If you're reading this, you probably already know: abillion is gone.
On March 23, 2026, the platform that helped millions of people discover vegan restaurants and products officially shut its doors. After raising $13M+ in funding and building a community of 28 million members, abillion couldn't survive the funding winter hitting plant-based startups.
It's a real loss. abillion did things nobody else was doing — product reviews (not just restaurants), charity donations with every review, and coverage in cities that bigger platforms ignored. The r/vegan community's reaction says it all: people are genuinely mourning this one.
Stay ahead of plant-based trends
Industry insights and market moves — delivered weekly to food-industry insiders.
100% free · Every Tuesday · No spam ever
But you still need to find good vegan food. So where do you go now?
Why abillion Users Are Moving to VeganBites
VeganBites was built for exactly this moment — not because we planned for abillion to shut down, but because we saw the same problems abillion was trying to solve:
🌍 Real Global Coverage
9,800+ verified restaurants across 233 cities in 43 countries. Not just New York and London — we have listings in Taipei, São Paulo, Bangalore, Warsaw, and hundreds of cities that other platforms skip.💰 Free. Forever. No "Premium" Tier Coming.
abillion users in the Reddit thread worried about platforms monetizing their community. We get it. VeganBites is free to use — for diners and for restaurants. No paywall for "advanced" features. No subscription to see full reviews. No VC pressure to start charging.✅ Verified Listings Only
Every restaurant on VeganBites is verified as an active, operating business. No ghost listings. No restaurants that closed two years ago still showing up (a problem both HappyCow and the late abillion had).🗺️ A Map That Actually Works
Search by cuisine, price range, dietary preference (fully vegan, vegetarian, plant-curious), and listing type (restaurants, cafés, grocery stores). Filter down to exactly what you're looking for.🔌 Open API for Developers
Building a vegan app, travel tool, or community project? VeganBites has a public API — something abillion never offered. The vegan ecosystem shouldn't depend on one platform.What abillion Had That We're Building
We won't pretend VeganBites has everything abillion had on day one. Here's where we stand:
| Feature | abillion | VeganBites |
|---------|----------|------------|
| Restaurant listings | ✅ | ✅ 9,800+ verified |
| Product reviews | ✅ | 🔜 Coming soon |
| Charity donations per review | ✅ ($2.8M donated) | 🔜 Exploring partnerships |
| Global coverage | ✅ 183 countries | ✅ 43 countries (growing fast) |
| User reviews & ratings | ✅ | 🔜 Coming soon |
| Free to use | ✅ | ✅ Forever |
| Mobile app | ✅ | 📱 Mobile-responsive web app |
| Open API | ❌ | ✅ |
| Verified/active listings only | ❌ | ✅ |
We're honest about what's not here yet. But we're shipping fast, and the foundation — verified data, global coverage, and a commitment to staying free — is solid.
The Bigger Picture: Why Vegan Platforms Keep Dying
abillion raised $13M. HappyCow sold to non-vegan VCs and is now in chaos (listings going stale, staff fired, community alienated). Why does this keep happening?
The VC model doesn't work for community platforms. Investors want 10x returns. Community platforms serve their users, not their shareholders. The moment those interests diverge — and they always do — the platform suffers.
VeganBites takes a different approach. Restaurants can claim and manage their free listing. Down the road, optional paid features for businesses (analytics, promoted placement) fund the platform — but the core directory stays free for everyone.
As one Reddit user put it about HappyCow's acquisition: "I'm kind of grossed out that people are selling platforms like HappyCow did — it should be more of a public good."
We agree.
How to Get Started
- Browse restaurants: veganbites.xyz — search by city, cuisine, or just hit "Near Me"
- Claim your restaurant: Own a vegan spot? Claim your free listing and keep your info current
- Spread the word: Know other abillion users looking for an alternative? Send them here.
abillion served the vegan community well for 8 years. We're picking up where they left off — and building something that lasts.
— The VeganBites Team
FAQ
Is VeganBites really a free abillion alternative?
Yes. VeganBites is 100% free for diners — no paywall, no premium tier, no hidden fees. Restaurant owners can also claim and manage their listings for free.What happened to abillion?
abillion shut down on March 23, 2026, after 8 years of operation. Despite raising $13M+ in funding and building a community of 28 million members, the platform couldn't survive the funding downturn affecting plant-based startups.Can I transfer my abillion data to VeganBites?
abillion's data is archived for approximately 6 months (until September 2026). We're exploring options to help former abillion users preserve their contributions.Does VeganBites have product reviews like abillion did?
Not yet — restaurant discovery is our primary focus. Product reviews are on our roadmap and will be coming in a future update.How many restaurants does VeganBites have?
VeganBites currently has 9,800+ verified vegan and plant-based restaurant listings across 233 cities in 43 countries, with new restaurants added every week.Related: