Customer Reviews (500)

Kick queen • 2025-03-17T05:58:33-07:00

I love eMeals! I love the variety of meals and the fact that the also provide a side dish with each recipe. It makes meal planning so easy. I also love the easy of placing grocery orders.

sjenrette • 2025-03-16T10:06:01-07:00

I’ve used emeals for some time now! A colleague recommended the app and I was hooked. The meals are nice and I love now how I can choose a variety now and not just my week to week. The best part is that I can save other recipes here and throw everything in my grocery cart with Walmart/Kroger! This has taken the stress out of meal planning and grocery shopping!

aeaston15 • 2025-03-15T17:58:28-07:00

Even though I’ve paid for the subscription I couldn’t access my account after March. Not good business.

Summary of Key Insights

eMeals is generally well-received, with users praising its convenience in meal planning, grocery shopping, and the variety of recipes offered. The app's integration with grocery delivery services like Walmart and Kroger is a significant strength. However, recurring issues related to customer service (specifically regarding refunds and cancellation policies), app bugs, and recipe quality inconsistencies detract from the overall positive experience. The overall sentiment is positive, but there are clearly defined areas for improvement.

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the average rating is approximately 4.2 stars.
  • Key Strengths: Convenience, grocery integration, recipe variety.
  • Key Weaknesses: Customer service, app bugs (syncing, saving, searching), recipe quality, lack of allergy considerations, auto-renewal issues.
  • Sentiment: Primarily positive, but with significant negative sentiment related to customer service and app reliability.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star (66.8%), 4-star (10.6%), 3-star (4%), 2-star (3.4%), 1-star (15.2%).

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Varied, spanning several years, but with a concentration of recent reviews.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (qualitative assessment of review tone)
    • Keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases)
    • Thematic analysis (grouping reviews based on common topics and issues)
    • Quantitative analysis (calculating star rating distribution and average rating)

Key User Pain Points

  • Customer Service Issues: Numerous users reported difficulties cancelling subscriptions and obtaining refunds, even when cancelling shortly after auto-renewal. This is a significant source of negative sentiment.
  • App Bugs:
    • Syncing problems between devices (Android and iOS)
    • Saving recipes not working correctly
    • Search function failing to find recipes even with exact titles
    • Grocery list integration errors (incorrect items, missing items, duplicates, issues with specific stores like HEB and Kroger)
    • App crashes and loading issues
  • Recipe Quality Inconsistencies: Some users find the recipes lacking in flavor, repetitive, or using too many processed ingredients. Accuracy of instructions and prep times is also questioned.
  • Auto-Renewal Without Notification: Users complain about the lack of reminder emails or in-app notifications before subscription renewals, leading to unexpected charges.
  • Lack of Allergy Considerations: The app lacks robust filtering options for allergies, making it difficult for users with dietary restrictions to find suitable recipes.
  • iPad Incompatibility: The app is not optimized for iPad use.
  • Inability to Print Recipes Easily: Some users want an easier way to print recipes.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Allergy Filtering: More comprehensive allergy filtering options in meal plan selection.
  • Recipe Ratings/Reviews: User ratings and reviews for recipes to gauge quality and taste.
  • iPad Optimization: A dedicated iPad version of the app.
  • Calendar Integration: Ability to schedule specific meals for specific dates.
  • Nutritional Information Improvements: Clearer indication of serving sizes for nutritional information and more detailed nutrition facts.
  • Consolidated Shopping Lists: Improved shopping list consolidation to avoid duplicate entries for the same ingredient.
  • Improved Recipe Customization: More options to customize recipes, such as substituting ingredients or adjusting portion sizes.
  • Option to Disable Alcohol Recommendations: A toggle to disable automatic addition of wine/drink pairings to shopping lists.
  • More Variety of Meals: Some users want more variety in meal plans.
  • Offline Access to Recipes: Some users want to access recipes without an internet connection.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Convenience: Users consistently praise the app's convenience in simplifying meal planning and grocery shopping.
  • Grocery Integration: The seamless integration with grocery delivery services (Walmart, Kroger, Instacart, Shipt, AmazonFresh, Albertsons, Safeway, H-E-B) is a major selling point.
  • Variety of Recipes: The app offers a wide range of meal plans and recipes, catering to different dietary needs and preferences.
  • Time-Saving: Users report significant time savings in meal planning and grocery shopping.
  • Easy to Use: The app is generally considered user-friendly and easy to navigate.
  • Cost-Effective: Many users find the app to be a cost-effective alternative to meal kit services.
  • Ability to Add Own Recipes: The ability to add and save personal recipes is a valued feature.
  • Promotes Healthy Eating: The app encourages users to try new foods and maintain a healthy diet.
  • Reduces Food Waste: Users report less food waste due to planned shopping.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Improve Customer Service: Implement a more flexible refund policy, especially for cancellations made shortly after auto-renewal. Provide clearer communication regarding renewal dates and cancellation procedures. Ensure timely responses to customer inquiries.
  • Address App Bugs: Prioritize fixing the reported bugs related to syncing, saving, searching, and grocery list integration. Conduct thorough testing after each update.
  • Enhance Recipe Quality Control: Implement a system for recipe quality control, including user reviews/ratings and professional editing. Focus on accuracy of instructions, ingredient lists, and prep times.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Allergy Filtering: Add more robust allergy filtering options to meal plan selection.
  • Optimize for iPad: Develop a dedicated iPad version of the app.
  • Improve Shopping List Consolidation: Consolidate shopping list items to avoid duplicates and improve the overall shopping experience.
  • Add a Calendar Feature: Allow users to schedule specific meals for specific dates.
  • Provide Better Nutritional Information: Give clearer indication of serving sizes for nutritional information.

Low Priority:

  • Add Option to Disable Alcohol Recommendations: Implement a toggle to disable automatic addition of wine/drink pairings to shopping lists.
  • Improve Ability to Print Recipes Easily
  • Offline Access to Recipes

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Recipe Customization: Develop an AI-powered feature that allows users to easily customize recipes based on their dietary needs, preferences, and available ingredients.
  • Community-Based Recipe Platform: Create a platform where users can share, rate, and review recipes, fostering a community around meal planning and cooking.
  • Hyperlocal Grocery Integration: Integrate with smaller, local grocery stores and farmers' markets to provide users with access to fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
  • Subscription Box Integration: Partner with subscription box services to offer seamless integration of ingredients and recipes.
  • Smart Kitchen Integration: Integrate with smart kitchen appliances to automate cooking processes and provide real-time recipe guidance.

Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Complaints about Customer Service: The consistent complaints about customer service and auto-renewal issues suggest a systemic problem that needs to be addressed.
  • Importance of Grocery Integration: The seamless integration with grocery delivery services is a key differentiator for eMeals.
  • Desire for Personalization: Users are increasingly looking for personalized experiences, including customized recipes, allergy filtering, and tailored meal plans.
  • Mobile-First Approach: Users primarily interact with the app on their phones, but there is a growing demand for iPad optimization.

Conclusion

eMeals offers a valuable service for busy individuals and families seeking to simplify meal planning and grocery shopping. The app's strengths lie in its convenience, grocery integration, and recipe variety. However, addressing the identified pain points related to customer service, app bugs, and recipe quality is crucial for improving the overall user experience and retaining customers. By prioritizing the recommended actions, eMeals can solidify its position as a leading meal planning solution.

Overall Recommendation: While the app is well-received, addressing the customer service and app reliability issues is critical. Focus on fixing bugs, improving communication about renewals, and implementing a more flexible refund policy.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/emeals-healthy-meal-plans/id575756462?uo=2