Plugixa Recipe vs WP Recipe Maker
These two plugins solve different problems. WP Recipe Maker puts a recipe card inside a blog post. Plugixa Recipe stores recipes as their own pages and builds listings, archives and search around them.
WP Recipe Maker is the established choice, with more than 50,000 active installs. Plugixa Recipe is new and has no install base yet.
Both plugins have a checked value for 27 of 30 features, and they differ on 16 of them.
Verdict
For a food blog, choose WP Recipe Maker; it is proven, and its free version covers schema, a card written inside the post and a template editor. Plugixa Recipe fits when you are building a recipe directory or a community recipe section, or want reader tools and nutrition calculation without a paid plan.
Choose Plugixa Recipe if
- Recipes are your site's main content and you want a browsable directory with categories, cuisines and search.
- You want visitors to submit recipes without paying for a top-tier plan.
- You want one paid plan that covers unlimited sites.
- You want cook mode, unit conversion, step timers and nutrition calculation without paying; WP Recipe Maker charges for each.
Choose WP Recipe Maker if
- You want the recipe card written inside each blog post, with a free template editor for the card.
- You want the plugin with the largest install base and a long track record.
- You need a free importer; Plugixa Recipe's importers are in Pro.
At a glance
| Plugixa Recipe | WP Recipe Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Recipe site plugin | Recipe card plugin |
| Active installs | Fewer than 10 | 50,000+ |
| Rating | No ratings yet | 4.96 / 5 (355 ratings) |
| Last updated | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Price | From €39 / year | From $49 / year |
| Lifetime licence | Not listed | Not listed |
| Refunds | 14-day refund for defects only | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Plugixa Recipe | WP Recipe Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Structured data | ||
| Recipe schema (JSON-LD)Outputs Recipe structured data as JSON-LD, the format Google recommends for recipe rich results. | YesFreeRecipe JSON-LD with breadcrumbs on recipe pages and an ItemList on listings. It can be switched off site-wide or per recipe. | YesFree |
| Guided Recipes markupMarks each step so the recipe is eligible for step-by-step guidance on smart displays and Google Assistant. | YesFreeSteps are marked as HowToStep, and named step groups as HowToSection. | YesFree |
| Editors and placement | ||
| Block editor (Gutenberg)Has its own block for adding a recipe in the WordPress block editor. | YesFreeA Recipe block that embeds one existing recipe, and a block for recipe listings. Recipes are written in the plugin's own editor. | YesFree |
| Classic EditorRecipes can be added to posts from the Classic Editor. | PartialFreeThrough the shortcode. There is no editor button. | YesFree |
| ElementorHas its own Elementor widget. | YesFreeA widget that embeds one recipe and a widget for recipe listings. | YesFree |
| ShortcodeA shortcode displays a recipe or a recipe listing anywhere shortcodes run. | YesFree | YesFree |
| Recipe card inside a postA full recipe card can be placed inside a normal blog post, under your own writing. | YesFreeEmbeds an existing recipe in a post; the recipe's own page then names the post as canonical. | YesFree |
| Standalone recipe pagesEach recipe gets its own page and URL, separate from blog posts. | YesFree | Not checked |
| Design | ||
| Templates and layoutsHow many recipe designs come with the plugin. | 4 listing layouts, all free; 1 recipe page template, plus print and round-up views | Template Editor with unlimited custom templates (free); extra templates in Premium |
| Template editorA visual tool for changing the structure of a recipe template, beyond colours. | PartialFreeA visual editor for listing designs (columns, colours, type, spacing). The single recipe page has one template, changed only by a theme template override. | YesFree |
| Ingredients | ||
| Ingredient groupsIngredients can be split under headings such as "For the sauce". | YesFree | YesFree |
| Adjustable servingsReaders change the number of servings and the quantities recalculate. | YesFree | YesPaid: Premium |
| Unit conversionReaders switch between US and metric units on the recipe. | YesFreeConverts the volume and weight units in the site's units table, which ships with the common ones. Other lines stay as written. | YesPaid: Pro |
| Ingredient linksIngredients can link out, for example to an affiliate product. | YesFreeA link per ingredient, entered by hand and marked nofollow. There is no global link manager. | YesPaid: Premium |
| Equipment listA section listing the tools a recipe needs, shown to readers. | YesFree | YesPaid: PremiumEquipment links are confirmed in Premium. Whether a plain equipment list is free was not checked. |
| Instructions | ||
| Step photosA photo or video can be attached to an individual step. | YesFreeA photo and a video per step in the editor; the public form takes a photo per step. | YesFree |
| TimersTimes in the instructions become timers the reader can start. | YesFree | YesPaid: Premium |
| Nutrition | ||
| Nutrition labelNutrition values are entered by hand and shown as a nutrition facts label. | YesFree | YesPaid: Premium |
| Automatic nutrition calculationNutrition values are calculated from the ingredient list using a food database. | YesFreeCalculated from USDA FoodData Central with your own free API key. It is off by default, and you confirm each ingredient match and weight. | YesPaid: ProUses the Spoonacular API. |
| Reader tools | ||
| Star ratingsReaders can rate a recipe out of five stars. | YesFreeIts own review system with moderation, optional photos and helpful votes. It does not use WordPress comments. | YesFreeRatings through comments are free. Rating inside the card needs Premium. |
| Print viewA print button opens a clean, printable version of the recipe. | YesFree | YesFree |
| Jump to recipeA button at the top of a post scrolls straight to the recipe card. | YesFreeOn posts that embed a recipe, with a print button next to it. Recipe pages do not need it. | YesFree |
| Cook modeA switch keeps the reader's screen awake while cooking. | YesFree | YesPaid: Premium |
| Saved recipesReaders can save recipes and find them again later. | YesFreeLogged-in users save recipes and see them on a "saved recipes" account page. | YesPaid: Premium |
| Meal planner and shopping listReaders build a meal plan or shopping list from recipes on the site. | PartialFreeVisitors have a shopping list, kept in the browser or in their account. Meal plans are made by site editors in the admin. | YesPaid: Elite |
| Building a recipe site | ||
| Recipe index and searchListing pages where visitors browse, filter and search all recipes. | YesFree | PartialFreeRecipe search is free. A browsable index needs the separate WP Ultimate Post Grid plugin. |
| Visitor-submitted recipesVisitors send in recipes through a form on the site, for you to moderate. | YesFree | YesPaid: Elite |
| WPML or Polylang supportDeclares compatibility with a multilingual plugin so recipes can be translated. | YesFreeWPML and Polylang support, with translatable categories and cuisines and a language per recipe. | Not checked |
| Migration and extras | ||
| ImportersWhich other recipe plugins it can import recipes from. | WP Recipe Maker, Tasty Recipes, Create, WP Delicious, Cooked, Zip Recipes and Recipe Card Blocks, plus CSV and JSON (Pro) | 20+ plugins, including Tasty Recipes, Create, WP Delicious, Recipe Card Blocks, Cooked and Zip Recipes |
| AI recipe draftingGenerates a recipe draft with an AI model. | YesPaid: ProDrafts from a topic, a URL or an uploaded document, with your own OpenAI or Gemini key. | Not checked |
- 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.