THE CURRENT ANSWER
Yes. Mealime Pro is now free for everyone during the wind-down. The developer’s version 4.21.35 App Store release notes confirm this and say existing Pro subscriptions will not renew. Mealime is scheduled to close on 21 October 2026, according to its shutdown announcement.
How much does Mealime cost now?
The US App Store listing still contains an older monthly-subscription sales paragraph alongside its newer free-Pro release notes. The newer notice supplies the current answer. Google Play’s “What’s new” section also confirms free Pro and no renewals. We reviewed both on 12 September 2026.
Before the wind-down
Free app, with an optional paid Pro upgrade.
Now · September 2026
Pro is free. Existing subscriptions will not renew.
21 October 2026
Mealime’s announced closure date.
Was Mealime Pro $2.99 a month? What about annually?
$2.99 USD per month is a documented historical US price. It remains in the developer’s US store description. That older amount does not establish today’s offer or a worldwide price.
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| $2.99 USD / month | The old advertised monthly Pro subscription. |
| $35.88 USD over 12 months | $2.99 × 12. An annualized total for twelve monthly payments, not evidence of an annual plan. |
| An annual subscription price | No separate annual price was established by the official sources reviewed for this guide. |
Mealime’s Pro help page, last updated 29 December 2023, describes a monthly subscription. It does not establish that every past subscriber had the same terms. If your receipt shows an annual purchase, use its actual amount, currency and covered dates when asking about that payment; twelve times a web article’s monthly price cannot replace your receipt.
What used to require Pro?
Mealime could already be used free. The optional upgrade added the following features, according to its 2023 Pro documentation. This explains older reviews and labels you may remember.
| Former Pro feature | What it added |
|---|---|
| Nutrition and calorie filters | Calories, macronutrients and micronutrients, plus filters for calorie targets. |
| The full recipe collection | Access to recipes reserved for subscribers. |
| Personal recipe notes | Saved reminders and changes to consult when cooking again. |
| Previous meal plan | Access to the two most recent plans. |
| Priority email support | The faster email support described for subscribers. |
For details on personal notes and saved plans, see the Mealime Pro guide.
Will I be charged again, and should I cancel?
Mealime’s billing FAQ says Pro subscribers will pay no additional subscription fees before closure. You can still open the account that handled your purchase to confirm its status or cancel an available renewal. Use the provider on your receipt.
| Who billed you? | Where to go | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone or iPad Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Mealime. | Select Cancel Subscription if available. Apple says no cancel button or a red expiration message means it is already cancelled. Apple instructions. |
| Google Play | Open Play subscriptions using the purchasing Google Account; select Mealime. | Select Cancel subscription and finish the prompts. Uninstalling the app does not cancel it. Google instructions. |
| Mealime website | Sign in to the Mealime web app → Settings → Subscription. | Choose Cancel your subscription. This is the route in Mealime’s 29 March 2021 help article; it has not been tested in a signed-in account for this guide. |
If Mealime is missing from Apple’s list, find the Apple Account on the receipt; Apple’s guidance covers purchases made by another account or provider. Google likewise recommends switching accounts if a subscription is missing. Save the final status and any displayed end date. Our full cancellation guide has the longer routes.
Does becoming free mean I get a refund?
The shutdown announcement does not publish a blanket refund or prorating policy for earlier payments. Cancellation and a refund request are separate actions. For an Apple payment, request a refund from Apple; its refund guidance explains eligibility and the request process. For Google billing, use the refund links in Google Play’s subscription help. For direct web billing, contact Mealime support, listed in its announcement, with the transaction date, amount and receipt reference.
A future date on a payment record does not change the announced service closure. If you paid for a period extending beyond it, ask the billing provider about that specific unused period rather than assuming continued app access or an automatic refund.
Does free Mealime include the food?
No. The app helps you choose recipes and produce a grocery list; ingredients are bought separately. Mealime’s Google Play description presents grocery shopping as a separate step: shop in a store or send the list to a grocery fulfillment partner and buy online.
Keep three numbers separate when budgeting a meal plan:
| Cost | Illustrative example |
|---|---|
| App subscription | A fee for the planning software. It does not buy any rice. |
| Ingredients used | If a recipe uses 200 g of rice from a 1 kg bag priced at $3, the rice consumed costs $0.60. |
| Checkout spending | If you need that bag, you pay $3 at checkout and retain 800 g. If you already own it, you buy no rice on this trip. |
The rice price is an arithmetic example, not an observed retailer quote. Other ingredients, any delivery or service charges and applicable taxes belong in the checkout total. A free planner can reduce the software bill without making a particular dinner free. The pack-size guide explains how to budget for whole packs.
Is there a free place to keep using the recipes?
Meals Hub is Mealime’s official free continuation. Its transition announcement says the catalogue, including formerly Pro recipes, continues there. You can use recipes, plans and shopping lists without shopping at an Albertsons Companies store. Start with the official Meals Hub store selector.
If you want a copy of a recipe before deciding where to plan next, open the MealPot website backup tool. When choosing a replacement, start with the workflow you need—recipe discovery, your own recipe collection or a shared shopping list—and compare the plan that includes it. Keep first-year discounts, later renewals and grocery spending separate.
Common questions
Is $35.88 an annual Mealime subscription?
That figure is twelve payments of the historical $2.99 USD monthly price. It does not establish a separately sold annual plan. Use your receipt to identify the term you actually bought.
How do I compare a replacement’s monthly and annual plans?
Multiply its monthly price by twelve and compare that total with the annual payment. Record any introductory and renewal prices separately. An annual plan only provides the expected saving if you use the included features for the period you pay for.
Can I stop a renewal by uninstalling Mealime?
Google explicitly says uninstalling does not cancel a subscription. Use the billing-provider routes to review its status and complete any available cancellation.
Resolve the subscription first.
Find the billing account and keep the confirmation.