Everyone needs to eat, but unless you’re fortunate enough to have a personal chef, making food takes time and energy. Consider how much effort goes into shopping for, cooking, and eating food. Subscribing to a meal kit delivery service may help you cut down on lengthy grocery trips, but if you want even less work, feast your eyes on the top prepared meal delivery services we’ve tested.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service
Best Variety
Why We Picked ItFresh N Lean is a prepared meal-kit delivery service, which means that the food arrives fully cooked, ready for you to heat and eat. Its well-rounded menu appeals to all diet types. Other prepared meal services target particular groups with specific dietary needs, but Fresh N Lean is an excellent option for everyone thanks to its varied, high-quality menu.Who It’s ForFresh N Lean is for everyone curious about prepared meals, regardless of diet. It’s one of the best gateways to this particular meal-kit category. What you lose in freshness, you gain in sheer convenience. Fresh N Lean also lets you create custom subscriptions with a la carte items, which is a nice touch.
PROS
Meals delivered fresh
Varied menus for vegan and paleo diets
Low price for prepared meals
Lets you create custom subscriptions
CONS
Limited control over the meal plans you receive
Generic à la carte meals
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$10.49-$15.99
Shipping Fee
$9.99
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service Review
CookUnity Meal Delivery Service
Best for Meals From Famous Chefs
Why We Picked ItCookUnity lets you choose between hundreds of tasty, fully prepared meals designed by its chef collective, including some notable celebrity chefs. You’ll find plenty to eat, no matter your cuisine preferences or dietary needs. Who It’s ForCookUnity is for anyone who wants a convenient and comprehensive prepared meal service without sacrificing choice. The service has annoying packaging, inconsistent portions, and gaps in its delivery map, but it’s an overall excellent prepared meal option.
PROS
Many tasty options
Easy preparation
Accommodates a wide range of dietary needs
Flexible scheduling and meal selection
CONS
Inconsistent portions
Annoying packaging
Some gaps in delivery coverage
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$11.09
Shipping Fee
$9.99
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
CookUnity Meal Delivery Service Review
Factor Meal Delivery Service
Best for Hello Fresh Fans
Why We Picked ItFactor is a prepared meal-kit delivery service owned by HelloFresh, an Editors’ Choice pick for traditional meal kits. Factor is similarly excellent, selling delicious rotating dishes that are incredibly convenient to prepare. Who It’s ForIf you want more variety in your prepared meals, Factor is a great overall option. You must subscribe to the service (it lacks an a la carte option), but the menu is varied enough to accommodate all diets. Plus, you can purchase add-ons for your weekly meals to round out your deliveries.
PROS
Many high-quality prepared meals
You can pick meals from a rotating menu
Optional add-ons
Subscriptions include a 20-minute dietitian consultation
CONS
Requires a subscription
Seasoning is occasionally off-balance
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$10.49-$12.99
Shipping Fee
$9.99
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Factor Meal Delivery Service Review
Mosaic Meal Delivery Service
Best for Vegan and Vegetarian Diets
Why We Picked ItMosaic offers surprising variety despite focusing on vegetarian diets. Its prepared meals include soups and bowls for individuals, as well as pies designed to feed an entire family. Who It’s ForMosaic is for people who want choice in their healthy, prepared vegetarian meals. This flexibility also extends to the service; it lets you choose between cheaper, smaller items and larger, more expensive ones as you craft your subscription.
PROS
Tasty vegan and vegetarian meals
Many sizes and prices for individuals and families
Flexible subscription
CONS
Soups could use more substance
Larger meals have lengthy cook times
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$5.99 to $23.95
Shipping Fee
$9.99
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Mosaic Meal Delivery Service Review
Veestro Meal Delivery Service
Most Flexible Purchase Options
Why We Picked ItPrepared meals are especially useful for vegan and vegetarian diets, as they remove the hassle that makes it so hard to form healthier eating habits. Veestro offers many vegan meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that taste great and don’t require much prep time.Who It’s ForVeestro is for people who want to really commit to eating vegan. You must buy many meals upfront, but they last a while in the freezer. A la carte and subscription plans give you plenty of flexibility when choosing meals.
PROS
A la carte and subscription plans
Easy prep with premade meals
Healthy, without sacrificing taste
Lunch and entrée options
CONS
Meals aren’t always filling
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$11.99 to $22.99
Shipping Fee
$7.95-$12.95
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Veestro Meal Delivery Service Review
Balanced Bites Meal Delivery Service
Best for Keto and Paleo Diets
Why We Picked ItBalanced Bites carefully crafts high-protein meals that are so good you would never believe they come fully prepared. Boxes are more expensive than many competing services, but you have many options for customizing your food deliveries.Who It’s ForBalanced Bites is for people who want weekly keto and paleo boxes (each meal contains meat, so it’s not for vegetarians). If you’re on board with the company’s focus, you’ll find a lot to like with this low-carb meal-kit delivery service.
PROS
Hearty, tasty, premade meals
Prepared, frozen, and shipped within days to maintain quality
Convenient for keto and paleo diets
Build your own a la carte box or choose a subscription plan
CONS
Expensive
No vegan or vegetarian options
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$19.99
Shipping Fee
$9.99-$13.95
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Balanced Bites Meal Delivery Service Review
Daily Harvest Meal Delivery Service
Best for Unusual Ingredients
Why We Picked ItDaily Harvest helps you eat more vegetables throughout the day thanks to its breakfast and lunch options, along with soups and smoothies. Even the packaging is good for the planet. Note, though, that the company has recently recalled some menu items that caused sickness.Who It’s ForEven if you aren’t vegan, adopting a more plant-based diet improves your health. And who doesn’t want faster cook times? Daily Harvest is an especially good choice if you want a variety of vegetables in your prepared meals.
PROS
Minimal to no cooking required
Diverse ingredients
Heavily plant-focused and all vegan
Compostable packaging
CONS
Must supply your own liquids for smoothies and soups
Some unusual ingredients and flavor combinations
Purported wellness benefits may be a turnoff
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$6.99-$7.75
Shipping Fee
Free
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Daily Harvest Meal Delivery Service Review
NutriFit Meal Delivery Service
Best for Comprehensive Meal Planning
Why We Picked ItNutriFit doesn’t just prepare meals for convenience. It prepares meals to help you lose weight, recover from a pregnancy, get ready for a sport, or achieve some other body-related goal. The system tailors its menus to the health data that you put input into the site. Who It’s ForNutriFit is explicitly designed for people looking to accomplish health goals. The company’s offerings are meant to replace your non-NutriFit meals, which is why it’s so expensive. In short, it’s for customers willing to fully buy into the system.
PROS
A wide variety of healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Many ways to customize plans to meet your nutritional goals
Numerous a la carte options
Free shipping
CONS
Expensive commitment
Occasionally overwhelming sign-up process
Food quantity doesn’t always equal quality
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$18
Shipping Fee
Free
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
NutriFit Meal Delivery Service Review
Splendid Spoon Meal Delivery Service
Best for Soups and Smoothies
Why We Picked ItWe already enjoyed Splendid Spoon’s healthy breakfast and lunch menu items, especially the tasty soups. The recently added high-protein meals make it an even more appealing prepared meal-kit option.Who It’s ForSplendid Spoon reminds you that healthy, prepared meals don’t have to sacrifice flavor. Some meals are better than others, but overall we enjoy the company’s fun and interesting meal selection.
PROS
Convenient
Packed with plant-based foods
Fun flavors
Surprisingly delicious soups
Good packaging
New, high-protein options
CONS
Expensive smoothies
Grain bowls need more texture contrast
Some offerings too bland in testing
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$9.50-$13
Shipping Fee
Free
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Splendid Spoon Meal Delivery Service Review
Sprinly Meal Delivery Service
Best for Fresh Flavors
Why We Picked ItSome prepared meal kits struggle with the logistics of providing fresh meals. The timing is too tricky. That’s not the case with Sprinly. Its plant-based meals arrive fresh, and you can absolutely taste the difference.Who It’s ForAnyone looking to add more veggies to their diet. Sprinly is an excellent example of a plant-based, prepared meal delivery service. The food is not only flavorful, but quite filling. You don’t always have many options to choose from, but the available options won’t disappoint you.
PROS
Fresh, filling, and flavorful meals
100 percent, plant-based food
No cooking required
Free delivery
CONS
Limited menu options per week
No a la carte options
Doesn’t deliver everywhere in the United States
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$18
Shipping Fee
Free
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Sprinly Meal Delivery Service Review
Trifecta Meal Delivery Service
Best for Fitness-Focused Meal Prep
Why We Picked ItGetting in shape requires a proper diet and regular exercise. Trifecta helps you achieve both. Its meal plans ensure you put the right food in your body, while its fitness app encourages you to move your body.Who It’s ForTrifecta is for people who want to incorporate meal planning into their overall fitness routine. The food could use more flavor, but you have many customization options. And even without the meals, the free app is an excellent fitness tool.
PROS
Meal plans cover a variety of diets
Grocery and à la carte options
Helpful fitness app
CONS
Meals could use more flavor
Little control over what exact meals you receive
SPECS
Name
Value
Price Per Serving
$15.49
Shipping Fee
No
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Paleo Options
Pescetarian Options
Gluten-free Options
Dairy-free Options
Learn More
Trifecta Meal Delivery Service Review
Buying Guide: The Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services for 2024
What Is a Prepared Meal Delivery Service?A traditional meal kit delivery service sends you a box full of ingredients. When you sign up for Editors’ Choice picks, such as Blue Apron, Green Chef, HelloFresh, or Hungryroot, you’ll get everything from raw meat to whole produce to spice packets. Using the included instructions, it’s up to you to assemble and cook those separate ingredients into a complete meal.Prepared meal delivery services, however, send you complete meals. You must reheat them, whether it’s in a microwave, in an oven, or on a stovetop. Still, the work is mostly done before the box arrives at our doorstep. You can spend less time planning and more time eating, the true appeal of food in the mail.
(Credit: PCMag)
Fortunately, this doesn’t limit the types of food you’ll find with these services. If anything, chefs get more creative with their meals since they aren’t asking you to cook. Our top picks offer everything from BBQ beef with mashed parsnips, tomato flatbreads, breakfast frittatas, healthy smoothies, and complex soups. Sometimes, you don’t need to heat the food; you can eat the cool salad or frozen dessert straight from the box. These meals come already prepared, so they tend to last longer in the fridge or freezer compared to raw ingredients. These services also pack far more meals into a single package. A traditional meal kit box may have three meals at max, while a prepared meal box has ten. Are There Any Vegan Prepared Meal Delivery Services?You can find prepared meal delivery services to suit all kinds of tastes and diets. Balanced Bites and Trifecta offer meaty, protein-heavy cuisine perfect for keto. NutriFit tailors its meals to help reach specific health goals. Mosaic, Sprinly, and Veestro make it easier than ever to go vegan. CookUnity’s and Factor’s menus have a little something for everyone, as does our Editors’ Choice pick Fresh N Lean. Is It Cheaper to Get Meal Kits Than Prepared Meals?There are a few reasons why prepared meal services may not be best for you. These services go through the extra work of cooking the food beforehand, so each prepared meal tends to cost more compared to a traditional meal kit box. For example, HelloFresh costs about $10 per meal, whereas Balanced Bites costs $20 per meal. You’re paying for that chef’s labor.Traditional meal kit delivery services also provide culinary education you won’t receive with prepared meals. Even if you’re simply following instructions, you’ll learn to cook. With prepared meals, you have far less room to customize.
Recommended by Our Editors
Flavor can also suffer compared to truly home-cooked meals. The least appetizing meals we ate through meal services, such as bistroMD, Daily Harvest, and Splendid Spoon, reminded us that these are pretty much rebranded frozen TV dinners. The best services prepare fresh meals just days before they arrive on your doorstep.
Best Meal Delivery Services for 2020
Fast Food That’s Good FoodThere’s nothing stopping you from mixing and matching meal kit delivery services. Get a traditional one when you have time to cook, get a prepared one when you don’t. Sunbasket and a few other services offer both options with one subscription. Think of these services as big, online buffets, so dig in. If you’re looking for some more ways to get healthier, check out our Ultimate Guide to Health and Fitness Tech. For more on improving your culinary life through tech, check out the best meal planning apps and best grocery delivery services.
