πComparison
WhatToCook vs
Mealime
AI cooking help + importing vs guided meal plans
Mealime is known for guided meal planning, diet filters, and grocery list generation (with a Pro tier for deeper nutrition). WhatToCook leans into AI help, importing recipes from anywhere, and flexible discovery based on ingredients.
4.8
10k+ happy cooks

π§ΎFeature Comparison
WhatToCook vs Mealime
A quick, practical comparison across the features most people care about.
| Feature | WhatToCook | Mealime |
|---|---|---|
Meal planning workflow | Flexible weekly planning with quick swaps and macro targets. | Guided weekly meal planning with auto grocery lists. |
Diet preferences & restrictions | Supports multiple diet goals and planning flows. | Strong diet types + allergy/dislike filters; deeper nutrition in Pro. |
Grocery lists | Recipes/meal plan β grocery list; shared lists for real-time collaboration. | Auto list from planned meals; store-department sorting; ordering in some markets. |
Recipe importing | Import from websites, social posts, or camera scan; organize in collections. | Primarily relies on its recipe catalog and guided planning flow. |
AI help & recipe insights | AI ideas + substitutions, nutrition per serving, and step-by-step cooking mode. | More structured planning and filters; some personalization in Pro. |
Pricing model Always verify current pricing/subscription features in the app before purchasing. | Free core features with optional premium upgrades (varies by plan). | Free tier + Mealime Pro subscription for advanced features. |
Note: Features and pricing can change over time. We review these pages regularly.
WhatToCook is best ifβ¦
- βYou save recipes from many sources and want everything organized in one place.
- βYou want AI help for ideas, substitutions, and quicker planning.
- βYou want ingredient-based search plus a built-in recipe catalog.
- βYou want to scan handwritten recipes and save them fast.
Mealime is best ifβ¦
- β’You want a guided βpick meals β auto list β cookβ workflow.
- β’You rely on strong diet filters and structured plans.
- β’You want grocery ordering integrations where available.
Switching from Mealime to WhatToCook
- Set your preferences firstChoose your diet, allergies, and dislikes so suggestions and discovery start in the right direction.
- Import your repeat mealsBring over your go-to recipes from websites or social links, then save them into collections.
- Plan the week and share the listCreate a weekly plan, generate a single grocery list, and share it with family or roommates.
βFAQ
WhatToCook vs Mealime: FAQ
Quick answers before you decide
Mealime is great if you want a guided meal-plan builder with strong filtering. WhatToCook is better if you want flexibility, importing, and AI-assisted planning.
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Try WhatToCook
free today
If you want faster meal planning, easier importing, and shared grocery lists, give WhatToCook a try.

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