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# How can I purchase CookBook as a gift?

| **Quick answer:** App stores don’t allow gifting app subscriptions directly. You can gift CookBook using an **Apple or Google Play gift card**, or by **setting up a CookBook account in advance and transferring it to the recipient**. There are a couple of important limitations explained below.

# Option 1: Gift with an Apple or Google Play gift card (recommended)

Because subscriptions are managed by Apple and Google, gift cards are the simplest and most flexible option.

### Apple (iOS) 🍏

1. Purchase an **Apple Gift Card** (digital or physical).
2. Give it to the recipient with a note like:  “This is for a CookBook subscription, have fun adding and organizing your recipes!”
3. The recipient redeems the card in the **Apple** **App Store**.
4. Open **CookBook → Side menu → Username → Manage plan** and subscribe using the credit.

*Apple help links:*
* Buy an Apple Gift Card: [https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-giftcard/giftcard](https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-giftcard/giftcard)[](https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-giftcard/giftcard)
* How to redeem an Apple Gift Card: [https://support.apple.com/en-au/118242](https://support.apple.com/en-au/118242)

### Google Play (Android) 🤖

1. Purchase a **Google Play Gift Card**.
2. Give it to the recipient with a note like: “This is for a CookBook subscription, have fun adding and organizing your recipes!”
3. They recipient redeems it in the **Google Play Store.**
4. Open **CookBook → Side menu → Username → Manage plan** and subscribe using the credit.

*Google help links:*
* Buy Google Play gift cards: [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422734](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422734)[](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422734)
* Redeem a Google Play gift card: [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422659](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422659)

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# Option 2: Set up the CookBook account in advance (great for surprises)

This option works well **as long as the recipient does not already have an active CookBook subscription on their App Store or Google Play account**.

1. Create a CookBook account using **your own email address**.
2. Add the recipes you want to gift.
3. (Optional) Purchase a subscription on your device using your Apple ID, Google account, or Stripe.
4. When you’re ready to gift it, go to **Side menu ☰ → Settings → Account settings** and change the email address to the recipient’s email.

This prevents welcome emails from giving away the surprise.

### Important limitation to be aware of ‼️

Apple and Google **do not allow two active subscriptions for the same app on one store account**.

This means:
* If the recipient already has a CookBook subscription on their App Store or Google Play account, you **cannot** purchase another subscription for them using the same store account.
* In this case, the **gift card option** is the safest approach, as it allows them to apply credit toward renewal instead.

### Managing payment and renewal

* If you purchase the subscription yourself, you manage it through **your App Store, Google Play, or Stripe account**.
* If you only want to gift **one year**, cancel auto-renewal after purchase. The subscription remains active until the end of the billing period.
* The recipient can take over the subscription later by subscribing again from their own store account once it expires.