Best Meal Kit Delivery Service in 2026: 10 Services Compared
Looking for the best meal kit delivery service? We compared 10 meal kits and premade meal services by price per serving, menu size, diets and shipping.

- Editor's choice
HelloFreshMost households and picky families
Starts at$9.99 per servingVisit hellofresh.comFull review - Great alternative
Home ChefSwapping proteins and mixed tastes
Starts at$9.99 per servingVisit homechef.comFull review - Also consider
EveryPlateSimple dinners on a tight budget
Starts atUnder $7 per mealVisit everyplate.comFull review
TL;DR:
- HelloFresh is our pick for most households: its own comparison page lists $9.99 to $11.49 per serving plus $10.99 shipping per box, with one of the biggest weekly menus around.
- Dinnerly and EveryPlate are the budget picks. Dinnerly says meals start at $5.99 per person, and EveryPlate advertises meals under $7.
- Home Chef standard meals start at $9.99 per serving, with a minimum weekly order of $50.95 on its regular plan and $90.81 on the Family Plan.
- If you do not want to cook at all, Factor delivers fully prepared meals that it says are fresh, never frozen, and ready in 2 minutes.
- Almost every service hides its real price behind a ZIP code and a heavy first-box discount, so budget for the regular price from box two onward.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free plan? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most households and picky families | $9.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Swapping proteins and mixed tastes | $9.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Simple dinners on a tight budget | Under $7 per meal | No | Visit | |
| The lowest price per serving | $5.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Cooks who want more ambitious recipes | See website | No | Visit | |
| Organic ingredients and diet plans | See website | No | Visit | |
| Premade meals with no cooking | See website | No | Visit | |
| Groceries plus easy recipes in one box | $8.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Fully plant-based eating | See website | No | Visit | |
| Fast 15-minute dinners | See website | No | Visit |
The best meal kit delivery services
A meal kit sends pre-portioned ingredients and a recipe card, while a prepared meal service sends food that only needs reheating. We included both, because many people searching for a meal kit really want dinner handled, not a cooking lesson.

HelloFresh is the service we would suggest first to someone who has never tried a meal kit. Its own 2026 comparison page lists a price of $9.99 to $11.49 per serving and $10.99 shipping per box, and it describes a weekly menu of more than 100 recipes. That range covers family favorites, lighter Calorie Smart meals (under 650 calories per serving), and one-pan dishes.
The draw is variety without much decision fatigue. Plans start with two servings per recipe and scale up for bigger households, and you can skip weeks or cancel from your account. For families with kids who refuse half the menu, a big menu matters more than any single feature.
The honest catch is the real cost. Once you add shipping, a three-meal box for two runs close to $12 per plate by HelloFresh's own math. Some reviewers also say recipes take longer than the time printed on the card, so plan a little extra on your first few nights.
- Large weekly menu with many cuisines
- Plans for small and large households
- Quick and Easy recipes for busy nights
- Shipping adds about $11 per box
- Premium recipes cost extra per person

Home Chef is built for households where nobody wants the same thing. Its Customize It feature lets you swap the protein in many recipes, so one person can have chicken while another gets steak or shrimp. That alone solves a lot of weeknight arguments.
Pricing is clear on its support page: standard meals start at $9.99 per serving, though the final number changes with order size and meal type. The minimum weekly order is $50.95 on the regular plan and $90.81 on the Family Plan. Shipping is shown at the end of signup.
The weak spot is plant-based cooking. Home Chef leans toward meat-forward comfort food, so a vegetarian household will find more to choose from at Purple Carrot or Green Chef.
- Customize It lets you swap or upgrade proteins
- Family Plan for bigger households
- Oven-ready and fast meal formats
- Minimum weekly order of $50.95
- Fewer standout vegetarian options

EveryPlate calls itself the lowest-priced home cooking box, and its homepage advertises meals under $7. The menu has grown to more than 35 weekly recipes, with more vegetable options and minimal-cleanup meals like sheet-pan and one-pan dinners.
The recipes are simple by design. EveryPlate says they follow about six steps and land on the table in roughly 30 minutes, which suits newer cooks and parents who want a dependable weeknight routine.
Keep the fine print in mind. The shipping fee applies on all deliveries, and the big first-box deal is a percentage off, so the second box costs noticeably more. Ingredients are also more basic than what you get from Marley Spoon or Green Chef.
- Advertises meals under $7
- 35+ weekly recipes
- Easy six-step recipes
- Shipping fee applies on every delivery
- Fewer premium ingredients
Dinnerly is the cheapest name on our list. Its homepage says meals start at just $5.99 per person and advertises more than 100 recipes every week. For a family that would otherwise order takeout twice a week, that price is hard to argue with.
The savings come from simpler recipes and fewer premium ingredients. Expect comfort food and familiar flavors rather than restaurant-style plating. Most dinners are quick, and that suits a busy household well.
The catch is shipping. A flat delivery fee on a small box can push the real cost per plate closer to $8, so the value improves when you order more meals per week.
- Meals start at $5.99 per person
- 100+ recipes every week
- Straightforward recipes
- Simpler dishes with less culinary range
- Shipping eats into the savings
Marley Spoon suits people who actually enjoy cooking and want to try new techniques. Its plans page lists more than 100 recipes a week across meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan, low-carb, and family-friendly options, with plan sizes for 2, 3, 4 or 6 people.
We like the pricing tiers inside the menu. Saver recipes cost up to $1 less per serving, Customizable recipes let you swap proteins, and Premium recipes cost a little extra. There is also a Meals for One option built around single-serve prepared meals, which helps people who live alone.
The honest weakness is time. More gourmet recipes mean more chopping and more steps, so it is better for weekends than for a Tuesday when everyone is starving. The price per serving only appears once you choose a plan size, so compare it with HelloFresh before committing.
- 100+ recipes each week
- Plans for 2, 3, 4 or 6 people
- Saver recipes cost up to $1 less per serving
- Price only appears after you pick a plan
- Some recipes take real effort
Green Chef is the meal kit for people who read ingredient labels. Its homepage says it delivers certified organic produce and proteins at no extra cost, avoids more than 100 banned ingredients, and offers free one-on-one nutrition coaching with a registered dietitian.
It also covers specific diets well. You can choose Mediterranean, plant-based, gluten-free, high-protein, Calorie Smart (650 calories or less), and Carb Smart meals, and swap or double proteins, carbs and vegetables. Green Chef says it adds 15+ new recipes each week, most ready in under 25 minutes.
The trade-off is a smaller menu and a higher price than budget kits. Green Chef does not list prices until you pick a plan, so check the full price before the intro discount runs out.
- Certified organic produce and proteins
- Menus for Mediterranean, gluten-free, high-protein and low-carb
- Free nutrition coaching
- Smaller weekly menu than HelloFresh
- Price hidden until you choose a plan
Factor is our pick for the best premade meal delivery service. Nothing needs chopping or cooking: the company says its meals arrive fresh, never frozen, and heat up in about 2 minutes. That makes it a strong fit for busy professionals, people living alone, and anyone recovering from surgery or a new baby.
The menu is big. Factor lists more than 100 rotating weekly meals, plus breakfasts, smoothies and snacks, and over 70 add-ons. The company says its meals avoid refined sugars, artificial colors and sweeteners, and it offers free nutrition coaching sessions.
The downside is that prepared food is less flexible. You cannot adjust the salt, spice or portion size the way you can with a kit, and the shipping fee applies on every box.
- Fully prepared meals, ready in 2 minutes
- 100+ rotating weekly meals
- 70+ add-ons including breakfast and snacks
- No cooking means less control over portions and seasoning
- Shipping fee on every delivery
Hungryroot sits between a meal kit and a grocery delivery service. You answer questions about your diet, goals and budget, and it fills a cart with simple recipes and grocery items. Its homepage lists per-serving prices by category: dinner at $8.99, lunch at $5.99, breakfast at $3.99, and snacks at $1.99.
The budget control is the best feature. Hungryroot says you set the budget and it sticks to it, and you can change or skip anytime. Shipping is free on orders over $70, and the first delivery comes with a 30% discount.
It is not for everyone. If you want a set of recipe cards with every ingredient bagged, a classic kit is easier. Hungryroot works best when you check the cart each week instead of accepting everything it suggests.
- Mixes recipes and grocery items
- Free shipping over $70
- You set a weekly budget
- Works more like a grocery service than a classic kit
- You need to review the auto-filled cart
Purple Carrot has been delivering 100% plant-based food for more than ten years. That focus shows in the menu, which includes comfort meals, bowls, protein add-ons, and fully prepared options alongside regular meal kits.
It is a good answer for vegans, vegetarians and anyone cutting back on meat. Purple Carrot says each week includes options with 30+ grams of protein, 10+ grams of fiber, and under 600 calories. You can skip a week anytime, and you can mix kits, ready-to-eat meals and groceries in one delivery.
The limit is obvious: if someone in your house wants chicken on the plate, this is a tough sell. Prices also swing with promotions, so look at the regular rate before you subscribe.
- 100% plant-based menu
- Meal kits and ready-to-eat meals in one box
- High-protein and high-fiber options
- Not a fit for meat eaters in the household
- Price varies a lot by promotion
Gobble is built for the person who gets home at 7 pm and wants food on the table by 7:20. Its homepage promises dinner in just 15 minutes, because much of the prep work is done before the box arrives.
There are three plans: Classic, Lean and Clean (low-carb meals of 650 calories or less), and Vegetarian. That makes it a reasonable choice for busy parents and couples who still want to cook something fresh.
The catch is less choice than the big names, and the homepage only says your price may vary with your selections. Compare the per-serving price at checkout against Home Chef, which also has fast options.
- Dinners designed for about 15 minutes
- Classic, Lean and Clean, and Vegetarian plans
- Lean and Clean meals are 650 calories or less
- Smaller brand with fewer menu options
- Prices not listed on the homepage
How we picked these
We compared each service using its own website: plan and pricing pages, help center articles on minimum orders and shipping, menu pages, and the fine print on intro offers. Where a company hides its price behind a ZIP code or plan selector, we wrote See website rather than guess. We did not cook every meal on this list, so we focused on what can be checked: price per serving, menu size, diet options, delivery terms and how easy it is to skip or cancel.
We also placed each service where it fits best, since a family of five, a couple who loves cooking and someone living alone need different things.
How to choose a meal delivery service that fits your week
Decide between a kit and premade meals
Meal kits like HelloFresh, Home Chef and EveryPlate still require 20 to 45 minutes of cooking. Premade services like Factor only need reheating. If you have tried kits before and the boxes piled up in the fridge, a premade service is probably the better fit.
Price the second box, not the first
Nearly every company offers a large discount on the first box and smaller discounts for a few weeks after. Work out the regular price per serving plus shipping, then multiply by four to see the monthly cost. A $9.99 serving with $10.99 shipping on a six-serving box is about $11.82 per plate.
Match the plan to your household
Families should look at Home Chef's Family Plan, HelloFresh's larger plans, or Dinnerly for low cost. Couples who like to cook will enjoy Marley Spoon. People living alone can look at Factor or Marley Spoon's Meals for One.
Check allergens yourself
Meal kits are packed in facilities that handle common allergens. If anyone in your home has a serious food allergy, read each service's allergen policy and the ingredient list for every recipe before ordering.
FAQ
What is the best meal kit delivery service overall?
For most people we would start with HelloFresh because of its large menu and plans for different household sizes. If price matters most, Dinnerly and EveryPlate cost less per serving. If you want dinner fully prepared, Factor is the stronger choice.
What is the best meal delivery service for families?
Home Chef is a strong family pick because of its Family Plan and the option to swap proteins in many recipes. HelloFresh also has plans for larger households and a big menu that helps with picky kids. On a tight budget, Dinnerly is the cheapest place to start.
What is the best premade meal delivery service?
Factor is our top premade pick because its meals arrive fully cooked and fresh, and the company says they are ready in about 2 minutes. Purple Carrot also sells ready-to-eat plant-based meals if you do not eat meat.
What is the best meal delivery service for one person?
Factor works well for one person because you order individual meals instead of two-serving recipes. Marley Spoon also has a Meals for One plan built around single-serve prepared meals. Classic two-serving kits can still work if you are happy to eat leftovers for lunch.
Are meal kits cheaper than grocery shopping?
Usually not. Most kits cost between about $6 and $13 per serving before shipping, while cooking from your own groceries is often cheaper. Meal kits save time on planning and shopping and can cut food waste, which is where the real value comes from.
Can I skip weeks or cancel a meal kit subscription?
Yes. Every service on this list says you can skip, pause or cancel. Changes must be made before each week's cutoff, so check that date in your account to avoid paying for a box you did not want.
Sources
- https://www.hellofresh.com/stories/research/top-meal-kit-reviews
- https://www.hellofresh.com/plans
- https://support.homechef.com/hc/en-us/articles/210097763-How-much-does-Home-Chef-cost
- https://www.homechef.com
- https://www.everyplate.com
- https://www.dinnerly.com
- https://marleyspoon.com/select-plan
- https://www.greenchef.com
- https://www.factor75.com
- https://www.hungryroot.com
- https://www.purplecarrot.com
- https://www.gobble.com






