Soapmaking Friend is a soap formulation and inventory management app for hobbyists and professionals on iOS and Android.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
It replaces manual saponification spreadsheets with an integrated tool that tracks ingredient costs and curing batches, removing the cognitive load of complex chemistry calculations.
For Hobbyist and professional soap makers who require precise recipe formulation and business-grade inventory management.
What does it look like?
Key features
Calculates saponification values for liquid or solid soap recipes with adjustable water, lye concentration, and superfat levels.
Manages ingredient stock levels, supplier details, and purchase history to track production costs.
Tracks curing time, techniques, and temperatures for specific production batches with automated cost breakdowns.
How much does it cost?
The freemium model uses strict usage caps on recipes and batches to convert hobbyists into paying subscribers.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceUX improvementsShow more...
The app currently operates on a maintenance cadence, with only one release shipped in the last 123 days. Development is limited to minor performance improvements and bug fixes, with no evidence of new features or live operations. The current release frequency of approximately one update every four months suggests a focus on stability rather than active feature expansion.
Who built it?
Brewer's Friend
4 apps tracked · Lifestyle
Brewer's Friend
Inventry - Collection Tracker
Soapmaking Friend – Soap CalcUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Fresh user feedback skews mixed. Users appreciate the soap calculator provides essential formulation tools that simplify complex chemistry for hobbyist soap makers and community recipe sharing features allow users to discover new inspiration and expand their soap making knowledge, but report frequent application crashes and instability during recipe editing frustrate users who have paid for premium access.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- The soap calculator provides essential formulation tools that simplify complex chemistry for hobbyist soap makers
- Community recipe sharing features allow users to discover new inspiration and expand their soap making knowledge
- Frequent application crashes and instability during recipe editing frustrate users who have paid for premium access
52 of 52 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Mixed overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Soapmaking Friend – Soap Calc
How's the Lifestyle market?
Soapmaking Friend serves a specialized niche in the Lifestyle category, maintaining a 4.68 rating on iOS and 4.31 on Android. The lack of recent major feature updates suggests a maintenance-focused position that relies on core utility rather than rapid expansion.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Soapmaking Friend – Soap Calc
Where is it heading?
The soap-making utility market is consolidating around tools that offer high-precision formulation and reliable offline access. Soapmaking Friend remains exposed due to its maintenance-mode cadence and stability issues, which will likely lead to churn if competitors prioritize offline-first workflows.
- Persistent application crashes during recipe editing erode user trust, which directly threatens the conversion rate of the premium subscription tier.
- Mandatory online connectivity requirements prevent access to recipes in workshop environments, driving negative sentiment and requests for an offline mode.
The SWOT
- Integrated saponification calculator simplifies complex chemistry for hobbyist formulation.
- Community recipe database increases session frequency via inspiration loops.
- Offline-first architecture would differentiate the platform from cloud-dependent rivals in workshop environments.
- Improved mold volume scaling accuracy would reduce material waste complaints.
Next best moves
Ship offline mode for saved recipes because it is the top-requested missing feature → reduce churn among workshop-based users.
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The reliance on a cloud-based architecture for a…
Read the full takeBottom line
Addressing the stability issues and offline access limitations is essential to retaining the professional segment. If Soapmaking Friend fails to provide a reliable, workshop-ready tool, users will migrate to more stable, specialized calculators, eroding the current subscription base.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Soapmaking Friend suitable for professional soap makers?
Does Soapmaking Friend work without an internet connection?
What happens if I don't pay for the premium subscription?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
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