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
- HelloFresh offers the widest menu and the easiest entry point for families, while EveryPlate and Dinnerly cut the per-serving price sharply for budget households.
- Factor and CookUnity are the best choices when you want no cooking at all, since meals arrive ready to heat.
- Home Chef stands out for flexible portions and protein swaps, which helps families with picky eaters or mixed appetites.
- Green Chef and Sunbasket lead for organic and specialty diets, but they cost more per serving than mainstream kits.
- Per-serving price falls as you order more servings, so compare your actual weekly box total, including shipping, not just the headline price.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 HelloFresh | Widest menu for families | $10.49 per serving | No |
 Home Chef | Flexible portions | $9.99 per serving | No |
 Blue Apron | Learning to cook | $7.49 per serving | No |
 Factor | No-cook prepared meals | $12.99 per meal | No |
 Green Chef | Organic and specialty diets | $12.99 per serving | No |
 EveryPlate | Lowest-cost kits | $5.99 per serving | No |
 Dinnerly | Simple budget kits | $5.99 per serving | No |
 CookUnity | Chef-made prepared meals | $11.00 per meal | No |
 Sunbasket | Premium kits and prepared meals | $9.99 per meal | No |
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The best meal kit delivery service
Starting price$10.49 per serving
Free planNo
HelloFresh is the safest first kit for most households. Its menu is larger than most rivals, its recipes are written for home cooks rather than chefs, and its plans scale from two people to six. Family-friendly, vegetarian, calorie-smart, and quick options sit on the same menu, so one box can cover different tastes without separate orders.
Price depends heavily on box size. Recent pricing coverage puts HelloFresh at about $10.49 to $13.49 per serving before shipping, with larger boxes cheaper per serving. Small two-person, two-meal boxes are the most expensive per serving, so HelloFresh fits best when you order at least three meals per week. If you cook only twice a week, a budget kit may save more.
What we like- Large rotating menu with family, vegetarian, and calorie-smart options
- Clear recipe cards
- Plans for two, four, and six people
Watch out for- Shipping adds about $10.99 to $12.99 per box in recent coverage
- Small boxes cost more per serving
Starting price$9.99 per serving
Free planNo
Home Chef wins on flexibility. You can swap proteins, change portions, and pick oven-ready meals that cut prep and cleanup on busy nights. That matters for families where one person eats more, one person dislikes a protein, or weeknights allow only 15 minutes in the kitchen. Its classic kits still teach basic cooking, so it does not feel like a shortcut-only service.
Recent coverage puts Home Chef from about $9.99 per serving, with higher prices for smaller boxes and premium recipes. The menu is solid but not as deep as HelloFresh, so picky households may repeat favorites sooner. Home Chef fits families and couples who want control over portions and prep time more than the largest possible menu.
What we like- Protein swaps and portion choices
- Oven-ready and express options
- Family-friendly menu
Watch out for- Delivery fee terms vary and should be confirmed at checkout
- Menu is smaller than HelloFresh
Starting price$7.49 per serving
Free planNo
Blue Apron is the teaching kit in this list. Its recipes explain techniques, use a wider range of ingredients, and build skills that carry over to cooking without a kit. Recent pricing coverage puts its meal-kit menu at $7.49 to $14.99 per serving, depending on the recipe and plan, with prepared meals from $8.99 to $14.99. That range reflects salads, lighter meals, and premium dishes on the same menu.
The trade-off is time. Blue Apron meals often take 35 to 55 minutes, which is too long for some weeknights. It also suits cooks who enjoy the process, not just the result. If you want to learn new dishes and do not mind longer prep, Blue Apron gives more culinary depth than budget kits. If speed is the priority, Factor or Home Chef oven-ready meals fit better.
What we like- Technique-focused recipes and clear instructions
- Prepared meals and kits in one service
- Wine and pantry add-ons
Watch out for- Recipes take longer than quick kits
- Shipping is about $11.49 per delivery without a membership in recent coverage
Starting price$12.99 per meal
Free planNo
Factor removes cooking from the week. Meals arrive chilled and ready to heat, which suits people who work late, live alone, or want healthy lunches without a lunch break spent cooking. Recent coverage puts Factor at $12.99 to $17.49 per meal, with larger orders cheaper per meal. Keto, calorie-smart, protein-plus, and vegetarian options cover common goals without separate planning.
The limit is household math. A couple needs two Factor meals per dinner, so the weekly total rises fast compared with a family kit. Factor also needs fridge space and a plan for delivery day, since prepared meals have a shorter window than pantry ingredients. For one person who values time over cooking, Factor is often the best prepared option in this guide.
What we like- Fully prepared single meals ready in minutes
- Dietitian-designed options including keto and calorie-smart
- No prep or cleanup
Watch out for- Single servings only, so couples pay per person
- Meals cost more than kits
- Fridge life needs planning
Starting price$12.99 per serving
Free planNo
Green Chef is the organic specialist. It is owned by the same parent as HelloFresh, but its focus is certified organic produce and specialty diets, with clear plans for keto, paleo, plant-based, and gluten-free eating. Recipes are still approachable, and pre-chopped options on some meals cut prep time.
Price is the barrier. Recent coverage puts Green Chef from about $12.99 per serving, above mainstream kits, and premium recipes cost more. Households that do not need organic certification or a strict specialty plan will get similar dinners cheaper from HelloFresh or Home Chef. Green Chef fits buyers who already pay a premium for organic groceries and want that standard in a kit.
What we like- Certified organic ingredients on many recipes
- Keto, paleo, plant-based, and gluten-free plans
- Pre-measured ingredients
Watch out for- Higher per-serving price
- Smaller menu than HelloFresh
- Delivery fee should be confirmed at checkout
Starting price$5.99 per serving
Free planNo
EveryPlate is the budget answer to HelloFresh, from the same parent company, at roughly half the price. Recent coverage puts it at $5.99 to $6.99 per serving, plus about $10.99 shipping per box. Recipes use fewer ingredients and simpler steps, which keeps costs down and makes weeknight cooking less stressful for beginners.
The menu is narrower and less adventurous, and specialty diets get less attention than at Green Chef or Sunbasket. EveryPlate fits students, young families, and anyone who wants home cooking without a premium kit bill. If you love variety and global flavors, you may outgrow EveryPlate, but as a first kit, it is hard to beat on price.
What we like- Lowest per-serving prices in this list
- Simple recipes with short ingredient lists
- Good starter kit for new cooks
Watch out for- Smaller menu of about 25 to 30 recipes per week in recent coverage
- Fewer premium and specialty options
Starting price$5.99 per serving
Free planNo
Dinnerly keeps costs low by skipping printed recipe cards and keeping recipes simple. Recent coverage puts it from about $5.99 per serving, in the same budget range as EveryPlate. Meals use familiar ingredients and short instructions, which suits picky eaters and cooks who do not want a long ingredient list.
The digital-only recipe approach is a real adjustment for some households, especially if you cook without a phone or tablet nearby. Dinnerly also offers fewer specialty and premium options than larger kits. It fits budget households that want straightforward dinners and do not mind following a recipe on a screen.
What we like- Low per-serving price
- Simple recipes with fewer steps
- Digital recipe cards reduce packaging
Watch out for- No printed recipe cards in the box
- Fewer add-ons and premium choices
- Menu is simpler than HelloFresh
Starting price$11.00 per meal
Free planNo
CookUnity is the prepared-meal choice for variety lovers. Instead of one central kitchen menu, meals come from many chefs, so the weekly selection spans cuisines, diets, and portion styles that a single-brand service rarely matches. Recent coverage puts CookUnity at about $11 per meal, with shipping included in some plan presentations, though you should confirm the final box total at checkout.
Regional availability matters, since not every chef ships everywhere, and popular meals can sell out. CookUnity fits single-person households, couples who want restaurant-style variety without cooking, and people who get bored with a fixed prepared menu. Families will find kits cheaper per serving, but for prepared meals, CookUnity offers the broadest taste range here.
What we like- Meals from independent chefs with wide variety
- No cooking needed
- Flexible weekly ordering
Watch out for- Menu and chef availability vary by region
- Single servings add up for families
- Delivery windows vary
Starting price$9.99 per meal
Free planNo
Sunbasket blends the kit and prepared worlds. You can order meal kits from about $11.49 per serving in recent coverage, or prepared meals from about $9.99, which lets a household mix cooking nights with no-cook nights in one box. Its seafood, organic, and specialty diet options are stronger than most mainstream kits.
The premium positioning shows in the weekly total, especially for families, and Sunbasket has a minimum order that should be checked before signup. It fits households that already buy organic and sustainable seafood, want both kits and prepared meals, and are willing to pay more for ingredient sourcing. Budget households will do better with EveryPlate or Dinnerly.
What we like- Organic produce focus
- Both kits and prepared meals
- Strong seafood and specialty diet options
Watch out for- Higher kit prices
- Minimum order and delivery terms should be confirmed at checkout
- Premium focus raises weekly totals
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, plan structures, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, with attention to per-serving price at realistic box sizes, prep time, diet coverage, and shipping terms. We favored services that deliver across the United States today, publish clear plan options, and fit a distinct household: families, singles, budget cooks, specialty diets, or no-cook weeks. We left out grocery-only services and local-only prepared brands that most readers cannot order.
How to pick a kit without wasting money
Start with servings, not the headline price
A $5.99 kit and a $12.99 prepared meal are not comparable until you count servings. Multiply servings by meals per week, add shipping, and compare weekly totals. A larger kit box often beats a smaller premium box, even when the headline price looks higher.
Match prep time to your real week
Be honest about weeknights. If you have 20 minutes, pick oven-ready kits or prepared meals. If you enjoy cooking on weekends, a teaching kit such as Blue Apron fits better there. Mixing a kit with prepared meals in one service, where offered, often beats forcing one format every night.
Use the first box as a test, then decide
Intro discounts make the first box cheap, but the second box shows the real price. Check portion size, packaging, delivery timing, and whether you actually cooked every meal. Pause or skip weeks you do not need, rather than letting boxes pile up in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best meal kit delivery service overall?
HelloFresh is the best overall kit for most families, thanks to menu size and plan range. Home Chef is close for flexible portions, and EveryPlate is best for budget households. For no cooking at all, Factor and CookUnity lead.
Which meal kit is cheapest?
EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest kits in this guide, from about $5.99 per serving before shipping in recent coverage. They use simpler recipes and smaller menus to keep prices down. Prepared meals cost more per serving than kits, so compare weekly totals, not just per-serving prices.
Are meal kits good for one person?
Yes, with the right service. Factor and CookUnity offer single servings with no leftovers to manage. HelloFresh, Home Chef, and Blue Apron offer two-person plans that leave leftovers for lunch, which some singles prefer. EveryPlate two-person plans can also work for singles who like leftovers.
Do meal kits work for families?
Yes, especially HelloFresh, Home Chef, and EveryPlate, which offer four-person and six-person plans. Family plans lower the per-serving price and reduce the need for separate kid meals. Check portion sizes for teenagers and hungry households, since kit servings are standardized.
How much is shipping for meal kits?
Shipping varies by service and plan, and it changes the weekly total. Recent coverage lists about $10.99 per box for HelloFresh and EveryPlate, and about $11.49 per delivery for Blue Apron without a membership. Always confirm shipping at checkout, since intro offers often exclude it.
Can I pause or cancel a meal kit easily?
Most services in this guide allow pausing, skipping weeks, and canceling from your account settings, with a weekly cutoff deadline. Set a reminder for that cutoff if you plan to skip, since late changes may still ship. Read the cutoff time for your delivery day before your first box.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.hellofresh.com
- https://www.homechef.com
- https://www.blueapron.com
- https://www.factor75.com
- https://www.greenchef.com
- https://www.everyplate.com
- https://www.dinnerly.com
- https://www.cookunity.com
- https://sunbasket.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.