We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.Advertising DisclosureThis is a user-oriented comparison website, and we need to cover hosting and content costs, as well as make a profit. The costs are covered from referral fees from the vendors we feature. Affiliate link compensation does not affect reviews but might affect listicle pages. On these pages, vendors are ranked based on the reviewer’s examination of the service but also taking into account feedback from users and our commercial agreements with service providers. This website tries to cover important meal, coffee and pet food delivery services but we can’t cover all of the solutions that are out there. Information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
There is a range of meal delivery services on the market, and each makes claims about the diets it caters to, the ingredient quality, and the ease with which meals can be made. DeliveryRank’s team researches and ranks each service based on a range of criteria to test if they hold up to their claims.
We know that there’s more to a meal delivery service than the food it provides. That’s why we consider every aspect when creating our reviews. In addition to the quality and variety of meals, we document the sign-up process, our experiences with customer service, how easy it is to navigate the menu, and even how eco-friendly the packaging is.
We also take into account commercial considerations as stated in our Advertising Disclosure. Here’s how we review meal delivery services:
Category Breakdown
10% - Menu Variety
30% - Suitability for Dietary Requirements and Customization
5% - Packaging and Eco-friendliness
10% - Shipping and Delivery
10% - Method and Cooking Process
10% - Taste
5% - Subscription
10% - Pricing
10% - Customer Support
1. Menu Variety
At the very least – The menu introduces new dishes regularly or has an extensive menu that allows for a variety of choices each week.
At best – The above, and multiple plans that cover a wide range of cuisines, diets, and tastes, so you never have to eat the same thing twice
Our reviewers analyze each service’s current menu (or menus for individual plans). They investigate:
The number and type of dishes available
How frequently menus and dishes change
The provenance of ingredients (including organic accreditation)
The types of cuisine on offer, and the ratios of each
The types of meal kit or prepared meals on offer, and the ratios of each
Whether the menu is arranged by preferences
The experience needed for each recipe
The extras available (from market services, or similar)
Seasonal, limited edition, or special ranges
2. Suitability for Dietary Requirements and Customization
At the very least – The service provides a comprehensive ingredients list and nutrition breakdown. Any allergens handled in its kitchen should be flagged so there’s no risk of cross-contamination.
At best – The menu is divided into specific diet plans or allows you to filter for/exclude certain ingredients. Where available, the service has an official certification to back up any allergen claims. Recipes allow for customization at an ingredient level.
Our reviewers analyze:
The types of diets/allergies catered for
The ease of searching the menu to exclude certain allergens/ingredients (via filters, categories, or tags)
The accessibility of the ingredients list
The accessibility of nutritional information
Certification claims
Kitchen facilities and risk of cross-contamination
Customization options for individual dishes
Which ingredients can be excluded
Menu limitations when filtered by diets/allergens/exclusions
Whether you can choose your own meals (or whether they are chef’s choice)
Whether diet plans can be mixed and matched
3. Packaging and Eco-friendliness
At the very least – Food should arrive undamaged and at a safe temperature. Some effort is made to cut down unnecessary unrecyclable materials.
At best – Minimal packaging is used to keep food well-organized and at the optimum temperature. All packaging materials are made from recyclable materials, with clear directions on how and where to recycle each item.
Our reviewers analyze:
What each delivery includes
How ingredients are packaged and organized
The state of ingredients on arrival
Storage instructions
Accessibility of “best before” dates
Whether chilled/frozen food arrives at an appropriate temperature
The eco-friendliness of the packaging
The necessity of any non-recyclable materials
Recycling or reuse instructions
The company’s eco credentials and goals
4. Shipping and Delivery
At the very least – Your shipment should arrive within a week of your first order and delivery should be available to the majority of US states.
At best – You can choose a specific day for delivery and receive detailed tracking information from dispatch to arrival. The service should deliver to all US states and arrive on time.
Our reviewers analyze:
Geographical availability
Delivery dates and times available (including geographical variations)
Shipping carriers used (including geographical variations)
Tracking processes
Ability to leave delivery instructions
Local pick-up points and collection locations
The ease of amending or rescheduling a delivery
Delivery punctuality
5. Method and Cooking Process
At the very least – The service should provide almost everything you need and the instructions should be clearly explained.
At best – For meal kits, ingredients are well-organized and often pre-prepped, with a clear, step-by-step visual recipe that sticks to the estimated cook time. Prepared meals come with an oven/microwave-friendly tray.
Our reviewers analyze:
How easy it is to gather ingredients together
The state and quality of ingredients before cooking
Which ingredients are prepped or ready-made
The information on each recipe card
How easy it is to follow the method – does it match up to the stated expertise required?
Does the recipe align with the suggested timings, or does it take longer?
What pantry items are expected and are these reasonable (e.g., oils, spices)
What utensils are expected
Whether there are multiple heating options for prepared meals – e.g., oven and microwave
Whether meals arrive in oven or microwave-ready containers
Meal preparation process, including thawing of prepared meals
How much clean-up is required
6. Taste
At the very least – Meals aren’t bland and accommodate a range of tastes.
At best – Meals include perfectly balanced flavor, without compromising on health and nutrition (i.e., high salt levels).
Our reviewers analyze:
The taste and flavor of a meal
The texture of a meal
How visually appealing a finished meal looked
How flavor correlates to the quality and freshness of ingredients
The outcome of the meal based on the exact recipe instructions
Whether the method could be amended to improve the outcome
Favorite meals on the current menu
7. Subscription
At the very least – The sign-up process is straightforward and cancellation is free.
At best – You can amend and cancel your subscription online, without speaking to a customer service representative. It’s easy to amend, skip, or cancel individual orders.
Our reviewers analyze:
Ease of the sign-up process
Which details are required to subscribe
What is hidden behind the “paywall”
Which payment methods are available
How easy it is to apply discounts
At what stage during sign-up you can check delivery locations
At what stage you can choose your meals
Whether meals are chosen for you and when you can modify these
How easy it is to modify an order
How easy it is to cancel an order
How easy it is to cancel your first order
The cut-off date by which any changes must be made
8. Pricing
At the very least – Pricing should be transparent, with an estimated per-serving price for your chosen plan upfront.
At best – The service should offer value-for-money, with free or affordable shipping, and discounts for new customers.
Our reviewers determine the value of each service by looking at the quality of the ingredients and type of service, and compare prices to similar, alternative services to see if the price falls above or below the market average.
This helps us determine what is good value for money and what is overpriced.
Our reviewers analyze:
The lowest price-per serving
The lowest price-per-serving with available discounts
Average weekly orders for different plan sizes
Shipping costs tested for different size orders
Shipping costs tested for various locations
Additional costs for customizations, upgrades, or extras
Additional taxes
Money-back guarantees and refund policies
9. Customer Support
At the very least – The site should have an FAQ library and prompt email support.
At best – All of the above, as well as a phone number, 24/7 live chat, and text support where you can speak to a knowledgeable person who answers questions quickly and efficiently. beneficial to the animal.
We test each company’s customer support by sending a variety of questions across multiple channels and noting the helpfulness and timeliness of responses. If there are any issues with our tested delivery, we contact Customer Service and analyze the appropriateness of their response.
Our reviewers analyze:
The email ticket system, sending queries and timing the response
The helpfulness and tone of replies
The phone system and how easy it is to speak to an operator
Time zones and operating hours of phone lines
How to get past automatic replies and speak to a representative through live chat
The level of detail in the FAQ section, and the searchability
Online resources like how-to blogs and video tutorials
What’s offered if there are any issues with the delivery e.g., credit or refunds