Riff.kitchen vs Mealime
Mealime shuts down on October 21, 2026, and its owner is moving users to Meals Hub in Albertsons grocery apps. Until then Mealime is recipe-first: you pick meals and it builds the grocery list. Riff.kitchen is pantry-first: it starts from what you own and what is about to expire. To keep your Mealime recipes, use Meals Hub; if you keep throwing food away, Riff fits.
Claims about Mealime last checked 2026-09-15. Features and pricing change, so check their site for current details.
Mealime shuts down on October 21, 2026. How to keep your recipes, and every alternative with prices.
Where Mealime is the better choice
Listed first, and honestly. If one of these describes you, use it instead.
- A polished, curated library of tested 30-minute recipes with extensive dietary personalisation.
- Simpler if you genuinely prefer choosing meals first - fewer moving parts and nothing to keep updated.
- Until October 21, 2026 your saved Mealime recipes are still there, and its owner says Meals Hub includes all of them.
Where Riff.kitchen is the better choice
- Starts from your actual inventory rather than a menu you pick from.
- Tracks expiry dates and prioritises food about to spoil.
- Photograph a shelf to add items.
- Hands off to an Instacart cart in the US and Canada.
- Generates recipes for your exact ingredients rather than matching you to a fixed library.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Riff.kitchen | Mealime | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly meal planning | Yes | Yes | Equal |
| Automatic grocery list | Yes | Yes | Equal |
| Free tier | Yes, no card | Yes | Equal |
| Starting point | What you already own | Recipes you choose | Riff |
| Pantry inventory | Yes, persistent | Not the model | Riff |
| Expiry tracking | Yes | No | Riff |
| Add items by photo | Yes | No | Riff |
| Curated, professionally tested recipe library | Smaller curated set plus generation | Large curated library | Them |
| Simplicity if you plan before shopping | More to maintain | Very simple | Them |
Common questions
Is Mealime shutting down?
Yes. Mealime says it will be discontinued as of October 21, 2026, and is moving users to Meals Hub inside Albertsons Companies grocery apps, which it describes as free and usable even without a nearby store. Our Mealime alternatives guide covers how to keep your recipes before then.
Is Riff.kitchen a Mealime alternative?
For meal planning and grocery lists, yes. But they work in opposite directions: Mealime plans meals and then tells you what to buy, while Riff.kitchen starts from what is already in your kitchen and shops only for the gap. If your problem is deciding what to eat, Mealime fits. If your problem is food going off, Riff fits.
Does Riff.kitchen track what is in my fridge?
Yes. The pantry persists between sessions with expiry dates, and items can be added by photographing a shelf. The meal planner reads that list and prioritises whatever is closest to spoiling.
Try it on tonight’s dinner
Pick something you already have in and see what it does with it. Free, no card needed, nothing to install.
Or type what is actually in your kitchen