Anova Culinary, the company behind the beloved Anova sous vide devices, has made a significant change: they’re implementing a subscription model for their app. This means that starting August 21, 2024, accessing the Anova app and its features will require a monthly or annual fee.
The new subscription model will cost $2 per month or $10 per year for new customers. Existing customers who have downloaded the Anova app and have an account are grandfathered in and won’t have to pay.
The subscription fee grants access to features such as manual control via the app, allowing users to customize cooking time and temperature. It also provides access to cooking status updates on your phone, a library of cooking guides and recipe discovery, and the ability to save your favorite recipes.
This move comes just a month after Anova announced the discontinuation of remote connectivity for its original Bluetooth and Bluetooth+ models. While these models will still function locally, they will no longer be controllable via the Anova app after September 28, 2025.
Anova has justified the subscription fee by stating that each connected cook incurs costs for them. They aim to use the subscription revenue to maintain and improve the app, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for all users.
This change has sparked debate, with some arguing that the subscription model is a fair way to continue providing app features, while others feel it’s an unnecessary cost. It’s important to note that the Anova sous vide devices will still function locally without the app, using the physical controls.
For those who don’t want to pay the subscription fee, there are always other methods to achieve a sous vide experience, such as using a water bath in your dishwasher. Ultimately, the decision of whether to pay for the app or not rests with the individual consumer.
