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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices? We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Daily Harvest top our list of the least expensive meal delivery services, which we tested and rated based on factors such as price, ingredient quality, and nutritional value. Read on for more of our top choices.
Meal delivery services can help you save time, improve your eating habits, or meet specific dietary needs. There are a variety of options, including kits that come with ingredients and others with prepared meals.
Meal services can be a quick and convenient way to enjoy more healthy, home-cooked meals.
However, these services can range quite a bit in price, with some costing even two or three times as much as others.
This can make it particularly challenging for those on a tight budget to find an option that works for them.
Healthline tested some of the top meal delivery services on the market and compiled a list of the best budget-friendly options available, all of which start at less than $10 per serving.
We included an assortment of both prepared meals — which can typically be heated in the microwave or oven with no meal prep required — and meal kits, which include preportioned ingredients and recipe cards so you can make your own meals at home.
Keep reading for six of the best affordable delivery services in 2023, along with our feedback on each service and a closer look at how they compare.
Menus: Veggie, Quick and Easy, Pescatarian, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Meat & Veggies Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low calorie, low carb Ingredients: some organic ingredients Price per serving: $8.99–$12.49 *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review HelloFresh is one of the most popular and affordable meal delivery services available but also one of the most versatile, making it our top pick as the best cheap meal delivery service on the market.
The company offers an extensive menu with a variety of quick and easy meal options:
family-friendly low calorie low carb vegetarian vegan pescatarian Mediterranean Each box includes preportioned ingredients and a recipe card with step-by-step instructions.
Some dishes also include customization options, allowing you to upgrade or swap certain sides or proteins.
What our tester says “HelloFresh’s huge selection of recipes made it easy for me to find dishes that would appeal to my family. All of the ingredients were grouped by recipe, so each meal only took me 30 or 40 minutes to prepare.
“While HelloFresh doesn’t have as many options for certain diets like keto or paleo, it has a larger weekly menu than many other services and offers a good range of cuisines and ingredients.
“For more details, see my full review of HelloFresh.”
— Healthline writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
“HelloFresh’s huge selection of recipes made it easy for me to find dishes that would appeal to my family. All of the ingredients were grouped by recipe, so each meal only took me 30 or 40 minutes to prepare.
“While HelloFresh doesn’t have as many options for certain diets like keto or paleo, it has a larger weekly menu than many other services and offers a good range of cuisines and ingredients.
“For more details, see my full review of HelloFresh.”
— Healthline writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
Pros & cons offers customization options for some sides and proteins features a large menu with a variety of recipes limited information available on ingredient quality and sourcing may not be suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions doesn't offer any oven-ready or prepared meals offers customization options for some sides and proteins features a large menu with a variety of recipes limited information available on ingredient quality and sourcing may not be suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions doesn't offer any oven-ready or prepared meals Product details Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Returns: refunds within 5 days Shipping: $10.99 Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Returns: refunds within 5 days Shipping: $10.99
Menus: Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, Veggies Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low carb Ingredients: sustainably sourced fish and seafood Price per serving: $7.99–$12.49 *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review Blue Apron is a meal kit service that delivers fresh, preportioned ingredients directly to your door.
The signature plan offers 2–4 recipes per week, with either 2 or 4 servings each. There are more than 70 recipes to choose from weekly. Blue Apron also offers a vegetarian plan and wellness plan, both of which provide 2–4 recipes per week with 2 servings each.
When creating your menu, you can select from several meal kits and heat-and-eat options, including low calorie, carb-conscious, and diabetes-friendly recipes.
Because Blue Apron also offers many meals that are nutritionist approved, it has earned our pick as the cheapest meal delivery service for weight loss.
What our tester says “While some of Blue Apron’s recipes required a bit of multitasking, the ingredients arrived in good condition and were packaged by recipe, so each dish came together quickly.
“Blue Apron’s menu doesn’t accommodate very many specialty diets, but it does have some unique offerings, like nutritionist approved meals and a wide range of pantry items like spices, meal kit bundles, and cooking tools.
“To learn more about my experience trying Blue Apron, check out our full review .”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane , MS, RD
“While some of Blue Apron’s recipes required a bit of multitasking, the ingredients arrived in good condition and were packaged by recipe, so each dish came together quickly.
“Blue Apron’s menu doesn’t accommodate very many specialty diets, but it does have some unique offerings, like nutritionist approved meals and a wide range of pantry items like spices, meal kit bundles, and cooking tools.
“To learn more about my experience trying Blue Apron, check out our full review .”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane , MS, RD
Pros & cons offers both oven-ready meals and meal kits provides nutritionist-approved meals cost effective offers fewer customization options than competitors doesn't accommodate many speciality diets offers both oven-ready meals and meal kits provides nutritionist-approved meals cost effective offers fewer customization options than competitors doesn't accommodate many speciality diets Product details Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99 Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99
Price per serving: $6.79–$9.79 Menus: all items vegan and gluten-free Diet friendliness: vegan, gluten-free, low calorie Ingredients: some organic ingredients *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review Daily Harvest specializes in providing fully prepared meal and snack options that are plant-based, gluten-free, and mostly organic, which is why it’s our choice as the best plant-based cheap meal delivery service.
The service offers more than 80 items to choose from, including a variety of smoothies, flatbreads, harvest bowls, and desserts.
Each week, you can mix and match your favorite meals from the full menu to create your own box with 9, 14, or 24 items.
Most items on the menu contain one serving, but certain items — including the lattes and bites — include multiple servings.
What our tester says “I liked most of the items I tried from Daily Harvest, and they were generally pretty easy to prepare. The snack bites, oat bowls, and chia bowls were my favorites, plus they were super convenient for breakfasts and snacks.
“I also appreciated that the menu includes a wide range of plant-based ingredients, which can help keep things from feeling repetitive over time.
“That said, I found that most of the entrees weren’t filling enough for a full meal, and a few items didn’t keep their texture well after reheating.
“You can read more about the pros and cons of Daily Harvest in this hands-on review .”
— Healthline writer Rachael Ajmera , MS, RD
“I liked most of the items I tried from Daily Harvest, and they were generally pretty easy to prepare. The snack bites, oat bowls, and chia bowls were my favorites, plus they were super convenient for breakfasts and snacks.
“I also appreciated that the menu includes a wide range of plant-based ingredients, which can help keep things from feeling repetitive over time.
“That said, I found that most of the entrees weren’t filling enough for a full meal, and a few items didn’t keep their texture well after reheating.
“You can read more about the pros and cons of Daily Harvest in this hands-on review .”
— Healthline writer Rachael Ajmera , MS, RD
Pros & cons 80+ plant-based and gluten-free items to choose from uses mostly organic ingredients affordable, with free shipping for your first order offers portion sizes that may be too small for some people limited choices for certain dietary restrictions may not be suitable for families or larger households 80+ plant-based and gluten-free items to choose from uses mostly organic ingredients affordable, with free shipping for your first order offers portion sizes that may be too small for some people limited choices for certain dietary restrictions may not be suitable for families or larger households Product details Meals per week: 9, 14, or 24 Meal type: prepared meals Servings available: 1 Personalization: specialty diet filters and option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match weekly meal plan Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $9.99 Meals per week: 9, 14, or 24 Meal type: prepared meals Servings available: 1 Personalization: specialty diet filters and option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match weekly meal plan Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $9.99
Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, low calorie, low carb, dairy-free, no added gluten Ingredients: some organic ingredients Price per serving: $4.99–$8.04 *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review Dinnerly provides meal delivery kits that are delicious, easy to make, and affordable. It also provides many kid-friendly meals, making it one of the best cheap options for families.
Low calorie, low carb, kid-friendly, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan meal options are available and labeled on the menu to help you find options that fit your needs.
For certain special occasions, you can also order:
breakfasts brunches proteins desserts What our tester says “All of the recipes I tried from Dinnerly were very easy to make and took less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
“For example, I only needed one bowl to prepare the Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini with Peas, which made cleanup a breeze. While I did add a few more vegetables to the dish to make it more balanced, the flavors were spot-on, and even my toddler enjoyed it.
“You can read more about my experience trying Dinnerly in our full review .”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
“All of the recipes I tried from Dinnerly were very easy to make and took less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
“For example, I only needed one bowl to prepare the Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini with Peas, which made cleanup a breeze. While I did add a few more vegetables to the dish to make it more balanced, the flavors were spot-on, and even my toddler enjoyed it.
“You can read more about my experience trying Dinnerly in our full review .”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Pros & cons large menu with a variety of options low cost per meal simple, easy-to-prepare recipes limited options available for certain dietary patterns uses mostly conventional ingredients no prepared meal options available large menu with a variety of options low cost per meal simple, easy-to-prepare recipes limited options available for certain dietary patterns uses mostly conventional ingredients no prepared meal options available Product details Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Returns: no returns or refunds Shipping: $11.99 Meal type: meal kit Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Returns: no returns or refunds Shipping: $11.99
Price per serving: $8.69–$12.99 Menus: one weekly menu Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, low carb, low calorie, dairy-free, gluten-free Ingredients: some organic ingredients *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is a meal kit service that provides high quality, chef-designed meals that can be prepared in a pinch, scoring it our pick as best meal delivery kit.
Recipes feature seasonal ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers to maximize the quality of your meals.
The company also offers add-ons for an additional cost, such as:
a la carte proteins coffee kitsdesserts What our tester says “Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is a highly underrated meal kit delivery service. The recipe cards were easy to follow, and I found that the timing and order of each step made sense and helped each component of the meal come together at the right time.
“All three meals that I tried were flavorful, had a great variety of textures, and were enjoyed by my whole family.
“While the process of selecting meals could be more streamlined (I’d love a filtering option), there’s a good variety of meals to choose from, and the prices are competitive with similar services.”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
“Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is a highly underrated meal kit delivery service. The recipe cards were easy to follow, and I found that the timing and order of each step made sense and helped each component of the meal come together at the right time.
“All three meals that I tried were flavorful, had a great variety of textures, and were enjoyed by my whole family.
“While the process of selecting meals could be more streamlined (I’d love a filtering option), there’s a good variety of meals to choose from, and the prices are competitive with similar services.”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Pros & cons extensive menu with 100+ recipes to choose from each week suitable for several dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, low carb, and low calorie diets offers optional add-ons for additional fee no prepared meals limited selection for certain dietary restrictions, such as paleo may not be suitable for those who prefer eating organic extensive menu with 100+ recipes to choose from each week suitable for several dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, low carb, and low calorie diets offers optional add-ons for additional fee no prepared meals limited selection for certain dietary restrictions, such as paleo may not be suitable for those who prefer eating organic Product details Meals per week: 2–6 Meal type: meal kit Servings available: 2 or 4 Personalization: specialty diet filters Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $11.99 Meals per week: 2–6 Meal type: meal kit Servings available: 2 or 4 Personalization: specialty diet filters Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $11.99
Menus: Veggie Bowls, Family Meals, Pizzas, Smoothies, Soups, Oat Bowls Diet friendliness: vegan, vegetarian, wheat-free, nut-free, high protein Ingredients: some organic ingredients Price per serving: $5.99–$11.99 *Price is accurate as of the date of publication.
Healthline's review Mosaic Foods offers a wide range of veggie bowls, pizzas, soups, smoothies, and oat bowls, all of which are plant-based and fully prepared, making it our budget-friendly choice for best prepared meal delivery service.
All menu items are free of artificial ingredients, which is why Mosaic is our choice for the best prepared meal delivery service. Some meals also feature organic produce, depending on availability.
Items in the following categories are labeled on the menu:
vegan wheat-free nut-free high in protein What our tester says “I tried several of the family meals and appreciated that all I needed to do was bake them. Plus, they could be served in the same dish, so cleaning up after dinner was super easy. Every family meal includes at least four different vegetables, and I really enjoyed most of the flavors.
“However, some of the meals needed more time in the oven than the instructions called for.
“If you’re looking for a range of prepared food options to have on hand, Mosaic Foods also offers single-serve items like smoothies, oat bowls, and soups that only need a few minutes in the microwave.”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
“I tried several of the family meals and appreciated that all I needed to do was bake them. Plus, they could be served in the same dish, so cleaning up after dinner was super easy. Every family meal includes at least four different vegetables, and I really enjoyed most of the flavors.
“However, some of the meals needed more time in the oven than the instructions called for.
“If you’re looking for a range of prepared food options to have on hand, Mosaic Foods also offers single-serve items like smoothies, oat bowls, and soups that only need a few minutes in the microwave.”
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Pros & cons 50+ menu items available all items plant-based several vegan, high protein, and wheat-free or nut-free options provides fully prepared items that are ready to enjoy limited meal options for certain dietary restrictions, such as paleo and keto might not be ideal for people who prefer eating only organic foods not yet available in all areas 50+ menu items available all items plant-based several vegan, high protein, and wheat-free or nut-free options provides fully prepared items that are ready to enjoy limited meal options for certain dietary restrictions, such as paleo and keto might not be ideal for people who prefer eating only organic foods not yet available in all areas Product details Meal type: prepared meals Servings available: 1, 4 Personalization: specialty diet filters, mix-and-match weekly meal plan Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: major metro areas in the eastern and western United States Meals per week: 6, 12, or 18 Returns: full refund Shipping: free for boxes with 12 or 18 items; otherwise $9.99–$19.99 Meal type: prepared meals Servings available: 1, 4 Personalization: specialty diet filters, mix-and-match weekly meal plan Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: major metro areas in the eastern and western United States Meals per week: 6, 12, or 18 Returns: full refund Shipping: free for boxes with 12 or 18 items; otherwise $9.99–$19.99 We considered several factors when determining which meal delivery services to include in this article:
Price: We chose meal services that are low cost and provide good value, with prices starting at $5 per serving.Other fees: In addition to the prices of meals, we considered other fees for each service and included some that offer free or low cost shipping.Availability: We selected meal services that are available throughout most of the contiguous United States. Variety: Each meal service features a wide range of recipes and ingredients on weekly menus. We also picked services that cater to different eating patterns. Some offer both meal kits and prepared meals.Quality of ingredients: Meals are made using fresh, high quality ingredients and free of artificial sweeteners, additives, and preservatives.Nutrition: We picked meal kit services that offer nutritionally balanced meals with ingredients such as fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains.Firsthand experience: We chose meal delivery services that Healthline writers and editors have personally tested and evaluated based on factors such as ease of preparation, taste, variety, and packaging. Read more about how we test meal kits .There are a few factors you may want to consider when selecting a meal delivery service .
First, look for a service with a rotating menu that includes a variety of meals to help add some diversity to your diet.
If you have any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or specific preferences, it’s especially important to find a meal kit service that caters to your needs.
Price is another key consideration. In addition to the cost of the meal kit itself, be sure to consider any other fees, such as shipping or add-ons.
Delivery may be limited in certain locations, so check whether shipping is available in your area.
Which meal delivery service is cheapest? Dinnerly is the cheapest meal delivery service on our list, with prices starting at just $5 per serving. HelloFresh and Blue Apron are also on the more affordable end, starting at $8–$9 per serving.
Is HelloFresh cheap? HelloFresh is one of the most budget-friendly meal delivery services available, with prices ranging from $9–$12 per serving and either $9.99 or $10.99 for shipping, depending on your location.
What is the average price for meal delivery services? Meal delivery prices can range quite a bit in price. While some cheaper services may cost $5–$12 per serving, other options provide more expensive meals and often charge double or even triple this amount.
Meal delivery services can range quite a bit in price, making it challenging for those on a budget to find suitable options.
However, several cost-effective services are available, many of which offer options to fit some dietary restrictions and food preferences.
When deciding which meal delivery service is right for you, consider factors such as the variety, quality, cost, availability, and ingredients.
