Best Meal Kit Delivery Services of 2023

What We Like

• Fits variety of diet and lifestyle preferences
• Add market items in addition to meals
• Easy, flexible subscription

What We Didn't Like

• Doesn't include shipping
• Not allergy-friendly
• May not appeal to picky eaters

Sunbasket is our pick for the best meal delivery service across the board with its variety of dietary preferences, its fair prices, and the option of grocery add-ons. It’s perfect for those who like to prepare and cook their own meals but also for those busy nights when the last thing you want to do is cook. Luckily, the Fresh & Ready meals are ready to eat in just four minutes. Sunbasket offers grocery add-ons with its market products, so you can shop for staples like eggs and bread or prep your week with items such as oatmeal and soups.

Dietary Preferences: Paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free, vegetarian, Lean & Clean (<600 calories), Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly, pescatarian

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: $90 off first 4 orders

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Good for learning how to cook
• Wine pairings

What We Didn't Like

• Time-consuming
• Fewer dietary options
• Free shipping only on larger orders

Blue Apron offers several meal plans with a near endless variety of options to choose from. Each meal is catered to a variety of dietary preferences and is customizable. Not only does the delivery service provide premium quality at a budget-friendly price, but options include breakfast items and desserts to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Blue Apron is one meal delivery service that doesn’t skimp by any means.

Dietary Preferences: Beyond Meat, WeightWatchers, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, carb-conscious, calorie-conscious (<600 calories), interchangeable meat or fish options (perfect for pescatarians)

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: Get $130 off across 6 boxes and receive a $100 gift card if you place an order by 9/23/2022

What We Like

• Good to gain cooking experience
• Widest variety of meal options (compared to competitors)
• <650 calories (good for healthy eating and healthy portions)

What We Didn't Like

• Doesn't include shipping
• Limited dietary alternatives
• Doesn't support family of 5+

HelloFresh is an easy-to-use meal kit with simple ingredients and instructions that any newbie can turn in to a delicious meal. Ending 2021 with over 7.2 million active customers, HelloFresh's meals are designed by professional chefs and nutritionists to create high-quality recipes that are healthy and easy enough for even the least-experienced cooks to handle. All in all, it’s no secret why HelloFresh was named America’s No. 1 meal kit by USA Today in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Dietary Preferences: Fit and wholesome, vegetarian, pescatarian

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: Get 16 free meals across 7 boxes, free shipping on first box, and 3 surprise gifts

What We Liked

• Meals come fully prepared
• Two types of plans
• Offers breakfast options

What We Didn't Like

• Pricey
• Won't appeal to picky eaters
• Some meals are <300 calories (concerns about hunger)

This plant-based meal delivery service offers two different menus of ready-made meals: ones that are simple for busy nights and others that cater to those looking to keep their waistline in check. Plant lovers will find the best of both worlds: quick meals that are also healthy. The service offers well-known recipes, such as mushroom risotto, and other recipes that may be new to many, like their jackfruit jambalaya.

Dietary Preferences: Plant-based, gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, vegan, nut-free, soy-free, high protein

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: Save up to 50% on your first order

What We Liked

• Fast prep
• Substitutions are easily customizable
• App-based plan management

What We Didn't Like

• Although frozen at peak ripeness, worry about not getting all of the nutrients
• Not the most cost-effective for those on a budget
• Takes up a lot of freezer space

Daily Harvest is a unique option of meals, snacks, and beverages for those constantly on the go who want to keep their health in check. The service offers three meal and snack plan sizes consisting of 9, 14, or 24 items, which you can take on the go at any time and simply heat or blend at your convenience. Daily Harvest’s ingredients are frozen at peak ripeness to lock in the flavor and nutrients they hold, ensuring consumers get the best ingredients and eliminating the need for preservatives. From soups to harvest bowls and smoothies, Daily Harvest makes eating healthy more accessible.

Dietary Preferences: Plant-based, vegan, vegetarian

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: Up to $35 off first order: WELCOME2022

What We Liked

• Celebrations Box option
• Option to customize box with meal kit, fresh prep, and grocery add-ons
• Free shipping

What We Didn't Like

• More pricey than other options
• Limited selection
• Only 2 or 4 servings available per meal

Purple Carrot is a fully customizable box that includes options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features snacks and other products in their Plantry™. Similar to Sunbasket, Purple Carrot offers two meal kits: one for those who like to prep and cook and another if you are looking for a quick meal. Along with the perks of the extra grocery add-ons, Purple Carrot offers a unique meal kit for two with their Celebrations Box. The box features a limited-edition, seasonal, three-course meal for two, including an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The Celebrations Box alone hits the competition out of the park with this unique feature.

Dietary Preferences: Vegan, vegetarian, plant-based

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: $20 off first order

What We Liked

• Time-friendly options
• 20+ new meals each week
• Upgrade, double, and swap protein options

What We Didn't Like

• Limited dietary options
• Most meals contain diary/wheat
• High sodium content

Home Chef offers multiple meal plans with a few dietary preferences and can also be found in over 20 participating retail stores thanks to being acquired by the Kroger brand in 2018. Alongside the meal kits, there are breakfast, snack, and dessert options. Whether ordering online or shopping in stores, the meals come at a great price (for any budget).

Dietary Preferences: Calorie-conscious, carb-conscious

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: 16 free meals across first three boxes

What We Liked

• Customized box based on eating-related quiz
• Market and meal delivery in one
• Fits most dietary needs

What We Didn't Like

• Ingredients are repetitive
• Leftover credits don't roll over to the next week
• Orders don't come with seasonings

Hungryroot combines the convenience of a healthy meal kit delivery and online grocery shopping in one, shipped in the same box to your doorstep. The brand offers a quiz to see what recipes you might like most based on dietary restrictions, the desire (and how often) you want meals, snacks, and desserts delivered, and how many servings are needed. The kit offers a maximum of each of the following:

• Lunch/dinner: 16 total
• Breakfast: 10
• Snacks: 12
• Desserts: 10

Once the quantities of each are selected, you can customize your results to ensure you will like all of the ingredients selected for you based on your quiz results.

Dietary Preferences: Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: 30% off first order (on plan sizes of $99+) and a free gift “for life”

What We Liked

• Budget-friendly
• Smart nutrition
• Dietary preferences available

What We Didn't Like

• Some dinner meals are too low in calories
• Difficult to heat family meals in microwave simultaneously
• Only good in the fridge for 3 to 5 days

Similar to Marley’s Spoon, Freshly is a meal delivery service that is great for families, offering affordable meals that are also healthy, with multiple dietary options for numerous preferences and lifestyles. The days of kids sticking to staples like mac and cheese out of the box are gone with Freshly’s use of smart nutrition, stating, “Freshly chefs use clever swaps and sneaky veggies to craft meals with unexpected twists — so every bite is as nutritious as it is delicious.” Anyone who can get picky eaters to eat their vegetables is a winner in our book.

Dietary Preferences: Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, carb-smart, calorie-conscious

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: $60 off first three orders

What We Like

• Access to staff nutritionist
• Calorie- and portion-controlled
• New menu every week

What We Didn't Like

• Expensive
• Limits how much you can exclude from your meal plan
• Canceling can be difficult

Backed by a team of doctors and nutritionists, Trifecta offers a convenient meal kit to help with weight loss for nearly any dietary preference. Meals arrive calorie- and portion-controlled (a factor many struggle with when trying to lose weight), making the measuring and counting hassle-free. Nutritionists are also on staff to help guide you on your weight-loss journey. If you’re looking for a company that’s 100% “all natural,” Trifecta is the nation's largest all-organic meal delivery company serving only grass-fed proteins, sustainably caught seafood, and nutritious produce.

Dietary Preferences: Paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian, organic, dairy-free, grain-free, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO

Free Trial or First-Order Discount: $120 off your first 6 orders with code

Each of these meal kits is top-rated, delicious, and nutritious, so there is really no going wrong with whichever choice you make. It just comes down to the factor of price, dietary preferences, desired servings, and most importantly, purpose.

Why are you turning to food meal kit delivery services? Having meals prepared or ready to eat at your front door saves time in your day from shopping and prepping the meal (potentially including cooking) while also saving you money shopping for extras that you don’t need to buy. There is a wide range of prices that fit all budgets, whether it’s for one person or a whole family. Lastly, with the number (and specialty) of food delivery companies growing dramatically, it gives more opportunities for consumers to select dietary preferences when shopping for their meal kit deliveries. The meal kit delivery market is growing dramatically, but luckily we can say that it’s the new go-to for busy adults and families.

Which meal prep service is best?

There really is no “best” meal prep service, as everyone’s personal preferences are different. Someone who lives alone may not find Freshly as useful, as it’s more family-friendly, but don’t want to use Veestro or Purple Carrot, because they eat from all of the food groups. The best way to decide which meal delivery kit is right for you comes down to your dietary preferences, the number of servings you want to be shipped to you each week, and any other specific customizations you may want.

What is the cheapest prepared meal delivery service?

The cheapest prepared meal service on this list is Home Chef, coming in at just $6.99 per serving — a great price compared to some of its competitors. Home Chef also has a great variety of options with multiple dietary preferences offered. As an alternative, Blue Apron comes up just behind with some meal options starting at $7.99 per serving.

Which meal delivery service is easiest?

While several meal delivery services offer quick prep that can be ready to eat in just minutes (Veestro, Sunbasket, Freshly), if you’re wanting to cook but keep it as simple as possible, HelloFresh is the way to go. HelloFresh simplifies prep and instructions to the max while you create some of the most delicious meals you’ve ever had.