Anova will start charging a subscription fee for its sous vide companion app

Starting on August 21st, 2024, Anova will be introducing a subscription fee for new users of its sous vide cookers who want to take advantage of additional features available through its mobile companion app, including controlling the appliance remotely.

Similar to the Snoo, a smart bassinet that recently locked previously free features behind a monthly subscription, Anova’s fees — $1.99 per month or $9.99 per year — will only apply to new users who create an account in the app starting on August 21st.

As explained in a blog post shared on the company’s website last week, existing users and those who purchase an Anova cooker before August 21st can still use all of the app’s features for free, but everyone will be required to create an account to do so. Previously, account creation was optional.

All three sous vide cookers currently offered by Anova can be used on their own without the app. The additional functionality the subscription adds “will vary from product to product,” according to the company. Most focus on convenience, including the ability to start a sous vide cook and adjust the temperature remotely, cooking status updates, and access to recipes, including bookmarking and sharing them with others.

Anova CEO Stephen Svajian explained that the subscription was a result of a growing user base. “As our community has grown, so have the demands on our resources. Our community has literally cooked 100s of millions of times with our app. Unfortunately, each connected cook costs us money.” The new fees will be used to “maintain and enhance the app.”

Although many users have shared their displeasure with the decision in the blog post’s comments, Anova is letting consumers choose if they want to pay more for the company’s products, instead of just increasing the price of its hardware, as Digital Trends points out.