Whether you’re planning meals for yourself or your family, a meal delivery service can be a great addition to your weekly dining rotation. From cutting down on grocery shopping to making meal prep quicker, the best meal delivery services are designed to help make our lives easier.
But with so many options, it can be difficult to figure out which service is the right fit for your needs. There’s a variety of factors to consider: Is budget the top priority? Or a solution that will provide multiple dietary options? To help you decide, we’ve rounded up the best meal delivery services by category.
Best Meal Delivery Services
- Best Overall: Sunbasket
- Best on a Budget: Dinnerly
- Best Variety: Hungryroot
- Best Vegan: Mosaic Foods
- Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth
- Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron
- Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity
- Best for Kids: Nurture Life
- Best for Families: HelloFresh
- Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen
Best Overall: Sunbasket
Real Simple Star Rating: 5.0
Why You Should Try It
Sunbasket is all about providing flexibility and choices for its diners. Meals feature organic produce with the ability to mix and match recipes across its spectrum of dietary options.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Nutrition and health info are easy to access and understand
Wide range of meal plans, from paleo to diabetes friendly
Cons
Portion sizes may not be great for large families
Overview
Global flavors influence Sunbasket’s menu items, where choices include ancho chicken with Cuban mojo or a Persian herb frittata with white bean and barberry salad. But comfort food classics like broccoli mac and cheese are also available for quick, go-to dishes. Additionally, Sunbasket offers a well-stocked pantry of grocery items to include in your weekly shipment, so you can pick up your coffee, charcuterie items, and protein or plant-based main dishes alongside ready-to-prepare meals.
Pricing and Plans
- Fresh & Ready meals: start at $9.99 per serving
- Meal Kits: start at $11.99 per serving
- Order minimum of $45
Meals We Tried
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
Starting Price: $9.99 per serving | Delivery Area: 46 states | Products Arrive: Both fresh and frozen
Best on a Budget: Dinnerly
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.3
Why You Should Try It
Weeknight dinners can be hectic, so Dinnerly is looking to provide fuss-free and fresh options, all on an affordable budget.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Great option for families looking to save money on dinner
Recipes are digital to save paper
Cons
No add-ons are available
Overview
Dinnerly’s meals have a homemade vibe, with selections that can include casseroles or comfort foods with a twist. Meals are designed with busy families in mind, so menus include fewer ingredients and items that are labeled No Chop! for even faster cleanup. The menu is well balanced and there are a few options to fit some dietary plans, including vegetarian, vegan, or keto.
Pricing and Plans
- 3 meals with 2 servings each: $6.39 per serving
- 4 meals with 2 servings each: $5.99 per serving
- 5 meals with 2 servings each: $5.89 per serving
- 6 meals with 2 servings each: $5.79 per serving
- 3 meals with 4 servings each: $5.69 per serving
- 4 meals with 4 servings each: $5.49 per serving
- 5 meals with 4 servings each: $5.29 per serving
- 6 meals with 4 servings each: $4.99 per serving
- Shipping is $9.99
Meals We Tried
- BBQ cheeseburger with sautéed onions and smashed potatoes
- Low-cal veggie drunken noodles with broccoli, peppers, and cilantro
- Grass-fed ground beef and cheddar quesadillas with corn
- Caramel chicken stir-fry with snow peas and jasmine rice
Starting Price: $4.99 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh
Best Variety: Hungryroot
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.5
Why You Should Try It
For those looking for healthy, easy meals and less time at the grocery store, Hungryroot is here for you. The company is focused on making healthy eating simpler and quicker, alongside supporting a multitude of diets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Emphasis on allergen restrictions
Thousands of recipes available
Cons
Significant amount of unmarked, single-use plastics
Overview
Hungryroot not only provides dishes for a variety of dietary plans, including vegan and gluten-free, but it also includes seven different allergen restrictions in meal planning. Its online recipe catalog provides ideas for its large selection of grocery items so you can build your own meals in addition to its meal kits. Recipes can be rather simple, like a three-ingredient spinach, mushroom, and artichoke tortelloni or two-ingredient Korean BBQ chicken with jasmine rice.
Pricing and Plans
- 3 recipes with 2 servings: $11.39 per serving
- 4 recipes with 2 servings: $11.39 per serving
- 5 recipes with 2 servings: $10.89 per serving
- 6 recipes with 2 servings: $10.29 per serving
- 7 recipes with 2 servings: $9.69 per serving
- 8 recipes with 2 servings: $9.69 per serving
- 2 recipes with 4 servings: $10.29 per serving
- 3 recipes with 4 servings: $9.69 per serving
- 4 recipes with 4 servings: $9.69 per serving
- Shipping is $6.99 for orders less than $70
Meals We Tried
- Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni
- Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels sprouts
- Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos
- Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry
Starting Price: $9.69 per serving | Delivery Area: 50 states | Products Arrive: Fresh
Best Vegan: Mosaic Foods
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.1
Why You Should Try It
Many meal delivery services will often include vegan options, but Mosaic Foods’ plant-centric meals provide a whole range of vegan dishes to choose from. If you can’t visit the Mosaic Foods pop-up market in Brooklyn, its home delivery service is the next best thing.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Free shipping and discount for 18-meal orders
Family-sized dishes available
Cons
Not all recipes are vegan
Overview
Mosaic Foods has put a lot of thought into its plant-based offerings, providing oat bowls and smoothies for breakfast along with premium chef-crafted lunch and dinner entrées. Veggie bowls are packed with a hefty 10 to 20+ grams of plant protein, and flavors can range from spicy chipotle to creamy pesto. While Mosaic Foods is geared mainly toward one-serving meals, it does offer some family-style dishes that are easy to whip up when you need to feed a crowd.
Pricing and Plans
Per Item Pricing:
- Smoothies: $7.99
- Pizzas: $11.99
- Veggie bowls: $9.99
- Soups: $8.99
- Oat bowls: $5.99
- Mosaic+ chef-crafted meals: $11.99
- Family meals (4 servings): $19.95
Volume Discounts:
- 12 items: free shipping
- 18 items: free shipping + $10 off
Meals We Tried
- Spicy dan dan noodles
- Buffalo cauliflower pasta bake (family size)
- Mac and greens
- Pozole verde
- Veggie kebab platter
- Coconut chickpea curry
Starting Price: $9.43 per serving | Delivery Area: Varies by zip code | Products Arrive: Frozen
Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth
Use code REALSIMPLE15 at checkout for 15% off your order. Code applies to new customers only.
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.2
Why You Should Try It
For those who follow a gluten-free regimen, there’s no need to scour the menu, because ModifyHealth has created not one but two different meal plans where all items are gluten free and have lower sodium.
Pros and Cons
Pros
All meals are developed with physicians and dietitians
Shipping is free
Cons
Can’t mix and match the low-FODMAP and Mediterranean diet options
Overview
ModifyHealth’s meal delivery service targets those looking for help in managing digestive issues or chronic conditions like celiac disease or diabetes. The company even provides dietitian support for customers with its full program. Meal options include both meat- and plant-based dishes with some items, like the kale pesto pasta or BBQ tofu with carrots and kale, featured on both meal plans.
Pricing and Plans
Low-FODMAP
- Meals: start at $9.95 for breakfast, $12.95 for entrées
- Full Program: starts at $180.00 per week
Mediterranean
- Meals: start at $12.95 per meal, minimum of 6
- Full Program: starts at $129.50 per week
Meals We Tried
- 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
Starting Price: $9.95 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh
Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.6
Why You Should Try It
When you love to cook but don’t always have the time for grocery store runs and recipe planning, Blue Apron is here to give you all the ingredients for home-cooked meals—no shopping cart needed.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Entrées and recipes for the next four weeks are available online to peruse
Selection is large enough to provide weeks with no repeats
Cons
Not a good option for those with severe food allergies
Overview
Blue Apron’s meal kits are great for those who have the time to enjoy the intricacies of cooking. Some meals can take 45 minutes or longer to prepare and could include everything from crafting sauces to pounding out meat. But when your time and energy are low, Blue Apron’s fully prepared Fast & Easy options still provide an elevated meal—and some even come with their own recyclable bakeware. Both options are a great way to create a romantic date night at home.
Pricing and Plans
- 2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per serving
- 3 meals with 2 servings each: $9.99 per serving
- 4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving
- 2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving
- 3 meals with 4 servings each: $8.49 per serving
- 4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving
- Shipping is $9.99
Meals We Tried
Meal Kits
- Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice
- Space Ranger chicken enchiladas
- One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka
- Baked meatballs and romesco mayo
Heat and Eat
- Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame
- Chicken alfredo pasta with peas
Starting Price: $7.99 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Both fresh and frozen
Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.5
Why You Should Try It
CookUnity takes the concept of ordering carry-out from your favorite restaurant and kicks it up a notch. By connecting a community of chefs directly with customers, diners experience restaurant-worthy meals in the comfort of home.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Small batch meals crafted by renowned chefs
Fully prepared dishes that only require reheating
Cons
Meals designed for only one person
Overview
A collective of over 70 chefs (and counting) make up the creators of CookUnity’s menus. The hundreds of weekly items to choose from include regional specialties, unique flavors, and creative entrées, like tonkatsu ramen with chashu pork belly and a Tuscan butter chicken. While there are some selections for different diets, including vegan, low carb, and gluten free, the real draw here is for adventurous eaters who are game for anything.
Pricing and Plans
- 16 meals a week: $11.09 per meal
- 12 meals a week: $11.19 per meal
- 8 meals a week: $11.69 per meal
- 6 meals a week: $12.29 per meal
- 4 meals a week: $13.59 per meal
Meals We Tried
- Coconut lime hanger steak
- Carnitas street tacos
- Butternut squash ravioli
- Chili roasted shrimp
Starting Price: $11.09 per serving | Delivery Area: Varies by zip code | Products Arrive: Fresh
Best for Kids: Nurture Life
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.6
Why You Should Try It
Nurture Life is a meal delivery service designed for children, featuring a kid-friendly menu that is packed with organic and nutritious ingredients.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Kids’ meals are microwavable in one minute
Designed for babies, toddlers, and kids
Cons
Ingredients can become repetitive
Overview
Nurture Life’s service gives flexibility to parents on a busy weeknight or easy options to leave with the babysitter, all with selections that can be tailored to a list of allergens. All meals contain a well-balanced mix of veggies and protein as well as low salt and sugar levels. “Finger Food” items are good for those not quite ready for utensils, and there’s a “Picky Eater” category with options that should satisfy finicky little ones.
Pricing and Plans
- 6 items per week: $7.99 per serving
- 9 items per week: $7.43 per serving
- 12 items per week: $7.16 per serving
- 15 items per week: $6.99 per serving
- Shipping is $8.99
Meals We Tried
- White mac and cheese
- Chicken and mac
- Beef taco pockets
- Tortellini Bolognese
- Chicken dumplings
- Pesto and cheese ravioli
Starting Price: $6.99 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh
Best for Families: HelloFresh
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.7
Why You Should Try It
HelloFresh’s meal kits strike a balance between ready-to-go meals and laborious home-cooked meals, giving customers easy and delicious options that can appeal to everyone in a family.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Menu is diverse and creative
Easy-to-follow steps with photos
Cons
Doesn’t accommodate many specialty diets
Overview
Two of the six plan preferences HelloFresh offers are Family Friendly and Quick and Easy, one of the reasons that makes them such a good fit for a family meal delivery service. Entrées run the gamut from spiced apricot-sumac chicken to a comforting and creamy ranch beef cavatappi skillet. To make sure things don’t get too routine, HelloFresh’s new program, HelloCustom, allows swaps or upgraded sides and proteins in a weekly order, letting customers give meals their own personal touch.
Pricing and Plans
- 6 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving
- 6 meals with 2 servings each: $8.49 per serving
- 4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving
- 4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving
- 2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving
- 2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per serving
- Shipping is $8.99
Meals We Tried
- Crispy buffalo-spiced chicken
- BBQ cheddar burgers
- Tex-Mex pork with mango salsa
- Pork sausage rigatoni rosa
Starting Price: $7.99 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh
I Tried Factor Meals for a Week—Here's My Honest Review
Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen
Real Simple Star Rating: 4.0
Why You Should Try It
Dining for seniors can be uniquely challenging—there can be special dietary restrictions, medical needs, or constraints in being able to physically shop or prep meals. Magic Kitchen is designed to help those who need extra assistance still have fulfilling meals.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Can be used with insurance and for post-discharge meals
Nutrition info easy to find online
Gift packages available to send
Cons
Limited recycling options for packaging
Flavors can be a bit bland
Overview
While Magic Kitchen isn’t solely for seniors, its meal plans and programs are designed to be senior friendly. The plethora of entrées gives those with restrictive diets a decent amount of choice to help prevent repetition, along with snacks and à la carte items to help reduce dependence on grocery shopping. Magic Kitchen even offers trial packs of 15 meals and multi-month subscription plans to make it as simple as possible.
Pricing and Plans
- Meal programs provide one to three meals a day
- Auto-ship with weekly, biweekly, or monthly options
- À la carte items can be ordered as a “bundle”
- Price varies; average cost of Complete Meals is $10 to $14
- À la carte items and Complete Meals can be ordered individually
Meals We Tried
- Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinach
- Beef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blend
- Balsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans
- Chili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets
Starting Price: $10 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Frozen
Final Verdict
Meal delivery services come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but for one that covers all the bases, we chose Sunbasket. With meal kits, prepared meals, and grocery staples all delivered to your door, Sunbasket incorporates variety into your weekly meal planning while considering all of your and your family’s dietary needs. Plus, the company provides one of the most comprehensive recycling guides for their packaging, helping drive serious commitment to sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?
Meal delivery services are a great way to add some flexibility to your weekly meal routine. They can be an easy way to introduce different types of meals into your diet and take some of the pressure off of the never-ending question, “What’s for dinner?” Plus, you have control over your deliveries—stop them while you’re out of town and start them back up so you come home to fresh meals at your door. And, as an added bonus, meal delivery kits can save you time and may save money.
What Is the Cheapest Meal Delivery Service?
As you evaluate meal delivery service options, a lot of factors come into play, including price. The cheapest option in this list is Dinnerly, which offers meals as low as $4.99 if you order the maximum plan of 24 servings per week. However, while it’s important to find a service that fits your lifestyle and your budget, it’s best not to pick a plan based solely on the price you see on the screen. Some plans may be cheaper because portions are small and not a fit for a family. Or perhaps the price is lower because there are fewer selections available. Ask yourself what you want from a meal delivery service—the cheapest price may not be your best value.
Are Meal Delivery Services Cheaper Than Eating Out?
Take into consideration what you enjoy the most about eating out—is it the chance to enjoy a different cuisine? Do you like the ease of not having to prepare a meal? There are meal delivery plans that offer cook-it-yourself kits with global flavors and ones where meals are simply heat and eat, with no preparation required. Just like going out to a restaurant, prices vary across services depending on quality, effort, and ingredients. Meal delivery prices are often based on multiple meals, so consider that, at a restaurant, you’re paying for one meal, while service prices should be broken down into a per-serving price.
What Is the Healthiest Meal Delivery Service?
When it comes to finding the healthiest meal delivery service, it depends on how you define “healthy” for your lifestyle. Lots of meal services include a wide range of dietary options for their plans, like vegan or keto. Perhaps you need something more tailored to help support a medical need? Plans like ModifyHealth offer foods to help with digestive and chronic conditions. The customization of meal delivery services makes it easy to find one that is healthiest for you.
Methodology
Our panel of testers reviewed 40 different companies to assess the best meal delivery services. The review criteria for services consisted of sustainability practices, customer service, flavor, dietary selection and information, ingredient freshness, as well as the process of meal preparation. Our testing team contains a variety of people, including food writers and dietitians, to capture as many voices as possible.