Meal planning news · Updated October 12, 2026
Mealime Is Closing October 21: What Changes and What to Save
If Mealime has been part of your weekly routine, the news of its closure may be disappointing. Here’s what the official transition means, where familiar recipes are going, and a few simple things you can do to keep your dinner planning comfortable.
Is Mealime really shutting down?
Yes. Mealime says it is discontinuing its original app on October 21, 2026 and directing customers to Meals Hub. Albertsons acquired Mealime in 2021 and is bringing the experience into its grocery-store applications. The company says Meals Hub is supported by the same core team and will keep Mealime’s recipes available alongside additional ones.
This is an important distinction: the Mealime app is closing, not its entire recipe catalogue. If keeping access to familiar Mealime recipes is your biggest priority, try the official Meals Hub option before switching to a completely different service.
A simple checklist before October 21
- Note your go-to dinners. Write down the names of the five or ten recipes your household actually repeats, plus any changes you usually make. Mealime says the recipes will remain in Meals Hub, but your own notes and preferences are a separate question.
- Review your current meal plan. Save a personal copy of the next week’s dinner schedule and the items on your grocery list. A short note or a personal screenshot may be enough; don’t assume a migration or export feature is available unless the app confirms it.
- Record dietary preferences and exclusions. Note foods you avoid, family likes and dislikes, and usual servings. Mealime says certain settings will need to be established again in Meals Hub, even though dietary preferences remain supported.
- Take a look at Meals Hub. Go to the official Mealime transition page and follow its link to an Albertsons-family store app or website. Test a week of planning rather than discovering differences after the deadline.
- Choose a fallback dinner routine. Whether you stay with Meals Hub or change services, keep a simple list of reliable dinners and frequently bought groceries outside any single app.
Mealime’s official closure FAQ says personal data will be deleted when the original application is shut down. It does not promise a one-click transfer of favourites or personalized plans to third-party tools. If you have sensitive account questions, consult Mealime’s own support and privacy information.
What is Meals Hub, and is it free?
Meals Hub is the official continuation. According to Mealime, it is available through Albertsons Companies’ participating grocery apps and store websites. It includes existing Mealime recipes, additional recipes, dietary preferences, meal planning and grocery-related features. Mealime describes Meals Hub as free, including recipes that previously required Mealime Pro.
There’s even an answer for people without an Albertsons store nearby. Mealime says Meals Hub can still be used for browsing recipes, planning dinners and generating shopping lists when shopping at one of those stores isn’t an option.
To find it in a participating store app, Mealime instructs users to open More, then select Meals Hub. For the web experience, start from Mealime’s official transition instructions. Store availability and individual features can vary, so test the service for your circumstances.
What if Meals Hub isn’t the right fit?
For many Mealime users, the easiest option will be to continue with Meals Hub, especially if those familiar recipes are what you value most. There’s no reason to change services if the official continuation feels comfortable.
If you prefer something simpler, a note on your phone or a sheet of paper can also hold five dinners and a grocery list. And if you’d like fresh ideas from what is already in your kitchen, our free Use What I Have tool is available without a purchase.
The important thing isn’t finding a perfect new app this week. It’s making sure your family’s usual dinners remain easy to plan.
How to restart a dinner routine without starting over
If losing your familiar app makes dinner feel complicated again, don’t try to replace a full recipe library in one evening. Pick five dinners you already know people will eat. Choose two that reuse a protein or pantry staple, one freezer-friendly idea, one quick backup, and one flexible meal built around whatever ingredients you already have.
Then combine duplicate items into a single grocery list. If your routine needs a reset, our guide to planning five dinners without overbuying groceries gives you a simple method, whether you use our planner, Meals Hub or paper.
For evenings when you’re too tired to make a full meal, check these low-energy family dinner ideas. Our free ingredient-based dinner finder can also help you start with food you already own.
Frequently asked questions
Will Mealime recipes disappear on October 21?
No. Mealime says its recipe catalogue continues through Meals Hub. The original Mealime app itself is being discontinued.
What happens to Mealime Pro?
Mealime says existing Pro subscribers won’t be charged additional subscription fees before the closure, and Pro recipes and features have been made available to all users during the wind-down.
Can Mealime preferences be transferred automatically?
Mealime says some preferences and settings must be established directly in Meals Hub. Its official closure notice does not guarantee that every piece of personalized data transfers automatically.
Can Meals Hub be used without an Albertsons grocery store nearby?
Mealime says yes: you can still browse, plan and generate a shopping list without shopping in an Albertsons-family store.
Is Weeknight Family Meals affiliated with Mealime?
No. Weeknight Family Meals is independent of Mealime, Meals Hub and Albertsons Companies. Our tools are optional alternatives for families who prefer our style of dinner planning.
