How to Choose a Meal Planning App
What actually matters in a meal planning app: recipe flexibility, grocery lists, dietary filters, price and how much time it saves you.
Start with how you cook
Some people want a fixed menu handed to them; others want ideas they can tweak. Decide which you are before you compare apps. A rigid plan is great until you have a different ingredient in the fridge.
Check the grocery list
The biggest time saver is a shopping list built automatically from your plan. Look for lists that merge duplicate ingredients and let you tick items off in the shop.
Dietary needs and time limits
Make sure you can set allergies, dislikes, cooking time and cuisine. If an app can't respect 'no dairy, 25 minutes', you'll end up searching elsewhere anyway.
Price honestly
Many apps offer a free tier and a paid upgrade. Use the free version for a week of real cooking before paying, and check the cancellation terms. Olio, for example, is free for 3 AI recipes a day, with Olio Pro at €4.99/month after a 7-day trial.
Make it easier with Olio Cooking
Try Olio's AI meal planner free