Averaging 4.9 stars out of 5, AnyList is one of the highest rated meal prep apps in the App Store. Whether you have a roommate or a spouse, you can share grocery lists and meal plans instantly and for free. Forks Over Knives is a meal planning app that focuses on whole-food, plant-based menus. While the app does accommodate some lean meats, dairy products, and fish, the focus is on nuts, legumes, fruits, vegetables, tubers, and whole grains. The app is rich in recipes, all designed by superior chefs and formulated to be made in a relatively short span of time. There’s even a weekend prep option, allowing you to plan for big-batch meals in advance of a busy week.

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• Features like smart grocery lists organized by grocery store aisle and interactive recipes that allow you to mark your progress as you cook help this app stand out from other meal plan apps.
• It also offers parental controls for children’s accounts and allows you to build playlists with other users (not just your family members).
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• Mealime’s recipes are typically made in under 30 minutes, from start to finish.
• Once you use all of the cash in the envelope, you cannot spend any more that month.
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This caught my eye because it was the first meal prep app I saw to feature recipes for Low FODMAP diets. There are smart design features, too, like the ability to split screen while you cook, so you can see the recipe up to three ingredients and steps side by side. The app has an uncluttered cooking experience that lets you focus on the recipe at hand. Additionally, it includes a user interface that lets you check off items while you cook, eliminating the need to constantly check whether you’ve added salt.

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After selecting the date range of the recipes you’d like to shop for, the app will automatically create your shopping list. You can then either cross items off the list or print it out. Quicken Simplifi is among the best budgeting apps you can download.

Here are some of the top FREE meal planning apps that are available right now to make your life (and dinners) easier. Once the meal plan is created, you can add ingredients to your grocery list through each individual recipe. Cozi doesn’t automatically populate the list for you, but it compiles everything in one place so you don’t have to create a separate list outside of the app. The WWL Program is the only meal plan service that’s aligned with intuitive eating. We help you save time, money and energy while enjoying food freedom (not food restriction).

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For a more complete experience that includes breakfast and lunch, Samsung Food free is better — it covers all meals and lets you drag in your own saved recipes alongside the app’s library. Some apps limit free users to a subset of the full recipe catalog. Mealime is transparent about this — 75% of recipes are free, with the rest unlocked at Pro ($2.99/month). Others show you all recipes during setup and only reveal the paywall when you try to add specific ones to your plan. Mealime and Yummly are the strongest options for families with picky eaters. Cooklist’s standout feature is its pantry-first approach.

Honeydue helps couples manage money together by tracking expenses, syncing accounts, and keeping financial communication open and stress-free. It also lets you track individual and shared expenses as needed. There’s also a shared calendar with bill alert reminders. If you’re looking for a new shared bank account, you can upgrade to a Honeydue joint bank account, which comes with joint debit cards. MyBudgetCoach connects you with a personal finance coach to help you build better money habits through structured guidance. Whether you need help with budgeting, saving, or tackling debt, you can choose a virtual coaching plan or work one-on-one with a coach that fits your needs.

Paprika — Best recipe manager (not a meal planner)

Thankfully, there are apps that can help you with effective meal planning. The best meal planning apps and services allow you to choose specific meal plans and recipes, to develop shopping lists, to keep track of nutritional insight, and more. Best meal planning apps on a budget often include free versions that are powerful enough for most families. These apps allow users to plan a weekly meal plan, organize recipes, and generate grocery lists without paying for a subscription. For many households, the free features are all they need to manage meals and stay within their grocery budget. Many of us are finding ourselves cooking a lot more meals at home these days, and if you’re looking for inspiration, the right meal planning app can give you a tremendous set of resources.

Mealime — Best free option for quick weeknight meals

Lunch Money is a sleek and intuitive budgeting app built for the modern-day spender. Whether you’re managing personal finances or tracking shared expenses, this app makes staying on top of your money simple and efficient. Budgeting apps make it easier to track your income, expenses, and savings without the hassle of unimeal app reviews spreadsheets or notebooks. Whether you’re keeping tabs on everyday spending or working toward big financial goals, the right app gives you real-time insights and smarter money management.

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For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply. You may go through some trial and error when using budgeting apps, especially if you’ve never used one or haven’t budgeted before. Here are some tips to help you make the most of a budgeting app. If you prefer a budgeting app that doesn’t sync with your bank, check out FreeBudget, YNAB, and Goodbudget. Each offers manual entry with a focus on simplicity and customization.

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HomeBudget with Sync is a free expense-tracking app for households. There’s a free “lite” version for iOS, while the Android version is currently $5.99. The desktop version of HomeBudget with Sync for Microsoft is $14.99, while the Mac version is $19.99. Quicken Simplifi costs $3.99 per month, billed annually ($47.88), but sometimes offers lower promotional rates. Onin is a secure calendar app for your personal and social life.

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The layout is easy to work with, categories are fully customizable, and reports help you see progress over time. It’s a solid option for families who want to stay organized without signing up for another app that gets in the way. Use the special function to add all the ingredients from the recipe to your cart, then manually add the rest of the products you need and place your order.

Top Free Menu Planning Apps & Tools You Need to Try

While you’ve likely searched their site for meal ideas before, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve checked out the Dinner Spinner. Manage recipes, create menus, plan your week, and share your favorites easily with family and friends. Busy moms and dads lose some of that time brainstorming meal ideas and creating lists for stores. Never mind actually shopping and then prepping your food.