Shookd vs Difford's Guide
Updated 2026-04-18
Difford's Guide is widely regarded as the most authoritative English-language cocktail reference, with a database of over 20 000 recipes curated by Simon Difford and team. Its advanced search, ad-free browsing and bar "cabinets" sit behind a Premium paywall (~£1/week). Shookd offers a comparable recipe count, search, filters and personal bar inventory completely free, with Swedish as a first-class language. If you need deep editorial authority in English, Difford's wins; if you need a free bilingual tool, Shookd wins.
| Feature | Shookd | Difford's Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Web | Web |
| Price | Free (all features) | Free tier with ads + Premium (~£1/week, ~£50/year) for advanced search & ad-free |
| Recipe count | 16 000+ | 20 000+ |
| Editorial authority | Community + aggregated + in-house curation | Single authoritative voice (Simon Difford), book since 1990s |
| Languages | Swedish + English | English only |
| Advanced search / filters | Free — search by spirit, taste, occasion, method, difficulty | Behind Premium paywall |
| Bar inventory | Free — with EAN/Systembolaget integration | "Cabinets" — up to 5 on Premium |
| Ads | None | Yes on free tier; none on Premium |
| Own recipes / notes | Community-submitted drinks + drink lists | Up to 300 personal recipes on Premium |
When is Shookd the better fit?
Choose Shookd if you want free unrestricted access to a large recipe database, Swedish-language support, and a Systembolaget-aware bar inventory. No paywall, no ads, no tracking.
When is Difford's Guide the better fit?
Choose Difford's Guide if you want the UK's most authoritative English cocktail reference, deep editorial history on classics and Simon Difford's personal curation. Worth the ~£50/year if cocktails are a serious hobby.
Frequently asked questions
Is Difford's Guide free?▾
There is a free ad-supported tier, but most advanced features (filtered search, personal recipes, ad-free) require Premium membership at roughly £50/year.
Is Shookd as comprehensive as Difford's?▾
Difford's has more recipes (20 000+ vs 16 000+) and deeper editorial history. Shookd matches on search, filters and bar inventory — and beats it on price and Swedish support.
Does Shookd have ads?▾
No. Shookd has no ads and no tracking-based advertising on any page.
About this comparison
Information about Difford's Guide is taken from their public website and app store listing as of 2026-04-18. Features and pricing may have changed. Shookd has no partnership with Difford's Guide. Shookd's numbers (recipe count, ingredients) are updated continuously and may differ from what's shown here.
Source: https://www.diffordsguide.com/
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