- Chef-prepared, fully cooked meals
- 30+ dietitian-designed & chef-crafted meals
- Flexible, commitment-free subscriptions
- As low as $5.50/serving
- A range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options
- Fresh, never frozen meals
- Fresh ingredients and delicious meals
- Flexible meal plans for all lifestyles
Offer is for new subscriptions only across 7 boxes and varies by plan
- As low as $4.49/serving
- Designed by professional chefs and nutritionists
- No commitments—skip or cancel any time
- Delicious and nutritious meal options
- Flavor-packed, chef-designed recipes
- As low as $4.99/serving
- Low-carb, vegetarian, pescatarian, & low-calorie meals
- Prepped and portioned recipes
- Convenient pre-measured meal kits
- Paleo, keto, and vegan meal options
- As low as $4.99/serving
- Vegetarian, low-calorie, low-carb, & oven-ready meals
- Skip or cancel any time + free shipping on orders of $49+
- Tasty, hassle-free cookingOffer only valid for new Green Chef customers with qualifying auto-renewing subscription purchase and expires 77 days after offer purchase at 11:59 PM ET. Take 50% off your first box and 20% off the next 8 boxes, including free shipping on the first box. Discount varies for other meal plans and sizes. Shipping fee applies on all deliveries after the first box. Not valid on premiums, meal upgrades, add-ons, taxes, or shipping fees. May not be combined with gift cards or any other promotion. No cash value. Void outside the U.S. and where prohibited. Offer cannot be sold or otherwise bartered. Green Chef has the right to end or modify any offer at any time. Additional restrictions may apply.
- Flexible meal plans and preferences
- Just $4.79/serving
- Keto, protein-rich, & plant-based meal plans
- Eco-friendly packaging with minimal waste
- Affordable & healthy meals
- Wide recipe variety and global flavors
- As low as $2.99/serving
- All recipes are high in protein
- No commitments—skip, swap or cancel anytime
- Enjoy fresh dishes ready in just 3 minutes
- Flexible subscription options
- As low as $7.99/serving
- 20 options weekly on a rotating menu
- Supports a healthy lifestyle
- Recipe customizations and upgrades
- New recipes weekly, easy meal planning
- As low as $4.99/serving
- Vegan, vegetarian, and low calorie options
- Flexible subscription service
- Fresh and healthy ingredients
- Healthy 4-serving meals, less added sugar
- Protein-packed, family-sized meals
- As low as $3.77/serving
- Easy-prep, no-mess options
- Choose proteins that better suit your family
- Chef-prepared, fully cooked meals
- 30+ dietitian-designed & chef-crafted meals
- Flexible, commitment-free subscriptions
- As low as $5.50/serving
- A range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options
- Fresh, never frozen meals
*The information on this site is based on research, but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new diet plan, we recommend consulting with a physician or other professional healthcare provider. Results may vary based on various health factors, individual weight loss plans and adherence to the meal plan.
Finding the perfect meal delivery service can be a game-changer for your daily routine. Whether you're looking to save time on meal prep, eat healthier, or simply enjoy the convenience of having delicious meals delivered right to your door, we've got you covered.
Our comprehensive guide to the best meal delivery services will help you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and dietary needs. From the cheapest meal prep services to gourmet selections, there's something here for everyone. Even if you’re a stranger to the kitchen, you can throw together fantastic meals that’ll have you forgetting about pizza deliveries. It’s meal prep made easy.
What is a Meal Delivery Service?
A meal delivery service brings the convenience of pre-planned, pre-portioned, and sometimes pre-cooked meals directly to your home. The best home delivery meals ensure that you can enjoy nutritious and delicious meals without the hassle of grocery shopping or meal prep.
While food delivery services offering pre-cooked food have been around for hundreds of years, meal kit services are a relatively new development that started in 2003 in Scandinavia and spread to the United States in 2012. These companies enjoyed a surge in popularity during the pandemic and have continued to be a popular choice for people who want to save time, try new recipes, and reduce food waste.
The best meal subscription services offer a range of options catering to different lifestyles, so they’re a great choice if you’re looking for something specific, like high-protein meal delivery, gluten-free options, weight-loss plans, or meal deliveries for the elderly.
What Types of Meal Delivery Services Are There?
Meal kits
Meal kits provide all the ingredients you need to cook a meal at home, along with easy-to-follow instructions. They’re perfect for those who enjoy cooking but prefer to skip meal planning and grocery shopping.
Fully prepared meals
Fully prepared meals are ready to eat with minimal heating required. These are ideal for busy individuals who want to enjoy a home-cooked meal without spending time in the kitchen.
Specialized dietary plans
Many meal services cater for specific nutritional needs, such as keto, vegan, paleo, high-protein, or anti-inflammatory. Most provide detailed ingredient lists and nutritional information online so you can easily check if a meal suits your dietary requirements.
Allergy-friendly meal options
Meal services know how important allergen-free products are to many consumers, such as people with celiac disease or nut allergies. Some companies also specially wrap their products to prevent cross-contamination.
Organic food and sustainable sourcing
Many meal subscription services proudly showcase their certified organic and sustainable options on their websites. These credentials may include USDA Organic certification, MSC-certified sustainable seafood, or B Corp certification.
Weight loss plans
If you’re looking for a strict diet meal plan, many health-focused meal services will send you dietitian-planned meals to enable you to eat healthier and lose weight. Meal kits, in general, help you to control your eating by planning meals ahead of time and learning new cooking techniques you can integrate into your daily life.
Family plans
Many meal delivery services feature family meal plans and “kid-friendly” recipes. Kid-friendly recipes are dishes your kids may recognize and are typically not spicy. These plans typically include meals designed for four people and often cost less per serving.
How Do Meal Delivery Services Work?
Meal delivery services simplify meal planning and preparation by delivering ready-to-cook or pre-prepared meals directly to your door. The process typically starts with signing up on a company’s website or mobile app. During registration, you may be prompted to answer questions about dietary preferences and restrictions, which helps the service personalize meal recommendations.
Once signed up, you can choose their meals from a weekly rotating menu. You can select portion sizes and number of meals per week based on your individual or family needs. Meal delivery services generally emphasize flexibility, allowing you to skip weeks or change meal choices as long as you do so by a specified deadline before the next delivery.
How to Choose the Right Meal Delivery Service for Your Needs?
Dietary preferences and restrictions
Choose a service that aligns with your dietary needs. Whether you need gluten-free, high-protein, or vegan options, the best meal plans will accommodate your requirements.
Variety and flexibility
Look for services that offer a wide range of meal options and the flexibility to change your selections each week. This ensures you won’t get bored and can adjust based on your preferences.
Cost
Budget is a crucial factor. Consider whether you need the cheapest meal delivery service or if you’re willing to pay more for premium options. Compare the cost per meal to see what options fit your budget.
Customer support
Meal delivery companies offer customer support services like online assistants and agents who can be contacted by phone or email. Their websites often include features like FAQs, blogs, cooking tips, and nutrition advice. Look for a company that provides what you need.
Meal Delivery Glossary:
Pre-portioned ingredients (Meal kits)
Components of a meal that have been measured and cut to the exact amounts required for a recipe.
Fully prepared meals
Complete dishes that are cooked and assembled prior to delivery, requiring minimal to no preparation. They are delivered chilled or frozen to maintain quality and freshness.
Subscription service
A business model where customers pay a recurring fee to receive their meal service according to a pre-agreed schedule.
Dietary preferences
Requirements or choices that influence an individual's eating habits, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto, paleo, and other specialized diets.
Freshness guarantee
A commitment by meal delivery services to deliver ingredients at their peak freshness to maximize their flavor and nutritional value.
FAQs
Should I use a meal delivery service or order takeout food?
Opting for a meal delivery service gives you healthier, customizable options and can be more cost-effective. It's a convenient choice for those who want meals delivered with ease and variety through meal subscription services.
Are meal delivery services healthy?
Many meal delivery services focus on healthy eating, offering balanced meals with fresh ingredients catering to various dietary needs.
Can I customize the meals?
Most meal delivery services allow you to customize your meal selections each week, letting you choose meals that fit your tastes and dietary preferences.
Can I pause or cancel my meal delivery subscription?
Yes, most meal delivery services offer flexible subscription plans that allow you to pause or cancel your deliveries as needed.
Are meal delivery services environmentally friendly?
Many meal delivery services are committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly packaging and sourcing ingredients responsibly to reduce their environmental impact.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1Ready to heat and eat on arrival Visit Site
- Price - From $5.50/serving
- What's in the box - 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 meals
- Special diets - Keto, vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie
Ready to heat and eat on arrivalDescriptionRead Factor ReviewFactor - Best for dietician-approved, restaurant-quality recipes
Factor is a chef-crafted, dietician-approved meal service that provides an approachable way to try healthy diets with heat-and-serve meals. Mary Sabat, a nutritionist and president of Body Designs, remarks on how they're "worth the extra money" and offer "many options for someone trying to stick to a specific diet."
Factor makes information transparent about their ingredients and nutrition, so you can filter out recipes that may not suit your wellness goals. Their meals range between 300-900 calories, giving you an easy way to lose weight depending on the low-calorie meals you choose to eat.
Why we chose Factor: In addition to Factor's microwave- or oven-ready dishes, they also offer nourishing add-ons like juices, smoothies, shakes, cookies, desserts, and breakfasts.
Our experience: Though the recipes were often high in fat, the ingredients were clean and of premium quality. We liked that we were able to hone in on the right meal plan for us through a complimentary consultation with one of their registered dietitians.
Pros & ConsFactor Pros & Cons
PROS
No-prep, heat-and-serve mealsPlenty of diet-friendly optionsIncludes initial 20-minute consultation with a dietitianCONS
Not suitable for families since meals are single-serving onlyMostly keto dishes that are high in fat - 2A simple and healthy way of eatingVisit Site
- Price - From $4.49/serving
- What's in the box - 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2 or 4 servings each
- Special diets - Vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian, low carb, low calorie
A simple and healthy way of eatingDescriptionRead HelloFresh ReviewHelloFresh - Best meal delivery service overall
HelloFresh makes it convenient to enjoy wholesome, fresh meals with minimal prep. Ron Stewart, a former corporate executive chef at Pastini, tested HelloFresh and was "surprised at the quality of ingredients and ease of putting together exceptional meals," calling their recipes "delicious as well as nutritious and balanced."
Each week, HelloFresh lets you choose from over 100 breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes. Every kit includes straightforward, step-by-step recipe cards with fresh, pre-measured ingredients to help you get dinner on the table in under an hour.
This service is best for individuals and households without strict dietary requirements, though they offer low-carb and lower-calorie meals too. It's possible to separately review ingredient information for each meal before ordering, including nutritional value and allergens, and any additional items you may need.
Why we chose HelloFresh: You can easily adjust or cancel your food delivery and subscription at any time. Meals are not overly complicated and reduce the need to buy ingredients in addition to what's delivered for each recipe.
Our experience: We liked that HelloFresh lets you know ahead of time what cookware you'll need so you can get cooking as soon as your delivery arrives. It was extra convenient that their extensive menu also let us swap out proteins.
Pros & ConsHelloFresh Pros & Cons
PROS
Adjust, skip, or cancel your delivery and subscription at any timeChange, swap, or upgrade 12+ sides and proteins each weekCompetitive pricingCONS
No keto or paleo meal delivery plansLimited flexibility for individuals with allergies - 3Fresh ingredients and easy prepVisit Site
- Price - From $9.95/serving charged weekly
- What's in the box - 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
- Special diets - Low-calorie, low-carb
Fresh ingredients and easy prepDescriptionRead Fresh and Easy ReviewFresh and Easy - Best for comfort meals with little to no prep
Fresh and Easy is a meal delivery service by Home Chef that provides ready-to-heat meals. Choose between oven- and microwave-ready meals made with the same fresh ingredients and standards that Home Chef is known for. You can also try a 15-minute meal kit, requiring quick assembly of pre-portioned ingredients.
Most meals are full entrees, though sandwiches, salads, and "extras" are also available. Fresh and Easy does not cater to special dietary restrictions.
Why we chose Fresh and Easy: They offer the same quality standards as Home Chef with less customization, aimed at providing value for consumers on a budget.
Our experience: We found Fresh and Easy perfect for speedily cooking wholesome meals and were delighted with how little clean-up was needed. We do wish they had more options for diets like vegetarian.
Pros & ConsFresh and Easy Pros & Cons
PROS
Same high-quality standards as Home ChefOven- and microwave-readyFully prepped and portioned meals ready in 15 minutes or lessCONS
Limited customization optionsDoes not cater to diets