7 Best Meal Delivery Services

Finding a great meal kit or prepared meal delivery service can be a game changer, especially on weeknights. It will save you time and effort in the kitchen and drastically reduce the time you’d spend grocery shopping and cleaning up after dinner.

Traditional meal kits feature portioned ingredients and cooking instructions to prepare your meal quickly and effortlessly. Most services also offer customizable semi-prepared and fully prepared meals.

Whether you follow a particular eating regimen or have specific dietary restrictions, there is a meal delivery service for you. We reviewed 10 different companies and sampled four to five meals from each. Read below what our testers had to say, and find out which subscription boxes made our list for the best meal delivery services of 2023.

Our Top Picks for Best Meal Delivery Services

• Blue Apron – Best Meal Kit Overall
• HelloFresh – Best Budget Meal Kit
• Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon – Best for Families
• Green Chef – Best Gluten-free Meal Kit
• SunBasket – Best for Weight Loss
• Home Chef – Best for Customization
• Purple Carrot – Best Plant-Based Meal Kit

Best Meal Delivery Services Reviews

Why we chose it: Blue Apron’s meal service allows you to customize your menu with a wide range of dish options. Gourmet add-ons make it easy to cater to special occasions, while the reasonable pricing makes it a good every day service.

Blue Apron offers four meal delivery menus: Signature, Wellness, Vegetarian and Signature for Four. The Signature plan has the most variety, with over 15 meal options. A nice variety of vegetarian and vegan food is also available on their weekly menus, and, as a bonus, many of the ingredients are sustainably sourced.

Blue Apron does a great job combining gourmet and comfort food options into customizable kits. You can add premium steaks, desserts and wines to make your meals fancier. The company even sends you pairing suggestions. With these options, you can easily modify your orders to accommodate a meal for special occasions.

Price per serving ranges between $10 and $12 (shipping is extra), with options to prepare 2 to 5 meals per week for 2 to 4 servings. However, the add-ons mentioned above can quickly make things expensive.

There are about 70 meal options to choose from every week, or you can get the service to choose meals for you according to your preferences. Most users report a pleasant experience with the service, though there are instances of missing ingredients in meal kits.

Our tester tried meals from the Signature menu. The box layout made unboxing and fridge storage easy. Cooking was also a breeze, with clear recipes and helpful pictures. The standout was the Sheet Pan Cheesy Mango Chicken.

Why we chose it: With a starting price of just $8.99 per serving and a wide variety of additional discounts, Hello Fresh made our list as the best budget meal delivery service.

Hello Fresh offers various meal options, including vegetarian, family-friendly and low calorie choices. Users have reported that HelloFresh provides fresh and high-quality ingredients and the produce is often sourced locally.

The meal kits include pre-measured ingredients and detailed recipe cards with easy-to-follow instructions, making it easy for inexperienced cooks to prepare the meals. According to the company, most meals should take around 25 to 35 minutes to prepare, although a handful of “gourmet” recipes may take up to 50 minutes.

Prices vary depending on the number of meals and serving you want per week, but what sets HelloFresh apart is its affordability, with servings that start at $8.99 for the largest plan of six meals per week with four servings each. That said, you’ll pay a $10.99 flat rate shipping fee.

Our tester sampled five recipes and found most meals tasty, filling and easy to make. One stand out was the zucchini and mushroom bibimbap bowl.

The package arrived on time and in optimal condition, with fresh ingredients neatly divided by meal in labeled brown paper bags. The cardboard delivery box and paper bags were recyclable, and the veggies were unpackaged. However, items like cheese, spices and sauces were individually wrapped in plastic.

Why we chose it: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon offers 100 different weekly dishes, from comfort food staples like sausage and ricotta lasagna to gourmet items like honey-glazed pork tenderloin.

Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is a meal kit delivery service that offers a curated selection of recipes developed by Martha Stewart herself. The service provides diverse recipes for vegetarians, families and those with specific dietary preferences.

Many customers have reported receiving fresh and high-quality ingredients in their meal kits, and every meal is tagged with labels such as “kid-friendly,” “dairy-free,” “meat” or “vegetarian.”

Our reviewer enjoyed Marley Spoon’s fresh ingredients, recipe ideas and attention to detail. She noted that the recipe cards were beautiful, with nice pictures and step-by-step instructions, considering the time it takes to clean up. Many recipes are also meant to use the same pan for different parts of the meal, minimizing the dirty dishes at the end.

Readers should note that Marley Spoon's packaging is minimal compared to other meal kits. However, ingredients were grouped per category instead of per meal, with all the veggies, meats and pantry items in separate containers.

Why we chose it: Green Chef is certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group. This certification ensures that Green Chef's gluten-free meals and the facility where the meals are prepared meet strict gluten-free standards.

Green Chef’s meal kits are sorted into Mediterranean, keto + paleo, Fast & Fit and gluten-free. Subscribers looking for gluten-free meals have over 10 weekly recipes available, most of which take 35 minutes or less to cook, according to the company.

Green Chef is also certified organic by the USDA, meaning that all its produce and eggs are organic. That said, your box may still include non-certified ingredients if the company’s unable to source them organically.

Our tester sampled recipes from the keto + paleo meal plan, which included several gluten-free dishes, and enjoyed all the meals he tried. His favorite dish was the chicken and butternut squash hash.

Green Chef is a winner in terms of ease and taste but not so much in terms of price. Despite enjoying the service, our tester would still consider his budget before ordering from Green Chef again, and he'd favor eating out or going grocery shopping if it's more affordable.

Why we chose it: SunBasket’s weekly menu offers meal options for 10 different categories, including keto, low calorie, vegan and Mediterranean. Consumers with weight loss goals can choose from various nutritious meals, no matter their weight loss plan.

SunBasket uses USDA-certified organic produce whenever possible and offers menu items for the following diets: gluten-free, dairy-free, omnivore, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, diabetes-friendly and soy-free. Subscribers can select a SunBasket meal plan that best fits their weight loss goals, ideally in collaboration with a plan from a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Our tester sampled SunBasket’s gluten-free recipes, and she found the dishes both filling and satisfying. The kit had generous portions — the kimchi fried rice with peas, bok choy and fried eggs — were enough for three servings. One notable downside was that some ingredients arrived partially spoiled or wilted.

SunBasket did its best to limit excessive packaging. The meals were packaged individually in brown paper bags with the corresponding ingredients. However, the vegetables were packaged in non-recyclable sealed plastic bags.

Why we chose it: We chose Home Chef as best for customization because you can pick from a variety of meals, including gourmet recipes, 15-minute meals and ready-to-eat recipes. You can customize many of these dishes by swapping out the protein as well.

Home Chef’s meal plans are versatile in terms of their preparation style. You can find gourmet dishes in the Culinary Collection, standard meal kits, easy prep recipes (that take from 15 to 30 minutes of prep time) and oven- or grill-ready dishes. For protein, subscribers can choose between fish, poultry, beef or a meat substitute.

All the ingredients arrived fresh and in proper packaging. There weren’t any problems with quality or storage and everything kept well throughout the week.

Our tester enjoyed all the meals and decided to switch out her current meal kit service for Home Chef. She also mentioned that one of the recipes required a meat thermometer, something not many people have at home.

Home Chef’s packaging included non-recyclable plastic waste. The only recyclable items were the cardboard box and the ice packs used to keep the box cool while in transit.

Why we chose it: Purple Carrot is one of the first exclusively plant-based meal kit services. You can also find several gluten-free, high-protein and calorie-conscious options.

Purple Carrot’s menu includes a curated list of vegan dishes inspired by a variety of flavor profiles, such as Thai or West African food.

A quick questionnaire at signup lets you specify your preference for kits or prepared meals, dietary goals and how much time you want to spend on meal prep. You also get the option of low prep time meals that are ready in under 25 minutes and ready-to-eat frozen meals.

We received positive feedback from our tester, who found the recipes easy to follow. He’d order from them again, mainly because he could sample new and interesting vegan dishes with minimal effort.

One notable drawback was Purple Carrot’s excessive packaging. Each meal and individual ingredient arrived heavily wrapped in plastic, which works for some ingredients but not for others. Ginger root — a key ingredient in several meals — spoiled faster than expected and our tester was unable to use it.

Another downside of the service is slightly limiting meal order numbers. For meal kits, a minimum of 6 meals must be ordered per week, and you can only get a maximum of 12. Prepared meals are also limited to 1 serving per meal, meaning if there are two of you eating, you might need to make two orders. Fortunately, you can always log into your account and change the number of meals per week.

Other meal delivery services we considered

Below are brief reviews for some meal kit delivery companies we could not test. You’ll also find reviews for some services we sampled that didn’t make it to our top picks due to packaging issues or the quality of meals.

Factor

Factor (formerly Factor75) delivers fresh (not frozen) ready-to-eat meals prepared by chefs that fulfill keto requirements. Factor’s menus are focused on keto and low-calorie dishes, but the meal service also offers high-protein and vegan options. Each dish comes with detailed nutrition and ingredient details so you can easily track your diet.

We didn’t get a chance to sample Factor 75. That said, the meal service has received largely positive feedback on online review platforms, especially with regard to how tasty the food is.

BistroMD

Bistro MD offers pre-made frozen meals designed by registered dieticians in 5-day and 7-day plans. You can choose from dietary options like heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly and gluten-free, and either opt for two meals a day (lunch and dinner) or add breakfast to make it a complete dietary plan.

We didn't sample BistroMD so we can't attest to the flavor of the meals.

Daily Harvest

Daily Harvest offers a variety of plant-based frozen items that are cooked either in the microwave, stovetop or oven. There are also ready-to-blend soups, smoothies, desserts, breakfast and snack items. To build their weekly box, subscribers can filter items by dietary needs, like keto, gluten-free, high protein, low carb, low calorie and vegan. In practice, filters like “keto” returned a minimal selection of meals at Daily Harvest, while gluten-free had more variety.

Daily Harvest didn’t make it into our top picks because our tester found that the meals left a lot to be desired in the flavor department. Customers should also note that in June 2022, Daily Harvest issued a recall on its lentil and leeks crumble dish after multiple customers complained on social media about a range of stomach issues.

Fresh N’ Lean

Fresh N' Lean is a great gluten-free meal delivery service that also caters to high-protein, keto, paleo, vegan, low carb and Mediterranean diets. The ingredients are all organic, non-GMO and free of preservatives — and those with food allergies will appreciate the added option of omitting specific ingredients. However, the company loses points for small serving sizes, which makes its high prices difficult to justify.

Meal Delivery Services Guide

What is a meal delivery service?

Meal delivery services are a convenient and time-saving substitute for cooking meals at home. They offer customizable meals that are cheaper than ordering from a restaurant but still allow adding premium ingredients.

Meal delivery services are especially useful for those that follow specific diets (like vegan or keto) or have dietary restrictions. Many services today employ chefs and dieticians to curate their offerings.

The services deliver semi-prepared or fully prepared meals to your doorstep on a weekly basis. Some services send frozen or refrigerated meals, while others deliver the necessary ingredients so you can cook the meal at home.

Most companies also offer add-ons like snacks, desserts and wines.

What are the different types of meal delivery services?

Meal delivery services come in various types, catering to different preferences, dietary needs and lifestyles. The most common types of delivery services are meal kit delivery services and ready-to-eat meal delivery services.

Meal kit delivery services

Meal kit delivery services provide pre-portioned ingredients and detailed recipes so that you can cook the meals at home. The company takes care of the planning, shopping and ingredients prep, and delivers everything to your home once a week.

Ready-to-eat meal delivery services

Ready-to-eat meal delivery services deliver fully prepared or cooked meals that are ready to be consumed. Just like with meal kits, subscribers choose dishes from an online menu according to dietary preferences. These meals require no additional cooking and are convenient for individuals with busy schedules or those who prefer not to cook.

How do meal kit delivery services work?

Most meal delivery services operate on a subscription-based model, offering customers the flexibility to choose their meals from a weekly menu.

We subscribed to over 10 meal kit delivery services for this review and found that all the companies operate in a similar way. Here’s a breakdown of how the services work:

1. Subscription setup

Choose a meal delivery service and create an account. You might need to provide information about your location, dietary preferences and the number of people in your household.

2. Menu and meal plan selection

Each week, the meal delivery service releases a menu with a variety of recipes to choose from. Select the number of meals per week and the serving amount of each meal. Depending on the service, you can customize your meals based on dietary preferences, allergies or portion sizes.

3. Delivery schedule

Customers choose the delivery date that best suits their schedule. Deliveries are typically made once a week, although some services offer more frequent options.

4. Automatic billing

Subscribers are charged either weekly or monthly, depending on the service’s billing cycle. The starting price for a week of meals ranges from $40 to $120, depending on the company and the number of meals and servings selected.

5. Skip or pause options

Subscribers can pause the subscription, change their meal plan or skip deliveries as needed, without penalties. However, there is a cutoff date for any modifications — usually four to six days before the next scheduled delivery. Any changes or cancellations made after that won’t apply to the upcoming delivery.

Note: Some companies had easily accessible pause/skip options, while others required searching on the website. A few displayed cancel options only on the web, not on mobile, and some needed emailing or calling customer service. After canceling, some websites still allowed us to view personal and payment information. If this concerns you, it’s best to contact the company and request the removal of your information.

6. Packaging and delivery

On the chosen delivery day, the meal kits arrive at your doorstep. The ingredients are carefully packaged to maintain freshness during transit. Ingredients for each recipe are often separated by meal and may be accompanied by ice packs to keep perishables cool.

7. Recipe cards or cooking instructions

Each meal kit comes with detailed recipe cards or instructions on how to prepare the dishes. The recipes typically include step-by-step instructions, cooking times and nutritional information. You’ll also receive all the pre-portioned ingredients to cook the dishes at home.

8. Customer support

Meal delivery services generally have customer support available to assist with any issues or changes to orders.

Pros and cons of meal delivery services

If meal kit delivery services don’t work for you, there are other ways to simplify your at-home meal prep. You can try grocery delivery services or invest in equipment to speed up your cooking process:

• Pressure cookers are great to make all sorts of one-pot meals. An Instant Pot or similar gadget allows you to set a timer and walk away. You get a bit of time back and find a fully cooked meal by the time you return, with minimal supervision.

• A food processor goes a very long way in meal prep. You can chop or grate veggies in bulk, make hummus and other dips and even shortcrust pastry. It’s an incredibly useful appliance, although admittedly tedious to clean. To speed up the process for foods like mashed potatoes, jams and jellies, you can also use a food mill. It simultaneously mashes and filters out the seeds and skins, saving you the effort of labor-intensive foods like homemade applesauce or tomato sauce.

• Immersion blenders allow you to purée, emulsify and mix just about anything on the stovetop — no need to use a separate blender.

What's the difference between a food delivery app and a meal delivery service?

A food delivery app refers to services such as Grubhub, Doordash and UberEats. With a food delivery app, consumers order take-out for delivery from a network of participating restaurants and fast-food establishments. At checkout, the company charges an additional fee to have a driver pick up the order and deliver it to your home.

In contrast, a meal delivery service is a subscription service that gathers the ingredients, designs a meal plan, sorts and preps the food, cooks the meals (if applicable) and delivers the kit to your door in a refrigerated and insulated package.

How to choose the best meal delivery service

With so many options available, it is important to choose a meal kit that fits your budget, nutritional needs and household size. It should also taste good and deliver on its promise of convenience.

Nutritional needs

Consider your dietary preferences as the top factor when choosing a meal delivery service. Some services specialize in specific diets, such as Purple Carrot, which works exclusively with plant-based food. Most meal services accommodate food allergies as well.

Blue Apron offers traditional dishes with broad appeal, while Factor and SunBasket focus on Keto and Paleo, making their offerings more experimental than simple weeknight dinners.

Top meal delivery services catering to restrictive diets offer:

• Dedicated meal plans with pre-selected dishes

• Menu search filters for dietary preferences like “gluten-free,” “carb-conscious,” “dairy-free,” and “diabetes-friendly.”

• Options to substitute protein with plant-based meat alternatives

Budget

Meal kit prices vary, typically ranging from $5 to $25 per serving. Consider your dietary needs and current spending on groceries and take-out to make a decision. If a full week of meals is not affordable, you can still enjoy the convenience of a meal kit by ordering one or two dishes per delivery within your budget.

Available time

Think about how much time you can spare for cooking the meal kits. The kits take care of the prep, but ready-to-eat meal delivery services are a better option if you prefer not to cook at all. Look for meal kits with fast and easy-to-cook options like skillet or oven-ready meals if you want a convenient cooking experience.

Recipe complexity

Meal delivery services send meal kits with portioned ingredients and recipes, requiring some cooking. Some services, especially those catering to specialized diets such as Purple Carrot, might offer unique meals that can be a little more complicated to prepare.

Fortunately, some options allow you to choose just how much time and effort you wish to spend putting your meal together. You can also find quick and easy oven or microwave-ready meals.

Household size

The meal kit companies reviewed offer servings for at least two people. For individuals living alone, this means there will be leftovers, which can be good if you plan to split the meals into lunch and dinner.

If you’d rather have a single serving, companies that sell ready-to-eat meals may serve you best. Families and large households should look for companies that offer more servings and a varied menu that includes kid-friendly meals.

How We Chose The Best Meal Delivery Services

To pick the best meal delivery services, we conducted a comprehensive review. We tested 10 of the most popular meal kit delivery services, with our testers trying various meals from each company. They answered survey questions covering taste, packaging, nutrition, freshness and ease of use to evaluate the overall experience.

We also took into consideration the following:

• Dietary options and whether health specialists curated them

• Pricing and value

• Variety and customization options (meal kits or prepared ready-to-eat meals)

• Convenience, including how easy it is to modify orders and reschedule deliveries

• Reliability, including whether the meals were delivered fresh, on time and without any missing ingredients.

• Online reviews and customer feedback, including how promptly the meal delivery service addressed customer concerns

Summary of Money’s Best Meal Delivery Services of 2023

• Blue Apron – Best Meal Kit Overall
• HelloFresh – Best Budget Meal Kit
• Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon – Best for Families
• Green Chef – Best Gluten-free Meal Kit
• SunBasket – Best for Weight Loss
• Home Chef – Best for Customization
• Purple Carrot – Best Plant-Based Meal Kit