{"licence":"CC BY 4.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","citation":"Ambera Forge, Meal planning, October 2026","report":"https://forge.ambera.app/sectors/meal-planning/2026-10","note":"Counts are over the companies Forge read in this sector during the month, each with its denominator. Themes and capabilities are the words the reading listed; a theme with no declared match shares no word with anything a company declares, which is not the same as no product doing it. Carried market-size figures are their publishers’ and are not redistributed here.","version":2,"monthKey":"2026-10","sector":{"slug":"meal-planning","name":"Meal planning","scope":"Planning a week of meals and the shopping list that follows from it."},"coverage":{"entities":5,"readEntities":5,"neverRead":0,"readInMonth":3,"lastReadAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z"},"withheldReason":null,"declaredCapabilities":[{"name":"Automated grocery list generation","listing":2,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"AI-personalized meal plans","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Automated meal plan generation","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"automatic grocery list generation","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Calorie and macro targeting","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"calorie/macro customization","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Client/coach branding (Pro tier)","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"diet-specific plans (keto, paleo, vegan, Mediterranean)","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Dietary preference customization","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"Dietary preference customization (keto, paleo, vegan, etc.)","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Drag-and-drop meal planning calendar","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"family/kid-friendly recipe filtering","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Food waste and cost reduction","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Freezer meal tracking","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"Grocery delivery integration","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Grocery list generation","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"Grocery store delivery integration (e.g., Walmart)","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"Household/family sharing on one account","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"MyFitnessPal integration","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"Nutrition and macro tracking","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"Nutrition/macro tracking (Pro)","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Pantry management","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"Personalized weekly meal plans","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Recipe customization/collections","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"]},{"name":"recipe import from web","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Recipe import from web/photo/manual entry","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"Recipe import/personal recipes","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"Step-by-step cooking instructions","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"]},{"name":"subscription free trial","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]},{"name":"Unlimited recipes and meal plans","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"]},{"name":"weekly/monthly meal planning","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"]}],"complaintThemes":[{"name":"Data export and lock-in","listing":3,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["No data export or account transfer before shutdown","no import of personal recipes","No photo import for physical recipes"]},{"name":"Free tier, trial and paywalled features","listing":3,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"phrases":["can't add own recipes in free tier","Free tier is dinner-only / limited recipes","limited recipes/features behind paywall","No free tier after trial","No manual recipe import on free tier"]},{"name":"Manual work and automation","listing":2,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"phrases":["More manual effort required than automated competitor apps","Repetitive or bland recipe suggestions"]},{"name":"apps shutting down / discontinuing service","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["apps shutting down / discontinuing service"]},{"name":"Content and catalog depth","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"phrases":["No built-in recipe discovery/library (must bring your own recipes)"]},{"name":"Difficult to edit imported recipes","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"],"phrases":["Difficult to edit imported recipes"]},{"name":"excessive cookware/equipment per meal","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["excessive cookware/equipment per meal"]},{"name":"inconsistent or poorly ordered recipe steps","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["inconsistent or poorly ordered recipe steps"]},{"name":"Interface and design","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"phrases":["Dated interface/design"]},{"name":"Meals Hub replacement feels retailer-driven, not planning-focused","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"],"phrases":["Meals Hub replacement feels retailer-driven, not planning-focused"]},{"name":"No calendar/day-of-week view for meal plans","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"],"phrases":["No calendar/day-of-week view for meal plans"]},{"name":"nutrition info locked to pro version","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"phrases":["nutrition info locked to pro version"]},{"name":"Oversized/poorly organized grocery lists","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"],"phrases":["Oversized/poorly organized grocery lists"]},{"name":"poor pantry-awareness in shopping lists","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["poor pantry-awareness in shopping lists"]},{"name":"Price level","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"],"phrases":["Opaque/per-client Professional tier pricing"]},{"name":"Recipe quantity mismatches (e.g., ingredient over/underestimation)","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"],"phrases":["Recipe quantity mismatches (e.g., ingredient over/underestimation)"]},{"name":"Sync and offline","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"],"phrases":["Pantry tracking out of sync"]},{"name":"Tedious food exclusion process","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb"],"phrases":["Tedious food exclusion process"]},{"name":"Usage limits and caps","listing":1,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["overwhelming ingredient/recipe volume"]}],"complaintVocabularyVersion":2,"whiteSpace":{"rows":[{"theme":{"name":"Free tier, trial and paywalled features","listing":3,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"phrases":["can't add own recipes in free tier","Free tier is dinner-only / limited recipes","limited recipes/features behind paywall","No free tier after trial","No manual recipe import on free tier"]},"declared":[{"name":"subscription free trial","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"sharedWords":["free","trial"]}],"answeredBy":"price"},{"theme":{"name":"Data export and lock-in","listing":3,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95"],"phrases":["No data export or account transfer before shutdown","no import of personal recipes","No photo import for physical recipes"]},"declared":[{"name":"recipe import from web","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"sharedWords":["import"]},{"name":"Recipe import from web/photo/manual entry","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"sharedWords":["import"]},{"name":"Recipe import/personal recipes","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl"],"sharedWords":["import"]}],"answeredBy":"capability"},{"theme":{"name":"Manual work and automation","listing":2,"denominator":5,"entityIds":["cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb","cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"phrases":["More manual effort required than automated competitor apps","Repetitive or bland recipe suggestions"]},"declared":[{"name":"automatic grocery list generation","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4"],"sharedWords":["automatic"]},{"name":"Recipe import from web/photo/manual entry","listing":1,"denominator":4,"entityIds":["cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2"],"sharedWords":["manual"]}],"answeredBy":"capability"}],"unansweredCount":0,"belowFloor":16},"entities":[{"id":"cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","slug":"mealime","name":"Mealime","kind":"competitor","site":"https://mealime.com","lastWatchedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z","addedBy":"definition"},{"id":"cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb","slug":"eat-this-much","name":"Eat This Much","kind":"competitor","site":"https://eatthismuch.com","lastWatchedAt":"2026-09-30T23:46:48.723Z","addedBy":"definition"},{"id":"cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","slug":"plan-to-eat","name":"Plan to Eat","kind":"competitor","site":"https://plantoeat.com","lastWatchedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z","addedBy":"definition"},{"id":"cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95","slug":"plans-nobody-sticks-to","name":"Plans nobody sticks to","kind":"discourse","site":null,"lastWatchedAt":"2026-09-30T23:46:48.723Z","addedBy":"definition"},{"id":"cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4","slug":"busy-families-and-people-on-a-diet","name":"Busy families and people on a diet","kind":"segment","site":null,"lastWatchedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z","addedBy":"definition"}],"entrants":{"placed":[],"sighted":[{"name":"Meals Hub","kind":"competitor","site":"https://www.albertsons.com/","sourceUrl":"https://www.plantoeat.com/blog/2026/09/meals-hub-review-pros-and-cons/","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-05T06:10:22.053Z"},{"name":"Ollie for Meals","kind":"competitor","site":"https://ollie.ai/","sourceUrl":"https://ollie.ai/2025/10/21/best-meal-planning-apps-in-2025/","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-05T06:10:22.053Z"}]},"entries":{"observed":15,"inference":0,"sourceBroken":0,"byTag":[{"tag":"FACT","count":8},{"tag":"COMPANY CLAIM","count":4},{"tag":"USER OPINION","count":3}],"byCategory":[{"category":"PRICING","count":5},{"category":"COMPLAINT","count":3},{"category":"POSITIONING","count":3},{"category":"PRODUCT","count":3},{"category":"PEOPLE","count":1}]},"pricing":{"readEntities":5,"withPricing":4,"changesInMonth":5,"companiesChangedInMonth":3,"withheldReason":null,"companies":[{"entityId":"cmuohg6zb00enofmyjosgs1fl","name":"Mealime","kind":"competitor","site":"https://mealime.com","changesInMonth":1,"latest":{"claim":"<cite index=\"16-7\">Pro recipes and features are now available to all users, and current Pro subscribers will not be charged again before the shutdown.</cite>","tag":"FACT","sourceUrl":"https://www.drizzlelemons.com/alternatives/mealime","observedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z"}},{"entityId":"cmuohg76200erofmyenoih3i2","name":"Plan to Eat","kind":"competitor","site":"https://plantoeat.com","changesInMonth":2,"latest":{"claim":"<cite index=\"7-4\">It's $5.95/month or $49/year.</cite> No free plan exists; <cite index=\"2-5\">We do not ask for credit card information before starting a free 14-day trial.</cite>","tag":"FACT","sourceUrl":"https://www.plantoeat.com/about/","observedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z"}},{"entityId":"cmuohg7ce00evofmy3lm0j6x4","name":"Busy families and people on a diet","kind":"segment","site":null,"changesInMonth":2,"latest":{"claim":"Mealime offers a free base app with an optional Pro subscription; <cite index=\"8-1,8-2\">Mealime Meal Planner Pro offers an auto-renewing subscription option at a price of $2.99 USD / month, including exclusive Pro-only recipes and nutritional information</cite>.","tag":"FACT","sourceUrl":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mealime&hl=en_US","observedAt":"2026-10-01T02:46:34.000Z"}},{"entityId":"cmuohg72v00epofmyzxejztpb","name":"Eat This Much","kind":"competitor","site":"https://eatthismuch.com","changesInMonth":0,"latest":{"claim":"Third-party sources report Eat This Much Premium is priced at roughly $14.99/month or $9/month standard, discounted to about $5/month on an annual plan, with a free tier limited to generating one day of meal plans at a time.","tag":"COMPANY CLAIM","sourceUrl":"https://www.promealplan.com/en/blog/eat-this-much-review-2026","observedAt":"2026-09-30T23:46:48.723Z"}},{"entityId":"cmuohg79g00etofmyxgaxub95","name":"Plans nobody sticks to","kind":"discourse","site":null,"changesInMonth":0,"latest":null}]},"funding":{"quartersConsidered":8,"readQuarters":2,"totalRounds":0,"currencies":[],"withheldReason":null,"quarters":[{"quarterKey":"2025-Q1","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2025-Q2","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2025-Q3","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2025-Q4","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2026-Q1","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2026-Q2","entitiesRead":0,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2026-Q3","entitiesRead":2,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]},{"quarterKey":"2026-Q4","entitiesRead":3,"rounds":0,"roundsWithAmount":0,"sums":[]}]},"marketSize":{"readAt":null,"publishers":[]}}