Our Top Picks: Cheapest Meal Kit Delivery Services at a Glance
The average American spends $166 per week on groceries — but with the right meal kit, you can eat well-structured dinners for as little as $4.99 per serving. Here's the shortlist before we go deep:
| Service | Starting Price/Serving | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | Bare-bones budget cooking |
| Dinnerly | $4.99 | Fewer ingredients, less waste |
| HelloFresh | $7.99 | Variety + reliability |
| Marley Spoon | $6.99 | Martha Stewart-approved recipes |
| Green Chef | $9.99 | Organic/specialty diets |
How We Tested and Reviewed These Meal Kits
We ordered at least two weeks of meals from each service over three months. We tracked actual cost per serving (after shipping and fees), rated ingredient freshness on a 1–10 scale, timed how long meals actually took versus the claimed cook time, and tracked how many steps were skipped on the recipe cards versus done properly. We also cancelled each subscription to test how painful the cancellation process really is. Spoiler: some are annoying on purpose.
What Makes a Meal Kit Truly "Cheap" (Beyond the Sticker Price)
The sticker price per serving is almost never what you actually pay. A service advertising $4.99 per serving might hit you with $10.99 shipping, meaning a two-person, three-night plan jumps from $30 to $41 immediately. That's $6.83 per serving — still fine, but not what you clicked on.
True cheapness comes down to four factors:
- Base price per serving — what they advertise
- Shipping cost — often $6.99–$12.99, and rarely disclosed prominently
- Minimum order size — some services require 3 meals minimum per week
- Flexibility — can you skip weeks easily, or do you get charged if you forget?
A service like EveryPlate at $4.99/serving with $10.99 shipping on a 2-person, 3-recipe plan costs $40.93/week. That's $6.82/serving after shipping. Totally workable — but you should know what you're buying.
Cheapest Meal Kit Services Reviewed and Ranked
EveryPlate — Best for Absolute Budget Eaters
EveryPlate is the cheapest meal kit on the market by design. Owned by HelloFresh, it strips everything down — fewer recipes per week (around 22), simpler packaging, shorter recipe cards. What you get is reliable, mostly recognizable food: chicken stir-fry, beef tacos, pasta dishes.
The good: Consistent quality for the price. Proteins arrive cold and fresh. Meals genuinely take 30–40 minutes.
The bad: Recipe variety is limited. If you want anything exotic or plant-forward, you'll be bored within three weeks. Vegetarian options are thin — usually two to three per week.
Price: From $4.99/serving + $10.99 shipping. Two people, three recipes = ~$41/week.
Dinnerly — Best for Reducing Food Waste
Dinnerly matches EveryPlate at $4.99/serving but takes a different approach: digital recipe cards (no printed card in the box), fewer ingredients per meal (6 or fewer), and a smaller weekly menu. This isn't laziness — it means less packaging, less spoilage, and faster cooking.
The good: Genuinely fast meals. Most dishes clock in at 25–30 minutes. The pantry items (olive oil, salt, pasta) are pre-measured less frequently, which can frustrate beginners.
The bad: Smaller menu means fewer choices. If you're cooking for picky eaters, you may struggle to find three meals everyone wants.
Price: From $4.99/serving + $8.99 shipping. Slightly cheaper shipping than EveryPlate makes this marginally better value for solo cooks or couples.
HelloFresh — Best for Reliability and Variety
HelloFresh is the largest meal kit company in the US, which gives it an operational edge. More recipes per week (40+), better ingredient sourcing, and more recipe styles ranging from quick 20-minute meals to calorie-smart options.
The good: The recipe cards are genuinely good teaching tools. Packaging is efficient. Rarely a missing ingredient. Customer service is responsive compared to smaller competitors.
The bad: At $7.99–$10.99/serving depending on plan size, it's not cheap. The add-ons — premium meals, desserts, lunch options — add up fast if you're not paying attention.
Price: From $7.99/serving + $9.99 shipping.
Marley Spoon — Best Recipes on a Mid-Range Budget
Martha Stewart's meal kit service has better recipes than most. The flavors are more developed, the techniques are slightly more interesting, and the ingredient combinations feel less generic. It's not fine dining — but it's a cut above EveryPlate for someone who actually enjoys cooking.
Price: From $6.99/serving. Shipping is $9.99. First box discounts are aggressive (up to 50% off first four boxes).
Green Chef — Best for Dietary Restrictions (But You'll Pay for It)
Green Chef is USDA-certified organic and has the most robust specialty diet options: keto, Mediterranean, plant-powered. If you're eating for a specific health reason, it's worth the premium.
Price: From $9.99/serving + $10.99 shipping. The most expensive on this list by a meaningful margin. Only consider it if diet requirements make it necessary.
Pricing Breakdown: Cost Per Serving Compared Side by Side
Here's what you actually pay per serving when you factor in shipping on a standard 2-person, 3-recipe/week plan:
| Service | Advertised Price | Weekly Total (incl. Shipping) | Real Cost/Serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | $40.93 | $6.82 |
| Dinnerly | $4.99 | $38.93 | $6.49 |
| HelloFresh | $7.99 | $57.93 | $9.66 |
| Marley Spoon | $6.99 | $51.93 | $8.66 |
| Green Chef | $9.99 | $69.93 | $11.66 |
This cheap meal kit delivery comparison makes one thing clear: Dinnerly edges out EveryPlate on real-world cost, and HelloFresh costs nearly 50% more per serving once shipping is included.
Meal Quality vs. Price: Where Each Service Wins and Loses
EveryPlate wins on pure cost but loses on excitement. The meals work, but after a month you'll notice the recipe wheel repeating. Great for people who want structure without thinking too hard.
Dinnerly wins on speed and simplicity. The shorter ingredient lists mean less prep, less mess, less food wasted at the end of the week. The recipe quality is slightly lower than HelloFresh — sauces are less complex, proteins are more basic.
HelloFresh wins on consistency and variety. The jump in price from EveryPlate to HelloFresh buys you noticeably better sourcing, more recipe options, and higher production quality on the recipe cards.
Marley Spoon wins on recipe creativity at a mid-range price. If you want to learn how to properly build flavor while eating on a reasonable budget, this is the one.
Green Chef wins only if your diet demands it. Otherwise you're paying a $5/serving premium for organic certification that most people can't taste.
Hidden Fees, Shipping Costs, and Fine Print to Watch Out For
A few traps to know before you subscribe to any service on this cheap meal kit delivery services comparison:
- Auto-renewal without reminder: Most services charge your card before sending a skip reminder. Set a calendar alert three days before your weekly cutoff.
- Premium meal upcharges: HelloFresh and EveryPlate both have "premium" meals that cost $2–$4 more per serving. Easy to accidentally select.
- Cancellation friction: Some services (looking at you, HelloFresh) require you to navigate three confirmation screens and answer a survey before cancellation goes through.
- Minimum order requirements: You often can't order fewer than three recipes per week. Ordering fewer servings per recipe doesn't eliminate the shipping fee.
- First box credits that expire: Introductory credits sometimes expire within 60 days and can't be transferred.
Best Introductory Deals and Discount Codes Right Now
All five services run rotating intro deals. These are the standard offers as of early 2026:
- EveryPlate: Up to $110 off across first five boxes (roughly 50% off first box)
- Dinnerly: Up to 55% off your first box
- HelloFresh: Up to $130 off + free shipping on first box
- Marley Spoon: Up to 50% off first four boxes
- Green Chef: Up to $120 off first six boxes
The intro deals are genuinely worth using — especially if your plan is to try two or three services back-to-back before committing. There's nothing stopping you from trying EveryPlate for a month, cancelling, then starting with Dinnerly on their intro deal. Many people do exactly this.
Which Cheap Meal Kit Is Best for Your Lifestyle
- Solo cook on a tight budget: Dinnerly. Smaller portions available, lowest true cost per serving, minimal waste.
- Couple who wants variety without breaking the bank: EveryPlate for the first month, HelloFresh if you want to upgrade.
- Family of four: HelloFresh's family plan scales better and has kid-friendly options baked in.
- Someone learning to cook: Marley Spoon. The recipes teach technique rather than just assembly.
- Keto or organic eater: Green Chef, no real competition here.
How Cheap Meal Kits Stack Up Against Grocery Shopping
Buying raw groceries and cooking from scratch still wins on pure cost — but only if you're disciplined about planning, buying only what you need, and not letting produce rot. The average American household throws away $1,500 worth of food per year.
At $6.50–$7.00 per serving, a meal kit dinner for two costs about $13–$14. A scratch-cooked pasta dish from Trader Joe's or Aldi can run $6–$8 for two. But that math assumes zero food waste, no planning time, and the mental energy to shop and cook from scratch five nights a week.
Meal kits make economic sense for people who: - Currently order takeout two or more nights a week (average takeout meal: $15–$20 per person) - Waste more than $30/week in unused groceries - Want portion control without calorie counting
If you're a disciplined, experienced grocery shopper with no food waste problem, kits won't save you money. But most people aren't that shopper.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Meal Kit Delivery
What's the cheapest meal kit delivery service? EveryPlate and Dinnerly both start at $4.99/serving. After shipping, Dinnerly typically comes out slightly cheaper for couples.
Can I pause or skip a week without being charged? Yes, all five services allow weekly skipping — but you must do it before your weekly cutoff, which varies by service. Set a reminder.
Are meal kits worth it for one person? Sometimes. Single-serve plans exist on Dinnerly and HelloFresh, but shipping costs hurt the math more at smaller order sizes. The intro deals make it worth trying.
Do meal kits actually save money over restaurants? Compared to sit-down restaurants or regular takeout, yes, significantly. A $40 HelloFresh box feeds two people three dinners. The same spend at a mid-range restaurant feeds two people one meal.
Our Verdict: The Best Cheap Meal Kit for Most People
Dinnerly is the winner for budget-first shoppers. It beats EveryPlate on real cost per serving, cooks faster, and wastes less. The recipe variety is limited, but for a weeknight solution that keeps food costs under $7/serving, nothing touches it.
EveryPlate is the runner-up and slightly better if you want a few more recipe options per week without paying HelloFresh prices.
HelloFresh is worth it if budget isn't your primary concern and you want a service you can actually stick with for months without getting bored.
Start with Dinnerly's intro deal — up to 55% off your first box. Try it for three weeks, see if it fits your routine, and cancel or continue from there. That's the lowest-risk way to find out whether meal kits work for your household.