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Many of us do not have the time or resources to cook each night, and meal delivery services can be a reliable and helpful tool when it comes to providing food and meals at home. Whether you are feeding a family or just yourself, we know how important budgeting meals can be.
With so many meal delivery services on today’s market, we’ve done the research on the least expensive services available to help you make the right choice for you and your family. Read on to learn more about the eight cheapest meal delivery services, and find the one that matches your needs.
Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of 2022
- Starts at $4.69 a Serving: Dinnerly
- Starts at $4.99 a Serving: EveryPlate
- Starts at $4.99 a Serving: Little Spoon
- Starts at $5.99 a Serving: Daily Harvest
- Starts at $5.99 a Serving: Yumble
- Starts at $6.99 a Serving: Revive Superfoods
- Starts at $6.99 a Serving: Mom’s Meals
Starts at $4.69 a Serving : Dinnerly
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- Price Per Serving: $4.69
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 4
- Number Of Recipes: 40
At $4.69 a serving, Dinnerly offers customers a very agreeable and one of the most budget-friendly options for a weekly meal delivery service.
Very affordable
Simple and quick meals
Few ingredients and steps
Printed recipe cards aren’t included
Instructions use generic cooking icons rather than photography
Some meals are bland
When comparing around four dozen meal delivery services in the American market, Dinnerly is the cheapest.
Dinnerly was launched in 2017 by Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon and was created as a more affordable option for customers across the country. Meals are geared toward customers who do not have a lot of time to dedicate to meal prep, cooking, and cleaning. Most meals are ready to eat within 30 minutes or less and can be made in just five steps. Dinnerly is an environmentally conscious company, and therefore, does not include printed recipe cards in deliveries and tries to pare down on the number of ingredients needed in each recipe. Recipes and cooking instructions can be found on the website and on the Dinnerly app.
Upon signing up for the service, Dinnerly will ask customers for a few food preferences and then uses an algorithm to select dishes. Customers have an option to edit meal choices from the weekly rotation of recipes. Dinnerly utilizes several tags to make finding the right meal choices easier, such as no added gluten; under 30 minutes; kid-friendly; spicy; healthy; and one-pot meals.
Dinnerly offers a weekly meal plan for two or four servings a week with an option to select three to six meals each week.
A meal option for two servings a week are as follows:
- 3 meals: $5.89 per serving
- 4 meals: $5.79 per serving
- 5 meals: $5.69 per serving
- 6 meals: $5.59 per serving
A meal option for four servings a week are as follows:
- 3 meals: $5.59 per portion
- 4 meals: $5.19 per portion
- 5 meals: $4.99 per portion
- 6 meals: $4.69 per portion
Shipping is a flat $8.99 per delivery and the company delivers to the Continental U.S. Customers can select from roughly 20 meal options a week with a few extras such as desserts or additional protein packs. As of June 2021, Dinnerly offers a meat and a vegetarian meal option but does not offer additional add ons.
Learn More: Read Our Dinnerly Review.
Starts at $4.99 a Serving : EveryPlate
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- Price Per Serving: $4.99
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 4
- Number Of Recipes: 17
EveryPlate offers customers an affordable $4.99 a serving option from an assortment of 16 recipes each week.
Affordable and consistent pricing for all plans
Easy, flavorful meals
Offers family-friendly meals options
Limited weekly menu
Contents are not well organized in delivery box
Lots of plastic packaging
Coming in at $4.99 a serving, EveryPlate is a great option for singles or families who are seeking affordable meal options. Founded by the national leading meal delivery service HelloFresh, EveryPlate launched in 2018 as a less expensive and less time-consuming option.
Each week, customers can select from 17 dinner options with diets for meat and vegetarian preferences. EveryPlate even offers a family-friendly meal plan geared toward creating recipes that kids and adults will like and eases the challenge of meal planning and preparation.
To keep costs down, EveryPlate creates simpler meals, such as a meat paired with a starch. Menus tend to be geared towards comfort foods as opposed to elaborate or exotic meals, and most meals are ready to eat and enjoy in about 30 minutes.
EveryPlate offers a plan for two or four servings a week with an option to select three to five recipes a week.
Meal options include a traditional meat “ClassicPlate” option, a vegetarian “VeggiePlate'' option, a family-friendly “FamilyPlate”, and an "EasyPlate" option all starting at $4.99 per serving when priced for four people. Shipping is a flat $9.99 for delivery in the Continental U.S.
Learn More: Read Our EveryPlate Review.
Starts at $4.99 a Serving : Little Spoon
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- Price Per Serving: $4.99
- Number Of Recipes: 23
Little Spoon offers families an easy and healthy way to feed and nourish children each week for a starting point of just $4.99 a meal per serving.
Geared toward children
Healthy, tasty foods
Easy to make
Reheating meals can be confusing
Can be pricey
Menu options do not change frequently
Little Spoon was founded by parents in 2017 in an effort to create an easier solution to feeding babies and children in a healthy, approachable, and cost-effective manner.
The company offers three types of meal plans: pureed foods, toddler/children's meals, smoothies, and booster and nutritional supplements. Meals arrive pre-cooked and sealed on colorful plates with thoughtful dividers for picky eaters (no worries about mixing foods here). The meals can be safely refrigerated for up to 14 days and are freezer safe for up to two months. Plates can be recycled and are BPA-free. Meals can be safely heated up in the microwave on the meal plate or heated in the oven or air fryer (but the food must be removed from the plate).
Children and adults will have fun selecting from kid-favorites such as Mac and Three Cheese with “invisible butternut squash” or Chicken Super Nuggets with sweet potato mash and peas. Little Spoon pays a lot of attention to allergens and tries to label foods accordingly. A detailed FAQ section points to various egg-free or gluten-free dishes available on the menu (while menu item disclaimers explain the risk of cross-contamination may occur).
Little Spoon offers a baby meal plan, called “BabyBlends” and a toddler/kids meal plan, “Plates.” Shipping is $6 and is available throughout the Continental U.S. Meals arrive vacuum-sealed and pre-cooked.
The breakdown of the Plates meal plan is as follows:
- Four meals a week (eight meals per delivery): $6.49 per meal
- Six meals a week (12 meals per delivery): $5.99 per meal
- Nine meals a week (18 meals per delivery): $5.49 per meal
- 12 meals a week (24 meals per delivery): $4.99 per meal
Learn More: Read Our Little Spoon Review.
Starts at $5.99 a Serving : Daily Harvest
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- Price Per Serving: $5.99
- Number Of Recipes: 90
With nearly 100 different food options, Daily Harvest offers single-serving meals and snack options that begin at just $5.99.
Many meal and snack options
Nutritious, healthy foods
Free shipping
Not a great option for large families
Deliveries can get expensive
Some meals may not be filling
The Spruce Eats is aware of a Daily Harvest recall related to customers being sickened after consuming its French Lentil + Leek Crumbles menu item. We are watching the situation closely and will consider this when we re-evaluate Daily Harvest.
Daily Harvest was founded in New York City in 2015 with a mission of offering nutritious and organic frozen, whole, plant-, and fruit-based foods. Foods and meals are frozen and arrive on dry ice. Some foods need basic assembly, such as the smoothies, which require a liquid when blending; informational videos are easily accessible on the website when ordering food. Other foods such as the harvest bowls, forager bowls, oat bowls, chia bowls, flatbreads, and soups can be heated on the stovetop or in the microwave.
“Scoops” (healthy ice cream alternative) and “Bites” (little snacks) can be eaten directly out of the freezer. Customers can order weekly or monthly and can select up to 24 items, including healthy snacks, bowls, soups, flatbreads, and more.
Daily Harvest has more than 80 options for frozen meals and snacks, including smoothies, chia bowls, flatbreads, soups, and dairy- and gluten-free ice cream. Plans include a weekly or monthly subscription with options for a small box (nine items), medium box (14 items), and large box (24 items). Pricing per box depends on the cost of each item selected. For our first box, shipping was free. The company delivers to 49 states, leaving out Hawaii.
Here’s an example of pricing per item:
- Chia Bowls: $5.99 per bowl
- Oat Bowls: $5.99 per bowl
- Soup: $7.99 per bowl
- Harvest Bowls: $8.99 per bowl
- Bites (small snack bites): $7.99 for seven bites
- Scoops (healthy ice cream alternative): $8.99 per pint
- Smoothie: $7.99 per smoothie
Learn More: Read Our Daily Harvest Review.
Starts at $5.99 a Serving : Yumble
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- Price Per Serving: $5.99
- Number Of Recipes: 42
Feeding children can be expensive and time-consuming. Yumble offers multiple meals delivered to your door per week, starting at $5.99 per meal for 16 meals a week.
Diverse menu
Fresh food that is ready to eat
Free shipping
Some plans are expensive
Does not allow for ingredient substitutions
Yumble offers fully-cooked meals for children. The company was founded by a mother from New Jersey in 2016, and it gained some notoriety after presenting on the TV show "Shark Tank" in 2018.
Meals are ready to eat as is or can be heated up in just 90 seconds. Customers have the option of choosing a plan from four, six, eight, and 16 meals a week. Yumble offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options and meals that are gluten-, egg-, milk-, soy-free, and vegetarian. Users can also sort meals by age groups: 1 to 3; 4 to 8; and 9 to 13 years old. Meals arrive sealed in plastic plates that can be microwaved and recycled. Yumble strives to use organic ingredients whenever possible and humanely-raised, antibiotic-free meat.
Yumble’s plans are straightforward. There are four meal plans a week to choose from, with an option for four, six, eight, and 16 meals each week. Shipping is always free.
Pricing breaks down as follows:
- Four meals a week: $9.99 per meal
- Six meals a week: $8.99 per meal
- Eight meals a week: $7.99 per meal
- 16 meals a week: $6.99 per meal
Learn More: Read Our Yumble Review.
Starts at $6.99 a Serving : Revive Superfoods
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- Price Per Serving: $6.99
- Number Of Recipes: 28
Revive Superfoods features healthy, nutritious, plant-based meals and snacks that start at just $6.99 an item.
Large menu option
Nutritious, healthful food
Free shipping
Some portions may be small
Heating certain foods may be inconsistent
Service not geared towards large families
Revive Superfoods is a family-operated business founded in 2016 in Toronto. The company creates pre-portioned frozen, plant-based foods, such as falafel snacks, oat bowls, smoothies, “SuperMeal” bowls, soups, and frozen desserts.
Some foods, like smoothies, soups, and oat bowls, require liquid during the preparation phase. Certain meals, such as the “SuperMeal” bowls and soups, can be heated on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl. Foods can be kept in the freezer for up to two months. The meals are vegan and paleo-friendly as well as dairy-free.
Revive Superfoods has three meal plans each week with an option for nine, 12, or 24 meals a week in each delivery, and each item is priced at $6.99. Shipping is free, and delivery is available throughout the Continental U.S. and Canada.
Learn More: Read Our Revive Superfoods Review.
Starts at $6.99 a Serving : Mom’s Meals
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- Price Per Serving: $6.99
- Number Of Recipes: 28
Mom’s Meals is a pre-cooked meal delivery service dedicated to helping those in need or who are ill. The company makes affordable meal options for customers at just $6.99 a meal or $7.99 for pureed, renal-friendly, and gluten-free meals.
Positive company mission
Accommodates many diets and lifestyles
Many meal options
Some meals are bland
Lots of packaging
Not ideal for large families
Mom’s Meals prides itself on being a company that believes in helping others in need, especially senior citizens, healthcare workers, those recovering from illness, as well as individuals, and caretakers. Mom’s Meals offers prepared, refrigerated meals that include comforting and nutritional foods that are ready to microwave and eat in 90 seconds. The service has breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Meals arrive pre-packaged and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. Users have a plethora of dietary options to choose from, including pureed foods, renal-friendly, low-sodium, cancer support, and gluten-free. Customers can choose to select an auto-ship program, in which meals are delivered each week or they can order at their leisure.
Mom’s Meals has plans for Medicaid and Medicaid Advantage recipients and individual and self-pay plans. We sampled the individual plan, which has an option for 10, 14, or 21 meals per delivery. Users can also choose from an a la carte meal menu or have the chef-curated menu, in which the chef selects your order. Meals are priced at $6.99 or $7.99 and shipping is available throughout the Continental U.S.
Learn More: Read Our Mom's Meals Review.
Final Verdict
With so many meal delivery services available on today’s market, it can be overwhelming to identify the right service for you and your family. Feeding yourself and others can be expensive, timing-consuming, and challenging. Fortunately, there are many meal delivery services that offer affordable and reasonable options.
Compare the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Company | Lowest Price per Serving | Number of Diets Served | Number of Recipes | Delivery Area | Serving Sizes Available |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dinnerly | $4.69 | 6 | 21 | 48 states | 2, 4 |
EveryPlate | $4.99 | 2 | 16 | 48 states | 2, 4 |
Little Spoon | $4.99 | 5 | 28 | 48 states | 1 |
Daily Harvest | $5.99 | N/A | 90+ | 49 states | 1 |
Yumble | $5.99 | 5 | 42 | N/A | 1 |
Revive Superfoods | $6.99 | 3 | 38 | 50 states + Canada | 1 |
Mom’s Meals | $6.99 | 8 | N/A | 48 states | 1 |
Guide for Choosing the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Are Cheap Meal Delivery Services Right for You?
Finding affordable meal delivery services can help make life a little easier. Identifying reliable and continuous meal delivery services can alleviate a financial burden as well as time-consuming meal planning, cooking, and cleaning up. However, it’s important to look at the type of service: Does the company cater to one-off items such as single-serving salads or soups or do they offer full meals designed for an adult? Does the service offer larger portions designed for a bigger family that may have a picky eater?
Some meal delivery services offer more traditional meals, such as flash-frozen full meals that can be heated up in moments or even meal prep kits, with ingredients partially ready allowing you to cook and make dinner in under 30 minutes. Many of the services that deliver prepped ingredients alongside recipes may appeal to families, as the companies tend to have various serving sizes and can cater to larger families. Other services may be more in line with individual customers, offering healthy and affordable smaller items at about $6 each, such as smoothies or on-the-go snacks; these may not favor larger families and can be cost-prohibitive as individual items can add up and may not be as satiating. Options such as Yumble and Little Spoon have kid-specific food.
Several services, such as Daily Harvest or Revive Superfoods, cater to those looking for more plant-based and dairy-free options, whereas Mom’s Meals is designed to help those who may be suffering from an illness and need specific dietary foods, and it may appeal to seniors who aren't inclined to cook and prepare elaborate meals.
Comparing Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
When selecting a meal delivery service, here are a few factors to consider:
- Who is the meal service for? Is your goal to feed yourself and a partner or a family of six?
- What sort of service best suits you? Do you need some snacks when you’re at the office or working from home? Or do you want a service that does more of a heavy lift by suggesting weekly recipes and sending pre-packaged or pre-prepped foods for an easy weeknight dinner?
- Are you on a diet or training or looking for plant-based meals?
- Do you have an allergy, such as celiac disease? Do you need a gluten-free meal plan?
- Do you want to microwave a full meal in 90 seconds or do you enjoy unwinding after a long day by cooking in your kitchen?
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Cost?
After researching over 40 meal kits, we ranked them all by the lowest cost per serving. Our research revealed that meal kits begin at $4.69 per serving, with Dinnerly being the cheapest. Several other meal kits offer servings or prices per meal at $7 or less.
What Do the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Offer?
Cheap meal delivery services have more to offer than just inexpensive food. Fortunately, for customers and consumers, there are a bevy of intriguing, cost-effective, and healthy options for at-home meal delivery kits. Some meal kits create flash-frozen meals and snacks that need to be prepared with at-home ingredients, such as frozen smoothies or soups that require water or a desired milk. Other meals may arrive pre-cooked and need to be heated up on the stovetop or in the microwave. And some companies focus on larger-portion ingredients that are geared towards cooking and feeding the whole family.
Do the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Offer Kid-Friendly Entrees?
A few services are designed specifically for children, such as Little Spoon and Yumble, with meals starting at $4.99 and $5.99, respectively. Otherwise, most meal delivery services are good fits for families.
Do the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Remove Allergens?
Several of the cheapest meal delivery services are conscious of allergens and have meals designed for specific dietary needs. For example, Daily Harvest and Revive Superfoods both offer dairy-free and vegan foods. It is important to always check each company’s allergy information as some companies may create allergen-friendly foods, but the facilities the foods are processed in may not be free of the specific allergen in question.
Methodology
We researched, ordered, cooked, sampled, and photographed food from 46 meal delivery services in an effort to find the best ones to fit different lifestyles and eating patterns. For this particular roundup, we focused solely on the cost per serving to come up with the ranking of the cheapest meal delivery services available.