Fresh food delivery is a fantastic solution if you don’t have time to go to the store. When you juggle work and family commitments, receiving ready-to-make meals at your door lets you spend time focusing on other important things.
Meal kit delivery services let you put a healthy dinner on the table with minimal effort. However, not all subscription meal boxes are equal. Pricing and dietary offerings vary between each option.
Here are the best cheap meal delivery kits that offer a wide variety of recipes and help you reclaim some of your valuable time.
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Best Cheap Meal Prep Services
Are you looking for the cheapest meal delivery services but don’t know which is the best option for your needs? Here are seven helpful possibilities.
When choosing one, don’t forget that you can skip deliveries as needed and take advantage of promotions to increase savings.
| Company | Avg. Price | Shipping | Best For | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | $8.99 | Easy recipes |
|
| Dinnerly | $4.80 | $8.99 | Families | Try |
| Sunbasket | $8.99 | $6.99 | Organic | Try |
| HelloFresh | $8.99 | $6.99 | Dietary restrictions | Try |
| Blue Apron | $9.74 | $0 | Wine lovers | Try |
| BistroMD | $9.50 | $19.95 | Weight Loss | Try |
| Home Chef | $7.99 | $0 | Variety | Try |
1. EveryPlate
EveryPlate is a leader in the cheap meal delivery box service space. With a starting price of just $4.99 per serving, it’s tough to beat for easy to prepare meals.
The company offers a variety of meal choices, from popular homestyle dishes to flavorful international dishes. Weekly meal options change every seven days, so you won’t see meals repeat very often. Additionally, the company adds 16 new recipes per week.
Current meal options include creamy dijon chicken with zucchini and creamy mushroom steak. You can prepare most meals within 30 minutes.
What Makes Them Different
EveryPlate keeps costs down because they use significantly less packaging, which is a challenge with many meal delivery companies. They also provide simple recipes with fewer ingredients.
This makes EveryPlate a terrific choice for newer cooks or someone who wants to save time. The one drawback is they offer limited meal options for those with special dietary restrictions.
Read our EveryPlate review to learn more about the service.
Pricing
EveryPlate offers plans for either two or four individuals. You can order three, four, or five meals per week at $4.99 per serving. The company does charge $8.99 for shipping.
Current Specials
Aside from the affordable cost, EveryPlate is currently offering $6 off your first box for a two-person plan or $12 off your first box for a four-person plan.
2. Dinnerly
Dinnerly, like EveryPlate, is one of the cheapest meal delivery kits available. Meals begin at $4.69 per serving.
The company is able to offer such low pricing because it follows a simple model. They sell healthy meals with minimal packaging and only six quality ingredients per meal.
Even with these restrictions, Dinnerly still offers perks like vegetarian meals, albeit on a limited basis. The company adds roughly 20 new menu choices weekly, so there’s plenty of selection.
Some of the current weekly dishes include a Vietnamese-inspired steak banh mi bowl and vegetarian eggplant moussaka.
What Makes Them Different
Dinnerly offers the cheapest cost per meal among fresh food delivery companies. They do this by greatly reducing packaging and only offering digital recipe cards.
All meals include just six ingredients and can be prepared in under 30 minutes. If you don’t mind bare-bones, Dinnerly is worth trying.
Read our review of Dinnerly here to learn more about the meal kit company.
Pricing
Dinnerly follows a simple pricing model
- $4.69 per meal
- $8.99 for shipping
Dinnerly offers customized meal plans for either two or four people. You pay the same price per meal regardless of which plan you choose.
Current Specials
Dinnerly is not currently offering any specials. At its greatly reduced price, it’s already an excellent deal.
3. Sunbasket
Sunbasket steps it up a notch for people interested in cheap meal delivery kit companies. Whereas EveryPlate and Dinnerly provide minimal dietary choices, Sunbasket shines with robust offerings.
Their weekly menu choices include the following meal categories:
- Carb conscious
- Diabetes-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Lean and clean
- Mediterranean
- Paleo
- Pescatarian
- Quick and easy
- Vegan
If organic and hormone-free meats are important to you, Sunbasket is a suitable option. All packaging is 100 percent recyclable and compostable for people that are environmentally conscious.
New menu items are added each week. Turmeric pollock with tamarind green beans over spicy jalapeno rice and Thai turkey salad with cabbage, basil, and cashews lead the current offerings.
What Makes Them Different
Sunbasket is one of the few meal delivery companies that boasts 100 percent organic meals. Combine that with environmentally friendly packaging, and it makes sense why they’re a popular choice.
The company is best for families wanting easy to assemble meals that are healthy and take less than 30 minutes to prepare.
*Related: Are you interested in a meal kit service that focuses on specialty diets? Read our review of the Green Chef meals here to learn how they might be a good fit for your needs.
Two meal plans are available, including classic and family. Classic offers 18 weekly meal choices, and family includes six. The service also makes vegan meals as alternatives to every menu option they carry.
Pricing
Sunbasket is a good, middle-of-the-road choice for home delivery meal kits. Pricing is as follows:
- Family – $8.99 per serving
- Classic – $10.99 per serving
- Shipping – $6.99 a week, though free to Frugal Rules readers
If organic and clean eating is essential to you, Sunbasket is a great option.
Current Specials
Sunbasket is currently offering $90 off across your first four boxes and free shipping to all Frugal Rules readers. You also receive a free gift in each of your first four boxes.
Read our review of Sunbasket to learn more about the service.
4. HelloFresh
HelloFresh is a pioneer in the prepared meal delivery space. It was one of the first companies of its kind and has evolved to be one of the top choices to save families time.
HelloFresh currently offers six different meal plans:
- Calorie smart
- Family-friendly
- Meat and veggies
- Pescatarian
- Quick and easy
- Vegetarian
All recipes take under 45 minutes to prepare. HelloFresh provides a pre-measured box of ingredients and recipe cards for each meal.
You can select two or four-person meal plans. Roughly 15 to 20 new recipes are added each week. Current offerings include creamy chive chicken and frijoles fresca bowls with scallion rice and pepper jack cheese.
What Makes Them Different
HelloFresh is good for new cooks and foodies alike. They offer easy-to-follow recipe cards and plenty of meal choices.
Pricing
Pricing is competitive and consists of two tiers. Those are:
- Family-friendly – $7.87 per serving
- All other plans – $8.99 per serving
- Shipping – $6.99 per order, though free on the first box
If plenty of selection is important to you, HelloFresh is a good choice to get prepared meals delivered to your door.
Current Specials
HelloFresh is currently offering $80 off over your first five boxes. You also receive free shipping on your first order.
*For a limited time only, Frugal Rules readers can get 16 free meals, three surprise gifts, and free shipping with their first HelloFresh purchase!
Read our review of HelloFresh review here to learn more.
5. Blue Apron
Blue Apron is another pioneer for meal kit delivery. It competes well against HelloFresh and also lets you purchase wine to pair with your meals.
*Related: Read our analysis here to see how Blue Apron compares to HelloFresh.
The company has numerous plans available, including:
- Beyond Meat
- Diabetes-friendly
- Health-conscious
- Vegetarian
- WeightWatchers (WW) approved
You can select either two or four-person plans. Servings tend to be larger than what’s found with other meal kit companies.
Blue Apron adds roughly 15 new recipes a week, with current offerings including Middle Eastern chicken thighs and hot honey brussels sprout and sweet potato grain bowls.
Read our Blue Apron review to learn more.
What Makes Them Different
Blue Apron has a lot to offer that makes them unique, including WeightWatchers friendly meals. If you’re a wine-lover, you can pair meals with a special bottle of wine.
Where Blue Apron really shines is its quick-serve meals that take less than 20 minutes to prepare and more advanced recipes for you to cook.
The company is a good choice for both novice cooks and home chefs alike.
Pricing
Blue Apron has a simple pricing structure. Here’s what to expect:
- Family plan – $7.49 to $8.99 per serving
- Two-person plan – $9.99 per serving
- Shipping – $7.99 on two-person two-meal plans and free on all others
Given the variety, Blue Apron offers a good value.
*Now through December 31st, 2022 Frugal Rules readers can get $110 off their first four boxes of Blue Apron plus free shipping on the first box!
Current Specials
Frugal Rules readers receive $110 off their first four boxes. Also, if you enjoy eating vegetarian you can get three vegetarian meal kit recipes on Blue Apron’s Signature menu and receive $80 off.
6. BistroMD
If you or a family member are looking to shed pounds but don’t want to give up on cheap meal delivery kit services, BistroMD is a good choice.
The healthy meals are doctor-designed to help you lose weight or improve your health. Available recipe programs include:
- Diabetic-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Heart-healthy
- Men’s program
- Menopause-friendly
- Women’s program
It’s best to think of BistroMD as similar to Nutrisystem if the latter used fresh ingredients. In addition to dinners, they also offer breakfast and lunch choices.
You can choose five-day, seven-day, or custom programs with BistroMD. They each provide a la carte menu choices to allow for variety.
New recipe options are added weekly, with current dinner offerings including beef with red wine sauce and barley and spinach and feta stuffed salmon.
What Makes Them Different
BistroMD is the lone diet meal plan on our list. They offer flavorful yet healthy meal options. Their choices for various specialized recipes make them stand apart in the weight loss space.
Pricing
Pricing depends on the program you choose. Plans start at $9.50 to $10.50 per serving for programs that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for either 5 or 7 days a week.
You can also choose a lunch and dinner only program for $11.50 to $13 per meal, for 5 or 7 days a week. Snacks are available, at an extra cost. Shipping runs $19.95 per delivery.
Current Specials
BistroMD is currently offering all Frugal Rules readers 25 percent off plus free shipping for their first order with promo code Save25Bonus. Read our BistroMD review to learn more about the meal plan.
7. Home Chef
Home Chef is a bit unique compared to other cheap meal kit delivery services on our list. Instead of receiving the ingredients for you to prepare the meal, they send a simple kit with everything in it.
All you do is combine the ingredients and throw the meal in the oven. Everything happens in the tray they send you for the meal.
This provides significant convenience for those pressed for time but still wanting a home-cooked meal.
The company doesn’t have as many plan options as other fresh food delivery companies. They offer calorie-conscious and carb-conscious meal choices, and you can choose meat or vegetarian recipes.
Home Chef adds 20 new menu items weekly. Current offerings include honey-cider lamb chops and caramelized onion and cauliflower pot pie.
What Makes Them Different
Thanks to the pre-packaged meals, Home Chef specializes in reducing your time in the kitchen. They also allow you to meal plan a month in advance.
All packaging is recyclable and compostable to avoid excess waste. The company also offers smoothies, fruit baskets, and salads as add-ons.
Read our review of the mea kit company here to learn more.
Pricing
Home Chef follows a simple pricing model:
- Regular meals – start at $6.99 per serving
- Premium meals – start at $19.95 per serving
- Shipping – free on orders over $45
Premium meals increase the number of servings per dish. This is good if you have a small family or want leftovers.
Current Specials
Home Chef is currently offering all Frugal Rules readers $80 off their first four boxes, as well as free shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meal Delivery Companies
Subscription meal boxes are convenient, but there’s a lot to consider when choosing a service. Here are some common questions.
Which meal kit delivery service is best?
This depends on your particular situation. Dinnerly is best for cost-conscious consumers, but Sunbasket offers considerably more at a fair price.
If you want a wide variety of weekly recipes or have a strict diet, BistroMD is a good choice.
Is HelloFresh cheaper than groceries?
No, HelloFresh is generally not cheaper than shopping at the grocery store. The service usually costs $9 or $10 a meal.
While this is cheaper than eating at a restaurant, shopping at the store is more affordable unless you purchase expensive ingredients.
Does it cost to cancel HelloFresh or other services?
No, most companies allow you to cancel for free or skip weeks. However, each meal delivery service operates differently, so it’s best to consult with them before signing up.
Are meal kits worth the money?
Yes, fresh food delivery can be worth the money. It won’t completely replace shopping at the store, but it can reduce the time you spend buying groceries.
It also helps save time by reducing the time spent on meal planning. Plus, it may save you money by eliminating impulse purchases at the grocery store.
How long do fresh ingredients last?
This varies by meal kit company, but most fresh ingredients last for four to five days. Read the directions to ensure you can maximize shelf life and have a flavorful meal.
Bottom Line
Meal delivery companies can be a lifesaver for many couples and families. They are an excellent way to reduce time spent at the store and add creativity to your meal planning.
Don’t overlook taking advantage of introductory promotions to save money when trying these options.
What do you do to save time in the kitchen and at the store? How often do you order ready-to-make meals?
We are currently using EveryPlate, and so far it has not disappointed at all. For only 20.00 introductory price for 3 meals for 2, it has been worth a try. All of the ingredients are fresh, and portions are great. Also, if you refer someone else to try this out and they accept, you will also get a referral credit as a reward for doing this. Even if you are paying 38.00 a meal for 2 after the introductory price, at less than 13.00 a meal for 2 people it is really hard to beat compared to having to spend time trying to grocery shop or going out to eat, which can certainly be expensive on its own. This is something I think we will be doing more often in the long run, because of the savings. Great article my friend, and thanks for sharing.
Agreed, it’s not a bad choice for the price and glad to hear you’re enjoying it. We’ve got a review of the service coming up soon to go more in-depth on them.