QUICK ANSWER
AnyList if you want the best grocery list that also does a meal calendar. Plan to Eat if you want the best meal calendar that also writes a list. They differ most on this: a shared list with planning versus a planner with a list.
AnyList vs Plan to Eat, side by side.
| AnyList | Plan to Eat | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Shared grocery list | Planning calendar |
| Price | Free; about $11.99 a year for AnyList Complete | About $4.95 a month or $39 a year, after a trial |
| Free tier | Genuinely free list sharing | Free trial only |
| Best at | The best shared grocery list anywhere — instant sync, voice input, store-organised lists, plus a respectable recipe box and meal plan calendar. | The best drag-and-drop planning calendar, with real-time sharing for households and a solid recipe clipper. |
| Watch out for | Meal planning is an add-on to the list; no generated plans and no nutrition tracking. | Everything is manual — it organises recipes you choose, it does not choose for you, and there is no nutrition data. |
Prices shown are approximate US guide values and may change. Confirm the current amount and billing terms with each provider before you pay.
Pick AnyList if you…
The best shared grocery list anywhere — instant sync, voice input, store-organised lists, plus a respectable recipe box and meal plan calendar. AnyList makes most sense if you want the best grocery list that also does a meal calendar.
Pick Plan to Eat if you…
The best drag-and-drop planning calendar, with real-time sharing for households and a solid recipe clipper. Plan to Eat makes most sense if you want the best meal calendar that also writes a list.
A third option worth knowing.
MealPot helps plan dinners for the week — you pick the recipes, it writes one grocery list sorted by aisle and scales recipes to your household. Full weekly planning requires Pro. See how the whole field compares.
Common questions.
Is AnyList or Plan to Eat better?
Neither is better overall. AnyList is shared grocery list that suits people who want the best grocery list that also does a meal calendar; Plan to Eat is the pick if you want the best meal calendar that also writes a list.
Is AnyList free?
Genuinely free list sharing. Paid pricing: Free; about $11.99 a year for AnyList Complete.
Is Plan to Eat free?
Free trial only. Paid pricing: About $4.95 a month or $39 a year, after a trial.
Can I move my recipes between them?
Recipe links and text can be moved between most apps — our recipe backup walkthrough covers the general approach.
Plan dinner with MealPot.
Download the iPhone app free to explore it. Full weekly planning requires Pro.