Comparison
Brewgravity vs Brewfather
Brewfather is well built, runs on every platform, and its integrations with brewing hardware — controllers, hydrometers, automated systems — are far ahead of anything else. Its free tier is a limited preview of a subscription product. Brewgravity covers most of the same ground for brewers without connected equipment, and the free plan has no cap.
Unlimited recipes on the free plan · imports Brewfather BeerXML · nothing to install
The short version
- Brewfather's free tier is capped and the real product is a subscription; Brewgravity's free plan is uncapped.
- Brewfather integrates with brewing hardware — Tilt, iSpindel, controllers, automated systems. Brewgravity does not.
- Both are modern, fast, and work on phones as well as laptops.
- Both handle BeerXML, so trying one does not commit you to it.
Feature by feature
Details of Brewfather were checked in August 2026. Pricing and plan limits change — check their site for the current terms before you decide.
| Brewgravity | Brewfather | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Any browser | Browser plus native iOS and Android apps |
| Free plan | Yes — unlimited recipes and brew sessions | Free tier with caps |
| Cost of the full feature set | Free | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Recipes on the free plan | Unlimited | Capped |
| Hardware integrations (Tilt, iSpindel, controllers) | No | Yes — its biggest advantage |
| Native mobile apps | Browser app | Yes |
| BeerXML import and export | Yes | Yes |
| Works offline on brew day | Yes | Yes |
| Brew day checklist with timers | Yes | Yes |
| Fermentation log with gravity chart | Yes | Yes |
| Ingredient inventory | Yes | Yes |
| Recipe version history | Yes | Limited |
| Water chemistry and mash pH | Yes | Yes |
Where Brewfather is the better choice
No point pretending otherwise.
Hardware integration
If you have a Tilt, an iSpindel, a fermentation controller or an automated brewing system, Brewfather talks to it and Brewgravity does not. For a lot of brewers that single row decides the whole table.
Native mobile apps
Brewfather ships real iOS and Android apps. Brewgravity is a browser app you can install to the home screen, which is close but not the same thing.
A mature, well-run product
It is polished, actively developed and widely trusted. This is a comparison between two good options, not a rescue mission.
Where Brewgravity is the better choice
The free plan is not a preview
Unlimited recipes and brew sessions with no trial clock. If you brew six times a year, paying a subscription to store six recipes is a hard sell.
Faster to get a recipe out of
No save buttons, instant screen changes, and a keyboard command palette. The whole app is built around not making you wait.
Full version history on every recipe
Every edit is kept and diffable, and each brew session records the exact recipe version you brewed.
No lock-in
BeerXML and BeerJSON export on the free plan. Take your recipes wherever you want, whenever you want.
Moving your recipes across
Four steps, and your back catalog comes with you.
- In Brewfather, open the recipe and use the BeerXML export option.
- Create a free Brewgravity account.
- Open Import and drop the files in.
- Set your equipment profile and efficiency so the calculated numbers match what you are used to.
Brewfather and Brewgravity — common questions
Is Brewfather free?
Brewfather has a free tier, but it caps what you can store and the full feature set is a paid subscription. Brewgravity's free plan does not cap recipes or brew sessions.
Does Brewgravity work with a Tilt or iSpindel?
Not today. Fermentation readings are entered by hand. If automatic logging from a hydrometer or controller is central to how you brew, Brewfather is the better tool and we would rather say so.
Can I use both?
Yes, and plenty of people do while they make up their mind. Both read and write BeerXML, so a recipe designed in one opens in the other.
Try it against your own recipes
Import a Brewfather BeerXML file and see how it looks. It takes about a minute and costs nothing.
There will always be a free plan · no credit card · drag in BeerXML or BeerJSON