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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. We tested the best meal delivery services to help you decide which are actually worth subscribing to. Sunbasket, Factor, and Blue Apron are only a few that made the list.
Finding the time to shop for ingredients, plan meals, and cook just isn’t possible for people leading busy lives working, caring for a family, or running a household.
There are a several meal delivery services that can help make meal prep easier. However, they differ in meal types, suitability for various diets, quality of ingredients, variety of flavors, and cost.
Healthline editors and registered dietitians tried 32 of the most popular meal delivery services on the market to help you decide which one is right for you.
Whether you’re looking for meal kits you cook yourself or fully prepared meals that are ready to heat and eat, keep reading to see our picks of the 10 best meal delivery services.
Related: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services
Disclaimer: All the services tested below were tried by Healthline writers or editors who received the meals for free. All opinions are our own.
Best overall meal delivery service Price per serving: $9.99–$25.99 Meal type: meal kits and prepared meals Healthline score: 4.6 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Sunbasket is our pick as the best overall meal delivery service thanks to its high quality ingredients, unique flavor combinations, and large variety of menu options.
During testing, the service scored highly for ease of sign-up, meal variety, nutrition quality, ingredient quality, ease of preparation, and taste. Cost and lack of signage around recyclable packaging are the only reasons we deducted points.
Healthline Nutrition Editor and tester Kelli McGrane , MS, RD, shared, “Sunbasket was by far my favorite meal delivery service. The ingredients arrived fresh, the flavor combinations were delicious and not ones I’d regularly make, and most entrees took 30 minutes or less to prepare.
“I also enjoyed the Fresh & Ready meals — the White Chicken Chili was my favorite — though I still prefer the taste of the meal kits over the convenience of the premade dishes.”
Healthline Score: 4.6/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 5/5Meal variety: 5/5Nutrition: 5/5Sustainability: 4/5Ingredient quality: 5/5Ease of preparation: 5/5Taste: 5/5Affordability: 3/5
Read our full review of Sunbasket.
Pros & cons large variety of meals, which change weekly excellent taste and exciting flavors easy to skip weeks when needed provides premeasured ingredients requires less than 30 minutes to prepare most meals nutrient-dense meals suitable for a variety of diets all organic produce and some organic eggs, dairy, meat, and poultry recipes approved by an in-house dietitian eco-friendly packaging expensive and doesn't include shipping not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota large variety of meals, which change weekly excellent taste and exciting flavors easy to skip weeks when needed provides premeasured ingredients requires less than 30 minutes to prepare most meals nutrient-dense meals suitable for a variety of diets all organic produce and some organic eggs, dairy, meat, and poultry recipes approved by an in-house dietitian eco-friendly packaging expensive and doesn't include shipping not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota Product details Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 1, 2, or 4 Menus: Gluten-Free, Paleo, Carb-Conscious, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Keto-Friendly, and Diabetes-Friendly Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, keto, low carb, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly Ingredients: some organic ingredients, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States except for Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico Shipping: $9.99 Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 1, 2, or 4 Menus: Gluten-Free, Paleo, Carb-Conscious, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Keto-Friendly, and Diabetes-Friendly Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, keto, low carb, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly Ingredients: some organic ingredients, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States except for Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico Shipping: $9.99
Best prepared meal delivery Price per serving: $10.99–$13.49 Meal type: prepared meals Healthline score: 4.3 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Factor, formerly known as Factor 75, is one of the best meal prep companies, offering chef-created, dietitian-approved, fully prepared meals that reheat well, are nutritionally balanced, and are satisfying to eat.
Factor is our highest-scoring prepared meal delivery service, earning top marks for nutrition quality, ingredient quality, and ease of preparation. It also scored highly for ease of sign-up, meal variety, and taste.
According to McGrane, who tried the service for 2 weeks, “I’m usually skeptical when it comes to prepared meals , since it’s hard to compete with freshly made dinners. However, Factor pleasantly surprised me. Not only were the dishes flavorful, but the textures of the ingredients were also spot-on.
“Specifically, the salmon was moist and not fishy, the chicken was juicy, and the vegetables were tender without being mushy. Even the quinoa in the Herbed Quinoa Pesto Bowl had a soft yet chewy texture.”
Healthline Score: 4.3/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 4.5/5Meal variety: 4.5/5Nutrition: 5/5Sustainability: 3/5Ingredient quality: 5/5Ease of preparation: 5/5Taste: 4.5/5Affordability: 3/5
Read our full review of Factor.
Pros & cons no cooking required appropriate for many popular dietary patterns can freeze meals for longer shelf life great taste and texture high quality, fresh (never frozen) ingredients expensive per serving limited number of plant-based meal options offers only single-serving meals not available in Alaska or Hawaii some meals are high in saturated fat and sodium no cooking required appropriate for many popular dietary patterns can freeze meals for longer shelf life great taste and texture high quality, fresh (never frozen) ingredients expensive per serving limited number of plant-based meal options offers only single-serving meals not available in Alaska or Hawaii some meals are high in saturated fat and sodium Product details Meals per week: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 Menus: Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian Diet friendliness: vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, and dairy-free Ingredients: humanely raised meat and poultry Servings available: 1 Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: Meals per week: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 Menus: Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian Diet friendliness: vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, and dairy-free Ingredients: humanely raised meat and poultry Servings available: 1 Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping:
Best with restaurant-worthy flavors Price per serving: $11.09–$13.59 Healthline score: 4.0 out of 5 Meal type: prepared meals Healthline's review Why we love it: If you regularly find yourself ordering takeout, then you’re going to love CookUnity. Menus vary by region, and each meal is crafted by an award-winning chef, including a few Food Network alums.
While we found the meal selection process a bit more overwhelming than other services, we were quickly swayed by the high quality of the food.
According to our expert tester Kelli McGrane, “If I hadn’t known that they were from a prepared meal delivery service, I would’ve thought that I was eating takeout from a local restaurant.
“All of the proteins were well-seasoned and well-cooked, the vegetables tasted fresh, and the grains and starches were chewy without being too soft or too dry. Everything I tried was packed with flavor and didn’t require any additional seasonings.”
Just keep in mind that many of the meals are high in calories and saturated fat. If you’re following a specific diet or simply trying to eat healthier, make sure to use the company’s diet-specific filters when selecting your meals.
Healthline Score: 4.0/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 4.5/5Meal variety: 4.5/5Nutrition: 3/5Sustainability: 4/5Ingredient quality: 4.5/5Ease of preparation: 4.5/5Taste: 5/5Affordability: 2/5
Read our full review of CookUnity.
Pros & cons large rotating, regionally-based menu meals crafted by award-winning chefs restaurant-worthy flavors and textures seasonal ingredients diet-specific filers option to reheat meals in the microwave or oven expensive not available in all areas can be difficult to find nutritionally balanced meals meal selection process isn't as straightforward as others large rotating, regionally-based menu meals crafted by award-winning chefs restaurant-worthy flavors and textures seasonal ingredients diet-specific filers option to reheat meals in the microwave or oven expensive not available in all areas can be difficult to find nutritionally balanced meals meal selection process isn't as straightforward as others Product details Meals per week: 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 Menus: general menu with diet-specific filters Diet friendliness: keto, paleo, low carb, low calorie, gluten-free, dairy-free, low sodium, vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean Ingredients: locally sourced; prioritizes seasonal ingredients; sustainably sourced fish, seafood, and meat Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Servings available: 1 Shipping: $9.99 Meals per week: 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 Menus: general menu with diet-specific filters Diet friendliness: keto, paleo, low carb, low calorie, gluten-free, dairy-free, low sodium, vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean Ingredients: locally sourced; prioritizes seasonal ingredients; sustainably sourced fish, seafood, and meat Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Servings available: 1 Shipping: $9.99
Best meal delivery service for families Meal type: meal kit Price per serving: $9.99–$11.49 Healthline score: 4.2 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: HelloFresh offers more than 30 menu options each week, including several kid-friendly recipes. Also, because HelloFresh is moderately priced, it’s a more realistic choice for families on a budget.
Most of the recipes are fairly straightforward and take 30 minutes or less to prepare. Because of this, HelloFresh is also great for families who want to get their older kids involved in the kitchen .
Healthline writer and tester SaVanna Shoemaker , MS, RDN, LD, and Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD both found HelloFresh to be a great fit for families with young kids.
According to McGrane, “I’ve tried HelloFresh several times over the years. Most recently, I tried it for about 4 months over the winter when I was tired of meal planning. I enjoyed being able to select from any of the company’s menus and never struggled to find recipes that my toddler would enjoy.”
Candice Abellon, a Healthline editor, has also subscribed to HelloFresh on-and-off for several years. She shared that she thinks the service is particularly good for “busy parents and caretakers who have some time to cook, and for parents who want to teach their kids to cook.”
Healthline Score: 4.2/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 5/5Meal variety: 4.2/5Nutrition: 4.3/5Sustainability: 4/5Ingredient quality: 3.7/5Ease of preparation: 3.8/5Taste: 4.5/5Affordability: 4/5
Read our full review of HelloFresh.
Pros & cons over 30 menu options each week several kid-friendly menu items offers many recipes that are easy for kids to help prepare additional shipping fee not a good option for families of more than four people not appropriate for households with certain dietary needs, such as gluten-free or vegan not available in Alaska or Hawaii over 30 menu options each week several kid-friendly menu items offers many recipes that are easy for kids to help prepare additional shipping fee not a good option for families of more than four people not appropriate for households with certain dietary needs, such as gluten-free or vegan not available in Alaska or Hawaii Product details Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Menus: Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 minutes, Pescatarian Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low calorie, low carb Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99 Meals per week: 2–6 Servings available: 2, 4 Menus: Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 minutes, Pescatarian Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low calorie, low carb Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99
Price per serving: $9.99–$13.95 Healthline score: 4.3 out of 5 Meal type: meal kit Healthline's review Why we love it: Home Chef offers several types of easy-prep meal kits, including Oven Ready, Fast & Fresh, Express, and meal bundles. These meal kits make it easy to get dinner on the table, especially on busy weeknights.
Home Chef’s Oven Ready meals come ready to bake in oven-safe trays. The service also offers Express meals, which take about 15 minutes to prepare, and Fast & Fresh meals, which are more nutritious options that can be prepared quickly.
For busy families, Home Chef just debuted its new Family Menu plan, which features 10+ weekly rotating recipes, all of which require minimal prep.
In addition to being easy to prepare, Home Chef scored highly for its ease of sign-up, meal variety, nutrition quality, and taste.
Home Chef’s meals were a hit with our tester’s whole family, with Shoemaker noting, “Everyone really liked the Chicken Lorraine. It came together really quickly, and the sauce for the chicken was delicious.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how much my kids liked the Turkey Burrito Skillet too — especially since it was full of vegetables. We would definitely use the service again if we ever needed some easy, quick weeknight meals.”
Healthline Score: 4.3/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancell ation processes: 4.5/5Meal variety: 4.5/5Nutrition: 5/5Sustainability: 4/5Ingredient quality: 4/5Ease of preparation: 4.5/5Taste: 5/5Affordability: 3/5
Read our full review of Home Chef.
Pros & cons offers a variety of traditional and easy-prep meal kits includes low calorie and low carb options provides meals for up to six people not appropriate for food allergies or specific dietary needs additional shipping fee limited vegetarian options offers a variety of traditional and easy-prep meal kits includes low calorie and low carb options provides meals for up to six people not appropriate for food allergies or specific dietary needs additional shipping fee limited vegetarian options Product details Meals per week: 2–6 Menus: Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Protein-packed, Keto-friendly, Pescatarian, Paleo-friendly, Vegetarian, Family Diet friendliness: vegetarian and carb- and calorie-conscious Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Servings available: 2, 4, 6 Returns: No returns Shipping: $10.99 - $13.99 Meals per week: 2–6 Menus: Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Protein-packed, Keto-friendly, Pescatarian, Paleo-friendly, Vegetarian, Family Diet friendliness: vegetarian and carb- and calorie-conscious Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Servings available: 2, 4, 6 Returns: No returns Shipping: $10.99 - $13.99
Price per serving: $12.99–$13.49 Meal type: meal kit Healthline score: 4.2 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Green Chef is a certified organic meal kit subscription service that provides ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions for creating nourishing meals.
Unless an organic item is unavailable, all the ingredients in Green Chef’s meal kits are organic. When conventional items need to be subbed in, the company includes inbox communications to notify customers.
This commitment to organic sourcing, as well as using mostly recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging earned it high marks for sustainability. Green Chef also scored highly for ease of sign-up, meal variety, nutrition quality, and taste.
After testing, McGrane shared, “Green Chef meals were some of the fastest and easiest to make, as many of the ingredients came chopped or shredded.
“Perhaps most importantly, the meals were flavorful and fresh and contained a generous portion of vegetables — an aspect that’s often lacking with other meal delivery services.”
Because it offers two, four, or six servings per meal, Green Chef is also a great option for families.
Healthline Score: 4.2/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 5/5Meal variety: 4.5/5Nutrition: 4.5/5Sustainability: 5/5Ingredient quality: 4/5Ease of preparation: 3.5/5Taste: 5/5Affordability: 2/5
Read our full review of Green Chef.
Pros & cons good mix of family-friendly recipes and exciting flavor combinations easy-to-make recipes with premeasured ingredients less than 30 minutes required to cook most meals easy to skip or change your weekly order certified organic company eco-friendly packaging not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances additional shipping fee not available in Alaska or Hawaii good mix of family-friendly recipes and exciting flavor combinations easy-to-make recipes with premeasured ingredients less than 30 minutes required to cook most meals easy to skip or change your weekly order certified organic company eco-friendly packaging not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances additional shipping fee not available in Alaska or Hawaii Product details Meals per week: 2–4 Servings available: 2, 4, or 6 Menus: Keto, Mediterranean, Plant Based, Protein Packed, Gluten Free, Delicious Discoveries, Calorie Smart, and Quick & Easy Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, and keto Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, and humanely raised meat and poultry Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99 Meals per week: 2–4 Servings available: 2, 4, or 6 Menus: Keto, Mediterranean, Plant Based, Protein Packed, Gluten Free, Delicious Discoveries, Calorie Smart, and Quick & Easy Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, and keto Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, and humanely raised meat and poultry Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99
Price per serving: $13.79–$15.85 Meal type: prepared meals and a la carte items Healthline score: 4.2 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Featuring dietitian-designed meals that are calorie and portion controlled, Trifecta Nutrition is one of the best meal prep companies for those looking to lose weight .
While the idea of “weight loss meals” may invoke ideas of boring, flavorless meals, our tester found the meals to be overall flavorful and satisfying.
According to tester and Healthline writer Rachael Ajmera , MS, RD, “Trifecta’s meals featured a good amount of variety of ingredients and textures. I also found that the foods maintained their flavor and texture, even after reheating.
“With that said, I found that I occasionally needed to add a few extra spices and seasonings to add a little oomph to certain dishes.”
She also noted that because meals are selected for you, it might not be the best option if you’re a picky eater.
Healthline Score: 4.2/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 4/5Meal variety: 3.5/5Nutrition: 5/5Sustainability: 5/5Ingredient quality: 5/5Ease of preparation: 5/5Taste: 4/5Affordability: 2/5
Read our full review of Trifecta Nutrition.
Pros & cons meals suitable for many popular dietary patterns fully prepared, fresh meals prioritizes organic produce and humanely raised meat can freeze meals for longer storage calorie- and portioned-controlled meals for weight loss only offers single-serve meals relatively expensive per serving meals are selected for you meals suitable for many popular dietary patterns fully prepared, fresh meals prioritizes organic produce and humanely raised meat can freeze meals for longer storage calorie- and portioned-controlled meals for weight loss only offers single-serve meals relatively expensive per serving meals are selected for you Product details Meals per week: 7, 10, 14, or 28 Menus: Clean, Paleo Whole30, Keto, Plant-Based Diet friendliness: paleo, keto, Whole30, vegan, and vegetarian Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry Servings available: 1 Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: United States (Alaska and Hawaii included) Shipping: $9.99 in the contiguous United States ($49.99 for Alaska and Hawaii) Meals per week: 7, 10, 14, or 28 Menus: Clean, Paleo Whole30, Keto, Plant-Based Diet friendliness: paleo, keto, Whole30, vegan, and vegetarian Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry Servings available: 1 Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: United States (Alaska and Hawaii included) Shipping: $9.99 in the contiguous United States ($49.99 for Alaska and Hawaii)
Meal type: meal kit Price per serving: $7.99–$12.49 Healthline score: 4.4 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Blue Apron provides simple, easy-to-make recipes that can help you build confidence in the kitchen while enjoying more nutritious, home-cooked meals, earning it our choice as the best meal delivery service for beginners.
While there aren’t as many meals to choose from each week, we still found that the service does a good job at providing a wide variety of ingredients and flavor profiles to keep your tastebuds happy. We also liked that there’s at least one oven-ready meal offered each week.
According to McGrane, “The recipes came with easy-to-follow recipe cards and didn’t require quite as much multitasking as some of the other services I tried. Overall, thanks to the quality of the ingredients and creative flavors, Blue Apron is a close runner-up to Sunbasket as the best meal kit on the market.”
Healthline Score: 4.4/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 5/5Meal variety: 4/5Nutrition: 4.5/5Sustainability: 4.5/5Ingredient quality: 5/5Ease of preparation: 4/5Taste: 4/5Affordability: 4/5
Read our full review of Blue Apron.
Pros & cons offers meal kits and heat-and-eat options provides many health-conscious recipes, including some nutritionist-approved recipes uses sustainably sourced seafood and hormone-free meat not suitable for certain dietary restrictions or severe food allergies not available in Alaska or Hawaii may not be good for larger families or households offers meal kits and heat-and-eat options provides many health-conscious recipes, including some nutritionist-approved recipes uses sustainably sourced seafood and hormone-free meat not suitable for certain dietary restrictions or severe food allergies not available in Alaska or Hawaii may not be good for larger families or households Product details Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 2, 4 Menus: Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, Veggies Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low carb Ingredients: sustainably sourced fish and seafood Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99 Meals per week: 2–5 Servings available: 2, 4 Menus: Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, Veggies Diet friendliness: vegetarian, pescatarian, low carb Ingredients: sustainably sourced fish and seafood Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10.99
Meal type: meal kit Price per serving: $4.99–$7.49 Healthline score: 3.5 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Owned by the parent company of HelloFresh and Green Chef, EveryPlate is one of the best value meal kit companies on the market and can be an affordable, family-friendly alternative to pricier services.
While it doesn’t offer the same exciting flavor combinations or higher quality ingredients that some of the other services on our list do, EveryPlate is still a solid option for people who want to save time meal planning and grocery shopping without breaking the bank.
Plus, most meals are ready to enjoy in 30 minutes or less and require only 6 steps of preparation.
McGrane noted that during testing, “The ingredients arrived fresh, the recipes were easy to follow, and the meals were enjoyable.”
Healthline Score: 3.5/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 5/5Meal variety: 4/5Nutrition: 3.5/5Sustainability: 2/5Ingredient quality: 3/5Ease of preparation: 4/5Taste: 2/5Affordability: 5/5
Read our full review of EveryPlate.
Pros & cons affordable family-friendly flavors easy-to-follow recipes additional shipping fee limited variety of flavors and ingredients not suitable for specialty diets or severe food allergies or intolerances not great for those who prefer to eat organic affordable family-friendly flavors easy-to-follow recipes additional shipping fee limited variety of flavors and ingredients not suitable for specialty diets or severe food allergies or intolerances not great for those who prefer to eat organic Product details Meals per week: 3–6 Servings available: 2, 4, 6 Menus: Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Quick & Easy, Nutrish & Delish, Family Faves Diet friendliness: vegetarian Ingredients: no organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $9.99 Meals per week: 3–6 Servings available: 2, 4, 6 Menus: Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Quick & Easy, Nutrish & Delish, Family Faves Diet friendliness: vegetarian Ingredients: no organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $9.99
Price per serving: $11–$13.25 Meal type: meal kits and prepared meals Healthline score: 4.0 out of 5 Healthline's review Why we love it: Purple Carrot makes it easy to eat more plant-based meals by offering creative flavor and ingredient combinations as well as a line of prepared meals for dinner in a flash.
For those short on time, the service offers single-serving microwaveable meals, as well as Less Prep meals, which are recipes that feature shortcuts to help you put dinner on the table faster, such as pre-chopped vegetables.
During testing, the service scored highly for nutrition quality, ingredient quality, ease of preparation, and taste.
According to McGrane, “If you’re looking for creative plant-based recipes and don’t mind spending a little extra time in the kitchen, chances are you’ll really enjoy Purple Carrot.”
Healthline Score: 4.0/5 Our overall score is based on the average of the following key criteria:
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes: 3/5Meal variety: 3/5Nutrition: 5/5Sustainability: 3.5/5Ingredient quality: 5/5Ease of preparation: 4.5/5Taste: 5/5Affordability: 3/5
Read our full review of Purple Carrot.
Pros & cons tasty and creative flavors gluten-free and high protein meal options easy-to-follow recipes option to pause or cancel your subscription at any time offers both meal kits and prepared meals offers only vegan meal options not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances uses conventional produce in many meals, which isn't great if you prefer to eat organic not available in Alaska or Hawaii tasty and creative flavors gluten-free and high protein meal options easy-to-follow recipes option to pause or cancel your subscription at any time offers both meal kits and prepared meals offers only vegan meal options not suitable for severe food allergies or intolerances uses conventional produce in many meals, which isn't great if you prefer to eat organic not available in Alaska or Hawaii Product details Meals per week: 2–4 Servings available: 1, 2, or 4 Menus: Meal Kits, Prepared Meals, Less Prep, Frozen Meals Diet friendliness: vegan Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10, or free for orders of $99 or more Meals per week: 2–4 Servings available: 1, 2, or 4 Menus: Meal Kits, Prepared Meals, Less Prep, Frozen Meals Diet friendliness: vegan Ingredients: some organic ingredients Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable Delivery area: contiguous United States Shipping: $10, or free for orders of $99 or more Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:
Narrowing down our favorite food delivery services wasn’t an easy feat. Here are seven additional services that scored well during testing but fell short of making our top 10:
Splendid Spoon (4.3 out of 5): Similar to Daily Harvest, Splendid Spoon is best for people interested in smoothies or light lunches. After trying more than 25 items, Splendid Spoon’s noodle bowls were by far our favorite items. We also liked that you can order meals without a subscription. Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon (4.2 out of 5): With recipes from Martha Stewart, it’s no surprise that we found Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon’s recipes to be rich and comforting. You can also select healthier entrees, though you’ll have to sift through the large weekly menu to find them. BistroMD (4.1 out of 5): A great option if you’re interested in weight loss, BistroMD delivers a week’s worth of low calorie, pre-portioned meals, including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The service narrowly lost to Trifecta, which scored higher for ingredient quality, nutritional quality, and sustainability. Epicured (4.1 out of 5): While it’s on the pricier side, if you’re following a low FODMAP diet , then it’s worth considering Epicured. The meals are all gluten-free, low in FODMAPs, and fully prepared. The meals we tested featured fresh ingredients and enjoyable flavor combinations.Territory (4.1 out of 5): Territory is a good, but expensive, option if you follow a specialty diet, such as keto, paleo, low carb, or plant-based. Our tester noted that the meals tasted incredibly fresh and had a good variety of textures and ingredients. Mosaic Foods (3.9 out of 5): Mosaic Foods is another fully plant-based, prepared meal delivery service that’s worth considering. In particular, the company stands out for its family-sized meals that are fully prepared and ready to pop in the oven. Just keep in mind that they can take 90 minutes or longer to reheat. Daily Harvest (3.6 out of 5): Known for its commitment to plant-based, organic ingredients, Daily Harvest is worth considering if you’re looking for nutrient-dense smoothies or light lunches to keep stocked in the freezer. However, it wouldn’t be our pick for heartier, more filling entrees. At Healthline, we know that meal delivery services aren’t a small investment, which is why we’ve taken the time to test more than 30 of the most popular meal delivery services on the market.
Testers select a week’s worth of meals from multiple menus to get a well-rounded view of the types of flavors and ingredients offered.
During testing, we consider several factors, including the ease of the signup and meal selection process, the variety and nutritional composition of the meals offered, ingredient quality and freshness, how easy the meals are to cook, and, of course, the taste.
Additionally, each service we feature is in compliance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety and manufacturing regulations and uses a trusted shipper to handle its food products.
Learn more about how we test meal kits .
When choosing a meal delivery service, it’s important to consider the following factors:
Meal kits versus prepared meal delivery: If you like to cook and don’t mind prep work, opt for a meal kit delivery service. On the other hand, if you’re short on time or don’t like to cook, a fully prepared meal delivery service is a better option. Meals provided: Meal kits are generally geared toward dinner, as they provide larger portions and take longer to cook. Meal delivery services often offer prepared options suitable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Some even offer snacks and desserts. Specialty diets: If you follow a specific dietary pattern, such as a vegetarian, vegan, paleo, or keto meal plan, it’s important to choose a company that offers several menu choices that are appropriate for you.Cost: When selecting a service, be sure to have a weekly or monthly food budget in mind. You’ll also want to factor in costs such as shipping and additional groceries you’ll need for the week. Servings: Many prepared meal delivery services provide only single-serving meals. In contrast, meal kits often cater to households of two or four, with some even offering up to six servings per meal. Sustainability: It’s no secret that meal delivery services use a lot of packaging. However, some companies have made strides to be more eco-friendly by focusing on seasonal or local ingredients and using recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials. Which food meal delivery is best? Sunbasket, Blue Apron, and Factor scored the highest during testing. We found them all to be great choices for individuals or families looking to add more flavor and variety to their diet and spend less time in the kitchen.
Our reviewers also found Mosaic Foods and Purple Carrot to be very tasty options, especially if you prefer plant-based meals with unique flavor combinations.
Sunbasket, Blue Apron, and Factor scored the highest during testing. We found them all to be great choices for individuals or families looking to add more flavor and variety to their diet and spend less time in the kitchen.
Our reviewers also found Mosaic Foods and Purple Carrot to be very tasty options, especially if you prefer plant-based meals with unique flavor combinations.
What companies deliver ready-made meals? Many companies offer fully prepped meals that require little to no cooking.
Factor is our pick as the best prepared meal delivery service. The company offers single-serving, fully prepped meals that are nutritionally balanced and easy to reheat in the microwave.
For families, Home Chef and Mosaic Foods both offer multiserving oven-ready meals.
Many companies offer fully prepped meals that require little to no cooking.
Factor is our pick as the best prepared meal delivery service. The company offers single-serving, fully prepped meals that are nutritionally balanced and easy to reheat in the microwave.
For families, Home Chef and Mosaic Foods both offer multiserving oven-ready meals.
Is food meal delivery worth it?
Meal delivery services may be worth the price tag if you value their convenience.
Many services offer a wide selection of meal kits and ready-to-cook dishes to help streamline meal prep. Some services also offer fully prepared meals, which can be a time-saving alternative to cooking meals at home and may even be more affordable than ordering takeout.
Meal delivery services may be worth the price tag if you value their convenience.
Many services offer a wide selection of meal kits and ready-to-cook dishes to help streamline meal prep. Some services also offer fully prepared meals, which can be a time-saving alternative to cooking meals at home and may even be more affordable than ordering takeout.
What is the most affordable meal kit? EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal delivery service options available, starting at $4.99 per serving, depending on the number of meals you select each week. However, there’s also a $10.99 shipping fee on every order.
EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal delivery service options available, starting at $4.99 per serving, depending on the number of meals you select each week. However, there’s also a $10.99 shipping fee on every order.
Although many food delivery services are available, only some offer both nutritious and delicious options.
The meal delivery services listed above have been tested to ensure they provide satisfying, tasty meals. Many also offer dishes that are suitable for a variety of dietary needs, food preferences, and common food allergies.
You can use the list above to choose the best meal delivery service based on your lifestyle and nutritional needs.