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
- Factor and CookUnity are the only services here built around true single-serving prepared meals, so they fit a solo household with the least daily effort.
- Most meal kits sell two servings per recipe, which works for one person only if you are happy eating the second portion as lunch or the next day.
- Hungryroot and Daily Harvest suit a solo shopper who wants groceries and single items mixed in, rather than a fixed set of dinners.
- Delivery fees change the math for one person. A low per-serving price can still cost more per week once shipping and minimum order rules are added.
- Introductory discounts are common across this list. Compare the regular price, not the first-box price, before you commit.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Factor | Ready meals with no cooking | See website | No |
 CookUnity | Chef-made single meals | $12.59 per meal | No |
 HelloFresh | Wide kit variety | See website | No |
 Blue Apron | No-subscription ordering | See website | No |
 Home Chef | Customizable kits | $8.99 per serving | No |
 Green Chef | Organic-focused kits | See website | No |
 Hungryroot | Groceries plus quick meals | $8.99 per serving for dinner | No |
 Daily Harvest | Single-serve freezer items | See website | No |
 EveryPlate | Lowest kit cost | Under $7 per serving | No |
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The best meal service for one person
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Factor is the simplest fit for a household of one. Every meal is a single portion, cooked already, and delivered fresh rather than frozen. You heat it in the microwave in about two minutes, eat, and throw away one container. There is no chopping, no pan to wash, and no second serving to store. For a person who works late, lives alone, and wants dinner handled, that is the whole point.
The menu rotates weekly with more than 100 options, including breakfasts, smoothies, and snacks alongside dinners. You can filter for calorie-smart, high-protein, or low-carb meals, and Factor states that meals stay fresh in the fridge for up to seven days after delivery.
The trade-off is price and sameness. Prepared meals cost more per portion than kits, and a steady diet of reheated trays can feel repetitive even with a large menu. Factor lets you skip weeks, pause, or cancel, so the sensible move is to start small, test portion size and flavor for two weeks, and only then raise the plan size.
What we like- True single servings
- Meals ready in about 2 minutes
- No cooking or cleanup
- Skip or cancel any time
Watch out for- Per-meal cost is higher than most kits
- Fridge space fills fast with a larger plan
- Menu repeats more than a grocery shop would
Starting price$12.59 per meal
Free planNo
CookUnity works like a marketplace of chefs rather than one central kitchen. Independent chefs and restaurant teams prepare dishes locally, and each meal is meant to serve one person. That makes portion math easy. Four meals a week means four solo dinners, not four recipes to split or store. The range is wide, with up to 400 meals on offer and cuisines that change week to week.
The service states that meals arrive fresh, not frozen, and are ready in about two minutes.
CookUnity is the most restaurant-like option on this list, and the price shows it. Meals start from $12.59 each before delivery, which is well above a kit serving. The case for paying it is variety and zero cooking. If you would otherwise order takeout three nights a week, CookUnity can still come out cheaper and more varied, but it will not beat a kit on cost per plate.
What we like- One meal serves one person by design
- Hundreds of chef-made dishes
- Plans from 4 to 16 meals per week
- Skip, pause, or change plan size any time
Watch out for- Higher per-meal price than kits
- Refrigerated shelf life of about 3 to 7 days
- Delivery cost is added on top
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
HelloFresh is the largest meal kit in the United States, and its strength is choice. The weekly menu runs past 100 recipes, with calorie-smart, high-protein, vegetarian, pescatarian, and other filters. Most recipes take 30 minutes or less, and ingredients arrive pre-portioned with step-by-step cards.
The catch for one person is serving size. HelloFresh plans are built around two or four servings per recipe. A two-serving recipe gives a solo cook dinner plus lunch the next day, which many people like. It does not give a single fresh portion each night unless you cook every other night and eat leftovers in between.
What we like- More than 100 weekly recipes
- Kits for many diets and tastes
- Ready-made options alongside kits
- Pause or cancel any time
Watch out for- Most recipes serve two or four people
- Delivery is once a week
- First-box discounts hide the regular price
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Blue Apron stands out here for one reason: it no longer requires a subscription. You order what you want, when you want it, without a weekly plan to skip or cancel. For a solo household with an irregular schedule, travel, or a fridge that is sometimes full, that flexibility is worth a lot. You can buy a couple of kits for a quiet week and nothing at all the next week.
The range covers classic kits, oven-ready meals, and ready-to-eat options, so you can mix cooking nights with heat-and-eat nights in a single order. Blue Apron states delivery in as little as three days, which is faster than the weekly cycle most kit services use. That helps when plans change midweek.
What we like- No subscription required
- Kits, oven-ready, and ready-to-eat options
- Order only when you want
- Delivery in as little as 3 days
Watch out for- Most kits still serve two or more
- No standing weekly plan to manage
- Per-order pricing can run higher than a subscription
Starting price$8.99 per serving
Free planNo
Home Chef gives a solo cook a lot of control over each recipe. You can swap proteins, double a protein, or change a side through its Customize It tool, which is useful when one person has strong likes and dislikes and no one else at the table to compromise with. The menu runs to more than 35 meals plus extras each week, and oven-ready options reduce prep to assembling a tray and baking it.
Home Chef states that meal kits start at $8.99 per serving, with standard meals averaging around $9.99 per serving depending on the menu and order size. Dinners are listed as low as $7.99 per serving in its budget section, but your actual price depends on what you pick and how many meals you order.
Two limits matter for one person. Most recipes serve two, so you are again planning around leftovers. And Home Chef sets a minimum weekly order value, $50.95 for the standard plan including shipping, which means a very small solo order may not qualify. A two-recipe week with two servings each usually clears that bar, but check the total at checkout before assuming a single recipe will.
What we like- Meal kits start at $8.99 per serving
- Strong protein swaps and customization
- Oven-ready options cut prep
- Easy skip week
Watch out for- Most meals are two servings
- Minimum weekly order value applies
- Shipping applies after the first box
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Green Chef is the organic-focused member of the HelloFresh group, and it shows in the ingredients. Produce and proteins are certified organic at no extra cost, and the service avoids more than 100 ingredients it lists as banned. Recipes are ready in about 30 minutes or less, with 15 or more new recipes each week, and the plans cover keto, paleo, plant-based, gluten-free, and other approaches.
One feature that sets Green Chef apart is free one-on-one nutrition coaching. A solo buyer who is changing how they eat, rather than just outsourcing dinner, can use that coaching to pick plans and portions with a registered dietitian.
The trade-offs are price and serving size. Organic ingredients cost more, so Green Chef sits at the premium end of kit pricing, and most plans still serve two or four people. If organic sourcing is not a priority for you, a cheaper kit buys the same convenience.
What we like- Certified organic produce and proteins
- Recipes ready in 30 minutes or less
- Free nutrition coaching included
- Many diet filters
Watch out for- Premium pricing for organic ingredients
- Most plans serve two or four
- Smaller menu than larger kit brands
Starting price$8.99 per serving for dinner
Free planNo
Hungryroot is not a standard meal kit. You answer questions about diet, goals, and budget, and it fills a cart with groceries, snacks, and recipe ingredients matched to your answers. You can edit that cart before delivery. The result is closer to a personalized grocery box with recipes attached than to a set of fixed dinners, and that flexibility suits a solo household well.
For one person, the appeal is that you are not locked into four identical dinners. You can buy breakfast items, a few dinners, snacks, and drinks in one delivery, sized to one fridge and one appetite. Hungryroot lists dinner from $8.99 per serving, breakfast from $3.99, and lunch from $5.99, all priced per serving. You set a budget and the service stays within it, and you can pause or cancel any time.
The learning curve is real. Shipping is free over $70, which a solo buyer may not always reach. Hungryroot works best for someone who likes choosing and adjusting, not for someone who wants the same four dinners to arrive without thought.
What we like- Mix of groceries, snacks, and recipes in one box
- Dinner from $8.99 per serving
- You set the budget
- Free shipping over $70
Watch out for- Credit and cart system takes learning
- Not a fixed set of dinners
- Smaller orders pay shipping
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Daily Harvest takes a different approach to solo eating. Everything it sells is a single item, smoothies, oat bowls, harvest bowls, soups, and similar foods, and each one is one serving. You build a box of items, they arrive frozen, and you take one out when you want it. There is no weekly use-by countdown like fresh prepared meals, and no second serving to finish the next day.
That makes Daily Harvest a good add-on for a solo household, and a partial solution on its own. It covers breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner well, especially for someone who wants fruit, vegetables, and whole ingredients without prep. Recipes are developed with a registered dietitian, and the company notes that its items are now HSA and FSA eligible through a partner program for qualifying buyers.
The limit is scope. Daily Harvest does not replace a full dinner service with hot entrees and sides. A box of smoothies and bowls can feel thin as a sole food plan, and freezer space becomes the constraint instead of fridge space.
What we like- Every item is a single serving
- Freezer storage removes the use-by rush
- Smoothies, bowls, and soups
- Dietitian-developed recipes
Watch out for- Not a full dinner service
- Frozen items need freezer space
- Per-item cost adds up for a full week of meals
Starting priceUnder $7 per serving
Free planNo
EveryPlate is the budget pick among kits, and it does not hide that. Its homepage pitches meals under $7 per serving, with 35 or more weekly recipes and simple recipes of about six steps that take roughly 30 minutes. For a solo buyer watching spending, that price gap matters. A week of EveryPlate costs noticeably less than the same number of servings from a premium kit.
The recipes lean toward comfort food and crowd-pleasing flavors rather than premium or organic ingredients. EveryPlate also runs weekly deal drops on snacks and sides at low prices, which can tempt a solo buyer into adding items that push the box total up.
Serving size is again the solo-household question. Most recipes serve two or four, so one person eats dinner and lunch from the same recipe, or cooks half the ingredients and saves the rest. If you are comfortable with leftovers and want the lowest cost per plate, EveryPlate is the strongest value here. If you want true single portions with no leftovers, Factor or CookUnity still fit better despite costing more.
What we like- Lowest per-serving price on this list
- 35 or more weekly recipes
- Simple 6-step recipes
- Frequent low-price deal drops
Watch out for- Most recipes serve two or four
- Fewer premium ingredients than costlier kits
- Add-ons and shipping raise the box total
How we chose
We compared services that a solo household in the United States can actually order today, using each vendor homepage, pricing page, and menu information, plus public reviews and plan details on G2, Capterra, and Reddit where they clarified serving sizes and delivery rules. We favored services with clear single-serving options or a realistic solo pattern, such as eating a two-serving recipe over two meals, and we checked whether prices shown were regular prices or first-box discounts.
We did not count a service as a single-serving option just because one person could eat from it. Where a kit serves two or four, this article says so plainly. Where a current price could not be confirmed on the vendor site, the article lists "See website" instead of guessing.
What to check before you order for one
Count portions, not recipes
A plan of three recipes a week means three dinners for a couple, but six meals for one person eating leftovers.
Add delivery and minimums to the price
Compare the full box total with shipping, not the per-serving headline, and check minimum order values before you order.
Match the service to your cooking habit
If you cook two nights a week or fewer, prepared meals waste less food than a four-recipe kit plan.
Check fridge and freezer space first
Start with the smallest plan that covers your busiest nights, and check fridge or freezer space before you raise it.
A note on health claims
This article is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. Meal services describe their menus in broad terms, and individual needs vary with health conditions, allergies, and medication. If you have a medical condition, a severe allergy, or specific nutrition needs, check ingredients and allergen labels carefully and talk to a clinician or registered dietitian before changing your diet.
Frequently asked questions
Can one person use a two-serving meal kit?
Yes, and many solo buyers do. Cook the full recipe and eat the second serving for lunch or dinner the next day, or cook half the ingredients and save the rest. The trade-off is repetition, since you eat the same dish twice, and fridge space for the leftover portion.
What is the cheapest meal service for one person?
EveryPlate is the cheapest kit on this list, with meals under $7 per serving, while Hungryroot dinner starts at $8.99 per serving and Home Chef kits start at $8.99 per serving. Prepared meals from Factor and CookUnity cost more per portion. Compare the full box total with shipping before deciding, since delivery fees change the ranking.
Are prepared meals or meal kits better for a single person?
Prepared meals are better if you want no cooking and true single portions, since Factor and CookUnity serve one person by design. Kits are better if you enjoy cooking, want lower cost per plate, and do not mind leftovers. Many solo households mix the two, using prepared meals on busy nights and kits on cooking nights.
How many meals per week should one person order?
Start with the number of nights you will not cook or eat out, not the number of nights in the week. Four prepared meals cover most solo buyers who eat out or cook on other nights. For kits, two recipes a week gives four solo meals if you eat leftovers, which is often enough to start.
Do these services let you skip or cancel easily?
Yes, all nine services here allow skipping, pausing, or cancelling, and Blue Apron does not require a subscription at all. The catch is the cutoff time, usually several days before delivery, so set a reminder if you plan to skip a week. Check the cutoff in your account before your first delivery date.
Is Daily Harvest enough food for a full week on its own?
For most people, no. Daily Harvest sells single-serve smoothies, bowls, and soups, which cover breakfasts, light lunches, and snacks well, but it is not a full dinner service. It works best alongside a prepared-meal or kit service, or as a way to add fruit and vegetables to a week you otherwise cook yourself.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.factor75.com
- https://www.cookunity.com
- https://www.hellofresh.com
- https://www.blueapron.com
- https://www.homechef.com
- https://www.greenchef.com
- https://www.hungryroot.com
- https://www.daily-harvest.com
- https://www.everyplate.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.