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) 🍏
Purchase an Apple Gift Card (digital or physical).
Give it to the recipient with a note like:
“This is for a CookBook subscription, have fun adding and organizing your recipes!”The recipient redeems the card in the Apple App Store.
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
How to redeem an Apple Gift Card: https://support.apple.com/en-au/118242
Google Play (Android) 🤖
Purchase a Google Play Gift Card.
Give it to the recipient with a note like:
“This is for a CookBook subscription, have fun adding and organizing your recipes!”They recipient redeems it in the Google Play Store.
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
Redeem a Google Play gift card: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3422659
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.
Create a CookBook account using your own email address.
Add the recipes you want to gift.
(Optional) Purchase a subscription on your device using your Apple ID, Google account, or Stripe.
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.