Looking for a BeerSmith alternative?
BrewForge covers what you use BeerSmith for, recipe design with water chemistry, mash schedules and brew sheets, and runs in the browser on your PC, phone and tablet with one account. Your iSpindel, Tilt or RAPT Pill logs live on the free plan, and inventory, cellar and tap list are built in.
Choose BrewForge if you…
- want the same recipes and brews on PC, phone and tablet without buying a second app
- want your iSpindel, Tilt, RAPT Pill or GravityMon to log readings live, free
- want to see which ingredients run short across your next brews and get an order list
- manage fermenters, kegs and bottles and want a tap list on a TV or QR menu
- brew with others in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and want a German interface
Stay with BeerSmith if you…
- want a desktop program that works offline on Windows, Mac or Linux
- prefer a one-time purchase over a yearly plan
- brew mead, wine or cider as well as beer
- browse millions of shared recipes on BeerSmithRecipes.com
- rely on two decades of BeerSmith calculations, tutorials and the BeerSmith podcast
BeerSmith has been the reference brewing software for many homebrewers since 2003. BrewForge is built by a homebrewer too. This page tries to be fair to both.
Switching
Bring your recipes along with BeerXML.
- 1Export from BeerSmith
Select the recipes in BeerSmith and export them as a BeerXML (.xml) file. One file can hold many recipes.
- 2Import into BrewForge
Open Brews, click ⋯ next to New Brew, choose Import BeerXML and drop the file.
- 3Check and brew
Each recipe arrives as an idea in your recipe book. BeerSmith's OG, IBU and color are kept as import values until you switch to BrewForge's own calculation.
What comes over
- Fermentables, hops, yeasts and misc ingredients with amounts
- Mash steps, fermentation stages and carbonation
- Style with its ranges
- Equipment values and water profile stored in the recipe
Stays in BeerSmith
- Brew sessions, logs and notes outside the recipe
- Your inventory, and equipment or water profiles not used in a recipe
- BrewForge has no direct .bsmx or backup import yet. BeerXML is the route today.
Where BrewForge goes further
Beyond the recipe file.
Runs in the browser and installs like an app on phone and tablet. No separate mobile purchase, no license activations.
iSpindel, Tilt, RAPT Pill, GravityMon, Hydrom and custom webhooks send readings on their own, on the free plan.
Projected stock across all planned brews, shortages before brew day, order lists with partial deliveries. Pro.
Fermenter and keg stays on a timeline, keg and bottle stock. Pro.
Web menu with QR code, printable menu and a TV screen that updates itself. Pro.
Judge your beers on BJCP score sheets and keep them with the brew. Pro.
Show fermentation on a TRMNL e-ink display let ChatGPT or Claude work with your brews through the MCP server, or build your own tools on the REST API. Pro.
Every brewer picks their language. Units in metric or imperial, gravity in SG or °Plato.
Feature comparison
BrewForge vs BeerSmith, side by side.
| Feature | BrewForge | BeerSmith |
|---|---|---|
| Recipes | ||
| Recipe designer | ||
| Water chemistry with mash pH | ||
| Style guides | BJCP 2021 | Beer, mead, wine, cider |
| Mead, wine and cider recipes | ||
| Public recipe library | Shared on brewer profiles | 2.1M+ recipes |
| BeerXML import and export | ||
| Brew day & fermentation | ||
| Printable brew sheet | With fields to fill in | |
| Brew day timer | Web and mobile app | |
| Live hydrometer logging | Free plan | PartlyTilt data import |
| Any device via webhook | ||
| Stock, cellar & serving | ||
| Ingredient inventory | Shared cloud inventory | |
| Shopping / order list | Pro | |
| Fermenter, keg and bottle tracking | Pro | |
| Tap list menu and TV screen | Pro | |
| Platform & price model | ||
| Desktop program | Runs in the browser | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Web app | All plans | PartlyGold license or higher |
| On your phone | Mobile-optimized website | Separate app purchase |
| Works offline | ||
| One-time purchase | Basic, desktop only | |
| Import from other apps | Brewfather, KBH, BeerXML, MMuM | PartlyBeerXML |
| Use from ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor (MCP server) | Pro | only unofficial community projects |
Prices
What you pay.
BrewForge
- Free
- $0Up to 20 brews, devices, inventory, BeerXML import
- Basic
- $19.99/yearFor brewers who brew regularly.
- Pro
- $29.99/yearRun your home brewery, not just your recipes.
BeerSmith
- Basic
- $34.95 one-timeDesktop only, minor updates, 15 cloud recipes, no web editor
- Gold
- $14.95/yearDesktop + web, all updates, 175 cloud recipes
- Platinum
- $21.95/yearDesktop + web, 400 cloud recipes, 3 computers
- Pro
- $49.95/yearCommercial use, 1,000 cloud recipes, 5 computers
The BeerSmith mobile app is a separate purchase in the app stores.
Prices in USD as published on November 7, 2026. BrewForge is billed yearly; Basic and Pro start with a one-month free trial. BeerSmith yearly licenses are offered with discounts for 2 or 3 years. Full BrewForge plan comparison
FAQ
Questions brewers ask
What is the best BeerSmith alternative?
It depends on what you miss. For a modern web and mobile app with hydrometer integrations, BrewForge and Brewfather are the main options; BrewForge adds free device logging, an inventory planner, a cellar and a tap list. For free desktop software, Kleiner Brauhelfer (German) and Brewtarget are open source. For the biggest online calculator collection, Brewer's Friend.
BeerSmith vs Brewfather: which is better?
BeerSmith is desktop software with deep calculations, offline use, mead and wine support and a one-time Basic license. Brewfather is a cloud app with polished mobile apps, a large community recipe library and 20+ device integrations on Premium (about $29.99/year). BrewForge is a third option: web-based like Brewfather, with device logging on the free plan, Basic at $19.99/year for the same core as Brewfather Premium, and Pro at $29.99/year with an inventory planner, cellar and tap list on top.
Can I import my BeerSmith recipes into BrewForge?
Yes, as BeerXML. Export your recipes from BeerSmith as a .xml file and import it under Brews › Import BeerXML. Ingredients, mash, fermentation stages, style, equipment values and water profile come over. Brew logs, inventory and a full BeerSmith backup (.bsmx) can't be imported yet.
Can I use BrewForge on my phone?
Yes. BrewForge runs in the phone's browser and can be installed to the home screen like an app. It's the same account and data as on your computer, with no separate mobile purchase. There are no native app store apps.
Does BrewForge work offline like BeerSmith?
No. BrewForge is a web app and needs an internet connection. If you brew without internet, BeerSmith's desktop program or Kleiner Brauhelfer is the better fit.
How much does BrewForge cost compared to BeerSmith?
BrewForge is free for up to 20 brews, including hydrometer logging. Basic is $19.99/year for unlimited brews and Pro $29.99/year with inventory planner, cellar, tap list, score sheets and API. BeerSmith 4 costs $34.95 once for the desktop-only Basic license or from $14.95/year (Gold) with the web version, checked November 2026.
Can I brew mead, wine or cider in BrewForge?
BrewForge is built for beer. You can log a cider or mead as a brew, but there are no mead, wine or cider styles or calculations. If those matter to you, BeerSmith covers them.
Is BrewForge affiliated with BeerSmith?
No. BrewForge is an independent product. BeerSmith is a trademark of BeerSmith LLC. Facts about BeerSmith on this page come from beersmith.com and were checked in November 2026.
Try BrewForge next to BeerSmith.
Free for up to 20 brews, no credit card. Import a BeerXML file and see your recipe in BrewForge.