Mealime alternative: cook from what's already in your fridge
Mealime announced that it will be discontinued on October 21, 2026, and that all personal data will be deleted when the app shuts down. If you used it to decide what to cook and what to buy, here's how Fridgea can help — and where it's different.
Fridgea is our app. We've tried to keep this fair: every claim about other apps links to their App Store listing or website as checked on October 1, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email support@fridgea.online.
Updated October 1, 2026
Scan with your iPhone camera
Free on iPhone & iPad · No account needed
Choose Fridgea if…
You want to cook from what's already in your fridge.
You'd like a reminder before food expires.
You want your shopping list to restock your fridge when you get home.
Choose Mealime if…
You want a full weekly meal plan built for you — while Mealime is still running.
You rely on per-recipe nutrition information.
You use Android.
Feature by feature
Fridgea compared with Mealime. Facts about Mealime are as listed on the sources below.
Feature
FridgeaOurs
Mealime
Expiry reminders
One digest notification per day, 1–7 days ahead; free
Not listed
Home Screen widgets
Expiring Soon + Shopping List, interactive; free
Not listed
Lock Screen widgets & Live Activity
Lock Screen widgets; cooking timers as a Live Activity
Free + Pro subscription; lifetime Pro offered to some users
Free; Pro free for everyone until October 21, 20261
Where Fridgea is different
Starts from your fridge
Pick the ingredients you want to use up and Fridgea suggests recipes that fit, showing what you already have and what to buy.
Knows what's expiring
Fridgea keeps your fridge, freezer and pantry in one list, sorted by expiry, and sends one notification before things go off.
Shopping list fills your fridge
Tick items off at the store, then move them into your fridge with their dates — so your inventory stays accurate without retyping.
Where Mealime is the better choice
Weekly meal plans
Fridgea doesn't build a meal plan for the week; Mealime's core was planning meals ahead.
Android app
Mealime is on Google Play as well as the App Store. Fridgea is iPhone and iPad only.
Switching from Mealime
Install Fridgea from the App Store.
Add what's in your fridge — the fastest way is to snap your next grocery receipt.
Set your reminder lead time in Settings.
If you share with family, invite them from Settings → Family Sharing.
Questions, answered
Is Fridgea free?
Yes. Fridgea is free to download, and the free plan covers up to 30 items and 3 shopping lists, with expiry reminders, widgets, your recipe library and cooking mode. Pro unlocks unlimited items, receipt and barcode scanning, voice input, Apple Notes import, AI recipes and family sharing. Prices are shown in the App Store in your currency.
Can I bring my Mealime recipes?
There's no import, but you can save any recipe in Fridgea's recipe library by writing it in — it's free. Do it before Mealime's shutdown date if you want to keep your favourites.
Can I import my data from Mealime?
There's no direct import from Mealime. The quickest way to start is to scan your next grocery receipt or barcodes.
Does Fridgea work on Android?
Not at the moment. Fridgea is made for iPhone and iPad running iOS 18.6 or later.
What does Mealime do better?
Mealime builds weekly meal plans for you and is available on Android. Fridgea starts from what's in your fridge instead.
