Mealime is shutting down on October 21, 2026 — here's what to do
Mealime says personal data will be deleted when it closes, and it offers no export of recipes, plans or lists. Fridge.Menu has no curated recipe database like Mealime's. Instead, it works with recipes you import and offers a pantry, a shopping list and meal planning based on what you have.
What's actually happening to Mealime
Mealime's own site states: "Mealime will shut down on October 21, 2026." (Source: mealime.com; checked September 27, 2026.) Its closing page states: "All personal data will be deleted when the Mealime application is shut down." No export of recipes, plans or lists is offered. Mealime's recipes move to Meals Hub, accessible only through Albertsons-family grocery-store apps. (Source: mealime.com/closing; checked September 27, 2026.) One reviewer described their own difficulty with that option: "It recommends meal hub but I don't have an Albertsons store or affiliate near me." (Source: App Store review, apps.apple.com; checked September 27, 2026.)
What Fridge.Menu is not
Mealime's core feature was its own curated recipe database. Fridge.Menu doesn't have a built-in recipe catalog. Its recipes come from what you import: a link, a photo, text or a video. If you want an app with its own curated recipe database, Fridge.Menu isn't a like-for-like replacement.
Mealime vs. Fridge.Menu, on checkable criteria
| Mealime (until Oct 21, 2026) | Fridge.Menu | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pro tier now free for everyone, per its version notes ("As a farewell thank-you, Pro is now free for everyone") | Free, 10 AI credits included |
| Curated recipe database | Yes — its own, per its listing | No — recipes come from what you import |
| Import your own recipes (link/photo/video) | Yes — its listing states "the ability to import recipes from other sites or add in your own recipes from scratch" | Yes |
| Weekly meal plan | Yes, per its listing | Yes |
| Shopping list from the plan | Yes, per its listing | Yes, fills itself from what's missing at home |
| Pantry / barcode scan / expiry tracking | Not listed on its App Store page (checked September 27, 2026) | Yes |
| Family / household sharing | Not listed on its App Store page (checked September 27, 2026) — one reviewer asked for partner sync the app doesn't offer | Yes — one pantry, list and plan, by QR code or holding two phones together |
| Hands-free cooking mode | Not listed on its App Store page (checked September 27, 2026) | Yes, with Lock Screen timers and voice commands built into the phone |
| AI assistant | Not listed on its App Store page (checked September 27, 2026) | Yes |
| Data export before shutdown | Not offered, per its own closing page | — (new account, nothing to migrate) |
Mealime's own features per its App Store listing, checked September 27, 2026. Fridge.Menu's per its own App Store listing.
What Fridge.Menu does instead
Fridge.Menu offers a pantry with barcode scanning and expiry reminders, a week of meals based on what you have, and a shopping list that fills itself from missing ingredients. It also supports family sharing. Start your recipe collection by importing a link, a photo, text or a video.
How it works
- Import a recipe from a link, a photo, text or a video.
- Use the pantry's barcode scanning and expiry reminders to keep track of what you have.
- Plan a week of meals from what's on hand, with a shopping list that fills itself from missing ingredients.
FAQ
Does Fridge.Menu have Mealime's recipe database?
No. Fridge.Menu has no built-in recipe catalog—its recipes come from what you import. It isn't a like-for-like replacement for Mealime's own recipe database, which its App Store listing (apps.apple.com, checked September 27, 2026) advertises as a meal planner with recipes.
Can I import my Mealime recipes automatically?
Mealime doesn't offer an export of recipes, plans or lists, so there is no export file to transfer into Fridge.Menu. (Source: mealime.com/closing; checked September 27, 2026.) You can build your collection in Fridge.Menu by importing recipe links, photos, text or videos you have available.
Is Fridge.Menu free?
Fridge.Menu includes 10 free AI credits, and no account is required to begin. Check its App Store listing for current pricing details.
When does Mealime actually shut down?
October 21, 2026, according to Mealime's own site.