We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. PlateJoy, Inc. is owned and operated by Healthline Media. Here’s our process.
Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We’ve rounded up the best and cheapest meal delivery services, with meals costing as little as $5 per serving and offering discounts to students, veterans, and more.
The sections below explore some of the most affordable meal delivery services, beginning with the lowest-priced option. This article bases all prices on a plan offering three recipes per week with two servings each.
The table below compares the meal delivery services in this article.
| Price per serving | Meals per week | Discounts and offers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinnerly | from $5.49 | 2 to 6 | new customers receive $40 off their first 5 boxes |
| EveryPlate | from $4.99 | 3 to 6 | meals start at $1.49 for new customers students get 75% off their first box, with discounts for the rest of the year |
| Daily Harvest | from $6.79 | 9 to 24 | students and educators get up to $65 off their first box Refer A Friend program offers up to $40 off their first box |
| Mosaic Foods | from $5.99 | 6 to 18 | $20 off first order, or $20 off an order after using the company’s referral program |
| Clean Eatz | from $7.99 | 5 to 6 | $20 off first order |
| Blue Apron | from $7.99 | 2 to 5 | 40% off first order 50% off first order for students, first responders, seniors, veterans, and more |
| Mom’s Meals | from $7.99 | 10 to 21 | Medicaid may cover the cost of the meals 10% discount for veterans and people who sign up for automatic shipping |
| Marley Spoon | from $8.69 | 2 to 6 | 55% discount for single-person households up to $235 off the first five boxes one free box to each friends and family referral |
| HelloFresh | from $8.49 | 2 to 6 | 10 free meals and free appetizers for life for new customers 55% student discount on the first box, with further discounts throughout the year |
| Home Chef | from $9.99 | 2 to 6 | heroes get 50% off their first box and 10% off all recurring boxes students and graduates can receive savings through Student Beans |
- Price: MNT compared the weekly cost for the same number of meals and servings, so people can decide what is most appropriate for their budget.
- Nutritional value: These meal delivery services meet the average person’s nutritional needs and promote healthy eating habits.
- Ingredient quality: Brands use fresh, high quality ingredients. Some also use organic produce or sustainably sourced ingredients.
- Variety: Services feature a range of flavors and ingredients to suit different tastes and diets.
- Availability: Services are available throughout most of the United States.
- Sustainability: Brands reduce their environmental impact by using recyclable packaging, carbon-neutral shipping, local ingredients, and other sustainable practices.
- Reputability: Services adhere to industry best practices, have passed our medical vetting process, and meet MNT’s business standards.
Affordable meal delivery services can benefit various groups, such as disabled people, older people, and those with medical conditions that may limit their ability to shop for or cook meals.
People living in food deserts
Areas in which people do not have easy access to food due to financial or geographical reasons are called food deserts, although this term faces criticism from some.
USDA data from 2019 shows that 6% of the U.S. population lives in low income, low access (LILA) areas, meaning that money and access to supermarkets are barriers to getting nutritious food.
More specifically, “LILA” refers to areas where urban residents live more than 1 mile and rural residents more than 10 miles away from a supermarket. There are LILA areas in every U.S. state.
Meal delivery services may help people in LILA areas access balanced and nutritious meals, although they may still be too expensive for those on very tight budgets.
Meal delivery services will rarely be cheaper than grocery shopping in stores. People opting for a meal delivery service may wish to consider certain hidden costs that come with these services, including:
- Shipping: Although most brands are clear about their shipping costs, it is an extra expense people need to budget for compared to grocery shopping in person. In some cases, shipping can add an extra $15 to a person’s order.
- Covering other meals: Some brands offer only meals suitable for dinner. If using these services, people will still need to shop for food suitable for breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
- Leftovers: Typically, meal delivery services do not offer portion sizes big enough to provide leftovers. This means people will not be able to spread a meal over several days, which is an effective way to save money on weekly grocery shopping.
There are many potential advantages of using meal delivery services, such as:
- allowing people to spend less time planning meals
- providing a helpful way to learn to cook
- offering a new roster of recipes, often on reusable recipe cards
- increasing variety and access to ingredients that may be unavailable at the local grocery store
- introducing people to new ingredients
- making meals convenient
- generating less waste
- providing many nutritious options
- helping people get started with a specific diet, such as the keto diet
Possible drawbacks of using a meal delivery service include:
- low quality protein and produce, depending on the standard of particular services
- potential for delivery errors
- the possibility of unpalatable recipes
- potential that food may spoil before a person is ready to cook it
- the possibility that a recipe may take more time if it requires new cooking techniques
- high costs, which may particularly affect households that need large amounts of food
A person can explore the following options to help make meal planning easier if they do not wish to use a meal delivery service.
Meal planning services
Services such as PlateJoy can help people plan meals. This platform provides the customer with a shopping list and recipes to try. This may be especially helpful for busy people, those new to cooking, or those who are getting used to a new diet.
Meal preparation help
There are also many resources available for preparing meals in advance.
A person may wish to prepare several meals ahead of time so it is easier to provide individual meals throughout the week. However, preparing even a few meals or meal components for the week ahead may make a difference.
Buying precut vegetables
Many grocery stores now sell precut vegetables and other ingredients to help people reduce their meal preparation time. Using ingredients such as frozen vegetables, shredded cheese, and canned sauces may help save time and reduce stress for those who have less ability to cook or are building experience in the kitchen.
Community-supported agriculture (CSA) baskets or meat shares
This option may suit people who want to be creative in the kitchen.
CSA baskets and meat shares support local food producers and provide customers with quality, local ingredients. Delivery may be available, depending on the organization. Using these ingredients, people can follow whatever recipes they choose or create their own.
Learn more about preparing healthy meals on a budget.
Dinnerly and EveryPlate are two of the cheapest weekly meal delivery options that offer three recipes with two servings each.
For large families, people can select the Dinnerly family box, which costs $76.06 per week and features 3 recipes with 4 servings each. EveryPlate offers a family plan with child-friendly recipes starting at $59.88 weekly for 3 recipes with 4 servings each.
Dinnerly and EveryPlate may offer the cheapest meal delivery options for single people.
People who take advantage of Marley Spoon’s single-household introductory offer can receive 55% off their first box.
It is unlikely that meal delivery services will save people money compared to grocery shopping in-store. This is because these services may not provide meals suitable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and may not offer snacks or drinks. Additionally, it is unlikely that portion sizes will be big enough to provide leftovers.
People will also have to pay for shipping in most cases, which can add $10–15 to a person’s order.
Meal deliveries can be cheaper than eating out, especially if people take advantage of introductory and special offers.
Most meal delivery services offer healthier food than some restaurants, and are usually more affordable than eating out for larger families.
People may wish to consider signing up for a meal delivery service to save them time and build their cooking experience. However, these services may not always be cheaper than grocery shopping in stores.
The most affordable options offer meals at $4.99 per serving, and most companies offer discounts to new customers and certain groups, such as students or veterans.
Meal kit deliveries may help people learn to cook, discover new ingredients, and reduce food waste. Although there are various expensive, specialized meal kit options on the market, many affordable options are also available.