Need help? We're here for you.
Contact: support@simplesoapcalc.com
What Simple SoapCalc doesn't do: We don't teach soapmaking techniques, replace safety training, or guarantee results. The app provides calculations—safe handling and testing are always your responsibility.
Yes. All calculations work without internet. Recipes save locally first and sync when you're back online.
By design. Simple SoapCalc focuses on formulation: safe lye calculations, oil blending, and recipe management. Signed-in users can also track additives (fragrances, colorants, clays) by recipe. If you need inventory, costing, or production management, an all-in-one app may be a better fit.
Tap "Sign In" and choose Apple, Google, or email (magic link). No password needed with magic link—just check your inbox for a sign-in link.
No. You can calculate recipes without signing in. An account is only needed to save and import recipes.
Go to Settings (gear icon) and tap "Sign Out" at the bottom of the screen.
Pro removes the limits: unlimited recipes, cloud sync across your devices, and unlimited use of Blend Advisor, Oil Swap, Batch Analyzer, and photo import, plus the full Make Soap workshop. Everything else is free with a free account: custom liquids (goat milk, beer, etc.), additives tracking, master batch lye, citric acid, and adjustable lye purity are all included. Free users get 3 saved recipes, 10 photo imports, 10 Blend Advisor uses, 2 Oil Swap uses, and 3 Batch Analyzer uses.
Tap "Upgrade to Pro" in the app and complete the in-app purchase.
iOS: Go to Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → Simple SoapCalc → Cancel.
Android: Open Google Play Store → tap your profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Simple SoapCalc → Cancel.
Sign in with the same account you used to purchase Pro. Your subscription will sync automatically. If it doesn't appear, go to Settings and tap "Restore Purchases."
Blend Advisor suggests better oil percentages for your recipe. Add 2 or more oils, tap Blend Advisor, and choose a goal (stronger, gentler, more lather, etc.). You'll get 2-3 alternative blends to compare with your current recipe. Free users get 10 uses; Pro users get unlimited.
Tweaker lets you adjust a recipe by hand. Tap + or − on a soap property, like hardness or lather, and the oils rebalance to match. You'll see what else moves, so you can weigh the tradeoff before deciding, and your recipe doesn't change until you apply it. Available to all signed-in users.
Oil Swap lets you substitute one oil for another while keeping your recipe balanced. Select the oil you want to replace, choose a replacement, and Simple SoapCalc recalculates everything automatically. It's useful when you're out of an oil or want to experiment with alternatives.
Batch Analyzer helps you figure out what went wrong with a batch. Select a symptom (soda ash, soft bars, overheating, etc.), answer a few context questions, and Batch Analyzer cross-references your actual recipe to identify the most likely cause — with prevention tips and salvage guidance. Free users get 3 uses; Pro users get unlimited.
Recipe Insights show you what your recipe will do before you make it. You'll see predictions for trace speed, unmold time, gel phase likelihood, and cure length — all based on your specific oil blend. It helps you plan your session and avoid surprises. Available to all signed-in users.
Oil Profiles show you what each oil contributes to your bar — what it adds, what to watch for, and how it works with other oils in your recipe. Tap any oil in your recipe to see its profile. Available to all signed-in users.
Make Soap is a workshop companion for Pro users. It shows your recipe as a step-by-step checklist with batch scaling—check off each ingredient as you weigh it. You can scale your recipe to any batch size and the amounts update automatically. Free users can preview the mode with their recipe but need Pro to use the interactive checklist.
Yes, and we encourage it. Double-checking lye calculations is smart practice, especially with new recipes or unfamiliar oils. Simple SoapCalc is free to use as a quick second opinion.
Different calculators use different SAP (saponification) values for oils. Small differences (1-3%) are normal and safe when using proper superfat levels.
Differences of 1-3% are normal due to SAP value variations. Larger gaps (5%+) usually mean a mismatched oil, incorrect amount, or different SAP source—try a third calculator to confirm. If something still doesn't look right, contact us and we're happy to take a look.
By default, Simple SoapCalc assumes 100% purity for NaOH and 90% for KOH. Since commercial NaOH is typically 97-99% pure, this results in slightly more superfat than specified—a gentler, safer bar. KOH is typically sold at 90% purity, matching our default. Signed-in users can adjust lye purity with sliders (NaOH 90-100%, KOH 80-100%) to match their supplier's label for more precise calculations. Purity is always shown on your results so you know exactly what was used.
Most soapmakers use 5% superfat for bar soap. This provides a safety margin and creates a more moisturizing bar. Experienced soapmakers may adjust this based on preference.
Simple SoapCalc defaults to 2:1 (water to lye), which works well for most recipes and is beginner-friendly. Experienced soapmakers may adjust this based on preference.
Yes. Our SAP values come from established soapmaking references. Using the default 5% superfat provides an additional safety margin, resulting in a gentle, skin-friendly bar.
You can import recipes from photos, screenshots, pasted text, or QR codes. The app uses AI to extract oil names and amounts from images and text. QR codes generated by Simple SoapCalc contain the complete recipe formula and import instantly.
Some recipe formats are harder to parse. Try a clearer photo or manually adjust any oils the import missed. You can always edit the recipe after importing.
Simple SoapCalc imports your oils and percentages, then recalculates lye and water using its own verified SAP values. Since different calculators use slightly different SAP values, the original recipe's lye amounts may not match ours exactly. This is intentional—it ensures you get accurate calculations based on our data rather than inheriting potentially incorrect numbers from another source.
Tap the share icon in the "Your Recipe" section to generate a recipe card. The card includes your oil list, lye and water amounts, settings, and a QR code. Share the card image on social media, print it, or let others scan the QR code to import your exact recipe into their app.
Simple SoapCalc includes 150 soapmaking oils and butters. If your oil isn't listed, try searching by an alternate name (e.g., "EVOO" vs "Olive Oil"). For exotic or specialty oils not in our database, you can substitute a similar oil for calculation purposes, then use your actual oil when making the soap. Contact us if you'd like to request an oil be added.
Simple SoapCalc is available as an app inside ChatGPT. You can describe what you want conversationally—"make me a moisturizing bar with lots of lather"—and get accurate, safe lye calculations without leaving the chat. Same trusted math, different interface. Open Simple SoapCalc in ChatGPT →
"Paste a recipe" gives you a prompt to paste into any AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.), then you import the result into the app. The ChatGPT app is Simple SoapCalc running natively inside ChatGPT—no copying, no importing. Two different workflows, same accurate calculations.
No. Simple SoapCalc works with the free version of ChatGPT.
Yes. If you're signed in with the same account, recipes created in ChatGPT sync to your mobile app automatically.
Use the app when you're making soap—it's fast, tactile, and works offline. Use ChatGPT when you're thinking things through—brainstorming ideas, exploring "what if" changes, or just starting from a blank slate. Same calculations either way.
Yes. Whether you use the mobile app or ChatGPT, Simple SoapCalc uses the same SAP values, the same superfat logic, and the same water calculations. The numbers are identical.
Not the math. ChatGPT proposes the recipe — which oils, what percentages — but the lye, water, and saponification calculations come from the same trusted Simple SoapCalc engine the mobile app uses. The numbers are identical; the formulation is a starting point for you to refine.
Sometimes ChatGPT replies with the recipe details in text instead of automatically showing the visual card. If that happens, just say "show me the recipe" or "view recipe" — Simple SoapCalc will render the card with all the details.
Thousands of people make soap safely at home. Lye requires careful handling—always wear gloves and eye protection when working with it. Simple SoapCalc helps with the math, but safe handling is your responsibility. For detailed guidance, see our Lye Safety Guide.
Email us at support@simplesoapcalc.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
