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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

The Cook vs Cookingdom

The Cook 4.6★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner The Cook
Cookingdom 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65

For a more diverse and less buggy experience, The Cook has a slight edge, despite some complaints about repetition and ads, while Cookingdom struggles with technical issues and restrictive timers.

Full reviews: The Cook · Cookingdom

The Cook offers a fun and engaging cooking simulation with good graphics, though some users desire more variety in recipes and maps. Cookingdom, while praised for its relaxing gameplay and numerous levels, is frequently criticized for bugs, short timers, and an abundance of ads.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: The CookR4R6R10R11
The Cook Users appreciate The Cook's fun gameplay, good graphics, and the ability to cook in different worlds and challenges R11R21. However, a common request is for more food options, maps, and levels to prevent repetitiveness R4R6R17R20. Some also wish for more control over ingredient preparation, like chopping R10.
Cookingdom Cookingdom is praised for having many levels and things to do, with users finding it fun and satisfying . Some users specifically mention learning how to make different things . However, a significant complaint is that many recipes are 'in progress' or that levels are broken R59R65.
Ease of Use and Gameplay edge: The CookR4R7R26R30
The Cook Many users find The Cook easy to play and fun, providing a great way to pass the time R30. Some enjoy the realistic preparation of food R26. However, some levels are described as difficult or impossible R4, and there are complaints about not being able to choose ingredients properly R7 or not having enough time to cut vegetables R35.
Cookingdom Cookingdom is generally considered fun, easy to play, and relaxing . However, a major point of contention is the short time limits, which users find stressful and unrelaxing . Some also find the steps confusing or directions unclear .
Reliability and Performance edge: The CookR21R26R36R39
The Cook The Cook is generally described as not glitchy for many users R21. However, some users report occasional glitches, especially with sweets R26 or random glitches R36. One user experienced their game restarting R39.
Cookingdom Cookingdom suffers from significant reliability issues. Users frequently report bugs, freezing, and glitching during levels, which disrupts progress R54R63R65. Specific levels are noted as broken or unplayable R59R63R65.
Price and Value (IAP/Ads) tieR13R15R18R19
The Cook The Cook is criticized for having too many ads, often appearing after every minute, which ruins the fun R37. Some users suggest an option to remove ads for a small fee R15. There are also serious complaints about IAP, with users stating money was taken but ads remained R13, or that a paid purchase was not worth it and just a 'scam' R18. Some users find the ads manageable or suggest turning off Wi-Fi to avoid them R19R45.
Cookingdom Cookingdom is heavily criticized for an excessive number of ads, with users stating there are 'too many ads' . Some report ads popping up after every recipe or being very long . One user paid $7.99 to remove ads, but the game still glitched and prevented progress R63. Some users find the ads short or manageable .
Support and Updates edge: The CookR4R6R17R20
The Cook Users of The Cook frequently request updates for more content, such as new foods, maps, and levels, to address repetitiveness R4R6R17R20. The game is praised for giving reviews back to users .
Cookingdom Cookingdom users report issues with recipes being 'in progress' and levels being broken, indicating a need for fixes R59R65. One user tried to report a bug but couldn't get it to work . The 'new update' is criticized for making time limits shorter .
Pick The Cook if

you want a cooking game with generally stable performance and a variety of challenges, and you don't mind some repetition or managing ads by turning off Wi-Fi R19R21R30.

Pick Cookingdom if

you are looking for a very relaxing cooking game with many levels and satisfying gameplay, and you are willing to tolerate frequent bugs, short timers, and numerous ads .

Evidence note: Both apps are free with IAP, and both receive significant complaints about ads and in-app purchase value. The negative reviews for both apps are heavily skewed towards these monetization issues and technical problems.

Frequently asked

Are there many ads in The Cook?
Yes, many users report frequent ads in The Cook, sometimes after every minute, which can detract from the experience R37R45. Some suggest turning off Wi-Fi to avoid them R19.
Does Cookingdom have technical issues?
Yes, Cookingdom is frequently criticized for numerous bugs, freezing, and glitching during gameplay, with specific levels often reported as broken or unplayable R54R59R63R65.
Can I remove ads in Cookingdom?
While there is an option to pay for no ads (e.g., $7.99), one user reported that even after paying, the game still glitched and prevented progress, making the purchase frustrating R63.
Do these games offer a variety of recipes?
The Cook users frequently request more food options like pasta, pizza, and curry, as the current selection can become repetitive R4R30R35R43. Cookingdom is praised for teaching how to make different things, but many recipes are reported as 'in progress' or inaccessible .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 100 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] The Cook 2/5 · GB Good but needs an update,: I really like playing this game but it gets repetitive, there are some levels I just can’t do and you don’t get paid very much for an order. Few improvements will be great but overall is ok .👨‍🍳
  2. [R6] The Cook 3/5 · GB It’s fun: It’s fun but please make more food and more maps
  3. [R10] The Cook 1/5 · GB Can’t chop: Can’t chop the food for long enough
  4. [R11] The Cook 5/5 · GB Just get this: Great game, amazing graphics I recommend it highly🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
  5. [R7] The Cook 1/5 · GB Why won’t: It let me choose my ingredients properly
  6. [R26] The Cook 4/5 · GB Sweets..: It’s all great . Except for one thing but I’ll say that later. It’s realistic and fun I love preparing food for people and drinks it’s amazing and I would play it as many times as I can but when someone asks for sweets it always glitches so it.. floats..
  7. [R30] The Cook 4/5 · GB Very fun game 🎉, with room for improvement: Very fun and easy to play, with cute upgrades and extras. Great way to pass the time. However, I was a little bit disappointed at the lack of meal options and ingredients. I think that the addition of curry, pasta, pizza, stir fry and other international dishes would make the game more fun to play. It’s gets gets a bit repetitive after a while. I hope yo
  8. [R21] The Cook 5/5 · GB ⭐️THE BEST COOKING GAME EVERRR⭐️: OMG! This is the best cooking game ever! This game is not glitchy at all for me and I love it! I play this all day everyday because that’s how good it is. You can do cooking challenges, go to different worlds and cook what the people want you to cook! You can get different skins and tableware. I love ❤️ this game so much that I tell my friends this game, I tell my
  9. [R36] The Cook 4/5 · GB Best game ever, but….: This game is amazing I play it all time all day for like everything . But sometimes I’m not saying it’s bad but sometime it just randomly glitches for some reason , but for some other people it may not do that it may for me . Sooo I love this game Thank you Byeee Xxx
  10. [R39] The Cook 4/5 · GB The cook: it is amazing but one day it just restarted my game so then i was at order 1 SO I AM SO ANGRYYY GFREHWHYGRESU
  11. [R13] The Cook 1/5 · GB Rip off: Taken my money and adverts are still on I’m furious this is a scam
  12. [R15] The Cook 3/5 · GB ‘An honest review’: You should make an option for where you can get rid of ads for a least £2.99 or £1.99 so the cooking experience feels more relaxing
  13. [R18] The Cook 1/5 · GB It’s not worth it: It is 20000£ also after you paid, you, wasted your money all it is to do is to give baby, it’s not what you think It is it’s just want you to get it so it can I have money listen, it’s not worth
  14. [R19] The Cook 5/5 · GB Verryyy goooooddddd: It’s soooo good and for the readers who hate the ads turn of ur Wi-Fi and u get no ads try it
  15. [R17] The Cook 5/5 · GB It’s good and I like it but please add new stuff: I love this game but I’ve already gotten to the last place to cook at and every time I complete it I get sent back to the start country which I don’t want I would to be put in a new country to cook
  16. [R20] The Cook 4/5 · GB Ok game: It’s a fun game to play but it’s also a bit boring for me because it’s only one thing that u can play so I rated it 4/5 😑 if they upgraded it it would be better than this but they didn’t do anything about it so I think it’s a bit boring I am ashamed
  17. [R37] The Cook 4/5 · GB Great game but one problem: Fantastic game but the fact that there is way too much adverts after every minute ruins the fun.I do think this is a great game besides the point that there is ads ruining it.Ill give this a 4 star review just taking 1 away for the adverts spoiling the fun but I’m honestly impressed by this game and I think it’s just really wow,I can’t even explain how good it is. Thank
  18. [R45] The Cook 5/5 · GB My experience in The Cook:: -ads, options (I'm okay with) -ads, anyways (quite long in my opinion) -everything has a limit, before it forces a move-on -pops up of ad oppurtunity, which you need to wait for about 3 secs to refuse -if you do make your own recipe a bit, then the characters still judge it as not very good 5 stars=so that you'll probably be able to see this :/ Again, these are just p
  19. [R54] Cookingdom 2/5 · US Really fun game but far too many bugs.: I have been playing this game for almost a year and genuinely enjoy the game so much. It may be one of the best cooking games I’ve played, with all that being said technical issues become more frequently frustrating as you play the game. The game tends to freeze or bug out in the middle of a level, which tends to mess with the progress you’ve made. A lot of
  20. [R59] Cookingdom 3/5 · US Help Please: level 254 is broken & not working.
  21. [R63] Cookingdom 2/5 · US BEWARE: I like this game, but the glitching is horrible. I paid 7.99 for no ads only for the game to get stuck on level 50. I updated and for some reason that specific board is super glitchy and won’t let me proceed. Very frustrating and disappointing
  22. [R65] Cookingdom 3/5 · US Fun but one issue: Hi! I've been playing this game for a month or so. I'm on the level where you make beef Wellington. On phase 4, it gets stuck in the previous phase. Overall pretty fun but pls fix the bug!
  23. [R35] The Cook 4/5 · GB Super good but a few nitpicks: There’s not enough time to cut vegetables and there’s not enough meals to make. Maybe add pasta, curry, cake, pizza, burger etc. Also make it so you can add stuff to popcorn as popcorn is boring to make
  24. [R43] The Cook 4/5 · GB Really great but needs a bigger variety of foods.: I love this game but I really wish it had a bigger variety of foods to cook like pasta, pizza or sushi. Maybe different locations could have different foods. This game is so great overall but I need more foods!

Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store