Best apps to save money on food as a student
Student budgets are tighter than ever. Between rent, tuition, and the cost of living, food is often the first thing that gets squeezed. But a growing wave of apps is making it easier than ever to eat well for less, rescuing surplus food from restaurants and bakeries, offering discounted near-expiry groceries, and connecting neighbours with food to spare. We've rounded up the best ones, wherever you're studying.
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1/3 Of all the food produced globally is wasted every year |
70% Some students say food costs are a major financial concern |
£5+ Average savings per meal rescue bag vs. full price |
"Rescuing one surplus bag a week can save a student over £200 a year, without compromising on quality."
Surplus food rescue apps
These are the closest to a 'magic deal' button. Restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and supermarkets list their unsold food at the end of the day, and you snap it up for a fraction of the original price.
Global · UK · Europe · USA · Canada
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🛍 |
Too Good To Go [Global] [Free] The original surplus food rescue app The gold standard for food rescue. Too Good To Go connects you with local restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and supermarkets selling 'Magic Bags' of unsold food, typically worth 2-3x what you pay. You won't know exactly what's inside, but the quality is always fresh, and the savings are real. Operating in 17+ countries, it's likely available wherever you're studying. Student tip: Check the app at lunchtime and again after 5 pm — new bags drop when businesses know they won't sell out. |
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♻️ |
OLIO [Global] [Free] Your neighbourhood's free food board OLIO is part food rescue, part community notice board. People and businesses post food they no longer need, yours to collect for free. It also works for non-food items like furniture, clothes, and kitchenware. Perfect for students moving into a new flat and needing to stock up on everything from tinned goods to pots and pans. Student tip: List your own leftover ingredients before they expire; it builds goodwill, and your neighbours return the favour. |
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⭐ |
Karma [UK] [Europe] [Free] Surplus food, but you choose exactly what Think Too Good To Go, but with a menu. Karma lists each item individually, so you can pick precisely what you want rather than taking a surprise bag. Started in Sweden and now active in London, Brighton, and parts of Europe, a great option if you have dietary restrictions that make surprise bags risky. Student tip: Great for picking up single portions from restaurant partners at the end of their lunch service. |
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🌿 |
Phenix [Europe] [Free] France's answer to food waste Popular across France, Belgium, and expanding into other European countries, Phenix connects students with unsold food from supermarkets and restaurants. If you're studying in France or on an Erasmus there, it's well worth downloading alongside Too Good To Go. Student tip: Combine Phenix with Too Good To Go for maximum coverage of local restaurants and shops. |
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🍽️ |
ResQ Club [Europe] [Free] Surplus meals across Northern and Central Europe Based in Finland and operating across Germany, Poland, and the Nordics, ResQ Club works very similarly to Too Good To Go. It's worth having both apps installed if you're studying in Central or Northern Europe, together they cover far more restaurants than either does alone. Student tip: Useful during Erasmus trips to Helsinki, Warsaw, or Munich, where coverage is strongest. |
Discounted grocery apps
These apps focus on near-expiry or surplus supermarket products; you know what you're getting, and savings can hit 50% or more on everyday staples.
USA · Canada
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🛒 |
Flashfood [USA] [Canada] [Free] Supermarket deals on food near its best-before date Flashfood partners with major grocery chains, including Loblaws, Meijer, and Stop & Shop, to offer meat, produce, dairy, and bakery items at up to 50% off, simply because they're approaching their best-before date. Unlike Too Good To Go, you can see exactly what you're buying before you commit. Pay in the app and pick up from a designated zone in-store. Student tip: Browse the app on Sunday evenings when stores discount their biggest weekly surpluses ahead of the new week. |
UK
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🏪 |
Gander [UK] [Free] Find in-store markdowns near you Gander maps in-store reduced sticker items from local supermarkets in real time. Rather than wandering the aisles hoping to spot the yellow sticker section, Gander tells you what's been marked down and where. Perfect for UK students who know that the yellow sticker aisle at Tesco or Sainsbury's is pure gold late in the evening. Student tip: Pair Gander with a late-evening trip to the supermarket; reductions typically happen between 7–9 pm. |
Imperfect & surplus grocery delivery
These services deliver groceries that supermarkets reject for cosmetic reasons, such as wonky carrots, oversized apples, and misshapen peppers. The taste is identical. The price isn't.
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🥕 |
Misfits Market [USA] Wonky produce at serious discounts Misfits Market delivers 'imperfect' fruit, veg, and pantry staples at significant discounts compared to supermarket prices. The produce is perfectly edible, but it just didn't meet the cosmetic standards that supermarkets demand. A good option for US students who cook at home and want to cut their weekly grocery bill. Student tip: Split a box with flatmates to hit the minimum order and share the savings further. |
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🌱 |
Imperfect Foods [USA] Sustainable grocery delivery for less Similar to Misfits Market but with a wider range, including pantry staples, snacks, and dairy alongside fresh produce. Imperfect Foods sources surplus and cosmetically imperfect items directly from farms, passing the savings on to you with weekly delivery to your door. Student tip: Customise your weekly box to avoid food you won't use; you're charged for what you keep, not a fixed selection. |
5 tips to get the most out of these apps
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01 |
Stack apps together |
Too Good To Go + OLIO + Gander used together can dramatically cut your weekly spend. They cover different types of deals. |
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02 |
Turn on notifications |
Popular bags sell out fast. Enable push alerts so you're notified the moment a new deal drops near you. |
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03 |
Plan around your bags |
Surprise bags are great value, cook what's in them the same day. Don't let rescued food go to waste. |
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04 |
Check dietary options |
Many apps let you filter for vegetarian, vegan, or allergen-free options. Always check before collecting. |
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05 |
Share the savings |
Get your whole flat on OLIO. When one person has leftover bread or a glut of tomatoes, everyone wins. |
The bottom line
You don't have to choose between eating well and staying within your student budget. Apps like Too Good To Go, OLIO, Flashfood, and Karma are actively fighting food waste, and they're paying you (in savings) to help. Start with whichever is most active in your area, build the habit, and your food bills will feel the difference within weeks.
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