Let’s face it. As much as we would like to go grocery shopping and prepare a fresh, home-cooked meal every night for either ourselves or our families, life gets busy. Between work and juggling family and social responsibilities, cooking a well-balanced meal that pleases everyone at the dinner table can feel like a veritable herculean task.

That’s why numerous meal delivery services have cropped up, aiming to take the time, stress and guesswork out of cooking.

Gone are the days of sodium-laden takeout or grocery store frozen dinners. Now, with a weekly subscription that delivers either fully prepared heat-and-eat meals or do-it-yourself meal kits that come with pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards, consumers can have curated gourmet meals sent straight to their doorsteps.

Craving Mexican fare and Thai cuisine? Perhaps you’re following a healthy Mediterranean diet, while your partner decided to go keto and your kids want nothing more than vegan mac and cheese. Whatever the craving, nutritional preference or dietary restriction, there’s likely a meal delivery or meal kit company that can cater to you and your budget.

Here, we review some of the best meal home delivery services in the market.

Best Meal Delivery Services

Compare Best Meal Kit Services

Compare Best Prepared Meal Services

Best Meal Kit Services in Detail

Green Chef: Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Overall

Green Chef caters to those who prefer consuming organic, non-genetically modified ingredients that do not contain any pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones or steroids. As a certified organic company, with accreditation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Certified Organic Farmers, Green Chef works with local and family farms. However, it’s important to note that not all ingredients in Green Chef meals may be organic. When a certified organic ingredient is not available, Green Chef will substitute it with a conventional ingredient and label it accordingly, according to the company.

Like HelloFresh, which owns Green Chef, Green Chef offers vegetarian and fast and fit meals. However, unlike its parent company, Green Chef caters to those with specific dietary restrictions, offering expanded menu options, including keto, Mediterranean, vegan, gluten free, and high protein.

Because the company primarily uses organic ingredients, the average cost of meals – ranging from $11.99 to $13.49 per serving – is markedly more expensive than conventionally produced meals from the company’s competitors.

Based on our research, Green Chef earned top marks in this category thanks to its variety of dietary plan options, taste, freshness, customer service and on-time delivery. However, we found that subscribers scored it lower on price, ease of preparation and meal selection process.

Sample meals include cheesy pesto chicken bowls, Thai-style coconut shrimp soup and barbeque pork meatloaves. Subscribers can also purchase add-ons – such as pancakes, flatbreads and egg bites – to complement their meals.

Green Chef is also rated the best company for keto meal kits and organic meal kits.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Blue Apron: Best Meal Kit Delivery Service for Families

Launched in 2012, Blue Apron became one of the first meal kit delivery companies to hit the U.S. market. Since then, it has established itself as a popular service for busy people with its wide selection of more than 70 weekly options. Subscribers can select from five meal preferences – chef favorites, wellness, family friendly, fast and easy and vegetarian.

Overall, we found that the food is reasonably priced, easy to prepare and delicious. Our reviewers also gave high marks for the freshness of the seasonal produce. We also gave Blue Apron top scores for customer service and on-time delivery. For those trying to lose weight, Blue Apron partnered with WeightWatchers / WW to provide balanced meals that are aligned with the program.

While Blue Apron was a fan-favorite for its taste, freshness, customer service and delivery, we found its dietary plan choices were lacking. Some reviewers expressed wanting more dietary options, including healthy, gluten free, low calorie and low carb. Responses were mixed when it came to meal prep time; for some, the process was easy and effortless, but others felt it required too much time.

Subscribers can choose two to four servings for two to five days per week. While Blue Apron offer fewer dietary meal plan options compared to other services, it does offer a family-friendly “Signature for Four” plan, which provide four servings of each meal. In addition to meal kit options, there are also ready-made heat and eat meals you can order.

Sample menu items include sweet and spicy pork belly fried rice with kimchi and eggs, oven-baked harrissa beef pitas, creamy cilantro chicken and shiitake and hoisin beef burgers. Subscribers can also shop for add-ons like appetizers, breakfasts, desserts, pantry items and kitchen tools.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Dinnerly: Best Affordable Meal Kit Delivery Service

Dinnerly is a weekly meal kit subscription service that caters to busy households looking for fast, straightforward meals in five easy steps. Growing beyond its weekly menu of more than 45 recipes, the company expanded its service at the beginning of 2023 to offer more than 100 weekly recipes to choose from – including family friendly, vegetarian, vegan, fast, healthy and low-carb options. While the company lists common food allergens on each meal, it does not offer a full menu for people with specific allergies or dietary restrictions.

Like its competitors, Dinnerly packs fresh, pre-proportioned ingredients into each meal kit box. However, the company is much more affordable than other meal kit services on the market, with a starting price of $4.99 per person. Dinnerly is able to keep meal kit prices low by reducing the per-unit cost of production by using fewer ingredients per dish, digital recipe cards (instead of paper), simpler packaging and minimal advertising and marketing.

Subscribers also get access to Market by Dinnerly, which offers select ingredients and grocery items – such as pantry goods, snacks and desserts – from partner brands and suppliers. Market purchases can only be made as add-ons to subscription orders.

Although we found that Dinnerly was not as easy to prepare or as flexible with its delivery, many reviewers still enjoyed its recipe variety and price point.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Hungryroot: Best Meal Kit Delivery Service for Recipe Variety

Hungryroot bills itself as an all-in-one recipe and grocery service, which is different from other meal kit services. Customers start by filling out a quiz to specify dietary preferences, allergies and number of people to feed. Based on that, Hungryroot will create a personalized meal plan with over 4,000 chef-crafted recipes and will add the supporting grocery items from its selection of more than 500 grocery options to your cart. Customers can then make any modifications they would like.

We found that Hungryroot offers the highest collection of recipes compared with other meal delivery services. The service caters to many dietary preferences and allergies, making it easy to filter their recipes accordingly. Reviewers liked the variety and the opportunity to try new flavors; however, some found the taste and freshness to be lacking.

The company states its commitment to sustainability by offering 100% curbside recycling boxes, paper cooler and food protector. Non-toxic drain-safe gel cools food during delivery and can also be used as plant food. In addition, it is focusing on efforts to reduce waste in sourcing and recipes, among other efforts.

The company also offers multiple plan sizes. The small plan is a weekly subscription that’s ideal for one person and costs $69 weekly. It contains enough groceries to make three to four two-serving meals plus snacks. Other plan sizes and costs depend on how many breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and sweets you elect each week. Hungryroot does not currently deliver to Hawaii or Alaska. Delivery is $6.99 for small plans and free for larger plans.

Hungryroot is also highly rated for best vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meal kits.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

HelloFresh: Most Popular Meal Kit Delivery Service

Since its inception in November 2011, HelloFresh has become one of the largest and most popular meal kit delivery services in the U.S. and around the world. The German-based company’s mission is centered on changing the way people eat by focusing on four tenets: budget, freshness, taste and sustainability. It is a carbon neutral company.

In addition to being budget-friendly, the company offers a wide variety of world cuisines and flavors to choose from, including African, Korean and Latin American recipes. HelloFresh touts the fact that it works with registered dietitians and chefs to create healthy meals. Meals come prepped with pre-measured ingredients. Just mix and cook. We found that the produce was fresh and of good quality.

Each plan option is available for two to four people and ranges from two to six recipes per week. HelloFresh offers six different plans based on your preferences, including a pescatarian meal plan. However, we found that those with dietary restrictions due to specific eating plans or food allergies – such as keto, paleo or gluten-free diets – may have a difficult time finding meals they can eat.

Sample meals include black bean bowls with guacamole, pork katsu with sesame roasted carrots and ginger rice and turkey and sun-dried tomato spaghetti.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

EveryPlate: Best Meal Kit Delivery Service for Add-ons

EveryPlate is one of the most affordable meal kit options available on the market. Compared to other companies that charge $7.99 and up per meal, EveryPlate appeals to budget-conscious consumers by offering a lower cost of $4.99 per meal. In fact, our reviewers lauded EveryPlate for its affordability, as well as its ease of preparation, flexibility and delivery.

While they offer 21 different recipes every week, it’s a rather limited selection compared to what its competitors offer. Except for a vegetarian meal plan, EveryPlate doesn’t offer plans for people with dietary restrictions (like gluten free) or allergies, or for those looking to follow a specific eating pattern like keto or paleo. We found that this service is a good choice for those who aren’t picky eaters and don’t have any dietary restrictions, but for those who need to customize their meals, they’ll likely have better luck searching elsewhere.

The company also offers add-on foods, such as lemon butter green beans, roasted asparagus, garlic bread and lemon cheesecake. You can also make certain food swaps. Sample meals include black bean stew, balsamic glazed meatballs with roasted green beans and garlic bread and buffalo ranch chicken with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Home Chef: Best Meal Kit Delivery Service for Customization

Home Chef offers a weekly meal kit subscription that aims to appeal to each individual’s inner chef, while making home cooking easy, convenient and accessible. The company allows subscribers to accommodate enough meals to feed two, four or six people, making it a good option for people with larger families. Plus, with more than 30 weekly meal choices, subscribers can choose from a variety of classic meal kits, oven-ready and fast-and-fresh options based on their preferences and needs.

However, some of our reviewers noted that the portion sizes were too small for their hungry families and wished that the portion sizes were larger.

We found Home Chef meals to be better-tasting and fresher than other meals. In addition to 30-minute meal kits, it offers oven-ready prepared meals, microwave-heatabled prepared meals, grill-ready meal kits and express meal kits that can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.

In addition to a vegetarian option, Home Chef offers nut free, soy free, dairy free, without wheat and other recipe categories, allowing customization of the meals you want to eat. Many reviewers, however, expressed how much waste was generated by the amount of non-recyclable packaging.

After Kroger acquired the company in 2018, Home Chef meal kits and prepared meals became available for purchase in local Kroger stores. The cost for Home Chef varies depending on the size of the order and meal options selected. Standard meals start at $8.99 per serving. The minimum weekly order value is $49.95.

Sample meals include sweet chili teriyaki Portobello, shrimp alfredo fettuccini, chicken and feta crema with potatoes and pesto turkey meatloaf.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Sunbasket: Best Mediterranean Meal Kit Delivery Service

Sunbasket offers a wide range of meal kit options in its subscription-based delivery programs: paleo, vegetarian, low carb, keto, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, pescatarian and Mediterranean. In addition to its meal kits, Sunbasket offers pre-made Fresh & Ready meals, which are ready in less than 4 minutes. We liked the fact you can mix and match meal kits and prepared meals each week.

The company is committed to providing the best organically produced, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats and sustainably-sourced seafood. It also aims to deliver organic produce 100% of the time, but if an item can’t be offered as organic, a conventionally produced version will be substituted, along with a note of explanation.

Most meals can be prepared in about 20 to 40 minutes and require basic cooking skills and utensils. Sunbasket’s meals are dietitian-approved and emphasize a Mediterranean diet approach of eating nutrient-dense produce, whole grains, high-quality protein and good fats, with minimal added sugar, sodium and processed ingredients.

We found the meal choices to be especially creative and varied, and our reviewers gave high scores for the broad selection of meals and dietary plan options.

Meal kits can be ordered for two to five dinners per week, each serving two or four people. Anywhere from one to 10 prepared meals can be ordered weekly. Meal kits start at $11.49 per serving, and ready-to-eat meals are $9.99 per serving. Shipping is an additional $9.99 per box, though first delivery is free.

Sample meals include spiced shrimp with sautéed chard, Mexican pulled chicken with zucchini and braised chickpeas and carrots with quinoa. Sunbasket offers breakfast, lunch and snack options too, such as sandwiches, organic deli meats, fresh pastas and cheesecake.

Sunbasket also won the No. 1 spot for best diabetic meal kits.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Best Prepared Meal Services in Detail

Factor: Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Overall

Owned by Hello Fresh, Factor is geared toward health-conscious consumers who want clean, nutritious heat-and-eat meals conveniently delivered to their door. The meal delivery service offers a rotating weekly menu of 35 meals that are designed by registered dietitians and chefs.

Factor (formerly Factor 75) offers paleo, vegan & veggie, keto and gluten-free diet options that include no processed foods, factory-processed oils or refined sugars. All meals are also free of GMOs, hormones and antibiotics. Its meals feature high-quality organic ingredients that are designed by registered dietitians and chefs.

To complement its healthy meal delivery service, Factor offers a free 20-minute nutrition coaching session with an expert dietitian to help subscribers address nutrition questions and develop individualized dietary goals. The meals arrive fresh, not frozen, and require no prep. Microwave, and in less than three minutes, it’s ready.

Based on our research, we found that Factor scored high on price, ease of meal prep, taste and freshness. Reviewers also noted that the portions are satisfying.

Subscribers can order between six and 18 meals per week, and meals range in price from $10.99 to $12.99 each. If you’re overwhelmed by the choices or don’t have the time, the Factor team will select items for you.

Sample prepared meals include spinach and mushroom chicken thighs, potato leek mash and grilled chicken and tomato basil chicken risotto. Breakfast add-ons like pancakes and frittata are also available.

Factor earned top marks for best keto prepared meals and most affordable prepared meals.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Fresh n’ Lean: Best Organic Prepared Meal Delivery Service

Fresh n’ Lean offers fully prepared meals that are delivered fresh in an insulated box with BPA-free containers. It offers keto, paleo, Whole30, vegan, low-carb vegan or Mediterranean diet meals. Recipes feature mostly organic, seasonal ingredients and are free from GMOs and gluten. While there is variety, some reviewers mentioned that the company overuses certain flavors or ingredients like garlic, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

Based on our research, we gave Fresh n’ Lean high ratings for its variety of recipes and for the many dietary plans available, including those focusing on protein, keto, paleo, vegan and Mediterranean diets.

Meal plans include your choice of breakfasts, lunches and dinners for five or seven days per week and start at $10.66 each per meal. You can order additional meals and snacks (like almonds) a la carte. Shipping is free (excluding Hawaii and Alaska), and meals are delivered nationwide.

Sample meals include turkey bacon scramble for breakfast, turkey bacon Brussels sprouts with chicken breast for lunch and roasted salmon with vegetables for dinner.

Fresh n’ Lean was also rated the best for gluten-free prepared meals and vegan prepared meals.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

BistroMD: Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Personalized Support

The company was developed by Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist, a bariatric medicine specialist, to offer healthy weight loss programs while preventing chronic disease. The service is designed to fit a variety of different diet preferences and health needs. The company offers a quiz to help you pick the best meal plan for your goals and needs. Dietary plans include gluten-free, heart healthy, diabetic-friendly, “keto flex” and menopause.

If weight loss is your goal, bistroMD may be able to help. A majority of meals range from 280 to 350 calories. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks available.

BistroMD scored high in our evaluation for the number of diets it caters to. However, it does not offer a vegetarian or vegan option, which is limiting for those who adhere to a plant-based dietary approach. Our research also showed that it is one of the most expensive services available in the market, , mainly because you’re required to ordered two to three meals a day for five or seven days a week, totaling around $30 a day.

Meals are flash-frozen and can be ready to eat within minutes. Our reviewers rated bistroMD as having the freshest flavors, despite the meals having been frozen.

According to bistroMD’s website, it is committed to responsibly-sourced ingredients and does not use any artificial ingredients.

A sample day menu includes artichoke, spinach and roasted red pepper frittata for breakfast, honey-smoked BBQ pork with broccoli for lunch, stuffed grape leaves with tomato sauce for dinner and snacks that include protein drinks and cinnamon toast pretzels.

Nutrisystem: Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Diabetes

Founded in 1972, Nutrisystem has established itself as a household name for commercial weight loss products and services. In fact, it ranked No. 2 in U.S. News’ 2023 Best Fast Weight Loss Diets and No. 5 in Best Diet Programs categories.

The company offers ready-made meals that are high in protein and lower on the glycemic index in order to keep blood sugar levels balanced and control hunger. Nutrisystem meal plans can accommodate a variety of dietary needs and restrictions. The menu offers foods that are diabetes friendly, vegetarian, low cholesterol, low sodium or free of specific allergies.

Depending on your plan, you’ll eat five to six times a day. There is also a partner plan designed for two people living in the same household. Starting at around $9.29 each day on average, the core four-week plan includes either a pre-picked selection of popular foods or your choice of more than 100 foods.

We liked the broad variety of options, and that the plan includes everything: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Nutrisystem comes with plenty of extra resources and tools too. In addition to talking with your coach for support, you can track your meals, exercise and weight loss online or through the free NuMi app. You can even sync some wearable fitness devices with NuMi, which also acts as the official Nutrisystem tracking tool. Nutrisystem’s free lifestyle blog, The Leaf, provides articles, tips and resources to help customers come up with budget-friendly ways to create meals and grocery add-ins.

Although Nutrisystem’s menu offers a wide variety of foods and flavors, which many of our reviewers appreciated, it does not rotate on a weekly basis, so the set selection may leave much to be desired for some people, especially those who prefer fresher, less processed foods.

Nutrisystem’s diabetes plan is designed to help you lose weight to manage Type 2 diabetes, safely and effectively, with three key components: 1) The right balance of protein, lower-glycemic whole-grain carbs, fiber and healthy fats. 2) Meals and snacks every two to three hours to help keep your blood sugar levels steady and avoid spikes. 3) Around 1,200 to 1,500 calories each day, focused on the foods that keep you fuller, longer.

While some of the foods don’t sound diabetes-friendly – like white cheddar mac and cheese or a double chocolate muffin – they’re actually healthier versions, designed with the right balance of fiber-rich, low-glycemic carbs, lean proteins, healthy fats and no more than 12 grams of sugar in each meal.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Daily Harvest: Best Plant-Based Prepared Meal Delivery Service

Daily Harvest is a plant-based food subscription service that aims to help people consume more fruits and vegetables. While other companies deliver prepared meals or meal kits, Daily Harvest subscribers can choose 9, 14 or 24 items from the company’s selection of 80 organic, plant-based food options – including smoothies, harvest bowls, plant-based baked dishes, flatbreads, soups, ice cream, snacks and lattes made with plant-based milk.
The service ranges from $5.99 to $11.99 per item, which is pricier than making them at home but comparable to buying them in stores or restaurants. In addition, we found that the amount of packaging for individual items isn’t environmentally friendly. The company’s cups, lids, plastic seals and shrink wrap are not recyclable.

Reviewers praised Daily Harvest for its freshness and meal selection process, though some noted that the variety of meals might become monotonous after a while.

All meals arrive frozen with dry ice packaging. Just store in your freezer until you’re ready to eat. Sample meals and snacks include strawberry and peach smoothie, sweet potato and wild rice hash, artichoke and spinach flatbread, and tomato and zucchini minestrone soup.

Reviewers’ Experience

Here’s what our reviewers had to say:

Diet-to-Go: Best Vegetarian Prepared Meal Delivery Service

Founded in 1991, Diet-to-Go is geared toward helping customers achieve weight loss through healthy eating. It offers several meal plans that accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and needs – including vegetarian – and are prepared by professional chefs and nutritionists. With each well-balanced meal using fresh ingredients and delivered straight to customers, we found that the subscription service is a good option for people who are looking for healthy, fully prepared meals that can be enjoyed in minimal time, while helping them meet their nutritional needs.

Our reviewers gave Diets-to-Go high marks for the variety of dietary plans and recipes. The pre-packaged meals include side dishes and condiments and can be warmed in the microwave in two to three minutes. The meals can be kept in the refrigerator for up to seven days. But you can also freeze the meals for up to 30 days.

The vegetarian plan is free of meat, fish and poultry but contains eggs, soy and beans for protein. In addition to a vegetarian plan, the company offers a Mediterranean menu, a low-carb keto diet, a diabetes-friendly menu and a menu to support weight loss. Diets-to-Go also offers a newsletter to support your weight loss journey. We found that the vegetarian meals are also heart healthy – controlled for sodium, carbs, fat and cholesterol.

Meal plans range from $138.99 to $225.99 per week, plus shipping, depending on the number of meals purchased and diet plan selected.

Sample vegetarian menu includes waffles with peaches and apples for breakfast, quinoa salad for lunch and eggplant parmesan for dinner.

Our research showed that Diet-to-Go was particularly popular among those who enjoy Mediterranean or vegetarian fare, as well as those who followed a diabetes-specific and keto diet. However, while reviewers liked its optionality and variety of dietary plans and recipes, we found that it was not as affordable, fresh or easy to prepare as other services.

Diet-to-Go also earned the top spot for best Mediterranean prepared meals.

When deciding what home meal delivery service to choose, there are several important factors to consider:

Meal kit or prepared meal delivery service?

You can choose to order meal kits or fully prepared meals, depending on your preference, comfort with cooking and schedule. With meal kits, you’ll get to enjoy the convenience of having pre-measured, pre-portioned ingredients and recipes neatly packaged in each box. Most recipes take 20 to 50 minutes to prepare, so it’s a good option for people – especially those with families – who want to cook a gourmet meal without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping.

On the other hand, people can order fully prepared meals through a weekly meal delivery subscription. This option is helpful for those who don’t enjoy cooking or prefer to save time in the kitchen.

Still can’t decide whether to choose a meal kit or meal delivery service? With some companies, you don’t have to. Purple Carrot and Sunbasket are hybrid food delivery services that offer subscribers the option of selecting both meal kits and fully prepared meals.

Organic or conventional? 

Certain companies are focused on using organic, responsibly sourced ingredients, while others will either occasionally use organic products or use conventional ingredients. If you choose to go the organic route, it’s important to remember that – although companies may market themselves as organic – it’s unlikely they will use 100% certified organic ingredients.

Plant-based or not plant-based?

If you’re following a vegan or vegetarian diet or simply want to incorporate more plant-based foods into your meals, there are several plant-forward subscription services available, including Green Chef, Daily Harvest and Splendid Spoon.

However, many – if not all – companies offer vegetarian options as part of their larger menu, so people who follow a more omnivorous diet can mix and match their selections based on their preferences and health goals.

Health goals and dietary preferences

Certain companies are geared toward specific health goals. Nutrisystem, for example, now offers a program specifically for people managing diabetes. Factor caters to health-conscious consumers who want to track their macronutrients and even offers virtual nutritional coaching with a dietitian.

Most companies offer subscribers the option of choosing their menu preferences, including vegan and vegetarian, high protein and low carb. However, people following more specific diets – such as the Mediterranean, pescatarian, keto, paleo diet or gluten-free diet – may have a harder time finding meals that align with their eating plan.

Therefore, when deciding on a meal delivery service, make sure the company offers a wide enough selection of meals that fit your health goals and dietary preferences.

Sustainability

Convenience comes at a cost. Between the individual ingredient packets, insulation, food containers and boxes, meal kits and prepared meals generate a lot of waste. Many companies aim to offset their carbon and plastic footprint by utilizing eco-friendly materials, but it’s not always easy to recycle each item.

Be sure to check the number on each item to see if it is accepted by your local recycling facility. If not, you can find a local plastic drop-off location to recycle certain plastic bags, films and wraps.

FAQs

Q | What are the benefits of meal delivery services?

A | There are numerous benefits to ordering either meal kits or prepared meals through these services, including:

In addition, meal services can also help you work toward specific health goals. If you’re trying to lose weight, adopt a plant-based diet or build lean muscle, you’ll be able to find a company that either caters specifically to the goal or offers curated menu options and preferences that align with your needs.

Q | How did we review each service?

A | We researched each company and evaluated them based on available information from verified sources to help consumers decide. Key factors we considered included:

We also took into account third-party analyses and consumer reviews – including Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot and Consumer Affairs – to determine the pros and cons for each service.

Q | Who are meal delivery services for?

A | Anyone can use meal delivery services, but it’s particularly beneficial for people who have hectic schedules and limited time to go grocery shopping or cook at home. Some services are a great way for beginner cooks to practice their skills in the kitchen and produce delicious results.

They’re also great for people who want to eat healthier. Many companies use fresh, whole foods to create nutritious, well-balanced meals that help people take the guesswork out of healthy eating.

If you’re trying to slim down or incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, you’ll be able to find a weight loss meal service, such as Nutrisystem, or plant-based meal service, such as Splendid Spoon, that can support you toward those goals.

Q | Do meal delivery services save you money?

A | It depends. Meal delivery services could save you money if you frequently eat out at restaurants or order takeout throughout the week, especially when you factor in the fees for service, convenience, delivery and tips. However, meal delivery services could also be costlier, depending on a variety of factors. For example, the weekly cost varies based on how many servings you choose to purchase each week, how many people you’re feeding and how often you’ll need to spend at the grocery store for other items.

For reference, the average adult spends between $56.65 to $62.65 per week on groceries, while the weekly cost for the average family of four is approximately $224.10, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Even with a meal kit or meal delivery subscription, you’ll more than likely continue to go to the grocery store for other meals, snacks or pantry goods.

Ultimately, whether or not these services can save you money is entirely up to how you utilize them.

Q | Is it easy to cancel a meal delivery service?

A | Companies offer the option of skipping a week or pausing their subscription with a few clicks of a button. Similarly, canceling your subscription is generally easy to do. Most companies allow you to deactivate your subscription by going into your account settings, but if you have any trouble, you can contact their customer service team to make those changes.

Full Methodology

Why Trust Our Reviews?

The Health Team at U.S. News has built an independent system to evaluate the best meal delivery services. This system assesses factual data on companies’ websites and direct consumer reviews on factors, including:

Methodology

We researched the services people care most about.

U.S. News analyzed and compared various publicly available data to determine the meal delivery brands that Americans are most interested in, including 25 in our initial analysis. We compared these services in terms of price, variety of dietary plans and number of menu choices available.

We evaluated consumer reviews.

We gathered direct customer feedback through a survey of over 440 respondents who have tried the various meal delivery services. We asked them to rate each meal delivery service on a 5-point scale on factors such as ease of preparation, taste, freshness, customer service, meal selection process and flexible delivery options.

We created objective weighted ratings.

Each meal delivery service’s rating is based on a weighting of relevant factors for each category.

All prices and ratings are as of March 2023.