BigOven vs ManageMeals vs ReciMe: Which App Wins?

Picking the right meal planning or recipe app can feel overwhelming. With so many options out there, it’s tough to know which one actually fits your routine. In this article, we’re comparing three popular apps – BigOven, ManageMeals, and ReciMe. Whether you’re a busy parent, a meal prepper, or someone just trying to eat better, this quick guide will help you figure out which app works best for you.

Why Use a Recipe and Meal Planning App?

Let’s be real – life gets busy. Between work, errands, and everything else, figuring out what to eat can feel like one more thing on your never-ending to-do list. That’s where recipe and meal planning apps come in. They’re designed to make your day-to-day cooking easier, faster, and way less stressful.

Here’s what most people are looking for in a food app:

• Less decision fatigue: You don’t have to stand in front of the fridge wondering what to make.
• Easy grocery planning: No more scribbled lists or last-minute store runs.
• Saving time and money: Plan ahead, avoid takeout, and cut down on food waste.
• All your recipes in one place: Whether they’re from your grandma’s cookbook or a TikTok video you saved two weeks ago.

These apps aren’t just about storing recipes. They’re about bringing more ease and joy into your kitchen routine.

Quick Overview Table

Before we dive into all the details, here’s a quick look at how BigOven, ManageMeals, and ReciMe stack up. This table gives you a side-by-side comparison of their key features so you can get a feel for what each app offers at a glance.

What Each App Does

Each app has its own vibe and strengths. Some focus more on planning, others on saving recipes, and some try to do it all. Here’s a quick look at what BigOven, ManageMeals, and ReciMe are all about, so you can see which one fits your style best.

ReciMe

What makes ReciMe truly stand out is that we built it to meet you where you already are – on social media. We know that so many of the best recipes come from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, so we made it easy to save them straight from those platforms. You can even save recipes from screenshots or photos, so no more digging through your camera roll looking for something you saw last week. The app is available on iOS and as a Chrome extension, with Android support in the works.

We created ReciMe to make your cooking life simpler, smarter, and more connected to the way you already find inspiration.

The app also includes:

• A clean, easy-to-use interface
• Smart grocery lists that organize items by supermarket aisle
• A flexible meal planner that helps you save time, reduce food waste, and eat healthier
• A community of home cooks sharing recipes

Best for: 

Everyday cooks who find their recipes on social media and want a smarter, more intuitive way to organize and plan meals.

Just try it – you’ll love it:

BigOven

BigOven is one of the older names in the recipe app world. It’s packed with over 1 million recipes and lets users add their own. You can clip recipes from websites, plan meals, and generate grocery lists. It’s a solid, no-fuss option for people who just want a digital recipe box.

Best for: 

People who enjoy browsing lots of recipes and need basic meal planning tools.

ManageMeals

ManageMeals is built for structure. If you’re someone who thrives on order and likes to know what you’re eating every night of the week, this app might be your thing. It has strong calendar-based planning tools, helps reduce food waste, and supports batch cooking.

Best for: 

Planners who love detailed scheduling and structure in the kitchen.

Comparing the Features

Meal Planning Tools

• ReciMe: We designed our meal planner to be flexible and easy to use, whether you’re planning just a few dinners or mapping out the entire week. Our goal was to create something that actually works with your real-life routine – not against it. With just a few taps, you can organize meals, and even connect your plan directly to your grocery list.
• BigOven: BigOven includes the basics when it comes to meal planning. You can add meals to your calendar and link them to recipes, but the tools aren’t as dynamic or user-friendly as some newer apps.
• ManageMeals: ManageMeals is all about structure. It offers detailed meal planning tools, making it a solid choice for people who like batch cooking and tightly organized meal schedules.

Recipe Discovery and Community

• ReciMe: We know that a lot of recipe inspiration comes from social media these days, so we made sure you can save recipes directly from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. You can even save from screenshots or photos. And if you’re looking for fresh ideas, you can explore recipes shared by our active community on Instagram and Facebook.
• BigOven: BigOven has a large built-in recipe library with categories and filters, plus the option to upload and share your own. It also has a community feature.
• ManageMeals: ManageMeals doesn’t focus on recipe discovery. You’ll need to manually add your own recipes, which can take time if you like browsing and saving new ones often.

Grocery List and Pantry Management

• ReciMe: We wanted grocery shopping to be as stress-free as possible, so our app automatically creates smart grocery lists from your meal plan. Items are sorted by supermarket aisle or by recipe to save you time in the store.
• BigOven: BigOven generates grocery lists based on your chosen recipes. It’s simple and works well for basic needs, though it doesn’t offer smart sorting or advanced list tools.
• ManageMeals: ManageMeals offers solid grocery planning features that tie in with its meal planner. It helps keep your pantry organized and reduces waste by tracking what you use.

User Experience and Design

• ReciMe: We’ve worked hard to make ReciMe feel clean, modern, and easy to use. Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, the interface is simple and intuitive. Every feature is designed to save you time and make cooking more enjoyable, from searching recipes to checking off your grocery list.
• BigOven: While still functional, BigOven’s interface hasn’t changed much over the years and can feel a bit dated. It gets the job done, but it may not be the most seamless experience.
• ManageMeals: ManageMeals has a minimalist, no-frills interface. It’s focused on function over style, which works well if you’re looking for something straightforward without extra visual flair.

Subscription Options

• ReciMe: We offer a 7-day free trial so you can explore everything ReciMe has to offer. After that, it’s a paid subscription – but most of our users tell us it’s totally worth it. You’re getting a full recipe organizer, smart grocery lists, and a personalized meal planner all in one place. With the free version of ReciMe, you can save up to 8 recipes. Even without a subscription, you’ll still have access to features like our smart grocery list, meal planner, and cookbooks.
• BigOven: BigOven provides a free version with ads and a limited feature set. Upgrading to a paid plan unlocks extra tools like custom folders and more recipe uploads.
• ManageMeals: ManageMeals has a free plan with basic functionality and an optional upgrade for pro features. The premium version is a good fit for those who meal prep often or manage food for a household.

Pros and Cons of Each App

ReciMe

As the creators of ReciMe, we built the app to be a complete solution for everyday home cooks. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to save recipes from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. You can even save from screenshots or photos, which is a game-changer for anyone who gets inspiration on the go. Our smart grocery lists are another highlight, automatically organizing ingredients by aisle or recipe to make shopping easier. Plus, our community of home cooks adds a personal, relatable touch you won’t find in most apps.

That said, ReciMe is a premium product. After the 7-day free trial, a subscription is required for unlimited access. The free version allows you to save up to 8 recipes, but you can still use key features like the smart grocery list, meal planner, and cookbooks without paying. For users who only want a simple digital recipe book without extra tools, ReciMe’s full feature set might feel like more than they need.

BigOven

BigOven has been around for a while, and its huge recipe library is still a major plus. It’s great if you like browsing a wide variety of dishes and need simple tools to plan meals or generate a grocery list. For casual cooks who want a no-fuss app, BigOven still holds up.

However, the user interface hasn’t kept up with modern design trends. It feels a bit outdated, and the experience can be clunky at times. Some of the more useful features, like custom folders or recipe uploads beyond a limit, are locked behind a paywall, which might be a drawback for more serious users.

ManageMeals

ManageMeals is ideal for users who love structure. It’s especially helpful for detailed weekly planning and reducing food waste. If you enjoy batch cooking or sticking to a schedule, ManageMeals has the tools to support that style of cooking.

On the flip side, it lacks built-in recipe discovery. You’ll need to manually import or enter your own recipes, which can be time-consuming. It also doesn’t offer community features or social integrations, so it feels more functional than creative or social.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing the right app really comes down to your personal cooking style and how you like to stay organized in the kitchen.

If you’re like most of us and find recipes while scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest, ReciMe is probably your best bet. We designed ReciMe to meet you where you already are. You can save recipes from your favorite social apps, screenshots, or even photos. Then you can organize them, build your grocery list, and plan your meals all in one place. It’s perfect for everyday cooks who want to simplify their routine without giving up inspiration.

If you’re someone who just wants a simple recipe keeper with a few planning tools, BigOven is a solid, no-pressure choice. It’s free to use, has a huge recipe library, and works well for casual meal planning. If you don’t need anything fancy and just want a spot to collect recipes and build a basic grocery list, BigOven gets the job done.

If you’re the kind of cook who thrives on structure, loves prepping meals for the week, or wants to reduce food waste by planning ahead, ManageMeals might be your go-to. It’s built for efficiency and control. While it doesn’t focus much on recipe discovery, it really shines when it comes to helping you stay organized and make the most of what you have at home.

At the end of the day, it’s all about what makes cooking easier and more enjoyable for you. Think about where your current routine feels messy or stressful, and pick the app that helps you fix that first.

Conclusion

All three apps help make cooking at home easier, but they each shine in different ways. Think about what’s most frustrating about your current setup: whether it’s scattered recipes, unplanned meals, or last-minute grocery runs, and pick the app that solves that problem best.

No matter which one you go with, you’re already taking a step toward less stress and better meals. Happy cooking!

FAQs