Mealime Is Shutting Down on October 21. Here's the Best Alternative.
Mealime closes on October 21, 2026, according to its own App Store release notes. Until then Pro is free for everyone, and Mealime is pointing users to Meals Hub inside Albertsons' grocery apps. If you want a recipe app that isn't tied to one grocery chain, and that starts from what's already in your fridge, try Custrd.
Why Mealime users are switching to Custrd
- Snap your fridge, get dinner. Point the camera at what you have; Custrd finds the ingredients and shows real recipes you can make right now, ranked by how much of your fridge they use.
- Your diet carries over. 15+ filters (keto, vegan, gluten-free and more), the same kind of preferences you set in Mealime.
- Real recipes, not AI slop. 400,000+ recipes searchable by ingredient, with ingredients and macros on every result and full steps on Custrd's own recipes.
- Missing one thing? Send it, or a recipe's whole shopping list, to Instacart (how it works).
- iPhone and Android. Or use the free web recipe finder with no signup.
Mealime vs. Custrd at a glance
| Mealime | Custrd | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Shuts down Oct 21, 2026 | Active |
| Starts from | A weekly meal plan | What's in your fridge |
| Photo-scan your fridge | No | Yes |
| Diet filters | Yes | Yes, 15+ |
| Steps and nutrition | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly plan generator | Yes | No, it's built for tonight |
| Shopping list | Yes | Missing ingredients to Instacart |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android | iPhone, Android, web |
| Price | Pro free until shutdown | 7-day free trial, then $39.99/yr |
Honest take: if you plan every meal on Sunday and follow the plan, a weekly planner suits you better. If your plans fall apart by Wednesday, Custrd is the better fit. The full comparison is at Custrd vs. Mealime.
Switch in two minutes
- Copy any Mealime recipes you love before October 21.
- Download Custrd on iPhone or Android and set your diet.
- Snap your fridge and pick tonight's dinner.
Writing a Mealime alternatives roundup? Screenshots, facts and a quote are on our press page.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mealime really shutting down?
- Yes. Mealime's own App Store release notes say it is shutting down on October 21, 2026, that Pro is free for everyone until then, and that existing Pro subscriptions stop renewing. Mealime is owned by Albertsons and points its users to Meals Hub, the recipe feature inside Albertsons' grocery apps.
- What is the best Mealime alternative?
- It depends on how you cook. If you plan the whole week on Sunday, look for a dedicated meal planner. If your week rarely goes to plan and you cook from whatever is in the fridge, Custrd is built for that: photograph your fridge, and it shows real recipes you can make right now, filtered to your diet, with ingredients and macros on every result.
- Is Custrd free?
- The web recipe finder at custrd.com is free with no signup. The Custrd app for iPhone and Android has a 7-day free trial, then $39.99 a year, cancel anytime.
- Can I keep my Mealime recipes?
- Mealime's shutdown notice doesn't describe an export, so copy or screenshot any recipes you want to keep before October 21. You can then save the ones you cook in Custrd.
Try Custrd free for 7 days on iPhone — scan your fridge and get real recipes you can cook tonight. Then $39.99/year, cancel anytime.
Try Custrd free for 7 days