iLunch vs. MealTrain.com
Both iLunch and MealTrain.com let you organize meals for someone for free. The main differences: MealTrain.com's free classic page allows one volunteer per day and asks each helper to create an account to book, and rides or multiple meals per day need its $10 Meal Train Plus upgrade. iLunch is free with no accounts, and includes ride trains and kids carpools.
What MealTrain.com offers
- A free classic Meal Train page that allows one volunteer per day.
- Meal Train Plus, a $10 upgrade per page, for multiple meals per day plus childcare, errands, rides, dog walking, and more.
- Helpers need a MealTrain.com account (Google, Facebook, or email and password) to book a date. Viewing the page, donating, or sending a gift card does not need one.
- Gift cards and an optional donation fund for people who can't cook.
- Updates with photos, and email reminders a week and a day before a booked date.
- Pages are private by default and shared by private link.
What iLunch offers
- Free for organizers and helpers, with no ads and no paid tiers.
- No accounts and no app: everything runs on links you share by text or email.
- Meal trains, ride trains (drivers for appointments), and kids carpools in one place.
- Helpers who leave an email get automatic reminders before their day.
- Helpers who can't cook can send an Uber Eats gift card instead.
Which should you choose?
Pick MealTrain.com if you want the best-known meal train brand, a built-in donation fund, and photo updates, and your helpers don't mind signing in.
Pick iLunch if you want helpers to claim a day straight from a text with no account, or the same person also needs rides to appointments, without paying for an upgrade.
Common questions
Is MealTrain.com free?
MealTrain.com says its classic page, which allows one volunteer per day, is free to organize. Meal Train Plus, for multiple activities per day and support beyond meals, is a $10 upgrade per page.
Do helpers need an account on MealTrain.com?
Yes, to book a date. MealTrain.com says each participant needs their own sign-in to book, though anyone with the link can view the calendar, donate, or send a gift card.
Is iLunch really free?
Yes. iLunch is free for organizers and helpers, with no ads, no paid tiers, and no accounts. Ride trains and kids carpools are included.
Can I organize rides on either site?
On iLunch, ride trains are a free, dedicated feature. On MealTrain.com, rides are part of the paid Meal Train Plus upgrade.
Keep reading
Sources
Competitor details come from each company's own website, checked October 16, 2026. Plans and prices change, so confirm on their site.
- MealTrain.com features
- MealTrain.com help: fees
- MealTrain.com help: Meal Train Plus
- MealTrain.com help: participant accounts