We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.
Meal delivery kits can offer adults and families many benefits, including healthy, nutritious meals and reduced time focusing on menu planning, grocery shopping, and cooking each week. With so many options, however, it can be overwhelming to find the right one.
From flash-frozen meals that are ready in minutes to epicurean and gourmet meal kits, gluten-free and keto recipes, and budget-friendly dinners, there is a service for you. We tasted, tested, and rounded up some of our favorite meal delivery services to help you decide which one best suits you. Read on to learn more.
9 Meal Delivery Service Reviews and Comparisons for 2023
- Best Organic: Green Chef
- Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity
- Best Keto-Friendly: Factor
- Best Variety: Hungryroot
- Best for Families: Home Chef
- Best for Customization: Sunbasket
- Best Budget-Friendly: EveryPlate
- Best Vegan: Daily Harvest
- Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth
Best Organic : Green Chef
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Green_Chef-98e271ac60de42e8a615b42b96b1ed19.jpg)
- Starting Price: $11.99
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 6
- Number Of Recipes: 31
Focusing on USDA certified organic foods, Green Chef hits the mark with its flavorful and diverse organic meals.
Certified organic ingredients
Sustainable sourcing
Offers serving sizes for up to six
Small menu
No modifications
Green Chef was founded in 2014 by Michael Joseph as the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service in the U.S. Customers can choose from six types of meals: Keto + Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Fast & Fit, and Gluten-Free. After selecting your plan, choose a plan for two, four, or six servings, with an option for three or four meals a week.
Green Chef has tags to help customers find recipes that fit their needs. Recipes include salads, meats with lots of vegetables, flatbreads, hearty sandwiches, and protein-heavy soups. There are interesting menu options such as smoky romesco cauliflower with kale, red peppers, dried apricots, feta, and roasted potatoes; and chimichurri chicken bowls with cauliflower “rice” and roasted squash with bell peppers and pepitas.
Learn More: Read Our Green Chef Review.
- 3 meals with 2 servings each: $13.49 per serving
- 4 meals with 2 servings each: $12.99 per serving
- 2 meals with 4 servings each: $12.99 per serving
- 3 meals with 4 servings each: $12.49 per serving
- 4 meals with 4 servings each: $11.99 per serving
- 3 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per serving
- 4 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per serving
- Shipping: $9.99
- Harissa-spiced shrimp
- Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp
- Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
- Maple glazed carrots with figs
Best Prepared Meals : CookUnity
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cook-Unity-logo-271c1d92dd084651ba7b0b505d403975.jpg)
- Starting Price: $11.09
- Serving Sizes: 1
- Number Of Recipes: 100
Teaming up with a collective of award-winning chefs, CookUnity provides a prepared meal experience that rivals the best restaurants out there.
Meals are pre-made and ready to eat in minutes
Dishes created by world-renowned chefs
Diverse range of cuisines and dietary preferences
Meals are not customizable
When it comes to pre-made meal delivery, CookUnity does it best. The company partners with some of the best chefs on the scene to deliver fully prepared gourmet meals that only take minutes to reheat. From Esther Choi's bulgogi ramen to Jose Garces' carnitas street tacos, CookUnity's weekly menu features flavorful, diverse cuisines from all over the globe. You can also sort meals by numerous dietary preferences, including vegan, gluten-free, keto, and low sodium.
Learn More: Read Our CookUnity Review.
- 16 meals a week: $10.39 per meal
- 12 meals a week: $10.49 per meal
- 8 meals a week: $10.89 per meal
- 6 meals a week: $11.39 per meal
- 4 meals a week: $12.69 per meal
- Coconut lime hanger steak
- Carnitas street tacos
- Butternut squash ravioli
- Chili roasted shrimp
Best Keto-Friendly : Factor
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Factor-d6f90a6e9b9e4c0ab9075ab0d011eb7e.jpg)
- Starting Price: $11
- Number Of Recipes: 25
Enjoy a total of $120 OFF throughout your first 5 boxes using the code SPRUCEGET120OFF
Factor offers keto and other health-conscious meals that are backed by registered dietitians.
Flavorful, chef-prepared keto meals
Reheats in only two minutes
Dietitian consultations available
No customization
Limited plant-based options
Factor was founded in 2013 by former MMA fighter Nick Wernimont and was acquired by HelloFresh in 2020. Factor places an emphasis on nutrient-rich foods for people with active lifestyles and nutrition-related goals. Meals are created by chefs with the coordination of registered dietitians. The meals are single-serving and are ready to enjoy after only two minutes in the microwave. You can choose to order four, six, eight, 12, or 18 meals a week, from four meal plans: keto, chef’s choice, calorie smart, and vegan/veggie. Recipes include apricot mustard grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans and shrimp alfredo with zucchini noodles and broccoli.
Learn More: Read Our Factor Review.
- 4 meals per week: $15 per serving
- 6 meals per week: $12.83 per serving
- 8 meals per week: $12.38 per serving
- 12 meals per week: $11.50 per serving
- 18 meals per week: $11 per serving
- Mango salsa salmon with coconut rice and black beans
- Creamy parmesan chicken with broccoli and tomatoes
- Vegetable ratatouille with mascarpone polenta
- Smoked tofu almond stir-fry with edamame succotash
Best Variety : Hungryroot
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Hungry_root-6e3c475d134b47c3bb47ebdef760afe2.jpg)
- Starting Price: $8.49
- Number Of Recipes: 3000
Use promo code SPRUCE30OFF to receive 30% off + free gift in every box.
Boasting a virtually endless selection of both recipes and grocery staples, Hungryroot is unmatched when it comes to variety.
Over 3,000 recipes on the menu
Meal and grocery delivery all in one
Nutritious foods that accommodate multiple dietary needs
Credit-based ordering system can be confusing
Shipping costs extra for small orders
Boasting a database of over 3,000 recipes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a meal delivery service with more variety than Hungryroot. Upon signing up for the service, new customers will take an introductory quiz to determine taste preferences. Then, Hungryroot will populate a list of personalized recommendations for your delivery order. You can also peruse the online recipe and grocery database to pick exactly what you want, with menu filters for a range of dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free. Choose from breakfast, lunch, and dinner options as well as desserts, snacks, fresh produce, pantry staples, and a host of other offerings.
Learn More: Read Our Hungryroot Review.
- 2 servings with 8 recipes: $9.69 per serving
- 2 servings with 7 recipes: $9.69 per serving
- 2 servings with 6 recipes: $10.29 per serving
- 2 servings with 5 recipes: $10.89 per serving
- 2 servings with 4 recipes: $11.39 per serving
- 2 servings with 3 recipes: $11.39 per serving
- 4 servings with 4 recipes: $9.69 per serving
- 4 servings with 3 recipes: $9.69 per serving
- 4 servings with 2 recipes: $10.29 per serving
- Shipping: $6.99 for orders less than $70
- Spinach, artichoke, and mushroom tortelloni
- Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels
- Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos
- Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry
Best for Families : Home Chef
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Home_Chef-b07739b16f444a55802d06e92e532c43.jpg)
- Starting Price: $6.99
- Number Of Recipes: 20
Home Chef's comforting and crowd-pleasing meals are a boon for busy families.
Easily customizable
Comforting meals the whole family will enjoy
Meals serve up to six people
Shipping costs extra
Few plant-based options
Home Chef proves that you don't have to spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy a comforting, gourmet family dinner. The company's menu offers a lineup of meal kits that serve up to six people, with options ranging from parmesan-crusted meatloaf to chicken to bacon chicken chili to pulled pork tacos. The kits come in varying degrees of preparedness, including Oven Ready kits that simply involve arranging ingredients in a pan and placing them in the oven, as well as 15-minute meal kits that include pre-prepped and portioned ingredients that are designed to cook in only 15 minutes.
Learn More: Read Our Home Chef Review.
For 2 People
- 2 recipes per week: $39.96 plus shipping
- 3 recipes per week: $59.94 plus shipping
- 4 recipes per week: $79.92 plus shipping
- 5 recipes per week: $99.90 plus shipping
- 6 recipes per week: $119.88 plus shipping
For 4 People
- 2 recipes per week: $79.92 plus shipping
- 3 recipes per week: $119.88 plus shipping
- 4 recipes per week: $159.84 plus shipping
- 5 recipes per week: $199.80 plus shipping
- 6 recipes per week: $239.76 plus shipping
For 6 People
- 2 recipes per week: $119.88 plus shipping
- 3 recipes per week: $179.82 plus shipping
- 4 recipes per week: $239.76 plus shipping
- 5 recipes per week: $299.70 plus shipping
- 6 recipes per week: $359.64 plus shipping
- Crispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl
- Creamy tomato and steak penne
- Gnocchi and red pepper cream
- Moo shu pork lettuce cups
Best for Customization : Sunbasket
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Sunbasket-b213d4aae9904d1888ddfc23e9d2e9f9.jpg)
- Starting Price: $9.99
- Serving Sizes: 1 - 2
- Number Of Recipes: 43
With an emphasis on organic, sustainable foods and unique and creative meals, Sunbasket is a great option for families and singles alike.
Organic and sustainable ingredients
Great customization options and add-on selection
Healthful, diverse, and delicious meals
Add-ons can be expensive
Some meals may need more flavor
Founded in 2014 by chefs and technology entrepreneurs, Sunbasket offers meal delivery kits that focus on USDA organic ingredients, sustainably sourced seafood, and humanely raised meats. There are two types of meals: a Fresh & Ready meal option, which consists of fresh, ready-to-heat and eat, single-serving meals, and a Meal Kit, which is a more traditional meal kit with pre-portioned ingredients, and measured sauces for customers to cook at home.
Users can select from a wide range of dietary accommodations, including gluten- and dairy-free, vegetarian, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, and diabetes-friendly. For some recipes, customers can even swap protein choices (for an additional cost). Once meals are selected, customers can add a variety of other foods, including gourmet cheeses, nuts, breakfast and lunch items, pasta and sauces, proteins, and snacks.
Learn More: Read Our Sunbasket Review.
Sunbasket's pricing will depend on which meals you order. Fresh & Ready meals start at $9.99 each, and meal kits start at $11.49 per serving, with prices increasing from there based on ingredients and composition. Shipping is free on your first order. After that, expect to pay $7.99 per delivery. Sunbasket ships to 47 states, leaving out Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana.
Meal Kits
- Sea scallops over fresh fettuccine with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach
- Snapper with romesco, vegetables, and almonds
- Burmese chicken and sweet potato curry
- Sirloin strip tacos with zucchini scallion salsa
Prepared Meals
- Broccoli mac and cheese
- Chicken chow mein with broccoli, mushroom, and toasted garlic
- Beef donburi rice bowl with edamame and kimchi-lime vegetables
- Burrito bowl al pastor with plant-based Impossible Beef
Best Budget-Friendly : EveryPlate
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EveryPlate-71b6cc249ed04e3591ad31b6d5a45f41.jpg)
- Starting Price: $4.99
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 4
- Number Of Recipes: 17
Starting at just $4.99 per serving, EveryPlate is one of the most affordable options in the meal delivery marketplace.
Very affordable
Meals are quick and easy
Crowd-pleasing comfort foods
Menu selection is a bit small compared to other services
Meal plans are basic
EveryPlate describes itself as America's Best Value Meal Kit—and, with meals starting at $4.99 per serving, we think that's a pretty accurate statement. Owned by HelloFresh, EveryPlate boasts a menu full of crowd-pleasing comfort foods like barbecue chicken, burgers, tacos, and mac and cheese. Meals require only six simple cooking steps and less than 30 minutes of your time, making this service not only affordable but also incredibly convenient.
Learn More: Read Our EveryPlate Review.
- 3 meals with 2 servings each: $6.49 per serving
- 3 meals with 4 servings each: $5.49 per serving
- 4 meals with 2 servings each: $5.99 per serving
- 4 meals with 4 servings each: $5.29 per serving
- 5 meals with 2 servings each: $5.79 per serving
- 5 meals with 4 servings each: $4.99 per serving
- Crispy Caesar chicken
- Steak frites
- Blackened shrimp salad
- Hotel butter barramundi
Best Vegan : Daily Harvest
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Daily_harvest-27d87e8ccc2b49389c98767b4b89b5a4.jpg)
- Starting Price: $6.29
- Number Of Recipes: 90
Daily Harvest boasts a lineup of over 100 menu items that are all vegan, gluten-free, and made with organic and non-GMO ingredients.
Entire menu is vegan and gluten-free
Organic ingredients with no fillers or artificial additives
Meals are ready to eat in minutes
Single servings only
Must buy a minimum of nine items
Daily Harvest serves up a variety of nutritious meals in a pre-made, frozen fashion. Its menu consists of over 100 items, including grain bowls, flatbreads, soups, snacks, lattes, smoothies, and dairy-free frozen treats known as "Scoops." All of Daily Harvest's foods are vegan and gluten-free, and the company prioritizes using organic ingredients with no refined sugars, GMOs, fillers, or artificial additives.
Learn More: Read Our Daily Harvest Review.
When ordering from Daily Harvest, you'll start by selecting a box size of either Small (9 items), Medium (14 items), or Large (24 items). Then, simply fill the box with whatever you like. While pricing depends on what you order, Daily Harvest offers volume-based discounts; the more items you buy, the more money you'll save.
Per-Item Pricing
- Lattes: $5.99
- Forager Bowls: $6.79
- Mylk & Bites: $7.99
- Smoothies & Soups: $8.49
- Scoops: $8.99
- Harvest Bowls & Flatbreads: $9.79
- Harvest Bake: $11.99
Volume Discounts
- 9-11 items: $5 discount
- 12-23 items: $10 discount
- 24-26 items: $25 discount
- Mint and cacao smoothie
- Mango papaya smoothie
- Hazelnut and chocolate bites
- Tomatillo and pepper flatbread
- Portobello and pesto flatbread
- Sweet potato and wild rice hash
- Brussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowl
- Spinach and shiitake grits
- Tomato and zucchini minestrone soup
Best Gluten-Free : ModifyHealth
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Modify-Health-logo-e4609b4104d148f4ab444952a81314ac.jpg)
- Starting Price: $12.95
Developed specifically for those with celiac disease and other chronic health conditions, ModifyHealth works with doctors and dietitians to create full menus of prepared meals that are completely gluten-free.
Organic ingredients
All meals are gluten-free and low in sodium
Meals arrive fully prepared and ready to reheat
Can be expensive
ModifyHealth is a dietitian-backed service that creates prepared meals designed to support customers suffering from various gut and chronic health issues, including IBS, diabetes, and celiac disease. Featuring low-FODMAP and Mediterranean meal plans with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, all of ModifyHealth's meals are low in sodium and completely gluten-free. Additionally, organic ingredients are used whenever possible, and dietitian support is available if you sign up for the full weekly meal program.
- Breakfasts: start at $9.95 a serving
- Entrees: start at $12.95 a serving
- Full program packages: start at $180 a week, which includes dietitian support
- Shipping: free
- Greek chicken and rice
- Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
- Shrimp chimichurri with black beans and rice
- Lemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za'atar quinoa
- Blackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepper
- Roasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale
Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services
Company | Starting Price | Delivery Area | Products Arrive | Can Customers Choose Delivery Date? | Free Shipping? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Chef Best Organic | $11.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
CookUnity Best Prepared Meals | $10.39 per serving | 45 states | Fresh | Yes | Yes |
Factor Best Keto-Friendly | $11 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Hungryroot Best Variety | $9.69 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | Only on orders over $70 |
Home Chef Best for Families | $6.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | No | No |
Sunbasket Best for Customization | $9.99 per serving | 46 states | Fresh | Yes | Only on first order |
EveryPlate Best Budget-Friendly | $4.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Daily Harves Best Vegan | $6.79 per serving | 48 states | Frozen | Yes | Yes |
ModifyHealth: Best Gluten-Free | $12.95 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | No | Yes |
Guide for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services
Are Meal Delivery Services Right for You?
With so many meal delivery services on the market, there are a ton of options to think about when deciding to try a new service. Meal delivery kits can make life easier by removing the time and effort of menu planning, grocery shopping, prepping, and cooking during a busy weeknight. They can be great for families, cooking one meal for the whole clan to enjoy together can alleviate stress and time, as well as increase family bonding.
Other considerations include diets and health. Many people are following or interested in a plant-based diet, keto, or paleo to complement their fitness goals.
Cutting down on costs and sticking to a budget is something to consider too. Many meal plans are designed to ease the cost of grocery shopping and food waste.
Comparing Meal Delivery Services
There are many options and styles of meal kits on the market. Here are a few ideas to consider when planning on trying a new delivery meal kit to help you make the right decision for you and your family:
- Who is it for? Are you single and want food that is made in single-servings like Splendid Spoon or Freshly? Or, do you love having leftovers or are cooking with a partner? Looking at plans with two serving sizes, such as Dinnerly or Sunbasket, may work for your household. Or are you meal planning for a family with children? Other meal kit services have families in mind, such as Green Chef, which has meals and recipes geared toward six people.
- How much time do you have? Do you want to grab and go, or do you want a frozen meal that can be heated up with minimal preparation? Freshly’s meals can be microwaved in minutes, cutting down on any prep and even clean-up time. Or do you love to cook? Then a plan like Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon, Green Chef, or Sunbasket may be a good fit, as these services feature pre-prepped ingredients, measured sauces, and even spice blends that are already combined.
- What type of diet are you interested in? Factor is geared toward folks who wish to stick with a keto-centered diet. Do you need to adhere to a gluten-free diet? Then ModifyHealth may be a good option as it was created solely as a gluten-free meal plan. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, Daily Harvest or Green Chef can help you find plant-friendly foods crafted with organic and responsibly-sourced ingredients.
- What is your budget? Affordability is, of course, a substantial consideration when choosing a meal delivery service. Costs range widely, but in general, you can expect to pay more for meals that feature animal proteins or organic ingredients and less for plant-based meals, as specialty or labor-intensive ingredients tend to increase costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How Much Do Meal Delivery Services Cost?
Meal delivery services have a range of costs. For example, Dinnerly starts at just $4.99 a serving, while Sunbasket has entrées that ring up over $16 a serving. On average, though, you can plan on spending around $10 per serving.
-
What Do Meal Delivery Services Offer?
Meal delivery services are designed to make your life easier by taking the guesswork out of meal planning and preparation each week. Services may focus on a particular type or style of food, such as organic produce and humanely-raised, grass-fed beef or sustainable seafood; or plant-based, vegetarian, or vegan meals.
Other services were designed by dietitians to improve overall health, such as gluten-free foods, high-protein, or meals geared toward weight loss goals. Services also offer a variety of ways to prepare foods, by providing already prepared foods that are frozen or vacuum-sealed and just need to be heated, or more traditional pre-proportioned ingredients and recipes for cooking from the convenience of home.
-
What Diets Do Meal Delivery Services Accommodate?
There is a wide variety of dietary accommodations from meal delivery services. Some services offer a more classic meal plan like meats and vegetables while other plans stick solely to a plant-based plan. Other services focus on gluten-free diets or foods that are free of dairy, soy, and nuts. Depending on the service, paleo and keto diets are also popular choices when designing meal plans.
-
Are Meal Delivery Services Family-Friendly?
There are meal delivery services that are geared toward families, offering family-sized portions or even serving sizes for both adults and children. There are also services that offer serving sizes of four or more each week, like Green Chef, which provides six servings. Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon and Dinnerly use filters and tags to identify kid-friendly meals too. While they may not be created specifically with children in mind, there may be comforting and kid-appealing foods and meals available.
Methodology
Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated 40 different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, and customer service, as well as the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our Spruce Eats tester panel includes dietitians, chefs, and longtime food writers who are all passionate and knowledgeable about food.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Primary-Image-best-meal-delivery-services-4691339-f9bab92993ae4499b5146587700af6cc.jpg)
AzmanJaka / Getty Images