Best-Meal-Subscription-Boxes

The 18 Best Meal Subscription Boxes on the Market

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Almost everyone has heard about dinner subscription boxes, but you might be surprised by just how many options are out there. The huge number of options can make it pretty challenging to narrow down which brands will work best for you and the people you dine with. Nonetheless, it is certainly possible to narrow down the best food subscription boxes that are simple and straightforward for less stress and hassle.

Below, we’ve reviewed the 18 top subscription boxes for meals and explained what makes them stand out above the competition. We also compiled some of the things you should consider when deciding on the right meal subscription box so you can make sure you prioritize the things that matter most. Start by looking at our list, and we’ll get into everything else you need to know at the end of the article.

Quick Comparison: Top 18 Best Meal Subscription Boxes


Product NameGrade
HelloFreshA
Blue ApronB+
Home ChefA-
Marley SpoonA-
Green ChefA
VeestroB+
Purple CarrotB+
SakaraA-
DinnerlyA
GobbleB+
MealProB+
PlateJoyA-
Sun BasketA
FreshlyA
EveryPlateB+
Daily HarvestA-
FreshDirectA-
Snap KitchenB+

1. HelloFresh

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HelloFresh ships you ingredients for healthy meals straight to your door so you can quickly and easily prepare meals for yourself and your family. There are several meal kit options available through this company, including Veggie, Meat & Veggies, Family Friendly, and Low Calories. They offer meal plans for two or four people, and you can choose between receiving two, three, or four recipes a week.

You get to choose from a variety of options for meals each week so you can choose things that appeal to you. You’ll also have the chance to see allergens, ingredients, and nutritional information in the process. Recipes come in levels based on difficulty so you can select Level 1 simple meals, Level 2 intermediate meals, and Level 3 expert meals.

Highlighted Features

  • Offers a variety of menus for different palates and is a healthy alternative to takeout and restaurant dining
  • Features some menus for restricted diets so everyone can enjoy the dishes on offer each week
  • Includes meals that can easily be created by beginners so you can learn and become more confident

Cost

Meals from HelloFresh start at $8.99 per serving for a couple and $7.49 per serving for a family of four, plus $7.99 shipping

Availability

HelloFresh offers meal kits to individuals in the 48 continental states and may deliver to Hawaii and Alaska in the future.


2. Blue Apron

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Blue Apron is best known for offering meals designed by chefs to be delicious but also simple and easy to make in your home. Creating an account is easy and will give you the option to choose between three meal plans: the Vegetarian for two, the Signature for two, and the Signature for four. The menu is constantly changing and includes Weight Watcher approved, Beyond Meat, and diabetes-friendly recipes.

One of the perks is that there are many diverse vegetarian meals and the meal service also has a wine delivery attached that can be paired with your meals. This is an excellent option for those who want fast foods that taste good, as most of the recipes take 30 minutes to make at most. It mainly caters to beginner to intermediate level cooks.

Highlighted Features

  • Meals are conveniently delivered in an ice-packed box to ensure freshness and quality
  • Ability to choose from eight meal options each week for two people or a family of four
  • Offers delivery seven days a week and has partnerships with artisanal and family-run farms with sustainable practices

Cost

Meals for families of four start at $8.99 a serving while meals for couples start at $9.99 a serving

Availability

Blue Apron offers meal kits to all states in the lower 48 of the United States at this time.


3. Home Chef

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Home Chef starts you out by filling out a taste profile that will recommend dishes that fit your palate and adhere to any dietary restrictions that you might have. Each Monday, you’ll get an email with 21 meal options to choose from and you have until midday Friday to make your final decisions. Some of the dietary restrictions catered to by Home Chef are vegetarian, non-dairy, non-nut, carb-conscious, non-soy, carb-conscious, and non-wheat.

A highlight of this food box delivery is that you can make changes to the protein to meet your needs, such as swapping out the chicken for beef or even tofu. It also includes clear instructions that are categorized by the level of difficulty so you can choose meals you are capable of making quickly and easily. In addition, all ingredients come fresh and measured out, so all you have to worry about is the cooking.

Highlighted Features

  • Offers a wide selection of easy-to-follow recipes designed for a home cook of any skill level
  • Includes ingredients that are packaged by the meal for an extra dose of convenience in the kitchen
  • Includes quick meals, vegetarian meals, low-calorie meals, low carb meals, and more

Cost

Dinners are $9.99 a serving, while lunch is $7.99 a serving with free shipping on orders over $40; optional additions like smoothies or fruit cost $4.95 per serving

Availability

 Home Chef offers delivery to all 48 of the lower states in the United States.


4. Marley Spoon

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Marley Spoon (also known as Martha & Marley Spoon due to the addition of recipes by Martha Stewart) is a subscription box with more than 20 meals a week that can be created in under six steps taking no more than 40 minutes. Many of the recipes include labels such as “under 30 minutes,” “low-carb,” and “dairy-free” to ensure you select meals that work for your household. You can also count on having unique dishes most weeks like broken noodle paella, saucy enchilada chicken breast, and Cajun andouille skillet pizza.

Every meal includes a colorful recipe card with step-by-step photos, estimated cooking time, and nutrition facts. There is also an app you can download to keep track of all your favorite recipes so you can order them again in the future. The meals also come in packaging made of mostly recyclable materials for a little extra eco-consciousness.

Highlighted Features

  • Features a large number of recipes every week with twists on ordinary dishes made at home
  • Offers most recipes that can be made quickly and easily in 40 minutes or less, even by beginners

Cost

Meals for couples are $8.99 per serving, meals for families of four are $7.49 per portion; all meals have a shipping cost of $8.99

Availability

 Marley Spoon delivers to most of the lower 48 U.S. states.


5. Green Chef

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What Green Chef does well is offering lifestyle meals that focus on various diets. Since it can be stressful and challenging to shop for a specific diet, Green Chef helps you handle that by delivering meals that you simply have to cook. The menus from this box meals delivery include: Keto, Paleo, Balanced Living, Plant-Powered, and Family Plan.

While all of the meals you receive are centered around a particular diet, all of them are geared towards the health conscious. Only non-GMO, organic ingredients are used so you can be sure all the ingredients going into your body are good for you. With this cooking box, you choose the number of dishes you want a week and whether you are feeding two or four people with each of them, which affects the cost of each serving.

Highlighted Features

  • Features a wide variety of healthy foods that adhere to a selection of popular diets in the U.S.
  • Offers many global foods for a large number of choices with every weekly subscription box
  • Includes green packaging that is eco-conscious and environmentally friendly

Cost

Servings of meals range from $10.99 to $12.99 depending on the number of portions and diet chosen

Availability

Green Chef delivers to most of the continental United States, excluding parts of Louisiana and all of Alaska and Hawaii.


6. Veestro

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When you go with a Veestro box, you’re going to have three choices: a Weight Loss plan, a Chef’s Choice plan, or an A La Carte menu. No matter which of these you decide to go with, you can be sure that all meals will be fully prepared with organic ingredients and no preservatives. Another of the things that sets apart Veestro from other boxes on our list is the fact that all of the meals you can order are plant-based and suitable for a vegan diet.

Every Veestro delivery will come in an insulated box with dry ice to ensure ingredients stay fresh until you use them. In addition, rather than offering only dinner meals or a handful of lunch meals, there are also plenty of veggie-based breakfast meals.

Highlighted Features

  • Subscription boxes come entirely assembled and require no actual cooking on your part
  • Features a massive selection of vegan meals with around 50 available at any one time
  • Includes the option for a weight loss plan for those who are looking to shed a few pounds

Cost

Weight loss plans range from $175.50 to $226.80 while chef’s choice meals range from $117 for 10 meals to $297 for 30 meals

Availability

Veestro ships to all United States addresses except for Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.


7. Purple Carrot

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Purple Carrot is a fully vegan delivery box based on the idea that consuming a plant-based diet can improve your health, assist with animal welfare, and have a positive effect on the environment. There are a few different plans to choose from, including Chef’s Choice, High-Protein, Quick & Easy, and Gluten-Free. Each of these comes in two or four-serving boxes and allows you to add breakfast, lunch, and snacks to your order.

 Each box you receive comes with a recipe booklet that includes all the potential recipes for the week, not just the ones that you chose. This can be a great help if you want to make more vegan meals on your own when you aren’t using Purple Carrot. The ingredients come in a box with insulation to keep all the vegetables fresh until you use them.

Highlighted Features

  • Recipes in cooking subscription boxes include a large selection of vegetables for a varied diet
  • All recipes include only minimal amounts of prep work so you can start eating more quickly
  • Each of the boxes comes with free shipping, so there are no extra fees beyond the subscription

Cost

Meals from Purple Carrot are $9.99 per serving for a four-serving plan or $11.99 per serving for a two-serving plan

Availability

Purple Carrot offers subscription delivery to various areas in the contiguous United States with plans to expand over time.


8. Sakara

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If you’re searching for a plant-based delivery service with prepared meals, Sakara might be just what you’ve been looking for. It offers fully organic food delivered to your door, and you can choose which meals come in every box. The idea behind this food box is to offer a way to eat healthily without spending lots of time on buying, prepping and cooking.

While Sakara is a premium lifestyle and wellness brand, it’s hard to find nutritional information due to the belief the calorie restriction isn’t the best way to lose weight. When choosing this subscription, you can choose a three or five-day choice, but there are no options for alternatives or substitutions other than allergy modifications, which cost an extra $60.

Highlighted Features

  • Each of the meals is entirely vegan, organic, gluten-free, and plant-based for a healthy diet
  • Offers the option of including breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals on a one-time or a weekly basis
  • Features a Signature menu as well as a Level II Detox Program that helps your body cleanse for a bodily reset

Cost

Meal plans range in cost from about $56 to $80 per day, while allergy modifications cost an additional $60 a box

Availability

Sakara only offers shipping in the United States at this time.


9. Dinnerly

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One of the biggest things that Dinnerly has going for it is that it costs under $5 a portion, no matter which plan you choose to sign up for. It offers a wide selection of simple dinner ideas and takes away from all the stress involved with planning meals and going shopping for groceries. Every week, this box also offers a selection of 16 kid-friendly recipes to ensure everyone in the family is happy with the meals.

Dinnerly is able to offer lower prices than other kits while using premium ingredients because it makes use of digital recipes instead of using paper, incorporates fewer ingredients in each dish, and placing the dishes in simple packaging. It is designed for use by those who want homemade meals but don’t want to overpay or spend tons of time in the kitchen.

Highlighted Features

  • This cooking box is one of the most inexpensive options you will find for those on a budget
  • All recipes come with an instruction card that explains all the steps, which will be no more than six
  • Ideal for those who are looking for easy cooking of simple meals with a short list of ingredients

Cost

Servings range in price from $4.29 for six four-person meals to $4.49 for three meals a week for two or four people

Availability

Dinnerly is a cooking subscription box that is available in most of the contiguous United States.


10. Gobble

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Gobble works a lot like other meal kits, allowing you to choose the meals you want and how many you want to receive. However, most of the prep work like chopping and dicing ingredients is done for you so you can get these meals on the stove and in your stomach as quickly as possible. The box comes with vegetarian meals as well as kid-friendly meals, including meals that are dairy and gluten-free.

Every box that is delivered to your house comes with nutritional info and recipes, as well as quality ingredients that are portioned and prepped. You’ll also have access to recyclable ice packs with every shipment to ensure the ingredients stay in great shape until you can get cooking with them.

Highlighted Features

  • Meal kits are designed to need only minimal prep work so you can get straight to cooking
  • Each weekly menu offers choices for many dietary needs including low-carb, vegetarian, and pescatarian
  • Includes a selection of meals that can be created in only 10 minutes for those who want to save time

Cost

Both the Classic Dinner Plan and the Lean & Clean Dinner Plan start at $11.99 per serving

Availability

Gobble delivers meal kits across the United States, with the exception of Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota.


11. MealPro

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Many of the food kits on this list are recurring as soon as you start a subscription, but MealPro gives you the option of ordering once or having meals shipped regularly. Regardless of which you choose, many of the meals are under $10 and include premium ingredients like lean red meat, chicken, and fish. You also get the chance to pick your meals every time rather than letting someone else choose what you should be eating.

When you do subscribe for a longer period, you can earn reward points for every purchase. These can be used to redeem free meals in the future. These meals will ship and deliver daily in the U.S. Mountain and Pacific areas, will deliver on Wednesday through Friday in the Eastern and Central U.S., and ship and deliver daily in British Columbia.

Highlighted Features

  • Instead of fixed menus, these meal kits allow you to choose the meals you want each week
  • All meals can be customized with no carbs, extra protein, additional vegetables, and other options
  • Offers pre-cooked dishes that are freshly prepared and delivered to your door in a microwave-safe container

Cost

Servings start at $9.99 and go up to at least $15.99 depending on the meal choice

Availability

MealPro offers deliveries to addresses in the continental United States and British Columbia in Canada.


12. PlateJoy

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PlateJoy is slightly different from other options on the list in that it isn’t technically a delivery service. Instead, this service helps you create meal plans for losing weight, preventing diabetes, and planning meals. When you use the service, you answer questions about your dietary requirements, your goals, your budget, how long you like to cook, and other factors that are used to give you appropriate recommendations.

You’ll be provided with a list of meals that meet your requirements, and then you can add them to your menu, change ingredients, and swap out and change other items as much as you want. After this, PlateJoy offers a shopping list and you can shop on your own or use Instacart to request the groceries you need.

Highlighted Features

  • Operates as a personal meal planning assistant to help you meet your dietary goals through a custom meal plan
  • Features three services including weight loss, meal planning, and prevention of diabetes
  • Offers a clean and straightforward interface with recipe cards that include ingredients and step-by-step instructions

Cost

Plans from PlateJoy start at $8 a month and can be charged at $69 for six months or $99 for yearlong plans

Availability

PlateJoy offers meal kit deliveries in various parts of the United States.


13. Sun Basket

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Sun Basket is another subscription for meals that offer healthy diet options and that can be made in as little as five minutes. There are three types of meals you can choose from, including oven and microwave-ready meals, pre-prepped meals to save time, and classic cooking recipes where the prep and cooking is up to you. All of the meals incorporate fresh organic produce for a healthy dining experience.

Each subscription starts with two or more dinners, and you can then add on lunches, breakfasts, snacks, and other items. Some of the other things to be aware of with Sun Basket are that orders come cold packed to your door, and you can easily skip a week or cancel your subscription whenever you like.

Highlighted Features

  • Features a delivery kit with two or three dinner recipes, ingredients and instructions every week
  • Option to choose between two people or four people with special diets like paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, and more
  • Offers breakfast, lunch, dinner snacks, and groceries including pasta and fresh proteins

Cost

Each serving is $10.99, $11.99, or $12.99 depending on the number of servings and meals bought for the week

Availability

Sun Basket ships to most states except for parts of Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota, as well as all of Alaska and Hawaii.


14. Freshly

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Freshly is a bit unique in that it offers single-serving meals that come in four, six, nine, or 12 meals each week. When you sign up for meals, you can also narrow down your options with things like “home bistro,” “takeout twists,” and “feel better food.” In addition to that, the company allows you to set preferences, so you don’t see dishes that contain gluten or peanuts for those with allergies; some dishes are also free of dairy.

Since Freshly comes with pre-packaged meals, there’s minimal cleanup at the end of the meal beyond tossing the container in the trash. These work well as a time-saver and can help with easier meal planning in any household.

Highlighted Features

  • Designed for single people, small families, and time-challenged households for healthy and fresh meals
  • Offers a variety of dishes that cater to individuals who have food allergies and sensitivities
  • All meals are single serving, so you can order as much or as little as your household needs

Cost

Meal plans with 12 meals start at $7.99 each and can go as high as $11.50 for four meals a week

Availability

Freshly offers delivery in some parts of all states in the continental United States.


15. EveryPlate

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EveryPlate is an inexpensive meal kit that offers simple-to-make recipes with pre-portioned ingredients to make cooking quick and easy. There are two plans available with this kit – one for couples and the other for four people. Their meal options are rather straightforward and may not appeal to everyone, especially those on keto diets, paleo diets, or other restricted diets that this meal kit might not cater to.

However, making an order is simple and easy, with deliveries on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays based on where you’re located. Unfortunately, the ingredients are all placed together and it can be hard to determine what goes with each recipe.

Highlighted Features

  • Offers easy to make, clear recipes that come pre-portioned for simple prepping and cooking
  • All of the materials used in the packaging for the kit are recyclable and eco-friendly
  • Includes two plans that are simpler than many kits and designed for two people or four individuals

Cost

Every serving from EveryPlate is $4.99 per serving, regardless of how many are eating and how many meals are chosen a week. $8.99 is charged for shipping

Availability

EveryPlate offers delivery to most places in the continental United States.


16. Daily Harvest

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Daily Harvest is a superfood based, farm frozen, pre-portioned food subscription service that offers items like bowls, smoothies, and soups right to your door. All of the items offered by the company are simple to prepare, such as the smoothies, which you just add milk to before blending, or the overnight oats, which you add milk to and let soak overnight before heating in the morning. These are also very convenient since the cups come frozen and you can defrost them as you need them.

If you are on a plant-based diet and looking for healthy meals that you can enjoy quickly, this is an ideal option, with several different choices for meals and snacks. While the company started out offering only smoothies, the menu has grown substantially in the last few years.

Highlighted Features

  • Features a variety of healthy dishes like smoothies, bowls, flatbreads, soups, oat bowls, lattes, and more
  • All items on the menu are nutritious, plant-based, and made of only a few ingredients
  • Each box comes with dry ice, so you can add the cups into your freezer and defrost them as you want to use them

Cost

Prices vary based on the types of smoothies, bowls, bites, and other meals and the number ordered

Availability

Daily Harvest offers delivery to over 30 states, but not all of them, so make sure it’s available in your area.


17. FreshDirect

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FreshDirect is more of a grocery delivery service in the New York area, but it does include some premade meals that can be ordered like any other subscription service. All you have to do is sign up for the service, and your groceries will be delivered straight to your home or office. What sets this service apart is that it offers a wide variety of groceries, so you can find something for any taste or dietary requirements.

The biggest perk of FreshDirect is that it is convenient and can prevent you from needing to head to the grocery store on your own. Instead, you simply make a grocery list, select a time when you want it to be delivered, and checkout.

Highlighted Features

  • Offers a vast number of grocery items and pre-made meals
  • Includes many organic and gluten-free options for those with dietary requirements and requests
  • Most of the pre-made meals from the company serve at least two to three people

Cost

Prices range from just a few dollars to over $20 but often offer at least two servings

Availability

FreshDirect delivers to most addresses in several counties in New York state as well as some parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Connecticut, and Delaware.


18. Snap Kitchen

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When you use Snap Kitchen, you can order meals for three, five, or seven days. There are a huge variety of meal types to choose from, including paleo, keto, Whole 30, high-protein, low-carb, vegetarian, balanced, and custom. You can select whichever plan best fits your lifestyle and then choose the meals that appeal to you most while meeting your health and diet goals at the same time.

Rather than having to spend hours prepping and cooking yourself, this service preps, cooks, and delivers meals that you can heat up in your microwave in just a few minutes. Some of the meals you can expect to see on the menu include chicken piccata, banana pancakes, chicken chile enchiladas, and many more.

Highlighted Features

  • Offers a wide selection of meal plans such as low-carb, Whole 30, vegetarian, high-protein, and others
  • Ingredients used in the meal kits are whole superfoods to help contribute to a healthy diet and prevent disease
  • Each meal is portioned, cooked, and packaged, so all you need to do is follow the included heating instructions

Cost

Meal servings start at $9.58 each and go up based on the menu and number of dishes purchased

Availability

Snap Kitchen serves most of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut. It is also offered in parts of New York, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana.


Buyer’s Guide for the Best Meal Subscription Boxes

There are dozens of meal services today that deliver straight to your front door, and it seems like new ones are always popping up. They make an excellent option for those who don’t have time for meal prepping and shopping for groceries since all of that is handled for you. However, before you pick a meal kit for your household, there are a few things to be aware of.

What to Expect in Your First Box

Once you’ve chosen the right meal delivery service for you, you may be wondering what to expect from your first box. Every kit is going to be different, but many have things in common, such as:

  • First Box Discounts – Most services offer a hefty discount on the first box to get you started with their meals. This is always worth taking advantage of so that you get some savings when you start out.
  • Boxes Can Sit at the Door – Since your delivery can come at any point in the day, meal delivery services package ingredients to stay safe throughout the day until you can get to them. Most package items with ice packs and insulation to keep cold items at the correct temperature.
  • Packaging Can Be Overwhelming – While some packaging is more eco-friendly than others, there’s often a lot of packaging to get rid of after you unpack things. This might matter if you already have overflowing dumpsters or trash cans at your home.
  • Seasonal Recipes and Favorites Are Expected – All meal services have their own approach for repeating meals, but they often add seasonal items so the options don’t get boring and stale. However, the most popular meals will typically pop up time and time again so that you can try it again later.
  • Meals Should Be Prepared ASAP – The ingredients in kits are often fresh and of a high quality, but they don’t have preservatives, so you want to cook the meals quickly. Items like fresh greens, seafood, and chicken should be the first items you cook.

Sizes of Meal Kits

Some meal kits are made for a single person, but most are created for a couple or a family of four. However, it doesn’t matter too much exactly how many people you’re buying for; there’s likely a meal option that fits your needs. Keep in mind that even if you’re alone or a couple, larger food kits can be useful for leftovers if you want to save money. The reality is that most companies have cheaper servings when you buy larger packages.

Consider Your Dietary Needs

You’ve probably noticed that some of these kits are designed for vegans, others offer keto or paleo dishes, and some are simple and don’t have special kits for different dietary needs. If you have a special dietary requirement, such as not being able to eat nuts or needing gluten-free dishes, make sure that the kit you go with has the options you need for your meals.

The Bottom Line

When you’re choosing from the best meal subscription boxes, make sure to take into account your preferences, allergies, and palate to get the best results. You may be surprised by how many options are out there, but that just means you can be sure there’s something out there that will appeal to you. With the information provided here, you should be ready to choose a kit that will leave everyone in your household happy and well-fed.
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Isabel Scott

Isabel has a background in fitness and nutrition and spends her time developing exercise and healthy...

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