5 Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of 2024 | Tested by Experts

Nov 06, 2024
Fact Checked
We chose the best meal service based on price, accessibility, and quality.

Key Takeaways  

A healthy diet and regular exercise can offset some of the chronic conditions associated with aging, such as osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and poor sleep. But getting adequate nutrition takes time and energy. You may enjoy planning, shopping, prepping, and cooking healthy meals, or you may prefer to cut out a few steps. This is where meal delivery services can make the process smoother and potentially get you out of a cooking rut.

Emily Van Eck, RD, a registered dietitian who sees clients through Emily Van Eck Nutrition & Wellness, loves how meal kits might introduce you to new flavors, ingredients, or combinations. “We often get bored making the same meals night after night. A meal kit can shake things up while still giving you the necessary macronutrients and vitamins,” she said. 

What matters to many people is the cost of food. In an April 2024 survey of 600 people who have subscribed to meal kits, 56% of respondents said the cost of meal kits was a factor in canceling their subscription. We looked for less expensive options and found some good contenders. 

Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Overall: CookUnity

When cost is a consideration, the best meal delivery service is CookUnity, because this prepared meal delivery service provides budget-friendly meals that are full of flavor and variety. Subscribers can order four to 16 meals per week.

Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Overall
Starting cost of $11.09 per serving
Meals created by culinary experts
Delivers fresh, prepared meals

Our top cheap meal delivery service picks

Compare the best cheap meal delivery services of 2024

Starting cost per serving $11.09 $4.99 $4.99 $7.99 $9.99
Shipping cost $9.99 $8.99; first delivery is free $11.99 $10.99 $10
Availability Contiguous United States except Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia Contiguous United States Contiguous United States Contiguous United States Contiguous United States and select ZIP codes in Alaska and Hawaii
Diet or food allergy options Vegetarian, vegan, low carbs, keto diet, gluten-free, < 600 calories, paleo Meat and veggie, vegetarian, family favorites, quick and easy, low-calorie Low-carb, low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian, and picky eater Wellness, low-calorie, low-carb, fast, family-friendly, and vegetarian Meat and veggies, vegetarian, pescatarian, family-friendly, fast & easy, fit and wholesome
Cancellation method Website Website Website or app Via phone, email, app, or website Website

CookUnity: Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service

CookUnity
Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Overall
Features
  • Starting price per serving: $11.09
  • Shipping cost: $9.99
  • Availability: Contiguous United States except Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia
  • Type: Prepared meals
  • Number of servings: Individual
  • Number of meals per week: Four, six, eight, twelve, sixteen
  • Meal options: Vegetarian, vegan, low carbs, keto diet, gluten-free, under 600 calories, paleo
  • Cancellation method: Website
Why we chose CookUnity

CookUnity is our Reviews Team’s top pick for the best cheap meal delivery because this prepared meal service provides affordable options without sacrificing taste. CookUnity partners with award-winning chefs to create a unique culinary experience for subscribers. Choices range from quinoa bowls, pasta, Mexican-inspired meals, burgers, and seafood.

Pros and cons
Pros Chef-curated meals feature a wide variety of flavors Fresh, never frozen, prepared meals New meals are added each week Fast and easy prep Cost discounted according to the number of meals ordered Cons Small portions of produce May require more prep time than indicated
Additional information

Customer service

You can get in touch with CookUnity customer service via:

When our Reviews Team contacted support over chat, we received a reply within minutes.

Payment options

CookUnity accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Our Top Pick

Our final verdict on CookUnity meal delivery service

New users can sign up for CookUnity on their website or using their mobile app, which is available for download on Apple and Android devices. After collecting identifying information, CookUnity will ask you about your taste and dietary preferences, your favorite proteins, and how many meals you would like to receive each month. Using this information, CookUnity will suggest meals for your upcoming delivery, but you can also select your own meals.

We particularly liked the search function, which allows you to filter meal options based on your dietary preferences, type of protein, health goals, and more. Once you’ve made your choices, you can select your preferred delivery day, but there is no way to schedule a delivery time. Instead, CookUnity delivers within a large window of time on your chosen day.

Tester insights

Our testers tried several CookUnity prepared meals, including the Crispy Chicken Cutlet with Za’atar Rainbow Potatoes, Three-Cheese Tortellini with Shrimp, and ​​Chipotle-Maple Glazed Salmon. All of the meals came with everything you need to heat and serve them, and our tester said everything arrived fresh and looked great.

Mom’s Shrimp Stew
Our tester reheats Mom’s Shrimp Stew, stating the rice reheated in the microwave very well.

Our tester enjoyed many of the meals, including the Three-Cheese Tortellini with Shrimp.

“This was one of my favorites. The tortellini and shrimp tasted great and there was the perfect amount of parmesan to spring on top.”

Our tester noted that not all the ingredients seemed to heat up well in the microwave.

“ I liked the Chipotle-Maple Glazed Salmon. The salmon tasted really fresh, but the green beans didn’t heat up in the microwave well.”

Maple-Thyme Roasted Chicken
Our tester reheated the Maple-Thyme Roasted Chicken, noticing that the Brussels sprouts were soggy, but the chicken was very flavorful.

EveryPlate: Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Beginner Cooks

EveryPlate
Best for Beginner Cooks
Features
  • Starting price per serving: $4.99
  • Shipping cost: $8.99; first delivery is free
  • Availability: Contiguous United States
  • Type: Meal kits and prepared meals
  • Number of servings: Two or four
  • Number of meals per week: Three to five
  • Meal options: Meat and veggie, vegetarian, family favorites, quick and easy, and low-calorie
  • Cancellation method: Website
Why we chose EveryPlate

EveryPlate is our Reviews Team’s pick for the best cheap meal delivery service for beginner cooks because these budget-friendly meal kits include detailed, easy to follow recipes. Meals start at $4.99 per serving and subscribers get free shipping for the first delivery. We also like the ability to choose the date and time of day for delivery.

EveryPlate doesn’t have the same wide variety of foods as its parent company, HelloFresh, and that is how it keeps its prices so affordable. EveryPlate offers a few extras to round out your meals, including:

  • Garlic bread: $2.99 for two to four servings
  • Caesar salad kit: $3.99 for two servings
  • Vanilla cheesecakes: $7.99 for two single-serve cheesecakes
  • Extra vegetables at great prices
    • Zucchini: $.79
    • Sweet potato: $.49

You need a few essential kitchen tools, such as a pot, pan, baking sheet, knife, and cutting board for most meal kits. Some recipes suggest the use of a zester, peeler, potato masher, whisk, strainer, or aluminum foil. If you prefer not to cook or have mobility issues using certain kitchen tools, EveryPlate offers premade meals you can easily heat and eat.

Pros and cons
Pros Low cost Simple recipes Option to choose the time and day of delivery Cons Menu not as diverse as other meal delivery services Expiration dates missing from some food items Light font on the recipe card
Additional information

Customer service

You can get in touch with EveryPlate customer service via:

  • Phone: Call 973-210-4915 Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. ET.
  • Website chat: Click on the chat icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

When our Reviews Team contacted support over chat, we received a reply within minutes.

Payment options

EveryPlate accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, and PayPal. EveryPlate offers discounts to students, with meals starting at $1.99 per serving.

Our final verdict on EveryPlate meal delivery service

To sign up and select meals, subscribers can visit the website or the app, which they can download to an Apple or Android device. On the website, EveryPlate is actively trying to ensure the website is accessible to all visitors and encourages people who visit the website or the app to contact customer service if something is not accessible visually or when using a screen reader, magnifying glass, or other assistive technology. Some of the orange font on the recipe card was hard to read. 

Tester insights

Our testers tried several recipes, including “BBQ Sweet Potato and Corn Tacos,” “Sweet and Saucy Soy Garlic Chicken,” and “Sweet ‘n Tangy Cherry Meatballs.” Not everything you need is in the box, and our tester needed ketchup and butter, for example. Our tester noticed that not all items had expiration dates on them. 

Recipe card and ingredients for Sweet ‘n Tangy Cherry Meatballs
EveryPlate sends a recipe card with step-by-step cooking instructions.

Some recipes took a few minutes longer than the recipe called for, but nothing too extreme, and the instructions were easy to follow.

Of the cherry meatballs, our tester said, “It was relatively easy to make. I am very much a beginner in the kitchen, and I was able to follow all of the steps with ease.”

Cooked Sweet ‘n Tangy Cherry Meatballs
Our tester enjoyed preparing the Sweet ‘n Tangy Cherry Meatballs meal from EveryPlate.

Dinnerly: Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Flexitarians

Dinnerly
Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Flexitarians
Features
  • Starting price per serving: $4.99
  • Shipping cost: $11.99
  • Availability: Contiguous United States
  • Type: Meal kit
  • Number of servings: Two or four servings
  • Number of meals per week: Two to six meals
  • Meal options: Low-carb, low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian, and picky eater
  • Cancellation method: Phone, website, email
Why we chose Dinnerly

Dinnerly is our Reviews Team’s pick for flexitarians because of its many plant-based options, including a black bean burger, vegan stuffed peppers, and portobello mushroom fajitas. Our tester eats a variety of plant-based meals as well as some meats.

Dinnerly offers a choice of more than 100 recipes, including vegetarian, vegan, fast, healthy, and reduced-carb options. Dinnerly had only a few low-calorie meals, however. Your taste profile (completed during the sign-up process) suggests recipes, but you can swap them out up to seven days before your next delivery. This meal delivery service offers “gluten-free friendly” meals, but take caution—some kits may contain ingredients with cross-contact risks, so they may not be ideal for people with celiac disease.

Pros and cons
Pros Budget-friendly Easy for beginners Meals take 30 minutes or less to prepare Cons Limited low-calorie meals Shipping is pricey Gluten cross-contamination risk
Additional information

Customer service

You can get in touch with Dinnerly customer service via:

  • Phone: Call 888-267-2850
  • Website: Submit a request through the Dinnerly Help Center
  • Website AI chat: Click on the chat icon in the lower right-hand corner of any of its web pages

You can skip, pause, or cancel delivery at any time by reaching out to customer service.

Payment options

Dinnerly accepts American Express, Discover Card, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

Our final verdict on Dinnerly meal delivery service

To sign up and select meals, subscribers can visit the website or the Dinnerly app, which they can download to an Apple or Android device.

Tester insights

Our tester ordered a variety of meals with proteins and vegetables from different cuisines, including Indian and Korean dishes. Overall, our tester made four meals that each served four people, with a standout meal being the Mediterranean chicken pita/pizza (pitza), which only took 15 minutes to make. In fact, it took five minutes less to make than the recipe card estimated. This may be ideal for home chefs who desire convenience and time savings when preparing meals. 

“This meal is delish and easy to make! It’s ideal for a busy weeknight when you want something delicious and simple that doesn’t require dirtying several pots or pans.” Our tester doesn’t love extensive chopping, but the only chopping required was cubing a cucumber, making the prep speedy and easy.

 Recipe card for Mediterranean chicken pitzas with marinated cucumbers and sour cream
Dinnerly provides a recipe card with step-by-step cooking instructions.

Everything included in this meal was pre-proportioned and required very little prep, according to our tester. “There was no marinating or extensive chopping. While cooking, I did not use the entire cucumber or the entire bowl of sauce, so I had leftovers for other meals throughout the week.”

Cooked Mediterranean chicken pitzas with marinated cucumbers and sour cream on a plate
Our tester prepared cooked Mediterranean chicken pitzas with marinated cucumbers and sour cream.

Blue Apron: Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss

Blue Apron
Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
Features
  • Starting price per serving: $7.99
  • Shipping cost: $10.99
  • Availability: Contiguous United States
  • Type: Meal kits and prepared meals
  • Number of servings: Two or four servings
  • Number of meals per week: Two to five meals
  • Meal options: Wellness, low-calorie, low-carb, fast, family-friendly, and vegetarian
  • Cancellation method: Phone, website, app, or email
Why we chose Blue Apron

Blue Apron is our Reviews Team’s top pick for the cheap meal delivery service for weight loss because it offers low-calorie meal plans, which are great for people who want to eat meals containing about 600 calories. Blue Apron offers both meal kits and prepared meals you can just heat and eat.

Pros and cons
Pros Offers prepared meals and meal kits Add-ons include soups and desserts Interesting ingredients and cooking techniques Cons Cooking temperatures were sometimes too high in instructions Font size on the recipe card was small and difficult to read
Additional information

Customer service

You can get in touch with Blue Apron customer service via:

  • Phone: Call 646-891-4349 or 888-278-4349.
    • 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
    • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday
  • Website: Chat online with a customer service representative.
  • Email: Send an email to contact@blueapron.com.

When our Reviews Team contacted support on the website, we received a reply within two minutes.

Payment options

Blue Apron accepts Apple Pay, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Blue Apron offers discounts to people age 55 and older, medical personnel, first responders, students, teachers, and active duty and retired military personnel. They can enjoy 50% off the first four weeks.

Some ingredients are already peeled, chopped, and ready to cook, and you’ll find a variety of prepared meal options each week in the “Heat & Eat” section of the website or on the app, which you can download to any Apple or Android device. 

For the “Heat & Eat” meals, all you need to do is heat them up in the microwave. For the meal kits, most can be ready in fewer than 45 minutes, but many are ready faster in about 25 minutes. 

Tester insights

Our tester said the instructions were straightforward, although she would have preferred a larger font on the recipe card. However, the temperatures in the recipe were a bit too high and may cause food to burn for some, depending on their oven and pans. She cooked the chicken in a pan on medium heat, not medium-high, as instructed.

Recipe card for balsamic chicken with mashed potatoes and asparagus
Blue Apron provides a recipe card with step-by-step cooking instructions
quote icon

“I really liked this meal. Everything came out well, and it was relatively simple and quick. I would definitely make this again. With the butter and mascarpone cheese, the mashed potatoes were restaurant quality. The sauce was very good, too.”

– From our tester

Individually wrapped chicken, potatoes, and asparagus
Blue Apron provides individually wrapped ingredients as opposed to tossing them all together in one box.

HelloFresh: Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Families

HelloFresh
Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Families
Features
  • Starting price per serving: $9.99 
  • Shipping cost: $10.99 
  • Availability: Contiguous United States and select ZIP codes in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska
  • Type: Meal kit
  • Number of servings: Two or four
  • Number of meals per week: Two to six
  • Meal options: Meat and veggies, vegetarian, pescatarian, family-friendly, fast & easy, fit and wholesome
  • Cancellation method: Website
Why we chose HelloFresh

HelloFresh is our Reviews Team’s top cheap meal delivery service for families because you can order up to six meals per week, which is more than the other services offer. So if you have a family of six, you can order two four-serving meals and likely have enough left over for lunch the next day.

“Some of the meals had lots of pictures, and some only had a few,” our tester said. “I found that the meals that had just a few pictures were when I got off track. I really liked when there was a picture of what the prep was supposed to look like when it was completed.”

Pros and cons
Pros Great for families Generous serving sizes Can order up to six meals per week Cons Only one ice pack on the packaging poses a risk of spoilage Some meals take longer to cook than the recipe stated Subscribers cannot pick the time of day for delivery
Additional information

Customer service

You can reach HelloFresh customer service by:

Accessibility

HelloFresh is actively trying to ensure the website is accessible to all visitors and encourages people who visit the website and use the app to contact customer service if something is not accessible visually or when using a screen reader, magnifying glass, or other assistive technology.

Payment options

HelloFresh accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Prepaid cards are not accepted. Medical providers, nurses, hospital employees, members of the military, and veterans are eligible for 60% off their first HelloFresh box and 15% off each subsequent box for 51 weeks.

Ordering on the website was quick and easy. Subscribers can also manage their accounts, select meals, and interact with customer service from the Apple or Android app. Ordering was a snap. Our tester was able to choose the day of her delivery but not the time of day, as Dinnerly allows, and her first delivery arrived after she would normally feed her family. 

Tester insights

Our tester’s food arrived in a paper bag, unlike the other meal kits, which arrived in cardboard boxes with multiple freezer bags and insulation. She was concerned the bag contained just one ice pack, which could ruin a meal that sits on your step on a hot day. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a helpful video about food safety when shopping for meal kits.

Our tester was happy with the condition of the fresh produce and proteins. She and her family tried several different meals, including pork chops with roasted Brussels sprouts. 

“I was surprised at how fresh the produce was,” said our tester. “At times, it looked nicer than what I would find at my local grocery store. Even things like scallions, which are fragile, were immaculate.”

The ingredients for the brown sugar bourbon pork chops, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts
HelloFresh provides individually wrapped ingredients in the bags.

At first glance, the recipe looked complicated, but our tester was pleasantly surprised by how everything came together at the end of the cooking process. “I would normally be intimidated to cook a pork chop, but the directions were great,” she said. “I was also nervous about doing so many things at once (roasting veggies, making mashed potatoes from scratch, cooking pork, and making a sauce), but the directions spaced everything out really well, so I had time to do one step and let it cook before moving onto the next.”

Brown sugar bourbon pork chops topped with apples and paired with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts]
The recipe card said meal prep and cooking would take about 45 minutes, but our tester completed these tasks in 35 minutes.

How we chose the best cheap meal delivery services

Based on our testing, research, and expert consultations, we determined the following factors to be essential for our readers when signing up for a meal delivery service:

We also have all of our articles medically reviewed by a nutrition expert to ensure the information is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs.

What to consider when choosing a cheap meal delivery service 

Type of meals 

If you are looking for a way to switch up the recipes you make from week to week, a meal kit delivery service may be right for you. If you just want something quick and easy, a prepared meal delivery may be the best option. Some services like Blue Apron offer both meal kits and prepared meals that you can combine in your order. 

Diet restrictions

It’s important to consider certain conditions like diabetes, allergies, or other dietary restrictions when researching a meal delivery service. Dinnerly and Blue Apron offer low-carb meal plans that would be appropriate for someone with diabetes or weight loss goals. It’s important, though, to be careful about possible cross-contamination of ingredients you’re allergic to. While a meal may not contain dairy, nuts, or gluten, it may have been prepped in a kitchen where it could have come into contact with dairy, gluten, or nut products. Contact the company’s customer support team to ask any questions about specific diets. 

Quantity of meals per week

If you’re looking to feed a family, HelloFresh offers the most meals per week (six) with multiple servings each meal and offers instructions for making additional portions. Make sure you know exactly how many people will be eating the meals and how often to determine the best service for you. You may just want to order dinners a few times per week to accommodate your schedule. 

Cost

Before deciding on a service, consider your budget. Most meal delivery services offer a discount on the first few meals, so you can try them at a lower cost before committing. Also, ordering more meals at one time can sometimes lower the cost per serving. If you are looking for organic options or top steak cuts, those options will cost more. 

Bottom line

Meal delivery services provide a way to change up your cooking routine, and we’ve reviewed some that won’t break your budget. Whether you want to cut down on trips to the grocery store or simply need prepared meals to heat in the microwave, our Reviews Team likes CookUnity as the best cheap meal delivery service overall. Starting at just $11.09 per serving, this meal delivery service is an excellent option for people looking for convenience at an affordable cost. 

We also like Dinnerly for people who eat a varied diet and have a changing schedule because you can choose the time your delivery arrives. If you’re looking for a low-calorie meal, Blue Apron can accommodate you. For families who need a few more portions, HelloFresh would be our top recommendation. 

Frequently asked questions

We chose CookUnity as the best cheap meal delivery service overall because of its low $11.09 price per serving and the high quality of its meals.

Yes, using a meal delivery service can save you money on gas by eliminating the need to drive to the grocery store and buy ingredients you don’t frequently use or in amounts beyond what your recipes call for.

Yes, meal delivery services are less expensive than eating at most restaurants because you’re only paying for the food and sometimes delivery. At a restaurant, you are paying for the experience, the ambiance, and the service.

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

  1. Roberts SB, et al. Healthy Aging-Nutrition Matters: Start Early and Screen Often. Advances in Nutrition. July 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322001600?via%3Dihub
  2. NCOA Advisor Meal Kit Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched April 2024.
  3. Food and Drug Administration. 5 red flags to look for when shopping for meal kits. March 5, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/5-red-flags-look-when-shopping-meal-kits
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