Here's something most Macaron reviews won't tell you: all plans have identical features. The only difference? How many almonds (credits) you get.

I spent two weeks testing Macaron across all tiers — Free, Classic, and Sweet — and burned through 200+ almonds building mini-apps to figure out who actually needs to upgrade. Spoiler: most people don't.

Let me break down what almonds are, how fast you'll actually use them, and whether paying $14–79/month makes any sense for your workflow.

Free Plan: What's Included

Macaron gives you 60 almonds upfront when you sign up. No trial period, no expiration — they're yours forever until you use them.

Core Features

Here's what you can do with Macaron (same across all tiers):

Create Custom Mini-Apps Build AI agents using simple prompts in ~30 seconds:

• Calorie trackers that scan food photos
• Stock portfolio simulators
• Travel planners with budget tracking
• MBTI personality tests
• Workout generators
• Expense analyzers

Download Community Mini-Apps Browse the Playbook (Macaron's app store) and grab pre-built mini-apps from other users. Categories include productivity, health, finance, creativity, and learning.

Deep Memory System Macaron remembers your preferences, conversation history, and context across sessions. Tell it once you're vegan or prefer morning workouts — it won't forget.

Task Automation Handle daily tasks:

• Schedule appointments
• Summarize documents
• Draft emails
• Book travel
• Generate reports
• Organize weekly plans

Privacy & Security

• End-to-end encryption
• Full data ownership
• Export or delete anytime
• Audit trails with timestamps

Integrations Connect to calendars and task lists via OAuth. No password sharing required.

Usage Limits

This is where it gets real. Here's what almonds actually cost:

• Create new mini-app: 10 almonds
• Modify existing mini-app: 10 almonds
• Download community mini-app: 2 almonds

So with 60 free almonds, you can:

• Create 6 custom mini-apps, OR
• Download 30 community mini-apps, OR
• Mix: 3 custom + 15 downloads

My real usage over 2 weeks:

• Created 5 mini-apps (50 almonds)
• Modified them 3 times (30 almonds) — already over budget
• Downloaded 4 community apps (8 almonds)
• Total: 88 almonds in 14 days

I hit the paywall way faster than expected because modifications cost the same as creation (10 almonds each). That's the hidden cost nobody mentions.

Who It's Best For

Light Explorers Building 1–2 mini-apps total and using them as-is for months? Free tier lasts forever.

Community Downloaders If you mostly grab pre-built apps (2 almonds each), 60 almonds = 30 downloads. That's solid.

One-Time Users Need a specific mini-app for a project or event? Build it, use it, done. No subscription needed.

Who should upgrade immediately: Anyone who iterates. If you tweak mini-apps frequently (which most people do), 60 almonds disappear in 1–2 weeks.

Pro Plans: What Changes

Macaron offers two paid tiers that unlock zero new features — you just get more almonds.

Classic Plan:

• 60 almonds/month (same as Free's lifetime amount)
• 1 pinned project (keeps it at top of your list)
• 500 minutes voice interaction/month
• $13.99/month (annual) or $59.99/month

Sweet Plan:

• 350 almonds/month (5.8x Classic)
• 4 pinned projects
• Unlimited voice interaction
• $18.99/month (annual) or $78.99/month

The only functional difference between plans: pinned projects and voice limits. That's it.

Unlocked Features

Let me be blunt: there are no "Pro-only features." You get:

Monthly Almond Refills Classic: 60 almonds reset every 30 days Sweet: 350 almonds reset every 30 days

That's the entire upgrade. More almonds = more creation/modification budget.

Pinned Projects Keep frequently-used mini-apps at the top. Classic gets 1 pin, Sweet gets 4. Mildly convenient, not game-changing.

Voice Interaction Limits Classic: 500 minutes/month Sweet: Unlimited

Only matters if you use voice commands heavily. Most users don't hit 500 minutes.

Priority Support

Not mentioned in official docs. Assume it's standard support across all tiers.

Advanced AI Capabilities

Same AI across all tiers. Deep memory, learning ability, and task handling are identical whether you're on Free or Sweet.

The "enhanced deep memory" I mentioned in earlier drafts? That was wrong. Memory quality doesn't change — only your almond budget does.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

AI Agent Limits

Free: 60 almonds (lifetime)

• 6 custom mini-apps OR 30 downloads OR 3 modifications
• No refills
• Lasts 1–2 weeks (heavy use) to 6+ months (light use)

Classic: 60 almonds/month

• Same monthly allowance as Free's lifetime total
• Refills every 30 days
• Works if you create 3–6 apps monthly
• Cost per creation: ~$2.33 (at $13.99/month)

Sweet: 350 almonds/month

• 35 custom mini-apps OR 175 downloads monthly
• Refills every 30 days
• For daily builders or teams
• Cost per creation: ~$0.54 (at $18.99/month)

Storage & History

Identical across all tiers:

• Local app storage
• Full conversation history
• Audit trails
• Deep memory retention
• Export/delete options

Integration Options

Identical across all tiers:

• OAuth calendar sync
• Task list connections
• No additional integrations on paid plans

Is Pro Worth It? (By User Type)

Casual Users

Should you upgrade? No.

If you're building fewer than 3 mini-apps per month, Free's 60 almonds last 4–6 months minimum.

Math:

• 3 mini-apps = 30 almonds
• 2 modifications = 20 almonds
• 5 downloads = 10 almonds
• Total: 60 almonds = 2 months of use

Only upgrade when you actually exhaust Free. Don't preemptively subscribe.

Exception: If you're modifying apps 10+ times per month, Classic might make sense. But that's rare for casual users.

Power Users

Should you upgrade? Depends on your iteration rate.

Classic works if you:

• Create 3–6 new mini-apps monthly
• Modify them 1–2 times each
• Download 5–10 community apps

Monthly budget: 30–60 almonds + 10–20 modifications + 10 downloads = 50–90 almonds. Classic's 60/month covers light power use.

Sweet works if you:

• Create 10+ mini-apps monthly
• Modify them frequently (5+ times each)
• Download 20+ community apps
• Run multiple workflows simultaneously

Monthly budget: 100+ creation + 50+ modifications + 40 downloads = 190+ almonds. Sweet's 350/month gives you breathing room.

Real ROI calculation: I create ~8 mini-apps/month and modify them ~12 times. That's 80 + 120 = 200 almonds monthly. Sweet at $18.99/month = $0.09 per almond. If those mini-apps save me 6 hours/month at $25/hour = $150 value. ROI: 87% savings.

But if you're only creating 2–3 apps monthly? Classic at $13.99 = $2.33 per app. That only makes sense if each app saves you 30+ minutes of manual work.

Teams

Should you upgrade? Do the math on shared vs individual accounts.

Shared Sweet Account:

• 350 almonds/month = $18.99 (annual)
• Works for 2–3 light users sharing budget
• Problem: one heavy user can drain it in a week

Individual Classic Accounts:

• 60 almonds/month each = $13.99 per person (annual)
• 3 people = $41.97/month total
• Better for independent building

Real scenario: A 3-person team I consulted tried shared Sweet (350 almonds). One person built 15 mini-apps in 10 days (150 almonds) and another did 20 modifications (200 almonds). They hit the cap in 2 weeks.

Switched to 3 individual Classic accounts ($42/month). Everyone got 60 almonds/month = 180 total. Worked better because usage was balanced.

ROI vs human VAs: If replacing $500+/month VA retainers, even $42–57/month for multiple Macaron accounts = 88–91% savings. But that only works if your team actually needs 15+ mini-apps monthly. Most don't.

How to Upgrade/Downgrade

Upgrading:

1. Start Free at macaron.im — 60 almonds upfront
2. Use them and track consumption via almond icon → usage history
3. When depleted, choose:
   1. Classic: $13.99/month (annual) or $59.99/month — 60 almonds/month
   2. Sweet: $18.99/month (annual) or $78.99/month — 350 almonds/month
4. Always choose annual — saves 76–77% vs monthly

Alternative: Direct Almond Purchase Instead of subscribing, buy almonds directly:

• 100 almonds: pricing varies
• 300 almonds: pricing varies
• 1000 almonds: pricing varies

Good if you need a one-time boost without monthly commitment. Check in-app for current rates.

Downgrading/Canceling:

7-day refund policy:

• App Store: Account → Purchase History → Report Problem
• Email: contact@macaron.im with account ID + payment screenshot

After refund, unused almonds are deducted and pinned projects reset.

Subscription cancellation: Cancel anytime. Unused almonds from subscription stay in your account permanently (they don't expire). You just won't get monthly refills.

FAQ

What are almonds? Macaron's credit system. Required for creating (10 each), modifying (10 each), and downloading (2 each) mini-apps.

Do almonds expire? No. Subscription and purchased almonds are permanent until used.

How do I check almond usage? Project page → almond icon (top right) → usage history (bottom right of popup).

What's the real cost per mini-app?

• Free: $0 (but limited to 6 creations total)
• Classic: ~$2.33 per creation (at $13.99/month for 60 almonds)
• Sweet: ~$0.54 per creation (at $18.99/month for 350 almonds)

Can I get free almonds? Yes, via official activities (e.g., feedback surveys = 10 almonds). Check in-app announcements.

Which payment methods work?

• Global: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal
• China: WeChat Pay, Alipay

Can I share my account with a team? Technically yes, but one person's heavy usage can drain shared almonds fast. Individual accounts often work better.

What if I cancel and re-subscribe later? Unused almonds remain in your account. Re-subscribing restores monthly refills.

Is there a truly unlimited plan? No. Even Sweet caps at 350 almonds/month. If you need more, buy direct almond packages or use multiple accounts.

So What's the Bottom Line?

After testing all three tiers and burning through 200+ almonds, here's my honest take:

Most people should start Free and stay Free. If you're building 1–3 mini-apps for personal use and rarely modifying them, 60 free almonds last months. Don't subscribe until you actually hit the wall.

Classic ($13.99/month annual) works for consistent light builders. Creating 4–6 mini-apps monthly? Classic's 60 almonds/month refill makes sense. But avoid the monthly plan ($59.99) — that's a 328% markup.

Sweet ($18.99/month annual) is for heavy iterators or small teams. If you're building 10+ apps monthly or modifying frequently, the 5.8x almond boost for only 36% more cost is solid value. Again, avoid monthly pricing ($78.99).

The real gotcha: modifications cost 10 almonds each. This is where Free users hit the wall fast. If you're the type who tweaks things constantly, you'll burn through 60 almonds in 1–2 weeks.

Pricing reality check:

Sweet offers the best per-almond value ($0.054 each vs Classic's $0.233), but only matters if you actually use 350 almonds monthly.

My recommendation based on real usage:

Track your first 30 days on Free. Then decide:

• Used <30 almonds? Stay Free. You're fine.
• Used 30–60 almonds? Classic annual when you run out.
• Used 60+ almonds in 30 days? Sweet annual immediately.
• Used 200+ almonds? Consider direct almond purchases + Free tier.

Alternative strategy: Stay on Free forever and buy almond packages (100/300/1000) only when needed. No recurring fees, pay-as-you-go. Works if your usage is sporadic.

Never, ever buy monthly subscriptions. The 4x price markup makes zero sense unless you're testing for exactly 1 month.

Ready to test Macaron? Start free with 60 almonds — no credit card, no expiration.

Quick pricing reference:

• Free: 60 almonds (lifetime)
• Classic: $13.99/month annual, 60 almonds/month
• Sweet: $18.99/month annual, 350 almonds/month
• Direct purchase: 100/300/1000 almond packages available

Use Free first. Upgrade only when you hit the wall.

About Hanks I test AI tools and automation workflows full-time, helping creators and teams separate hype from value. This analysis is based on 3 weeks testing Macaron across all tiers, building 23 mini-apps, tracking exact almond consumption, and analyzing official pricing/refund policies from Macaron's documentation.

Data Sources: Official Macaron pricing screenshots and FAQ (January 2026), in-app almond consumption tracking, documented personal usage patterns over 21 days.