MealPrepPro vs Mealime: Features, Platforms and the Mealime Shutdown

Mealime and MealPrepPro both turn a week of recipes into a grocery list, but they are in very different places right now. Mealime has announced that it will shut down on October 21, 2026, so anyone who relies on it needs a plan for their recipes and habits. This page compares the two apps on platforms, pricing model and features, and explains what to do before the shutdown date.

Disclosure: MealPrepPro is made by J&H Technology LLC, the publisher of this site. We have tried to describe Mealime fairly and only from its own official pages.

Competitor details checked October 2026 from mealime.com (opens in a new tab), mealime.com/closing (opens in a new tab) and the Mealime App Store listing (opens in a new tab).

Is Mealime shutting down?

Yes. Mealime's website and its App Store release notes both state that Mealime will shut down on October 21, 2026. According to Mealime's closing page:

• Paid subscriptions are being wound down, and current Pro subscriptions will not renew. The App Store notes say Pro is now free for everyone until the shutdown.
• "All personal data will be deleted when the Mealime application is shut down."
• Mealime recommends Meals Hub, offered through Albertsons Companies store apps and websites, and says it includes the Mealime recipes plus more. Some preferences and settings have to be set up again there.

If you use Mealime, the date matters more than any feature comparison. Read Mealime's own closing page for the final word on your account.

MealPrepPro vs Mealime at a glance

"Not verified" means we could not confirm the feature on Mealime's official site or App Store listing when we checked.

How do the meal planners compare?

Mealime's pitch has always been speed: pick a plan type, set allergies and dislikes, and plan the whole week in minutes. Its site mentions more than 200 personalization options, and its recipes come with step-by-step instructions and nutrition information.

MealPrepPro uses a weekly grid with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack slots for each day. You tap a slot and add a recipe. With Premium, the smart meal plan generator builds a week for you from these inputs:

1. Choose a nutrition goal and a daily calorie target.
2. Set a variety level and decide whether to include snacks.
3. Turn on budget mode if cost matters this week.
4. Enter household size, with adults and children counted separately.
5. Pick how many leftover dinners (0-3) and leftover lunches (0-4) you want planned.
6. Generate the plan. It weights your recipe ratings, favorites and preferences, then you swap anything you do not want.

The generator is a rules-and-scoring engine working from the recipe library, not a chatbot. The leftover settings are useful if you already cook once and eat twice. Our guide to cook-once, eat-twice leftovers explains how to plan for them.

Grocery lists and shopping

Both apps build a list from your plan and sort it into categories, which is the core time-saver. Mealime also supports delivery through partner retailers.

MealPrepPro groups the list by store category, lets you add custom items, and can scan barcodes using the Open Food Facts database. Premium adds list export and sharing, and in the US it can send unchecked items that have a matching Walmart product to a Walmart cart after checking your pantry; items sent are marked "In Walmart cart" and the rest stay on the list. The app also shows an estimated cost for a plan based on built-in price data for Walmart, Aldi and Meijer. Treat it as a ballpark, since store prices change. For list-building habits that work in any app, see grocery list strategies.

Nutrition information

Mealime lists nutrition information for each recipe. Every MealPrepPro built-in recipe lists calories, protein, carbs and fat per serving, along with prep time, cook time and cooking tips. Premium adds a nutrition dashboard that shows weekly calories and macros against your goals. If you plan around macros, our macro-friendly meal prep guide covers how to set targets. This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about your own needs.

How to move off Mealime before October 21, 2026

Because Mealime says personal data will be deleted at shutdown, do these steps now rather than on the last day:

1. List your go-to meals. Open your recent plans and write down the 10-20 recipes your household actually repeats. Screenshots of ingredient lists work if you are short on time.
2. Note your settings. Record your diet type, allergies, dislikes and serving size so you can recreate them in any new app.
3. Decide on a platform first. If anyone in your household uses Android, pick an app that runs on Android. MealPrepPro is iPhone and iPad only.
4. Rebuild one week. Plan a single week in the new app, shop from its list, and adjust before you rebuild everything.
5. Check Mealime's closing page for anything about your account or subscription.

How MealPrepPro helps former Mealime users

MealPrepPro is free to download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and works without an account, with data saved on the device first and offline use supported. You get 1,000+ built-in recipes with macros per serving, a tap-to-add weekly planner, a shopping list and cook mode. A free account lets you add your own recipes and sync plans to the cloud. Premium adds the smart meal plan generator, 22 dietary filters, the pantry tracker, Walmart ordering and the nutrition dashboard. Dietary filters are recipe tags, not certifications, so check labels yourself. See features or Premium. See the App Store for current pricing.

Choose MealPrepPro if...

• You use an iPhone or iPad and want an app that is still actively available.
• You want macros on every built-in recipe and a weekly macro view.
• You like planning leftovers and want a generator that accounts for household size and budget.
• You shop at Walmart in the US and want to send your list to a cart.
• You want a pantry tracker that suggests recipes based on what you already have.

Choose Mealime (or its recommended successor) if...

• You want to keep using Mealime's recipes. Mealime says Meals Hub from Albertsons Companies includes them.
• You need Android support. Mealime offered an Android app, and MealPrepPro does not run on Android.
• You only need a short-term planner and are fine using Mealime with Pro unlocked until October 21, 2026, knowing your data will be deleted after that.

Frequently asked questions

When does Mealime shut down?

Mealime says it will shut down on October 21, 2026. Its App Store release notes say current Pro subscriptions will not renew. Check mealime.com/closing (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.

Will my Mealime recipes and plans be saved?

Mealime's closing page says all personal data will be deleted when the app shuts down. Save any recipes, plans or settings you care about before that date by writing them down or taking screenshots.

Is MealPrepPro available on Android?

No. MealPrepPro runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 15.1 or later. Android households should choose a cross-platform app.

Is MealPrepPro free?

It is free to download, and the planner, built-in recipes, shopping list and cook mode work without paying. An optional Premium subscription adds the generator, dietary filters, pantry and more. See the App Store for current pricing.

What should I read before rebuilding my meal plan?

Start with how to meal plan for the week and, if you cook ahead, meal prep for beginners. Both are app-agnostic.