Apps Like Mealime: Can You Import Your Recipes?

The best alternatives to Mealime are Paprika, Yummly, AnyList, Plan to Eat, Copy Me That, and Mealfolder—each offers recipe saving, weekly meal planning, and shopping lists, though the import methods vary. If you used Mealime before it closed on October 21, 2026, some recipes can be rescued from Mealfolder's index of 3,291 public Mealime recipes. For other apps, most can import from each other via their export files or by pasting recipes manually.

What Happened to Mealime (And Where Your Recipes Went)

Mealime shut down on October 21, 2026. The company gave users until that date to download their data, but there was no built-in export button. When the service ended, all accounts and stored recipes were deleted from Mealime's servers.

If you didn't save your recipes before the closure, they're not completely lost. Mealfolder's Mealime rescue lets you recover your favourites by name. Paste the recipe titles you remember, and the app searches an index of all 3,291 public Mealime recipes—with photos, ingredients, and instructions intact. It's the fastest way to rebuild a collection if you didn't have time to export.

For recipes that aren't in the Mealfolder index (custom recipes you created in Mealime, or less common dishes), you'll need to save them manually from your memory or from the original sources where you found them. If you bookmarked them in your browser, those links are still there.

Apps Like Mealime: Feature Comparison

How to Recover Your Mealime Recipes

If you remember the names of your favourite Mealime recipes, the fastest recovery is Mealfolder's Mealime rescue tool. Here's how:

1. Go to Mealfolder's Mealime rescue page.
2. Paste the recipe names you remember (one per line, or comma-separated).
3. The app searches the index of 3,291 public Mealime recipes.
4. Review the matches; they include photos, ingredients, and instructions.
5. Save them to your Mealfolder account in one batch.

This works for any Mealime recipe that was in their public library, which includes nearly all mainstream recipes. It won't recover custom recipes you created from scratch in Mealime, but for standard dishes most people save, you'll find them.

Importing From Your Current App (Or Mealime's Archive)

From Paprika: Export your Paprika library (the app has an export button in settings). You'll get a .paprikarecipes file. Mealfolder, Yummly, and some others can import this format directly. If your new app doesn't, you can use Mealfolder as a bridge: import your Paprika file there, then export from Mealfolder as JSON or individual links.

From AnyList: AnyList doesn't export recipes directly to other apps, but you can export your grocery lists. To move recipes, copy and paste them one by one, or take screenshots and upload them as photos to your new app. AnyList does allow exporting your account data via their privacy settings—contact their support for a full data download if you need everything at once.

From Plan to Eat: Plan to Eat lets you export your recipes as a spreadsheet or in their own format. If your new app accepts JSON or CSV, import from there. Otherwise, select a few key recipes and paste them manually into your new app, or use the link method (find the original URL in Plan to Eat and add it to your new app).

From Copy Me That: Copy Me That stores recipes by URL, pulling them from web pages. To move them, open each saved recipe, find the original link, and share that link to your new app (most apps like Mealfolder let you paste a URL to save a recipe). It's slower than bulk export, but it preserves the source and original formatting.

From Samsung Food (formerly Whisk): Samsung Food can export your recipes, but support for importing into third-party apps is limited. Your best option is to take screenshots of key recipes and paste them as text or photos into your new app.

From Recipe Keeper or BigOven: Both apps allow exporting, but formats aren't always compatible with other services. Check if your new app has a direct import option first. If not, export as a PDF or spreadsheet, then manually add recipes to your new app, or use screenshots and text paste.

From Yummly: Yummly exports your collection, but moving it to another app depends on what format they use and what your new app accepts. Mealfolder can import JSON files, so if Yummly exports as JSON, that's your fastest path. Otherwise, use the link method or copy and paste.

Why Switch? And Which App to Choose

The reasons to switch from Mealime after its closure are obvious—you need an app that still exists. But beyond that, the choice depends on what matters most to you:

• If you want the simplest import and fastest setup: Mealfolder's Mealime rescue is built exactly for this moment. Paste recipe names, recover photos and instructions, and start planning your week in minutes.
• If you prefer a one-time purchase: Paprika is the only app in this list that's a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. It's powerful for recipe saving but less focused on meal planning.
• If you want a full meal plan and grocery list ecosystem: Mealfolder Plus ($12.99 per year) or Household ($19.99 per year for up to six people) include unlimited recipes, weekly planning, and aisle-sorted shopping lists.
• If meal planning is optional: Copy Me That saves recipes from the web but doesn't plan meals or organize your collection as deeply as others.
• If you share cooking with family: Mealfolder's Household plan lets up to six people add and access recipes together. Most other apps charge per person or don't support family sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover my Mealime recipes without remembering the names?

Not with Mealfolder's rescue tool—it searches by recipe name. However, if you have screenshots, bookmarks, or links to the original sources (the websites where those recipes came from), you can save them directly into your new app. Most recipe apps let you save by URL. If your Mealime recipes came from specific blogs or sites, search for them there and re-save them. For recipes you created from scratch, you'll need to recreate them or find close matches online.

Do I lose photos when I import recipes?

Not if you use Mealfolder's Mealime rescue—photos are included in the recovered recipes. If you're importing from another app like Paprika, whether photos import depends on the export format and the app you're importing into. JSON and PDF exports often include image files, but plain text copies don't. Check the new app's import documentation to confirm.

Is it really worth paying for a meal planner app?

That depends on how much you meal plan. If you spend 15 to 30 minutes per week writing grocery lists and planning dinners, and you currently save recipes scattered across notes, bookmarks, and screenshots, a yearly subscription or one-time purchase will pay for itself in time saved. The automatic grocery list feature—which sorts items by aisle and combines duplicates—cuts shopping time roughly in half for many people. If you're more casual, the free versions of most apps are enough to get started.

What if the app I choose also shuts down?

All of these apps allow you to export your recipes in some form. Before switching to any new app, check its export policy in the settings or help docs. Mealfolder offers full export at any time on every plan—free users can download their 10 recipes, Plus and Household users can download unlimited recipes. This means you're never locked in. Export a backup of your recipes once a year or whenever you make major changes to your collection.