Best Meal Delivery Services
Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 220+Hours of research
- 75+Sources used
- 20Companies vetted
- 5Features reviewed
- 10Top
Picks
- Most of these services aren't recommended for people with food allergies
- You should for flexible subscription terms
- Even when subscribed to a service, you’ll still need to buy some groceries
- There are two main categories: ready-made meals and portioned-ingredient kits
How we analyzed the best Meal Delivery Services
Our Top Picks: Meal Delivery Service Reviews
Home Chef review
Best meal delivery service for families
Home Chef is known for its classic recipes — not much experimenting here — and very generous portions, which make their services ideal for families and those who enjoy a leftover night from time to time. Home Chef’s family friendly plan provides up to eight servings per meal and up to six meals per week.
For busy parents who need to spend even less time in the kitchen, Home Chef also offers its Oven-Ready meals, which come in an oven-safe tray, as well as its Grill-Ready, Express Meal Kits, and Fast & Fresh options. Plus, its "Customize It" feature lets you create up to 26 different weekly combinations. As if all this wasn’t enough, Home Chef has an app for choosing recipes, keeping track of your orders, and sending feedback. To learn more, read our full Home Chef meal delivery review.
HelloFresh review
Best meal delivery service for kids
Screenshot HelloFresh.com, July 2023
With HelloFresh, the concepts “fresh” and “meal delivery” are not mutually exclusive. One of the nation’s most popular meal delivery companies, HelloFresh enjoys a reputation for healthy recipes made from locally sourced ingredients. They customize plans for families of two to four people.
HelloFresh is our choice for best meal delivery service for kids because it offers meals pre-marked as kid-friendly and kid-approved to ensure everyone enjoys dinner — even your picky eaters. With a vast selection of recipes to choose from (over 100 menu and convenience items per week), parents can have a variety of nutritious meals on the table in 30 minutes or less that won't leave their kids complaining about the same boring dinners night after night.
Sunbasket review
Best meal delivery service for diabetics
Aside from producing fresh food made with organic ingredients and sustainable practices, Sunbasket is committed to catering to individual dietary needs and preferences. The company offers several plans that include customized meals for your unique nutritional requirements, such as their dairy-free, keto, and gluten-free options. These have been developed by a team of professional chefs and dieticians.
One of these plans has been specially crafted for diabetics, allowing them to pick meals that can help them maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Created in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, this meal plan provides high amounts of protein and fiber, as well as low amounts of carbs and sodium to help with diabetes management. Sunbasket has high standards for the food they source and produce, so you can trust you’ll get the best ingredients along with a broad selection of appetizing dishes.
Blue Apron review
Best meal delivery service for vegetarians
Arguably the most popular meal kit service in the U.S., Blue Apron has become the quality standard in a very crowded meal delivery marketplace. With plans offering up to 5 weekly meals for two people or a family of four, easy-to-follow recipes for every skill level, and a wide array of vegetarian meals, it’s the best option for vegetarians who enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Vegetarian meals are crafted with ingredients like seeds, legumes, nuts, fruits, vegetables, honey, dairy, and eggs to provide a balanced meal that doesn't skimp on flavor.
Blue Apron also offers organic, sustainable, and locally sourced ingredients, as well as recipes made with responsibly raised seafood, hormone-free and antibiotic-free meats, pasture-raised eggs, and non-GMO vegetables. Prices for their vegetarian meals start at just $11.99 per serving.
BistroMD review
Best meal delivery service for weight loss
Most meal delivery companies do not cater to people with special conditions, dietary restrictions, or nutritional needs. In comes BistroMD, with its dietitian created meal plans specifically designed for diabetics and people looking to manage their weight.
Plus, this is one of the few companies offering not only dinner entrees but also breakfast, lunch, and snack options. This way, your dietary needs will be taken care of for the whole week (if you choose the full 7-day plan). And last — but definitely not least — these chef-prepared meals are ready in 5 minutes or less, meaning you’ll spend very little time in the kitchen. To get a better idea of the company and its unique offerings, be sure to read our in-depth BistroMD meal delivery services review.
More insight into our methodology
How does one sort through the seemingly endless buffet of meal delivery companies, each claiming to be the “best”? That’s the first question we asked ourselves prior to tackling this review, and, after researching the most popular delivery services, we determined that all the companies to be included in our "Best Of" list should meet or exceed the criteria stated below.
However, there is one very important factor that, though essential to a person’s decision on whether or not to subscribe to a meal delivery service, we could not review first hand: taste.
Why couldn’t we review for taste? Due to freshness and food safety concerns, the meal-delivery companies that made our cut mostly ship inside the continental US. ConsumersAdvocate.org is headquartered in Dorado, Puerto Rico, which made it virtually impossible for our team to actually try the food prepared by the companies being reviewed.
To make up for this obstacle, we read hundreds of customer and expert reviews regarding the taste of the food prepared by the companies that got included on our list.
That said, let’s now take a look at our methodology:
Convenience
If there’s one factor that most influences a person’s decision on whether or not to subscribe to a meal delivery service, it’s this one. Most likely, the reason why you’re reading this article is that you want to avoid cooking and/or grocery shopping altogether, and all other considerations come second. After all, who doesn’t want to make their life simpler?
This is why, for companies to make our list, they have to meet three factors directly related to a service’s overall convenience.
First, they must help you save time and effort, both physical and mental. By reducing your visits to the supermarket, forgoing meal planning, and substantially shortening the time spent cooking — meal kit recipes can be done in less than an hour, and ready-made meals can be microwaved and on your table in less than 5 minutes — you’ll be effectively making the dining process a much easier and faster endeavor.
Second, the recipes should be easy to prepare and the skill level required for each meal should be disclosed. The meal kits reviewed in this article come with the exact ingredients and portions you’ll need to create the recipes: no more and no less. Plus, they include step-by-step recipe booklets to help you on your way, some of them featuring images so you can see, and not just read, each part of the process.
Last but not least, the meal delivery service’s web page and/or app must be user-friendly, intuitive, and non-glitchy. Since you’ll be choosing your meals, delivery dates, and other details via each company’s online platform (they will become your “virtual restaurant or supermarket”), it's essential that these platforms make it easy for you to navigate, choose, customize, and pay. After test-driving dozens of meal delivery services’ web pages and apps, we feel certain the ones that made our list are among the best in the industry.
Shipping & Delivery
Every person has their own particular schedule, and meal delivery services should cater to those differences. In other words, they must be flexible regarding when and how often you want to receive your meals at home. Also, cancellation and week-skipping policies should be hassle-free and, preferably, penalty-free.
Additionally, the way the food is packaged is of the utmost importance, not only for keeping food fresh, but also for its impact on the environment. For this reason, we prioritized meal delivery services that use eco-friendly, recyclable materials in all their boxes and packages.
Cost
First, let’s face the fact that, with a meal delivery service, you’ll probably end up paying more than you normally would if you did your own cooking and grocery shopping. However, in choosing the best meal delivery services, we made sure the extra bucks were actually worth it and the prices didn't surpass the industry standard of $12 per serving.
Quality of Ingredients
If it’s not fresh, it’s no good. That’s the way we see it, and it’s the standard we used in selecting the best meal delivery services. Whether it’s the microwavable meals or the cook-at-home kits, all ingredients must be fresh and of the best possible quality. For this reason, we gave more points to companies that use locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients rather than industrial produce.
Also, we made sure the services chosen as “best” were duly certified and followed the safety and health guidelines set by the federal and state agencies in charge of regulating the industry at large.
Variety Meal Options
When we talk about variety, we’re referring to: 1) variety of recipes, and; 2) variety of meal plans. And they’re both equally important.
When it comes to the variety of recipes, the more the merrier. Since no one wants to eat the same meals day in and day out, the best meal delivery companies offer varied menus featuring classic staples, international recipes, kid’s favorites, and everything in between. This way, consumers get to enjoy a wide array of flavors, some of which they would never cook or discover by themselves.
On the other hand, a variety of meal plans is the best way to cater to specific nutritional requirements, so that anyone can get the meals they want and need. This is why some of the companies featured in this review offer meal plans for vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, people on the keto and paleo diets, children, pescatarians, and the like. Whatever makes your mouth water, you’ll find it here.
Helpful information about Meal Delivery Services
How do meal delivery services work?
Meal delivery services are companies that provide pre-prepared meals to their customers. These meals usually come in insulated packages and may include all the necessary ingredients for you to cook a delicious meal. Depending on the service, they can send pre-cooked meals ready to be reheated or fresh ingredients so you can prepare your own recipes, all without having to pay a visit to the grocery store. These services typically require you to subscribe to regular meal shipments.
There are two main categories
Depending on your lifestyle, taste preferences, and skill level in the kitchen, your ideal meal delivery service will either be the readymade, microwavable meal or the portioned-ingredient kit.
Ready-made meals may be akin to the famous “TV Dinners” of yore — frozen, already prepared — but the ones delivered today by the best meal delivery companies, such as the ones featured in this article, don’t feel or taste anything like frozen food. They are made by chefs, with the freshest ingredients, and preserved in such a way that the food maintains its consistency. And the best part is that, since you only have to put them in the microwave, you can get them done in about five minutes. There’s no cooking required for these.
You’ll still need to set foot in the supermarket
Some of the best meal delivery services don't offer every meal you’ll need during the week (breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and snacks.) In fact, most of them offer only dinner options for weekdays, meaning all other meals will be unaccounted for.
For this reason, you should keep in mind that subscribing to a meal delivery service does not mean you won’t have to visit the supermarket once in a while in order to stock up for those meals that aren't included.
Less food is wasted
Let’s say you just came back from a trip to Hungary and are excited to recreate their famous goulash at home. You visit the supermarket and stock up on all the exotic spices and ingredients required for the recipe. You get home, cook the ingredients and spices according to a recipe found on the web, and the end result is amazing. However, since you only used a little bit of each spice bottle, you save the rest on your pantry.
And now, ask yourself this: When, if ever, are you going to be using those exotic spices again? If the answer is “probably never,” then the spice bottles will remain unused until one day you’re cleaning up to make space and find them covered in cobwebs. In short, the definition of food waste.
With meal delivery services, you’ll get the exact portion for each ingredient, so that, once the recipe is made, there won’t be anything left. No vegetables left rotting in the fridge, and no spice bottle used only once.
There’s an option for everyone...
Long gone are the days of limited menus and nutritional options. Nowadays, there’s a meal delivery plan for nearly everyone, from single people, couples, and families to vegetarians, paleo enthusiasts, diabetics, seniors, children, pescatarians, people looking to lose weight, the gluten and/or dairy intolerant, and even women with menopause.
... except for people with allergies
If you suffer from any food allergies, you may want to add an extra layer of caution when looking for a meal delivery service. While some of the companies advertise the full list of ingredients and even let you eliminate unwanted ingredients from recipes, there’s still the possibility of cross-contamination, be it during preparation or delivery. After reviewing dozens of the most popular meal delivery services, we’ve come to the conclusion that they shouldn’t be recommended for people with food allergies.
What to Watch Out for When Buying Meal Delivery Services
Food safety
The most important thing to watch out for when subscribing to a meal delivery service is food safety. Since you’ll be receiving every meal in boxes, via delivery trucks, and sometimes you might not even be home when the food arrives — meaning the food might be left outside, uncooled, for a couple of hours — there’s a chance the ingredients might not arrive with optimum freshness, and even worse, they might have turned bad by the time you open the box.
However, according to Dr. Donald W. Schaffner, who is a distinguished food science professor at Rutgers University and co-host of the Food Safety Talk podcast, there aren’t many significant differences — at least safety-wise — between delivered meals and the ones you purchase at the supermarket. “I don’t know of any evidence that indicates that meal kits are any riskier than other foods,” said Dr. Schaffner, “although the challenges with meal kits relate to temperature control.”
Regarding temperature control, the Rutgers professor emphasized that “meat, poultry or seafood may be riskier than other foods because they are known to contain pathogens, and if temperature-abused can lead to conditions where the pathogens will multiply, thus increasing the risk.” For this reason, the ideal meal package should contain some sort of passive refrigeration (i.e. dry ice, frozen gel packs, or ice packs).
To make sure your food is safe for consumption, it is recommended that you check the food temperature with a food thermometer (perishable food must be at least 40°), check the contents for anything that might look unusual, and place the contents in the box on your fridge or freezer as soon as possible. To get detailed advice regarding food safety and best practices, you can visit the USDA website.
Automatic renewals
After reading hundreds of customer reviews on several web pages and comment sections, we feel automatic renewals represent one of the customers’ main gripes with meal delivery companies. Most of the time, even if you don’t order meals for a given week, they’ll be sent to you regardless (based on your order history), meaning you’ll have to pay for them. For this reason, we recommend that if you want to cancel your subscription, make changes to your schedule, or skip weeks, you make sure to constantly update and check your account on the company’s online platform.
How to choose the right meal delivery service for you
Once you’ve done your research and know the basics about meal delivery, it’s time to choose one. Here are a few tips to help you make the best choice:
- Read reviews from other customers to get an idea of their experiences with each company.
- Compare the prices of different services. Look for companies offering special discounts or promotional codes.
- Consider a company’s delivery areas, policies, and meal packages.
- Make sure the company offers a variety of meals that suit your dietary needs or preferences.
- Check the ingredients to see if the food is organic, locally sourced, or free from preservatives and additives.
It's also important to get all the facts and read the fine print before committing to any subscription service. This will help you get exactly what you expect from the service without encountering hidden fees or surprises.
FAQs about Meal Delivery Services
What is the cheapest meal delivery service?
The cheapest meal delivery service varies depending on what you are looking for. Many services offer discounted prices for first-time customers or special promotions, while other companies might offer discounted meal plans or deals on bulk purchases. Do some comparison shopping and you’ll find the best deal for your unique needs.
What meal delivery service accepts EBT?
There is currently only one meal delivery service that accepts EBT: Top Box Foods. The company even offers discounts to customers using their EBT/SNAP cards in certain states.
What is the healthiest meal delivery service?
Similar to the cheapest service, the healthiest meal delivery service also varies depending on your specific needs. For those looking for organic, locally sourced ingredients, services like Sunbasket can be a great choice. For those with specific dietary needs, services like BistroMD offer meals tailored to different diets.
How much do meal delivery services cost?
The cost of meal delivery services varies depending on the type of service and number of meals you select. Generally, meal delivery services range in price from $4.99 to $15 per serving, with most of the popular services falling between $8 and $11 per serving.
Do I need to be home for delivery?
Since the meals and/or ingredients will be placed inside a cooled, insulated box, you do not have to be home at the exact time it arrives at your door. However, the box shouldn't be left outside for long hours or overnight. The best practice is to place all the ingredients and produce in your fridge and freezer as soon as possible.
Will I save money with a meal delivery service?
It depends on your eating habits, but in most cases the answer will be “no.” In fact, most people subscribe to meal delivery services not for saving money, but for the peace of mind that comes with having a third party plan your meals and take care of the prepping process. While meal delivery services are oftentimes more expensive than grocery shopping, the extra cost is worth it if you value the convenience of having your food delivered right to your door.
Our Meal Delivery Services Review Summed Up
| Company Name | Best In |
|---|---|
| Blue Apron Meal Delivery | Vegetarians |
| Sunbasket Meal Delivery | Diabetics |
| BistroMD Diet Plans | Weight loss |
| HelloFresh Meal Delivery | Kids |
| Home Chef Meal Delivery | Families |