Meal planning apps streamline the process of organizing weekly meals, generating grocery lists, and accommodating dietary preferences. Here are some of the best options based on recent reviews and features, tailored to various needs:
Paprika
Best for Recipe Organization : Ideal for those who want to save and organize recipes from the web or manually input family favorites. It offers flexibility with a free version (up to 50 recipes) and a recipe clipper for easy web imports. You can create custom categories (e.g., “30 Minutes or Less”) and generate grocery lists from your meal plan. No preset recipes, so it suits cooks who prefer building their own plans.
Cost : Free version; paid upgrade for more features (one-time fee, varies by platform).
Platforms : iOS, Android, web, desktop.
Mealime
Best for Quick Meals : Great for busy individuals, offering recipes that take 30 minutes or less. It curates personalized meal plans based on dietary preferences (keto, vegan, paleo, etc.) and allergies, with an auto-generated grocery list that integrates with Instacart or Amazon Fresh. The free version is robust, but the Pro version adds more recipes and nutrition tracking.
Cost: Free : Pro at $2.99/month or $79.99/year.
Platforms : iOS, Android.
Eat This Much Premium
Best Overall for Customization : Perfect for goal-oriented eaters (weight loss, muscle gain). It generates meal plans based on calorie and macro goals, with a comprehensive recipe library and grocery list integration with Instacart. The web version is more robust for editing than the mobile app. Excellent customer support.
Cost : Free basic version; Premium at $15/month or $60/year.
Platforms : iOS, Android, web.
PlateJoy
Best for Weight Loss : Nutritionist-designed plans tailored to specific dietary needs (e.g., low FODMAP, diabetic). Syncs with Fitbit for calorie tracking and integrates with grocery delivery services. You can add personal recipes manually. Some health insurance providers may cover the cost.
Cost : $69/6 months or $99/year.
Platforms : iOS, Android.
Whisk
Best Budget Pick : Completely free, offering customizable recipes, shopping lists, and how-to tutorials. You can import recipes from anywhere and send grocery lists to delivery services. Ideal for cost-conscious users who want flexibility.
Cost : Free.
Platforms : iOS, Android, web.
Plan to Eat
Best for Family Planning : Combines recipe storage, meal planning, and grocery list generation. Automatically populates shopping lists from recipes, which can be refined for household needs. No preset recipes, but you can import or manually add your own.
Cost : $5.95/month or $49/year (14-day free trial).
Platforms : iOS, Android, web.
LaLa Lunchbox
Best for Families with Kids : Designed to involve children in meal planning with a fun interface. Kids can choose fruits, vegetables, proteins, and snacks, with parental oversight. Great for teaching kids about healthy eating.
Cost : Free.
Platforms : iOS.
Key Considerations
Dietary Needs : Most apps (Mealime, PlateJoy, Eat This Much) support specific diets like keto, vegan, or gluten-free.
Ease of Use : Apps like Mealime and Whisk are user-friendly for beginners, while Paprika and Plan to Eat require more setup but offer greater control.
Cost : Free options (Whisk, LaLa Lunchbox) are great for budget-conscious users, while premium apps like Eat This Much and PlateJoy offer advanced features.
Grocery Integration : Many apps integrate with Instacart or Amazon Fresh, saving time on shopping.
Recipe Importing : Paprika, Whisk, and Plan to Eat excel at importing recipes from websites, reducing manual entry.
Recommendation
- For **busy cooks**, try **Mealime** for quick recipes and grocery lists.
- For **customization**, **Eat This Much Premium** is ideal for tailored nutrition goals.
- For **budget-conscious** users, **Whisk** offers robust features for free.
- For **families**, **Plan to Eat** or **LaLa Lunchbox** simplifies planning for multiple people.
