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6 Best Meal Delivery Services of 2024 | Tested by Experts
Oct 27, 2022
Fact Checked
We tested 14 meal delivery services to find the freshest and easiest options. Learn why we like Blue Apron, Sunbasket, and others.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Apron is our pick for best overall meal delivery service due to its affordable price, widespread availability, and variety of meal options.
- The meal kits and premade meals in our list start at $7.99–$12.99 per serving.
- Many meal delivery services offer diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, and low-calorie options, but low-sodium meals are harder to find.
Meal delivery services send you meal kits, reheatable premade meals, or a mix of both every week. You can choose meals based on their ingredients or nutritional profile, which can help you stick to a healthy diet. Most meal delivery services offer vegetarian, low-calorie, and high-protein options, among others, to help you meet your goals. Better yet, using a meal delivery service decreases the time you have to spend planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning up, helpful for busy people or those with limited mobility.
With more than 20 meal delivery services to choose from, it can be challenging to figure out which one is right for you. Brand websites often look similar, and some require you to sign up before you can look at the menu. To find the best meal delivery services with the freshest ingredients, tastiest recipes, and most accessible products, our Reviews Team tested 14 brands hands-on. We ensured the food arrived fresh and on time and noted whether the portions seemed suitable for older adults, singles, or families. We also evaluated how easy it was to open the packaging, read the recipe cards, and follow the recipe. See our top picks below.
Best meal delivery service overall
Blue Apron offers affordable meal kits and premade meals appropriate for various diets. Ingredients arrive fresh and pre-portioned, which helps cut down on prep time.
Our top meal delivery service picks
- Blue Apron: Best Overall
- Sunbasket: Best Meal Delivery for Seniors
- CookUnity: Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service
- HelloFresh: Best Meal Delivery Service for Families
- Factor: Best Meal Delivery Service for Singles
- Purple Carrot: Best Meal Delivery Service for Vegetarians
Compare the best meal delivery services of 2024
Best meal delivery services of 2024
Blue Apron: Best Overall
Our final verdict on Blue Apron Meal Delivery Service
Ordering on the Blue Apron website and app is easy. After selecting your plan, you’ll be prompted to complete the checkout process and choose your weekly delivery day. Our tester placed an order, and it arrived in five days. She didn’t have the option to select the time of day, but the food arrived with plenty of ice packs to keep everything fresh.
Each week, you’ll have a set cutoff date for choosing your meals. If you don’t select your meals by this date, Blue Apron will choose based on the specifics you entered when setting up the account.
The box weighs up to 30 pounds, so if it’s too heavy to lift all at once, you might want to unpack a few items at a time.
Blue Apron makes cooking a bit easier for people with limited time or difficulty standing in the kitchen. Most meal kits are ready in less than 45 minutes, but some take only about 25 minutes. You only need a sharp knife, cutting board, and additional salt and pepper. Each meal comes with an 8-inch-by-10-inch recipe card, but Blue Apron could improve readability by increasing the font size on the card.
In addition to meal kits, you’ll find a variety of fully prepared choices each week in the “Heat & Eat” section of the website or on the app, which you can download on your Apple or Android device. You only need to heat them up to enjoy a healthy meal in minutes.
Tester insights
Our tester was pleased by the ingredients and how well they were packaged. “I was really impressed with the food quality and how fresh the ingredients were. They even looked better than what I get at the grocery store,” they said.
Our tester found the chicken and mashed potatoes with asparagus dish easy to make with little cleanup after.
“The instructions were straightforward, but I think the temperatures cited are a bit too high and may cause food to burn for some, depending on their oven and pans. I cooked the chicken in a pan on medium heat, not medium-high as requested by the instructions,” they said.
Sunbasket: Best Meal Delivery Service for Seniors
Our final verdict on Sunbasket Meal Delivery Service
Age-related changes in our bodies—such as decreased bone density and lower immune function—increase the need for nutrients, like calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, and iron. Muscle mass also decreases with age, which slows metabolism and lowers the amount of calories needed to maintain current weight. A third dietary concern is constipation, reported by 16%–26% of older adults living at home.
“Thus, older adults should focus on consuming more protein to maintain muscle mass, calcium, and vitamin D for bone health, and fiber for proper digestion—along with a variety of lean proteins, non-starchy veggies, fruits, and whole grains to fill in micronutrient gaps,” said Chrissy Arsenault, a registered dietitian in Colorado.
If you’re new to healthy eating, it can be tough to know what to make. Sunbasket simplifies the process by sending you all the ingredients you need to cook meals that align with your dietary goals. The pescatarian, vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and Mediterranean options would meet the needs of many older adults. Or, you can choose premade oven- or microwave-ready dishes that eliminate the need to chop food, read a recipe card, or stand at the stove—a great solution for people with arthritis, limited vision, or limited mobility.
Sunbasket asks a few questions when you sign up for an account, like whether you’re interested in premade meals or meal kits. Your answers don’t lock you into certain products—you can always pick whatever you want from the menu. We like that it’s easy to filter results by diet, cook time, and other preferences. Each meal has a different price (ranging from $9.99–$25.99 per serving) that’s easy to see before you add the item to your cart.
The only thing we don’t like about Sunbasket is the high sodium content in its meals. Older adults with high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease should stick to a low-sodium diet, which the U.S. Food & Drug Administration defines as 140 milligrams of sodium or less per serving. The low-sodium filter on Sunbasket, though, shows foods with 700 milligrams of sodium or less per serving. The lowest sodium content we saw in a Sunbasket meal was 500 milligrams.
Tester insights
Our testers had a good experience with Sunbasket overall. They reported fresh ingredients, tasty meals, and accessible packaging that’s easy to rip open. But if you have limited vision, the ingredient cards may be difficult to read. “It looked like size 10 Arial font,” one tester said. “It would be easier to read if the instructions were split into more steps instead of large paragraphs.”
Sunbasket meal kits require some chopping, but testers said a few items had already been prepped. “The garlic was already peeled and the salmon came with its skin off, which was convenient,” one tester said.
Testers tried premade meals, like Sichuan Glass Noodle Bowl with Pork, Cabbage, and Carrots as well as Spaghetti Carbonara with Pancetta and Peas, rating both 4.5 out of five in terms of taste. They also tried meal kits for Chicken and “Cheesy” Broccoli, SoCal Salmon with Spring Vegetables and Green Tahini Sauce, and Ground Beef Skewers with Cabbage Slaw. In some cases, testers reported adding seasoning from their own spice cupboards to improve flavor. Serving sizes seemed appropriate, leaving our testers satisfied.
CookUnity: Best prepared meal delivery service
Our final verdict on CookUnity Meal Delivery Service
Advertised as, “Food that takes you places,” CookUnity entices subscribers to travel the world without leaving the comfort of their kitchen, with a wide variety of globally inspired dishes from Mexico, Japan, India, Thailand, and more. If you’re a foodie, you’ll enjoy the variety of choices, including stir-fries, noodle and rice bowls, tacos, flatbreads, pastas, and many protein-veggie pairings. CookUnity offers vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, keto, paleo, gluten-free, and low-calorie options.
These premade meals are great for adults and people looking for small single portions, but they’re not ideal for a family with young kids or picky eaters. The portions are ideal for older adults and those looking for lower-calorie meals, but others may need to eat more than what’s provided to feel satisfied.
Select your weekly meals via your account on the website or through the app—you can download it on Apple and Android devices. The pre-prepared meals come neatly packaged in a box or cool tote bag that keeps everything fresh and ready for cold storage. The box weighs up to 30 pounds, so you might want to unpack a few items at a time if the box is too heavy to lift.
Tester insights
Our tester tried meals for two weeks, including Chipotle-Maple Glazed Salmon, Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas Suizas, and 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 sprinkle on top,” they said.
The meals with microwaved veggies weren’t a favorite, but it’s nice to have the option to heat up a meal quickly when you’re short on time or if cooking isn’t your favorite activity.
HelloFresh: Best meal Delivery Service for Families
Our final verdict on HelloFresh Meal Delivery Service
HelloFresh is meant for people who love cooking, so this is a great option for older adults who know their way around the kitchen and have the desire and dexterity to prep, chop, and cook.
Like Blue Apron, HelloFresh provides a recipe card with photos and cooking instructions. The font size is slightly larger than the Blue Apron card and a little easier to read, but it doesn’t include pictures of the food as it’s being prepared. Testers said some of the steps took longer than the recipe card stated.
Like the other brands we have reviewed, the HelloFresh box was pretty heavy. If you have limited mobility, consider taking a few items out at a time rather than trying to haul the entire box into your kitchen.
The ingredients for each meal are packaged separately, but one tester noted some damage in the vacuum-sealed chicken, which left a small puddle of liquid in the refrigerator. Overall, opening each item with scissors was easy, and the ingredients looked and smelled fresh. For the most part, you just need a cutting board and sharp knife to prepare the ingredients for your meals before you cook them.
Ordering on the HelloFresh website is quick and easy. Subscribers can also manage their accounts, select meals, and interact with customer service from their Apple or Android device.
Tester insights
Our tester feeds a family of four, so keeping the cooking time down to a minimum and ample portion sizes was key to making a good meal for everyone.
“The portion sizes were great—I was very happy with how big the meals were. We always had extra with two very young children but people with older children or extended family living with them would have more than enough as well,” they said.
Considering the cost, our tester was disappointed in having to pay extra for proteins, like steak and pork, but was satisfied with the experience overall.
Factor: Best Meal Delivery Service for Singles
Our final verdict on Factor Meal Delivery Service
Factor subscribers can manage their accounts, select meals, and interact with customer service from the website or through an app on their Apple or Android device.
Although our tester liked most of the meals they tried, they found the microwaved veggies slightly soggy. They mainly enjoyed the dishes with a tasty sauce for added flavor. The salt content was reported as a bit high, with one dish containing 810 milligrams of salt. But we do like that Factor offers a free 20-minute session with a registered dietitian, even if you’re not a subscriber. It’s a good way to determine if you should select specific foods from the menu, like high-protein or low-calorie options.
Tester insights
Factor meals come in microwavable containers, with the main course separated from the side dish. Our tester preferred mixing everything together so the sauce could coat all the food. “The sauces are usually on the main course, not on the sides, which I found a bit bland. Combining everything made the meal more enjoyable,” the tester said. The meals might have enough food for some people, but our tester needed an additional snack from their pantry to feel full.
Our tester ordered 10 meals and four drinks, yet the box seemed lighter than expected—only about 15 pounds. “The freezer packs kept everything cool even though the box sat on my porch for a few hours while I was at work,” they said.
The heating instructions may be difficult to read if you have limited vision. Otherwise, our tester said heating the meals was easy and straightforward. “The recommended cook time was usually spot on,” they said.
Purple Carrot: Best Meal Delivery Service for Vegetarians
Our final verdict on Purple Carrot Delivery Service
Ordering on the Purple Carrot website is quick and easy, and you can see nutrition facts, ingredients, and recipe instructions for every recipe without signing in. Subscribers can also manage their accounts, select meals, and interact with customer service from their Apple device, but currently, there’s no Android-compatible app.
The meals came in a 20-pound box insulated by freezer packs. Our tester had no problems carrying the box to their apartment, but it might feel heavy to others—in which case, we recommend bringing in a few items from the box at a time. Most vegetables were individually packaged and in good condition, except for some green beans that already started to spoil.
Purple Carrot food is prepared and packaged in distribution facilities that also process wheat, gluten, and nuts, so it’s not the right service for people allergic to those foods.
Tester insights
Our tester cooked various meals that included meatless proteins, like tofu and beans and a variety of vegetables, most of which were organic. Our tester tried the Peanut Pad Thai Noodles, which was straightforward to cook but required a vegetable peeler. “The recipe said it would take 25–35 minutes to cook, which was accurate,” they said.
Our tester also made Stuffed Sweet Potatoes and enjoyed the flavor. “Everything was pre-measured, so it was just a matter of cutting the potatoes, roughly chopping the shallots, and mixing the sauces together,” the tester said. They also thought the serving sizes were accurate. “I was cooking for myself, so I got a meal with two servings. I had plenty of leftovers,” they said.
How we chose the best 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:
- Cost, including prices for subscriptions, the price per serving of each meal, and shipping costs
- Availability and delivery options
- Types of meals, either meal kits with ingredients and recipes or pre-made meals
- Quality of the meals
- How long it takes to prepare meals
- Number of meals you can get per week
- Number of servings in each meal
- Meal and dietary options, including low-carb, low-calorie, vegetarian, or vegan options
- Cancellation method
We also had all of our reviews medically reviewed by a nutrition expert to ensure the information is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs.
What to consider when choosing a meal delivery service
Type of meals
Think about whether you want a meal kit or a premade meal—or maybe a mix of both. Most meal delivery services specialize in meal kits or premade meals. A few services, like Blue Apron, Sunbasket, and Purple Carrot, offer both types of meals, which is nice for people who enjoy cooking but sometimes want the convenience of a premade meal.
Diet restrictions
Choose a meal delivery service that meets your dietary needs. Whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, flexitarian, paleo, keto, low-carb, low-sodium, or high-protein diet, the meal delivery service should offer you more than one option each week. We also like meal delivery services that make it easy to add or swap ingredients.
If you have food allergies, consider a meal delivery service that never handles your allergen, like The Good Kitchen or Nurture Life.
Quantity of meals per week
Some meal delivery services limit the number of meals or servings you can buy weekly. Look for one with a higher limit if you plan to rely on meal delivery for most of your lunches and dinners. And if you’re feeding a family, be prepared to adjust portion sizes. Children may be able to split an adult-size meal, while young adults may need more than one serving to feel satiated.
Cost
Most meal delivery services display a price per serving ranging from $4.99—$15 or more, depending on the company. In general, the more meals you buy, the lower the per-serving cost.
You should also look for minimum-order costs. Some services require you to choose a specific number of weekly meals—usually at least two. Others, like Snap Kitchen, require orders of six meals per week. The minimum order requirement affects how much money you’ll spend on this service each week, so ensure it’s within your budget.
Next, consider shipping costs. Most meal delivery services charge $10–$11 for weekly shipping.
Finally, see if you’re eligible for special discounts. Some companies offer incentives for people age 55 and older, military members, health care workers, or first responders.
Bottom line
First and foremost, meal delivery services provide convenience, which helps you cut down on time spent planning, shopping, chopping, and cooking. They’re also a great way to introduce various healthy foods to your diet, but you’ll need to choose a service that offers the right meals for you. Overall, we like Blue Apron because it has a wide selection of meals for a relatively low price, and our testers were satisfied with its accessibility and taste. If you’re looking for organic produce, opt for Sunbasket. If it’s gourmet dinners you crave, consider CookUnity. If you’re committed to plant-based eating, try out Purple Carrot. The variety of meal delivery services today offers a range of options for every eater.
Frequently asked questions
Our Reviews Team chose Blue Apron as the best meal delivery service because it caters to various diets for a reasonable price. Older adults may benefit from the category of “Wellness” meals, which limit sodium and cholesterol, whereas families with kids may prefer the classic favorites in the “Family Friendly” category. Overall, testers said the food was fresh, easy to make, and tasted good.
Meal kits are a good option for people who want to cook at home but need help sourcing recipes and ingredients. They’re especially good for people who want to sample different flavors while sticking to a diet plan. Meal kits are also a time saver for busy people who want to spend less time planning and shopping for meals, and they’re convenient for people recovering from surgery or those with limited mobility. Meal kits can even minimize food ingredient waste, since the quantities included are just enough to make the recipe.
With premade or prepared meal delivery, you receive single-portion meals ready to heat up in a microwave or oven. There’s nothing to chop, boil, or cook. Prepared meals may be delivered fresh instead of frozen, so you must be mindful of consuming them before they go bad.
Some Medicare Part C plans—also known as Medicare Advantage—offer optional meal benefits. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your insurance provider to determine if meal delivery is a covered benefit. If it is, ask about eligibility requirements. Some plans only cover meal delivery if you have a chronic health condition or were recently discharged from a hospital. In many cases, you must sign up for meal deliveries through your insurance provider and won’t be reimbursed for outside meal delivery expenses.
Meals on Wheels and other charitable home-delivered meal services may be unable to accommodate certain dietary restrictions. On the other hand, the meals are free or low-cost, assuming you meet the eligibility requirements. Meals on Wheels has more than 5,000 local chapters operating under different rules. Contact your local chapter to determine your eligibility. You can search for a provider near you by entering your ZIP code on the Meals on Wheels America website.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. My Plate Older Adults. Found on the internet at https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults
- Roberts SB, et al. Healthy Aging—Nutrition Matters. Advances in Nutrition. July 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322001600?via%3Dihub
- Schuster BG, et al. Constipation in Older Adults. Can Fam Physician. February 2015. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325863/pdf/0610152.pdf
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Sodium in Your Diet. March 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-diet