8 Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Services in 2024: Easy Kits
Whether you’re feeding the whole family or just yourself, it’s never easy doing so on a budget.
Meal delivery services are a great way to save you both time and money, but the costs vary wildly. There are some inexpensive options out there – but do they taste good? Thankfully, I’ve found the services that provide great food at very reasonable prices.
Ranking and reviewing meal delivery services is my job. I’ve compared costs and shipping fees, ingredients, and menu variety – and even sampled their offerings. So whether you’re looking to feed a hungry family, lose weight, add to your cooking repertoire, or just want to eat better on a budget, look no further.
My number one pick is Home Chef because of its wallet-friendly prices and hearty, customizable weekly menu that suits most mainstream diets. Plus, it often offers extra discounts and coupons on top of its reasonable, everyday prices.
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Home Chef – Fully customizable meal kits
Hello Fresh – Delicious, family-friendly meal kits
Blue Apron – Budget-friendly gourmet meals
Factor – Healthy, affordable meals
Green Chef – Plant-based meal kits
The Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Reviewed
1. Home Chef – Fully Customizable Meal Kits
Key Features
Personalize your plate – upgrade, swap, or double-up on protein
Great variety – more than 25 meals to choose from each week
Oven-ready options – no prep, fuss, or mess
Current deal – Get 18 Free Meals + Free Shipping on 1st + Free Dessert Item for Life!
Home Chef delivers an unparalleled level of customization. Whether you’re vegetarian, watching your carb intake, or you just don’t like certain ingredients, you’re sure to find meals that work for you.
It’s also on hand to suit any schedule. If you’re short on time, choose the 15-Minute Meal Kits or Oven-Ready meals; if you have an occasion coming up, test out a recipe from the Culinary Collection.
Meals start at $7.99 per serving, but it’s important to note that protein upgrades will add more to your bill, so if you want to keep prices low, it may be best to stick to Home Chef’s recommended proteins.
Find out more in our expert review..
You can order meals for two, four, or six people, which is great for families. Shipping starts from a reasonable $7.99, but meals are also available for pickup at local Kroger supermarkets.
2. HelloFresh – Delicious, Family-Friendly Meals
Key Features
Family-friendly – order up to six meals per week for four people
Exciting menu – 50+ weekly recipes, tested for taste and simplicity
Healthy, seasonal ingredients – quality proteins and fresh produce
Current deal - 10 Free Meals Across 7 Boxes, 1st Box Ships Free + Free Dessert for Life
If you’re feeding a family of four, HelloFresh provides some of the cheapest meal delivery kits, packed with creative dishes. Starting at 10 Free Meals Across 7 Boxes, 1st Box Ships Free + Free Dessert for Life per serving, the recipe cards even include ideas to help get little ones involved in the cooking.
There are at least 50 recipes every week, with plans that include Vegetarian, Family Friendly, and Fit & Wholesome. The company is also environmentally conscious, promising only high-quality, farm-fresh ingredients that are seasonal, sustainable, and ethically sourced.
HelloFresh’s customer service is also outstanding. In fact, our reviewer raved about their experience.
There are many reasons why HelloFresh is one of the most popular services out there – and the price is just one of them.
3. Blue Apron – Budget-Friendly Gourmet Meals
Key Features
Easy-to-follow recipes – including video instructions for novice cooks
Environmentally responsible – sustainable ingredients and recyclable packaging
Wine and dine – optional wine deliveries to accompany your meals
Current deal – Enjoy meals starting as low as $5.59!
Blue Apron’s meal kits start at $3.74 per serving. However, it offers real value for money in terms of menu variety, sustainability, exciting, gourmet recipes, and collaborations with other programs, such as WW (formerly Weight Watchers).
Blue Apron’s plans are designed for either two or four people, though the Vegetarian and Wellness plans are just for two. You can order up to four meals per week, depending on your plan. Find out more in our Blue Apron review.
The kits come with easy-to-follow recipes that take around 30 to 40 minutes to prepare. Look out for healthy, Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as the Za'atar Chicken Grain Bowl
with Veggies & Lemon-Tahini Sauce (pictured), and when you’re feeling really boujie, there’s the option to pair your meals with wine, too.
4. Factor – Healthy, Affordable Meals
Key Features
Team of dietitians available for consultation
34 unique recipes per week
3 dietary options including keto, vegan, and calorie smart
Current deal – Get $130 Off + Free Wellness Shots for Life!
Factor is a premium source of prepared lunches and dinners. Keto and vegetarian dieters are its main niche, but its Gourmet Plus meals are sure to meet your wildest expectations. Prices start at only $10.49 per serving.
You can check out our in-depth Factor review. to read more on the menu.
Factor is also one of the only meal delivery services to keep dietitians on hand. In addition to working with the chef team to curate your weekly menu, Factor’s dietitians are also available for individualized health coaching sessions!
5. Green Chef – Plant-Based Meal Kits
Key Features
Streamlined meal plans for low-carb, plant-based, and balanced diets
USDA-certified organic meal kits
Choose up to four recipes per week for as many as six people
Current deal – 50% off + First Box Ships Free + 20% Off For 2 Months
Green Chef lets you choose between six categories that focus on different diets: Keto + Paleo, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Fast & Fit, Vegan, and Gluten-Free. The cost of Green Chef’s meal kits starts from 50% off + First Box Ships Free + 20% Off For 2 Months per serving.
The menu is varied enough to satisfy even the pickiest of dieters. For instance, under the Keto + Paleo section, you’ll find low-carb dishes like this Chili-Ginger Pork Tenderloin.
The menu also includes a combination of vegetarian and vegan dishes, which you can read more in this detailed review.
Overall, Green Chef is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to cook low-carb or plant-based meals using premium, organic ingredients.
6. Dinnerly – Cheapest Meal Kit Service For Families
Key Features
Basic recipes – most call for just six ingredients
Easy prep – many no-chop and other low-prep meals
Tons of variety – 50+ options every week
Current deal: Get $170 off your first 6 boxes!
Dinnerly is easily EveryPlate’s biggest competitor, as these two services offer the cheapest meal kits on the market – by far! And with our special discount, you can try Dinnerly from just $2.12 per serving.
Dinnerly offers a lot for its modest price, too. The ingredients are top-quality – expect antibiotic-free chicken and other high-quality proteins – and the company works with small, family-run producers to source its ingredients.
The menu largely consists of fun takes on American classics, like the Buffalo Fried Chicken Tacos shown here. With plenty of No Chop! and other easy prep options, Dinnerly is great for families with young children.
Our expert review reveals more details on Dinnerly’s menu and other features. Like EveryPlate, Dinnerly offers a variety of add-ons and upgrades, including desserts, breakfasts, and protein packs.
7. EveryPlate – Best Value Meal Kits
Key Features
Super affordable – just $1.49 per serving
Hearty, crowd-pleasing meals – meat, seafood, and veggie options
Simple recipes – ready in just six steps
Current deal – Try Everyplate at $1.49/meal
EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal delivery services on the market. It’s particularly great for families, with servings starting from $1.49 no matter how many meals you order. But though the kits are low in price, there’s no sacrifice in quality.
So how is it able to keep its prices to a minimum? Well, EveryPlate’s ingredients are more basic and its menu options more limited than some other services. It offers 25 recipes per week plus lots of add-ons. It’s hard to go wrong with meals like Black Bean & Pepper Jack Tostadas, right?
You can learn more about EveryPlate’s affordable options in this detailed review.
It also offers around seven vegetarian options, but otherwise, it’s not a good choice for those with dietary restrictions. But if you’re looking for excellent comfort food at a great price, this is my pick for the best value meal delivery service.
8. BistroMD – Cheap Diet Meals
Key Features
Chef-prepared, clean meals you simply heat and eat
Designed by a real medical doctor specializing in weight loss
Special diets for men, women, diabetes, menopause, gluten-free, and more
Current deal – Get 40% Off + Free Shipping on Your First Week
You won’t believe how tasty BistroMD’s prepared meals are, even though they’re technically diet food. You can get them for as low as $8.24 per serving to jumpstart your health journey.
The good part is that the programs are specialized for your unique dietary needs and health problems. Yes, that includes menopausal women, which is something unique for a meal delivery service. And everything is designed by a real doctor based on real science. You can read more about it in our detailed review.
BistroMD offers a good selection of breakfasts and entrees for dieters and an order is made to feed you for five days or a whole week. The protein is lean and clean, and all entrees are prepared by chefs using healthy cooking methods like baking or steaming. Most meals clock between 250 and 380 calories.
Top Plans | ||||||||
Top Plans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Our Rating | ||||||||
| Our Rating | ||||||||
| Starting Price | ||||||||
| Starting Price | $7.99 Per Serving | $3.32 Per Serving | $3.74 Per Serving | $10.49 Per Serving | $9.99 Per Serving | $2.12 Per Serving | $1.49 Per Serving | $8.24 Per Serving |
| Minimum Order | ||||||||
| Minimum Order | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 6 prepared meals | 3 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 10 prepared meals |
| Meal Types | ||||||||
| Meal Types | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready | Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals | 5 - 60 min meal kits and prepared meals | Prepared meals | 10-45 minute meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | Prepared meals |
| Prep Time | ||||||||
| Prep Time | 5-50 min | 5-50 min | 5-45 min | 2-3 min | 25-40 min | 20-45 min | 20-45 min | 2-3 min |
| Active Deals | ||||||||
| Active Deals | ||||||||
Tips for Choosing the Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Cheap can be good, but when it comes to the food we eat, it’s about more than just the cost. Here are some other factors to consider when choosing the right meal delivery service:
Good customer service: Companies sometimes save money by cutting out customer service, but when you want to skip a week or have a problem with your order, you want the issue resolved quickly. Look for services with user-friendly apps and helpful, easy-to-reach customer service representatives.
Menu variety: While you do tend to get more choice each week with the more expensive meal delivery services, even the least costly services on this list offer wide-ranging menus to ensure you’ll find meals you love each week.
Fresh, healthy ingredients: Too often, inexpensive meal choices are loaded with sodium, sugar, and unhealthy additives and preservatives. The meal delivery services I’ve chosen send only fresh, quality food that will fill your belly while meeting your nutritional needs.
Bottom Line: What’s the Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Service?
If you’re trying to save money, a meal delivery service subscription makes budgeting much easier – dinners become a fixed cost instead of a weekly variable.
Meal delivery services can also help you avoid impulse food buys (who hasn’t fallen victim to the siren song of the junk food aisle?). And when you have everything you need to cook dinner at home, there’s less temptation to order expensive takeout.
Not only do meal delivery services save you money, but they can also help you and your family eat healthier and give you more free time for other things.
Bottom line: meal delivery services are worth it!
FAQ
What is the cheapest meal delivery service?
With prices starting at $1.49 per plate, EveryPlate is the cheapest meal delivery service on my list. For your money, EveryPlate offers a good selection of simple, easy, and tasty recipes.
Is HelloFresh worth the money?
HelloFresh certainly has a more diverse and adventurous menu than some of the cheaper services I’ve listed. If you’re looking for something more exciting than reliable comfort food, and if good customer service and sustainability are important to you, you may well find HelloFresh worth the money.
Is Home Chef worth the money?
Home Chef is a bit more expensive than some of the other services on my list, but it’s worth every cent. Its Customize It feature and varied menu ensure that you and your family will get the type of meals you need.
Are meal delivery services cheaper than grocery shopping?
If you choose one of our top affordable services, then yes, they can be. You might be able to purchase ingredients for slightly less at your local grocery store, but meal delivery services help you save more overall by sticking to a budget, cutting down on food waste, and resisting the urge to impulse-buy at the grocery store or on takeout.
