polylang support, with translatable categories and cuisines and a language per recipe. |
| Migration and extras | ||||
| ImportersWhich other recipe plugins it can import recipes from. | 20+ plugins, including Tasty Recipes, Create, WP Delicious, Recipe Card Blocks, Cooked and Zip Recipes | 11 plugins, including WP Recipe Maker, Tasty Recipes and Zip Recipes | 11 sources, including WP Recipe Maker, Create and Zip Recipes | WP Recipe Maker, Tasty Recipes, Create, WP Delicious, Cooked, Zip Recipes and Recipe Card Blocks, plus CSV and JSON (Pro) |
| AI recipe draftingGenerates a recipe draft with an AI model. | Not checked | Not checked | NoNo AI drafting. The plugin offers a setting to block AI scrapers. | YesPaid: ProDrafts from a topic, a URL or an uploaded document, with your own OpenAI or Gemini key. |
- Yes: The plugin does this.
- Partial: It does part of this; the note says what is missing.
- No: The plugin does not do this.
- Not checked: We could not confirm it from the vendor's own pages, so we do not claim either way.