AnyList Complete alternatives: 5 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
A household recipe server with meal plans and grocery lists; you supply the server and patience.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installDocker Compose
dataRecipes, users, groups, meal plans, and shopping-list records live in SQLite by default or PostgreSQL when configured; recipe images and application assets live in the mounted data directory, and Mealie's backup/export archives keep portable copies of the database and media.
the catch vs AnyList CompleteMealie shares recipes and shopping lists, but its web-first recipe-server workflow is slower for aisle-side list entry, notifications, Siri/Alexa capture, and offline mobile use than AnyList.
setupA non-expert needs Docker, persistent volumes, an update/backup routine, and usually a domain plus HTTPS; importing recipe sites also produces parsing failures that must be cleaned up manually.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Meal plans and groceries run through a tiny home ERP, because apparently the fridge needed one.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installDocker container/Compose, or install the PHP application on a web server
dataProducts, stock, chores, recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and history live in Grocy's SQLite database inside its data directory; configuration, uploaded pictures, and generated files are stored alongside it on the host volume.
the catch vs AnyList CompleteGrocy is vastly more complex than a grocery list and lacks AnyList's fast native capture, voice-assistant integration, location-aware reminders, and polished household mobile sync.
setupThe first obstacle is deploying and exposing a PHP/Docker web app; the larger practical hurdle is configuring locations, units, products, barcodes, and household routines before its ERP-like screens become useful.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Shared recipes, meal plans, and shopping lists with no recipe cap; the polish budget is smaller.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup at RecipeSage, or Docker Compose for self-hosting
dataThe hosted service stores recipes, images, labels, meal plans, shopping lists, households, and account data in RecipeSage's infrastructure; self-hosting keeps the relational application database and uploaded media in operator-controlled containers/volumes, with built-in export for portability.
the catch vs AnyList CompleteRecipeSage covers shared recipes, plans, and lists, but its mobile polish, instant grocery entry, voice integration, offline behavior, and location reminders are weaker than AnyList's.
setupThe public service has no setup blocker; self-hosting adds Docker, a database, mail, storage, HTTPS, and backups, while both versions have less refined native-mobile interaction than Paprika or AnyList.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Shared recipes, meal plans, and grocery lists for $0; Samsung gets the kitchen data instead.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installInstall the mobile app or use the web app, then create a Samsung Food account
dataSaved and imported recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, household-sharing records, profile data, and recommendations live in Samsung Food's cloud; the internal storage format is not disclosed.
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs AnyList CompleteSamsung Food is free and polished, but ads and recommendation tracking replace AnyList's focused paid utility, and its grocery capture and voice/reminder workflow are less disciplined.
facts verified 2026-08-10
The full recipe-plan-shopping loop; free for personal self-hosting, but the license is not actually open source.
runsyour server
installDocker Compose with PostgreSQL; manual Django deployment is also documented
dataRecipes, users, meal plans, shopping lists, books, and permissions live in PostgreSQL in the standard Docker deployment; uploaded images and static/media files live in mounted volumes, and recipe data can be exported through Tandoor's export tools.
the catch vs AnyList CompleteTandoor replaces a tiny household sync service with a Docker/PostgreSQL web app and lacks AnyList's frictionless native list entry, voice capture, reminders, and managed reliability.
setupThe first obstacle is a multi-container Django/PostgreSQL deployment with secrets, volumes, HTTPS, email, and backups; its Commons-Clause-modified AGPL license is also not an OSI-approved open-source license.
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
AnyList FreeShared grocery lists are free; recipes and meal planning are exactly what Complete sells.
KitchenOwlPolished enough to tempt you; the project still labels itself Public Alpha.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mealie | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 12,900 | 2026-08 |
| Grocy | MIT | docker to self-host | web, windows, self-hosted | 9,358 | 2026-07 |
| RecipeSage | AGPL-3.0 | they host it | web, ios, android, browser-extension | — | — |
| Samsung Food | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android, browser-extension | — | — |
| Tandoor Recipes | free (closed) | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | — | — |
People still pay for AnyList Complete because household apps survive when every family member actually uses them and the data stays current across devices. The recurring cost buys multi-user conflicts, reminders, notifications, imports, barcode data, smart-home APIs, backups, and long-term maintenance, not just the visible interface. The recorded subscription totals $9.96 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to AnyList Complete?
Yes: Mealie, Grocy, RecipeSage and 2 more. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own AnyList Complete?
Our verdict is YES. The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For AnyList Complete, manage shared grocery lists, recipes, and meal plans with a simple household sync server. The hard boundary is excellent mobile capture, retailer integrations, voice assistants, and polished sharing, plus sync, integrations, and household adoption. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the AnyList Complete build guide.
