Hey fellow builders, ever burned through a stack of almonds just tweaking one UI detail? I'm Hanks, a workflow tester and automation builder who’s spent the last three years obsessing over system efficiency.

Last week, I spent three hours helping someone figure out why their Macaron almonds disappeared so fast. Turns out, they were treating modifications like they were free. As someone who has been testing Macaron for one year. burning through the free tier twice—I realized the plan you pick matters way less than understanding the hidden mechanics of the 'almond' economy.

Current Plans Overview

Macaron offers three tiers, but here's the thing—they're not really about features. Every plan gets the same core functionality: custom mini-app creation, deep memory, task automation, privacy controls, the whole package. What changes is just your monthly almond budget and a few convenience limits.

That's actually kind of refreshing. No "unlock premium features" nonsense. Just different usage caps.

Free Plan

The free tier gives you 60 almonds total—not per month, just 60 lifetime. That's it.

What that actually means:

• 6 custom mini-app creations (10 almonds each)
• Or 30 community app downloads (2 almonds each)
• Or some mix, like 3 creations + 15 downloads

I burned through my first 60 in about two weeks because I didn't realize modifications cost the same as creating from scratch. Made a calorie tracker, tweaked it four times trying to get the UI right—boom, 50 almonds gone.

The free plan is perfect for testing whether you actually like how Macaron works. But if you're someone who iterates a lot (like me), you'll hit zero pretty quickly.

Voice interaction is unlimited on free, which surprised me. No pinned projects though, so everything lives in your recent chats.

Pro Monthly

Monthly billing maps to two paid tiers: Classic and Sweet.

Classic Monthly: $59.99/month

• 60 almonds refill every 30 days
• 1 pinned project
• 500 voice minutes/month

That's basically the same almond count as the free tier, except now you get it back each month. Good for 3-6 app creations depending on how much you modify.

Sweet Monthly: $78.99/month

• 350 almonds/month (5.8x more than Classic)
• 4 pinned projects
• Unlimited voice

I tested Classic monthly for about six weeks before I realized the math was brutal compared to annual. More on that in a second.

Here's the catch with monthly: it's marked up like crazy. If you're planning to use Macaron for more than a month or two, the annual plans are just objectively better value.

Pro Yearly

Same two tiers, way better pricing.

Classic Yearly: $167.88/year (works out to $13.99/month)

• Same 60 almonds/month
• Same 1 pinned project
• Same 500 voice minutes

Sweet Yearly: $227.88/year ($18.99/month equivalent)

• Same 350 almonds/month
• Same 4 pinned projects
• Same unlimited voice

The annual plans are billed upfront, but you can cancel anytime and keep whatever almonds you haven't used. I switched from Classic monthly to Sweet yearly after realizing I was basically lighting $500+ on fire compared to just paying annually.

What Each Plan Includes

Every plan—free, Classic, Sweet—gets access to the exact same feature set. I've tested this across all three tiers and there's zero functional difference beyond usage limits.

Feature Matrix

Here's what's actually identical across all plans:

That deep memory system? Works the same on free as it does on Sweet. Same AI model, same privacy (end-to-end encryption), same integrations. The privacy documentation confirms all user data stays encrypted regardless of tier.

The only real differences:

• How many almonds you get refilled
• Voice minute caps (Classic only)
• Number of pinned projects

That's it. No hidden premium features, no "unlock advanced AI" upsells.

Usage Limits

The almond system took me a while to internalize. Here's how it actually works in practice:

Creating or modifying a mini-app: 10 almonds Downloading someone else's app from the community: 2 almonds

Modifications cost the same as creating from scratch. That caught me off guard initially. If you build a habit tracker and then realize you want to add a streak counter, that's another 10 almonds—not 2 or 5, the full 10.

Let's run some real numbers:

Free tier (60 almonds lifetime):

• 5 app creations + 3 modifications + 4 community downloads = 88 almonds
• You'd run out before finishing that workflow

I actually tracked my first two weeks on free:

• Day 1: Created fitness tracker (10)
• Day 3: Modified tracker UI (10)
• Day 5: Created meal planner (10)
• Day 7: Downloaded budgeting template (2)
• Day 9: Modified meal planner (10)
• Day 11: Created reading log (10)
• Day 13: Downloaded workout template (2)
• Day 14: Modified reading log (10)

Total: 64 almonds. Free tier exhausted in two weeks.

Classic (60/month):

• Same usage pattern = running out mid-month
• Works if you're creating 3-6 apps with minimal modifications

Sweet (350/month):

• 35 full creations, or 175 downloads, or some mix
• I've never hit this cap, even when building 10+ apps in a month

Voice limits only matter on Classic. I tested the 500 minutes and it's roughly 16-17 minutes per day. Enough for daily check-ins but tight if you're doing long planning sessions. Free and Sweet both give unlimited voice, which honestly makes Classic feel like the awkward middle tier.

One thing the documentation doesn't emphasize enough: almonds never expire. They just don't refill unless you're on a paid plan. So if you have 23 almonds left on Classic and cancel your subscription, those 23 stick around forever.

Monthly vs Yearly Math

Okay, this is where the pricing gets either really smart or really expensive depending on what you pick.

Cost Breakdown

Let's just put the actual numbers on the table:

Free: $0 total

• But limited to roughly 6 creations lifetime before you're done

Classic:

• Monthly: $59.99/month → $719.88/year
• Yearly: $167.88/year ($13.99/month equivalent)
• Cost per almond (annual): ~$0.233

Sweet:

• Monthly: $78.99/month → $947.88/year
• Yearly: $227.88/year ($18.99/month equivalent)
• Cost per almond (annual): ~$0.054

I sat down with a calculator after my first Classic monthly bill and realized the annual pricing is about 4x cheaper for the same thing. That's not a typo—you're paying roughly four times more if you go monthly.

Savings Calculation

Here's what switching actually saves you:

Classic Annual vs Monthly:

• Annual: $167.88/year
• Monthly: $719.88/year
• Savings: $552/year (76% discount)

Sweet Annual vs Monthly:

• Annual: $227.88/year
• Monthly: $947.88/year
• Savings: $720/year (76% discount)

The markup is consistent—monthly billing is basically there for people who only need one or two months. If you're planning to use Macaron for a quarter or longer, annual becomes a no-brainer.

I tested the break-even math:

• Classic monthly costs $60. Classic annual is $168.
• You'd need to stay subscribed for less than 3 months before annual becomes cheaper.

For Sweet it's similar—under 3 months and annual wins.

But here's the more interesting comparison: Classic vs Sweet on annual billing.

• Classic: $167.88/year, 720 almonds total (60/month × 12)
• Sweet: $227.88/year, 4,200 almonds total (350/month × 12)

Sweet costs 36% more but gives you 5.8x more almonds. The per-almond cost drops from $0.233 to $0.054—about 77% cheaper per action.

So if you're using more than 60 almonds/month consistently, Sweet annual is actually the better value even though it costs more upfront.

I switched from Classic to Sweet after month two when I realized I was averaging 90-110 almonds/month. The extra $60/year got me 3,480 more almonds. Paying $0.017 per extra almond when I was already committed to the platform was kind of a steal.

Best Plan by User Type

I've watched enough people pick the wrong tier (myself included) that I can basically predict which plan works for different usage patterns.

Start on free to test. Upgrade when you run out. Track your usage for a month before committing to annual. That's the safe path.

Light Users

Profile: 1-2 creations/month, maybe one modification, occasional community downloads.

Real examples:

• Someone maintaining a single journaling app
• Fitness tracker you built once and barely touch
• Trip planner you use quarterly

Recommended plan: Free tier or Classic Annual

If you're only creating 1-2 apps per month, the free 60 almonds could last you literally years. I know someone still on free after 8 months because they built one meal planning app, modified it once, and just… use it every day without changes.

But if you want the safety net of refills (or need that one pinned project slot), Classic annual at $13.99/month equivalent is totally reasonable. You're paying about $2.33 per app creation, which is cheaper than most alternatives.

Pro tip: Macaron occasionally offers almond rewards through community activities—I've earned 30 extra almonds from surveys without paying anything. Free users can extend their lifetime budget this way.

Daily Users

Profile: 3-8 creations/month, some modifications, regular voice interaction.

Real examples:

• Daily habit trackers with weekly tweaks
• Email automation apps you're still dialing in
• Stock watchlists that need adjustment
• Rotating meal plans

Recommended plan: Classic Annual ($13.99/month equivalent)

This was my usage pattern for the first three months. I'd create 4-5 apps, modify them 2-3 times total, and download maybe one community template per month. That landed me right around 50-70 almonds/month.

Classic's 60 almond refill covered it with a small buffer. The 500 voice minutes worked fine—I averaged 12-14 minutes/day, mostly quick check-ins.

The annual billing saved me $45/month compared to going monthly ($167.88 vs $719.88/year). Over a year that's basically three months free.

If you're consistently hitting 55-65 almonds/month, Classic is your sweet spot. Don't overpay for Sweet unless you're regularly exceeding 70+.

Professional Use

Profile: 10+ creations/month, heavy modification cycles, team usage, lots of voice interaction.

Real examples:

• Building client-facing mini-apps
• Running multiple business workflows (CRM, project tracker, lead scoring)
• Testing/iterating on new app concepts weekly
• Sharing account with teammates (not recommended but people do it)

Recommended plan: Sweet Annual ($18.99/month equivalent)

I shifted into this category around month four when I started building apps for specific workflows: content calendar, competitor tracking, email response templates, client intake forms.

My usage jumped to 90-140 almonds/month. At that volume:

• Classic would've required constant almond top-ups
• Sweet's 350/month gave me room to experiment
• The per-creation cost dropped to $0.54 (vs Classic's $2.33)

The four pinned projects also became critical. I keep my daily workflow apps pinned so they don't get buried in chat history.

Unlimited voice removed the mental overhead of tracking minutes. I use voice for long planning sessions now (20-30 minutes) without watching a timer.

One reality check: if you're sharing a Sweet account across a team, you'll burn through 350 almonds faster than you think. Three people creating 3-4 apps each per month = 90-120 creations = 900-1,200 almonds. You'd hit the cap in about two weeks.

For teams, individual Classic accounts often end up cheaper than one shared Sweet subscription. Do the math on your actual usage before committing.

Hidden Costs to Watch

Macaron's pricing is pretty transparent—no surprise fees or forced upsells. But there are a few mechanics that can catch you off guard if you're not paying attention.

In-App Purchases

Beyond the monthly/annual subscriptions, you can buy almond packs directly:

• Small pack: 100 almonds
• Medium pack: 300 almonds
• Large pack: 1,000 almonds

Pricing varies (check in-app—it's not published publicly), but these are one-time purchases, not subscriptions. Useful if you're on Classic and hit an unusually busy month where you need to create 10+ apps.

I bought a 300-pack once when I was testing a bunch of automation workflows and didn't want to upgrade to Sweet just for one month. Burned through them in about three weeks.

The packs don't expire and stack with your monthly refills. So if you're on Classic (60/month) and buy 300 almonds, you'd have 360 available that month. The purchased ones stick around even if you cancel your plan.

Free users can also buy packs to extend their usage without subscribing. I've talked to people who've stayed on free for months by occasionally buying a 100-pack when they run low.

Add-on Features

There are no formal add-ons or premium modules. Everything you can do in Macaron is already unlocked—the only variable is how many almonds you have.

But here are the hidden consumption patterns most people miss:

1. Modifications cost the same as creations (10 almonds each)

This is the #1 thing that burns through free tier almonds. You think "I'll just tweak this one field" and it's another 10 gone. I've seen people blow through 60 almonds in a weekend iterating on a single app.

If you're the type who likes to refine things, budget for modifications like they're full builds.

2. Community downloads add up (2 almonds each)

Downloading a template feels cheap at 2 almonds, but if you're browsing the Playbook and grabbing 5-6 apps to test, that's 10-12 almonds before you've created anything custom.

I tracked my first month: 8 community downloads = 16 almonds, which was over 25% of my free tier budget.

3. Voice overages don't exist on Classic

Classic caps you at 500 minutes/month, but there's no overage billing. You just get cut off. So if you hit the limit on day 20, you're waiting until the next cycle. No emergency top-up option.

Free and Sweet bypass this entirely with unlimited voice.

4. Sharing accounts drains faster than expected

Some people share a Sweet account across 2-3 users to split the cost. Seems smart until you realize:

• 350 almonds / 3 people = ~117 almonds each
• If everyone creates 6-8 apps = 180-240 almonds/month
• You're constantly hitting the cap and nobody can work

Individual Classic accounts ($13.99/month each) often end up cheaper and more predictable for small teams.

5. No unlimited plan exists

Sweet's 350 almonds/month is the highest standard tier. If you consistently need more, you're buying almond packs every month, which gets expensive fast.

I hit 380 almonds in December testing holiday automation workflows. Had to buy a 100-pack to finish the month. At that volume, you're essentially creating your own custom plan through purchases.

Macaron's billing documentation mentions 7-day refunds on subscriptions, which is decent if you realize a plan isn't working. But refunds don't apply to almond pack purchases—those are final.

FAQ

What exactly are almonds?

Almonds are Macaron's credit system. Every action that creates or modifies something costs almonds:

• Creating a new mini-app: 10 almonds
• Modifying an existing app: 10 almonds
• Downloading a community app: 2 almonds

They don't expire. You just get a refill each month if you're on a paid plan.

Can I get free almonds?

Yes, through in-app activities. I've earned almonds by:

• Completing surveys (usually 10 almonds each)
• Referring users (varies)
• Participating in beta tests (occasionally offered)

These rewards stack with your plan. Free users can extend their lifetime budget indefinitely this way if they're patient.

What's actually different between Classic and Sweet?

Just three things:

1. Almonds per month (60 vs 350)
2. Pinned projects (1 vs 4)
3. Voice minutes (500 vs unlimited)

The app functionality, AI quality, features, privacy, integrations—all identical. You're only paying for higher usage limits.

Is the annual plan really worth it?

If you're using Macaron for more than 2-3 months, yes. The savings are consistent:

• Classic annual saves $552/year vs monthly
• Sweet annual saves $720/year vs monthly

I switched after month two and immediately felt less stressed about cost. The math is just overwhelmingly in favor of annual.

What if I want to upgrade or downgrade?

You can change plans anytime in-app. Upgrades are immediate. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.

Your unused almonds carry over when you upgrade. If you're on Classic with 23 almonds left and upgrade to Sweet, you'd have 373 almonds immediately (23 + 350 refill).

If you cancel entirely, you keep whatever almonds you have left. They just won't refill anymore.

How's the privacy and security?

All plans use the same end-to-end encryption. Your data is owned by you, stored securely, and exportable at any time. Macaron doesn't train on your personal data or sell information.

This is consistent across free, Classic, and Sweet. No privacy upgrades or premium security features.

Are there any hidden fees?

No subscription surprises. What you pay is what's listed:

• Plans auto-renew (annual or monthly depending on what you picked)
• You can cancel anytime—unused almonds persist
• Almond packs are optional one-time purchases

Payment methods include cards, PayPal globally. WeChat Pay and Alipay available in China. Standard stuff.

Which plan gives the best value?

Depends entirely on usage:

• Light/testing: Free or Classic annual
• Daily use: Classic annual ($13.99/month equivalent)
• Heavy/professional: Sweet annual ($18.99/month equivalent)

Sweet annual has the lowest per-action cost ($0.054 per almond vs Classic's $0.233). If you're creating 10+ apps per month, Sweet is objectively cheaper per creation.

But if you're only building 3-4 apps monthly, paying for Sweet's 350 almonds is overkill. Classic covers you with room to spare.

What happens if I run out of almonds mid-month?

You can either:

1. Buy an almond pack (100, 300, or 1000)
2. Upgrade to a higher tier (immediate refill)
3. Wait until next month's refill (paid plans only)

Free users can only buy packs or upgrade—there's no monthly refill.

I've hit zero twice. First time I bought a 100-pack to finish the month. Second time I just upgraded from Classic to Sweet because I realized my usage pattern had changed.

Can I share my account?

Technically possible but not ideal. Macaron doesn't have multi-user features, so:

• Everyone shares one almond pool (drains faster)
• No separate project spaces
• Privacy concerns if sharing deep memory data

For teams, individual accounts are cleaner and often cheaper when you factor in almond consumption across multiple people.

Do almonds expire?

Nope. Almonds stick around forever. If you have 15 left from last month and get a 60-almond refill, you now have 75.

The only exception: free tier almonds don't refill. You get 60 total, use them, and they're gone unless you buy more or earn rewards.

Is there a trial period?

The free tier functions as a trial—60 almonds to test everything before committing. That's enough for 6 full app creations or 30 downloads.