Anova to Start Charging Subscription Fee for Sous Vide Companion App

From August 21, 2024, Anova will introduce a subscription fee for new users of its sous vide cooking devices who want to take advantage of additional features available via the mobile app, including remote control of the device.

Similar to Snoo, the smart crib that recently pulled the plug on previously free features with 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 on the app starting August 21.

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

All three of Anova’s current sous vide cookers can be used standalone, without an app. The additional functionality added by subscription “will vary by product,” according to the company. Most of it focuses on convenience, including the ability to start a sous vide and adjust the temperature remotely, update cooking status, and access recipes, including bookmarking and sharing them with others.

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

While many users expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision in the comments below the blog post, Anova is allowing consumers to choose whether they want to pay more for the company’s products, rather than simply raising the price of their equipment, as Digital trends emphasizes.