How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest ways to get a meal kit box, while HelloFresh and Home Chef offer the widest menus and the most family-friendly options.
- Factor is the best prepared meal service for people who want dinner ready in minutes, while Blue Apron and Green Chef suit cooks who care about recipe quality and sourcing.
- Per-serving prices fall as box size rises, so the cheapest headline price usually assumes the largest box, and shipping is charged separately.
- Skip or pause before a box ships if your week changes, because most services bill on a set weekly cycle and only let you change plans before a cutoff.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 HelloFresh | Widest meal kit menu for families and couples | $10.49 per serving | No |
 Blue Apron | Recipe quality and variety without a subscription lock-in | $7.49 per serving | No |
 Home Chef | Family meal kits with easy prep options | $8.99 per serving | No |
 Factor | Prepared meals ready in minutes | $11.99 per meal | No |
 Green Chef | Organic meal kits with diet-specific plans | $12.99 per serving | No |
 Marley Spoon | Meal kits plus prepared meals in one account | $8.69 per serving | No |
 EveryPlate | Budget meal kits with simple recipes | $5.99 per serving | No |
 Dinnerly | Low-cost meal kits with digital recipes | $5.99 per serving | No |
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The best meal delivery services for busy kitchens
Starting price$10.49 per serving
Free planNo
HelloFresh is the default meal kit for a reason: the menu is large, the plans cover most household types, and the recipes are written for real weeknights rather than for confident cooks alone. Each box includes pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step cards, and most meals take 20 to 40 minutes from box to table. Family-friendly, fit and wholesome, veggie, and quick and easy plans let you filter by taste and schedule, and add-ons such as sides, desserts, and proteins stretch a box further.
Pricing depends on plan size, with larger boxes costing less per serving, and shipping is charged on top of the serving price. HelloFresh delivers across the US except Alaska and Hawaii, so check availability by ZIP code before choosing a plan. If you want the largest menu and the least planning, HelloFresh is the safest first box to try, and its skip and cancel controls make a trial low risk.
What we like- More than 100 weekly recipes
- Family, fit, veggie, and quick plans
- Easy skip and cancel
Watch out for- Shipping is charged separately
- Per-serving price varies widely by plan
- Some recipes repeat across weeks
#2
Blue Apron
Best for: Recipe quality and variety without a subscription lock-in
Visit blueapron.com
Starting price$7.49 per serving
Free planNo
Blue Apron has moved toward flexibility, letting customers order without a standing subscription while still offering a membership for delivery savings. The meal kit menu covers classic, vegetarian, and wellness recipes, and the prepared meals and Assemble and Bake lines suit nights when cooking from scratch is too much. Market add-ons include proteins, sides, breakfast items, and pantry staples, which help fill a weekly shop without a separate grocery trip.
Delivery costs $11.49 per box without Blue Apron+, while the $9.99 per month membership includes delivery and other benefits, so frequent buyers should compare the two. Per-serving prices range from $7.49 for meal kits on larger plans to $14.99 on smaller plans, with prepared meals from $8.99 per serving. For cooks who value recipe craft and want to order when they like rather than every week, Blue Apron is a strong and flexible choice.
What we like- Meal kits, prepared meals, and Assemble and Bake options
- No subscription required
- Wine and market add-ons
Watch out for- Delivery fee applies without Blue Apron+
- Prepared meals cost more per serving
- Menu is smaller than HelloFresh
Starting price$8.99 per serving
Free planNo
Home Chef suits families that want a mix of full cooking and shortcut meals in the same box. Standard meal kits cover classic, vegetarian, and family plans, while oven-ready meals arrive in a tray that goes straight into the oven, and express meals use pre-cooked ingredients for faster prep. The vendor site lists meal kits from $8.99 per serving, with standard meals averaging $9.99 per serving, and minimum weekly orders of $50.95 for the Home Chef plan and $82.91 for the family plan.
Those minimums matter for smaller households, since a two-person box may need extra servings or add-ons to reach the threshold. Shipping is also charged separately, so compare the weekly total rather than the per-serving headline. Home Chef also lets you customize proteins on many recipes, which helps picky eaters and households with mixed diets. For families that want variety without cooking every meal from scratch, Home Chef is a practical middle option.
What we like- Meal kits from $8.99 per serving on the vendor site
- Oven-ready and express options
- Minimum weekly order is clear
Watch out for- Shipping and plan minimums add to the weekly total
- Some plans average closer to $9.99 per serving
- Menu is smaller than HelloFresh
Starting price$11.99 per meal
Free planNo
Factor is the service for people who want dinner without cooking at all. Meals arrive fresh, not frozen, and heat in the microwave in about two minutes, which suits late workdays, single-person households, and anyone who eats at odd hours. The weekly menu covers keto, calorie smart, protein plus, and chef's choice options, and extras include breakfasts, snacks, juices, and smoothies. Plans range from 6 to 18 meals per week, with larger plans costing less per meal.
That convenience costs more per meal than any meal kit here, starting at $11.99 per meal on the largest plan and rising on smaller plans, plus shipping per box. Factor also removes the cooking step entirely, which some buyers will miss, and portion sizes suit one person rather than family sharing. If your main problem is time rather than cost, Factor is the best prepared meal service in this guide.
What we like- Fully prepared fresh meals ready in 2 minutes
- More than 100 weekly meals
- Dietitian-designed options for many diets
Watch out for- Highest per-meal cost here
- Shipping is charged separately
- No cooking involvement for people who enjoy it
Starting price$12.99 per serving
Free planNo
Green Chef is HelloFresh's organic-focused sibling, and the sourcing is the main reason to pay more. Many plans use certified organic produce and proteins, and the menu is built around named diets rather than generic healthy labels, including keto and paleo, plant-based, Mediterranean, and gluten-free options. Recipes take 30 minutes or less in most cases, and a nutrition coaching option adds guidance for buyers who want help beyond the box.
The per-serving price of $12.99 is the highest meal kit price in this guide, and shipping adds to the weekly total, so Green Chef suits buyers who prioritize organic sourcing and diet-specific menus over the lowest cost. The menu is also smaller than HelloFresh, which can mean repeats across weeks for long-term subscribers. For organic shoppers and people following a named diet, Green Chef is the most focused meal kit here.
What we like- Certified organic produce and proteins on many plans
- Keto, paleo, plant-based, and Mediterranean options
- Nutrition coaching
Watch out for- Highest meal kit price here
- Shipping is charged separately
- Smaller menu than HelloFresh
Starting price$8.69 per serving
Free planNo
Marley Spoon, the US brand from the company behind Martha Stewart meal kits, offers a useful mix: classic meal kits for nights you want to cook, plus prepared meals for nights you do not. The weekly menu includes family-friendly, vegetarian, and low-calorie recipes, and market add-ons cover breakfast, snacks, and pantry items. Plans scale from two-person boxes to family boxes, and skip and pause controls are easy to find in the account settings.
Pricing runs from $8.69 per serving on the largest plan to $12.49 per serving on the smallest two-person plan, plus shipping, so small households pay a clear premium. Regional availability also varies, so enter your ZIP code early. Marley Spoon is the best pick for households that want both cooking and ready meals from one service, rather than managing two subscriptions.
What we like- Meal kits and prepared meals together
- Market add-ons
- Flexible skip and pause
Watch out for- Shipping is charged separately
- Per-serving price rises sharply on small plans
- Availability varies by region
Starting price$5.99 per serving
Free planNo
EveryPlate is HelloFresh's budget brand, and the price gap is real: $5.99 per serving on the largest box and $6.99 per serving on a standard two-person, three-meal plan, plus $10.99 shipping per box. Recipes are simpler, with fewer steps and more familiar ingredients, which suits new cooks and families that want dinner without a long ingredient list. The menu still covers more than 35 weekly recipes, including vegetarian and family-friendly options, and add-ons include breakfast and protein packs.
The trade-off is ingredient quality and variety beside premium kits. Expect fewer specialty items, simpler sauces, and less adventurous flavors, and check the box size carefully, since the lowest price assumes the largest box. EveryPlate is the best choice for households that want a meal kit habit at the lowest weekly cost and are happy with straightforward food.
What we like- Lowest per-serving price here on the largest box
- More than 35 weekly recipes
- Simple, fast recipes
Watch out for- Shipping is charged separately
- Fewer premium ingredients
- Smaller plan range than HelloFresh
Starting price$5.99 per serving
Free planNo
Dinnerly keeps costs down by skipping printed recipe cards and using digital recipes instead, which also reduces packaging. The menu covers more than 100 weekly recipes, including family, low-calorie, and vegetarian options, and plans scale from two-person to family boxes. The per-serving price starts at $5.99 on the largest box and rises to $9.99 per serving for a two-person, three-meal plan, with shipping of $11.99 per box in recent plan-builder listings.
Digital-only recipes will frustrate cooks who like a card on the counter, and the ingredient quality sits beside EveryPlate rather than beside Blue Apron or Green Chef. Shipping is also higher than some rivals, so the weekly total matters more than the per-serving headline. For budget buyers who are comfortable following recipes on a phone or tablet, Dinnerly is a strong low-cost alternative to EveryPlate.
What we like- $5.99 per serving on the largest box
- More than 100 weekly recipes
- Digital recipes keep packaging light
Watch out for- No printed recipe cards
- Shipping is $11.99 per box in recent plan listings
- Premium ingredients are limited
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, official product pages, delivery and plan pages, and public reviews on sites such as G2, Capterra, and Reddit, then checked each homepage to confirm it belonged to the product named. Prices are US list prices found during research in October 2026, and per-serving prices vary by plan size, with shipping charged separately unless noted. Where a price could not be pinned to a single clear figure, we used the most commonly published plan and noted the billing or plan condition. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we favored services with a clear menu, transparent plan minimums, and easy skip or cancel controls.
Comparing the weekly total, not the headline price
A $5.99 per serving price on a 20-serving box is not the same weekly cost as $10.49 per serving on a 6-serving box, and shipping can add $10 to $12 per box. Build your usual box on each shortlisted service, add shipping, and compare the weekly total for the same number of dinners. Check the cutoff time for changes, the minimum order, and whether your ZIP code is covered, since all three can change the value of a plan quickly.
Plan for weeks when you cook less
Most services let you skip a week, pause, or change the plan size before the cutoff, which is usually several days before delivery. Set a reminder on delivery day to review the next box, and use the skip button rather than canceling outright if you only need a break. If you travel often, a service with prepared meals such as Factor or Blue Apron may waste less food than a kit that needs cooking on a fixed schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Which meal delivery service is cheapest?
EveryPlate and Dinnerly tie for the lowest per-serving price at $5.99 on their largest boxes, but shipping and box size change the weekly total. Build your usual box on both, add shipping, and compare the total for the same number of servings before choosing.
Are meal kits cheaper than groceries?
Meal kits usually cost more per serving than cooking the same recipe from a grocery shop, because you pay for portioning, packaging, and delivery. The saving is time and food waste, since you receive exact portions and skip meal planning and shopping. Budget kits come closest to grocery costs, while prepared meals cost the most per serving.
Which service is best for families?
HelloFresh and Home Chef are the strongest family options, with family plans, kid-friendly recipes, and larger box sizes. Marley Spoon also works well for families that want prepared meals on busy nights. Check portion sizes and the minimum order, since family plans can require more servings than a small household needs.
Do meal delivery services offer gluten-free or vegan options?
Yes, but coverage varies. Green Chef offers gluten-free, plant-based, keto, paleo, and Mediterranean plans, while most other services tag individual recipes as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free rather than offering a full plan. Check the weekly menu and allergen filters before subscribing if you have a strict dietary need.
Can I skip a week or cancel easily?
Yes, all services here let you skip, pause, or cancel online before the weekly cutoff, though the exact cutoff time varies. Cancel before the cutoff to avoid the next charge, and check your email for a confirmation, since a skipped week is not the same as a canceled account.
Are prepared meals as healthy as meal kits?
Prepared meals can be just as healthy, since services such as Factor publish calories, protein, and sodium for each meal and offer dietitian-designed plans. The difference is control: meal kits let you adjust oil, salt, and portions during cooking, while prepared meals are fixed. Read the nutrition label for each meal rather than assuming a service is healthy overall.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.hellofresh.com
- https://blueapron.com/
- https://www.homechef.com
- https://factor75.com/
- https://greenchef.com/
- https://marleyspoon.com/
- https://everyplate.com/
- https://dinnerly.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.