Review Insights · App Store
eMeals - Healthy Meal Plans
eMeals, Inc. · 52,064 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
52,064 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 20 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"trial"
8 negative reviews mention this · 40% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No flavors. Recipes should include seasonings! Everything I tried during my trial was next to flavorless before I added a bunch to it. The technical functionality of the app and being able to easily build your shopping list based on recipes for the we…" - marissakaye21
2
"recipes"
7 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Used to be great…. …but now I can’t navigate to a new screen without a dang pop up ad for Walmart. One of the reasons I PAY for apps is so that the ads are blocked! PLEASE make this stop. I won’t be renewing my subscription if this is how it’s going to be. EM…" - Colesmom04
3
"service"
7 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No flavors. Recipes should include seasonings! Everything I tried during my trial was next to flavorless before I added a bunch to it. The technical functionality of the app and being able to easily build your shopping list based on recipes for the we…" - marissakaye21
4
"charged"
7 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Just use Pinterest. I have been using the same meal plan app for years but wanted to try a little variety. I saw this one, so I subscribed to the free trial. If you’re going to create a meal planning app, include breakfast, lunch and snacks in the overall subs…" - MBH234
5
"subscription"
6 negative reviews mention this · 30% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Used to be great…. …but now I can’t navigate to a new screen without a dang pop up ad for Walmart. One of the reasons I PAY for apps is so that the ads are blocked! PLEASE make this stop. I won’t be renewing my subscription if this is how it’s going to be. EM…" - Colesmom04
6
"week"
6 negative reviews mention this · 30% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No flavors. Recipes should include seasonings! Everything I tried during my trial was next to flavorless before I added a bunch to it. The technical functionality of the app and being able to easily build your shopping list based on recipes for the we…" - marissakaye21
7
"refund"
6 negative reviews mention this · 30% of all complaints
★★★★★ "FREE TRIAL SCAM. I used the free trial for about 10 mins before I realized that the app wasn’t going to work for my needs. Which is fine, however they charged my card immediately and refused to refund my money! BEWARE! If this happens to you don’t bother co…" - NHIGGZ
8
"meal"
5 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Used to be great…. …but now I can’t navigate to a new screen without a dang pop up ad for Walmart. One of the reasons I PAY for apps is so that the ads are blocked! PLEASE make this stop. I won’t be renewing my subscription if this is how it’s going to be. EM…" - Colesmom04
9
"free"
5 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Just use Pinterest. I have been using the same meal plan app for years but wanted to try a little variety. I saw this one, so I subscribed to the free trial. If you’re going to create a meal planning app, include breakfast, lunch and snacks in the overall subs…" - MBH234
10
"year"
5 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Just use Pinterest. I have been using the same meal plan app for years but wanted to try a little variety. I saw this one, so I subscribed to the free trial. If you’re going to create a meal planning app, include breakfast, lunch and snacks in the overall subs…" - MBH234
11
"based"
4 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Used to be great…. …but now I can’t navigate to a new screen without a dang pop up ad for Walmart. One of the reasons I PAY for apps is so that the ads are blocked! PLEASE make this stop. I won’t be renewing my subscription if this is how it’s going to be. EM…" - Colesmom04
12
"didn"
4 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Just use Pinterest. I have been using the same meal plan app for years but wanted to try a little variety. I saw this one, so I subscribed to the free trial. If you’re going to create a meal planning app, include breakfast, lunch and snacks in the overall subs…" - MBH234
📋 All 20 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Unusable
The app will add dozens of random ingredients to the shopping list. I had 9 12 oz bags of broccoli when I needed 3. 9 bell peppers when I needed 3. The list goes on and on. It’s to the point where it’s completely unusable. I reached out for help and was told I need to double check the list. But it’s very time I order that there’s a huge problem.
Cost
This looks like a great service, but I had to sign up for a 14 day trial before I know Price options. I had to go to Google and get all the information about what you offer.hiding your cost until you’re committed always makes me leery.
Just use Pinterest
I have been using the same meal plan app for years but wanted to try a little variety. I saw this one, so I subscribed to the free trial. If you’re going to create a meal planning app, include breakfast, lunch and snacks in the overall subscription. Or just in the 2-week trial. I was charged $39.99 just to look at the breakfast options. Not only did this frustrate but the app was glitchy. The search didn’t work and recipes were blank.
FREE TRIAL SCAM
I used the free trial for about 10 mins before I realized that the app wasn’t going to work for my needs. Which is fine, however they charged my card immediately and refused to refund my money! BEWARE! If this happens to you don’t bother contacting these people, rather contact Apple who gave me a full refund immediately. So to sum up: this company could charge you before the free trial is up and the customer service sucks!
No refunds period
They don’t have a reminder that your subscription is coming up, and they will not refund even if you email and explain the mistake. I got charged for another year and havent used it for the majority of my original year purchase. I’m sure they can see that. Unsatisfied with customer service.
Lots of issues
Love the concept but we have been having a lot of app issues. Such as 1) meals not corresponding to the right week. They don’t update and we get the same meal plans over and over. 2) ingredients are doubled, literally showing 2 lines of every ingredient in the recipe. 3) steps to recipe out of order. Had a recipe that said to add all liquid to the pot and let it evaporate as the first step.
No refunds on missed cancellation. Out $65.
A week after realizing I forgot to cancel my yearly subscription I messaged them for a refund but they said no. No refund policy is brutal.
* emailed the response to this review and never received a reply
* emailed the response to this review and never received a reply
Stepping into the unknown
I should’ve known from the low price that this really didn’t include any actual food. It is just a bunch of recipes. You can get so many recipes on the Internet that I feel stupid for paying for recipes.
I thought the feature that let you enter food that you had on hand and it would give you recipes might be helpful. But when I tried it, it gave me recipes that didn’t even include the items that I had on hand! What’s that all about?
I thought the feature that let you enter food that you had on hand and it would give you recipes might be helpful. But when I tried it, it gave me recipes that didn’t even include the items that I had on hand! What’s that all about?
Deceptive practices
The free trial has proven very difficult to cancel. When I signed up- I tried to cancel after my first yea. They allowed cancellation by phone only and I was in hold for almost an hour. I did this and was given a credit. The following year I was billed again. Without any records they said it was not a cancellation credit but a discount and that I was still required to pay for another full year. Evidently they canceled my service again. I’m out over $150 and never used their service more than one month. Consumer protection at its worst.
Continued to charge my card after I canceled
I canceled last year and still received a new charge. No phone number to call the company directly to ask for help online that I could find.
Fake free trial.
It said it would be a 14 day free trial and charged me the full 59.99 right away. Had to dispute with Apple.
Ugh! Don’t do it.
The idea is great. But the app is terrible. I pay the yearly $60 subscription. And every week when the new recipes come out. The app glitches and I can’t see the new recipes. It just gives me the same menu over the only new recipes I’m able to see are the ones that I’ve selected as my meal plan. Sometimes those recipes don’t look appetizing so I want to look at the other meal plans because that’s what I pay the $60 for and it’s the same freaking recipe
Ripoff artist
Sorry sucker no refund! Didn’t get to do the trial and got charged for an entire year of something I won’t use. Customer service says no refund on subscriptions…
Not enough selection
I tried a 2 week subscription and was charged for a whole year for something I haven’t used and won’t use & they refused to refund my money. I looked through the recipes and there aren’t many choices that my family likes. The recipes also don’t have reviews from those who have tried it which would help in selecting. Emeals is a waste of money! Tasty has better recipes, easier to use, has recipe reviews, and is FREE
Poor recipes, not worth it
During the “trial” period it looks like a great idea - don’t be fooled. That’s the maximum recipes you’re going to see. I then tried to get part of my money back when I saw they didn’t provide what was promised and that’s against their policies.
Buyer beware
I am writing this to warn other potential subscribers about a significant lack of transparency regarding this app's pricing. The app prominently advertises a discount via an in-app link; however, please be aware that this discount is not honored if you subscribe through the standard Apple iTunes/App Store billing process.
The app encourages you to subscribe, but fails to explain-either on the sales screen or during the checkout flow-that the advertised "special offer" only applies to direct web-based billing. If you use the seamless Apple integration (which most users naturally do for security and convenience), you will be charged the full, non-discounted price.
When I contacted customer service to rectify the overcharge, the experience was disappointing. I was essentially told I was "out of luck" because I chose the Apple payment method. They offered no credit, no partial refund, and no way to transition the account to the discounted rate without jumping through manual cancellation hoops.
The app encourages you to subscribe, but fails to explain-either on the sales screen or during the checkout flow-that the advertised "special offer" only applies to direct web-based billing. If you use the seamless Apple integration (which most users naturally do for security and convenience), you will be charged the full, non-discounted price.
When I contacted customer service to rectify the overcharge, the experience was disappointing. I was essentially told I was "out of luck" because I chose the Apple payment method. They offered no credit, no partial refund, and no way to transition the account to the discounted rate without jumping through manual cancellation hoops.
Used to be great…
…but now I can’t navigate to a new screen without a dang pop up ad for Walmart. One of the reasons I PAY for apps is so that the ads are blocked! PLEASE make this stop. I won’t be renewing my subscription if this is how it’s going to be. EMeals, you’re selling out, and it is starting to show.
I do like that now you can (somewhat) customize the plans based on foods you prefer, but even the recipes aren’t as appetizing as they used to be. They used to keep it simple, and now it’s like they’re trying to please everyone, where they need to stick to what they’re good at. Meal plans and grocery lists for busy families, not Top Chef.
I do like that now you can (somewhat) customize the plans based on foods you prefer, but even the recipes aren’t as appetizing as they used to be. They used to keep it simple, and now it’s like they’re trying to please everyone, where they need to stick to what they’re good at. Meal plans and grocery lists for busy families, not Top Chef.
No flavors
Recipes should include seasonings! Everything I tried during my trial was next to flavorless before I added a bunch to it.
The technical functionality of the app and being able to easily build your shopping list based on recipes for the week is great! The recipes just need a lot of work before I will pay and fully subscribe to this service.
The technical functionality of the app and being able to easily build your shopping list based on recipes for the week is great! The recipes just need a lot of work before I will pay and fully subscribe to this service.
Aggressively push alcohol
It recommends alcoholic drinks in your meal plan, and then it also automatically adds suggested wine pairings to your grocery list based on the meals you added. No, you cannot turn either of these "features" off.
Unhappy
Confusing App as to what you are signing up for and $$$
Sentiment summary
91%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
6%
Negative (1-2★)