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MealBudget

MealBudget vs Plan to Eat: start from the number

Set what the week should cost, pick the dinners your family will finish, and get one shopping list. Nothing bought twice, nothing left to spoil.

First week free, then $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year.

Price and platforms

  • Plan to Eat: $5.95 a month or $49 a year, with a 14-day free trial. On iPhone, Android and the web.
  • MealBudget: first week free, then $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year. On iPhone and Android.

Plan to Eat figures from plantoeat.com/pricing, read 17 October 2026. MealBudget is independent and not affiliated with Plan to Eat.

If you mostly want a home for your recipes, use Plan to Eat

If you have years of saved recipes and want them in one place to plan from, Plan to Eat is built around that, and it costs a little less. You may not need us.

If you want the week to fit a budget, try MealBudget

  • You set the budget first. Tell it who is eating and what the week should cost. The plan comes back built for that number.
  • Less food in the bin. Meals are picked so they share ingredients, and every line says how many packages to buy, so the half bag of spinach gets used on Thursday.
  • The total before you shop. Estimated from average local retail prices in 17 countries, in your currency. It is an estimate, not your store’s live price.
  • Your recipes come too. Add them by link, screenshot or PDF, next to 313 recipes from 23 cuisines.

Questions

How much does Plan to Eat cost?
Plan to Eat lists $5.95 a month or $49 a year, with a 14-day free trial and no card required, according to plantoeat.com/pricing, read on 17 October 2026.
How much does MealBudget cost?
The first week is free. After that it is $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year in the United States, on the App Store and Google Play.
Which one should I pick?
If you already have a big recipe collection and want one place to keep and plan it, Plan to Eat is built for that. If your main worry is what the week costs, MealBudget starts from the amount you want to spend and plans meals and one shopping list around it.
Can I bring my own recipes to MealBudget?
Yes. Paste a recipe link, or add a screenshot or a PDF, and MealBudget reads it into your recipes ready to plan with.
Is MealBudget on iPhone?
Yes. MealBudget is on the App Store and on Google Play.

Comparing more options? See the grocery budgeting apps we compared, including where we are the wrong choice.