Meal kits aren't thought of as a money saver, though if you pick the right recipes from the right service, the cost isn't much more than buying the ingredients at a grocery store. They can give you loads of time back each week, normally spent planning, shopping for, and cooking meals. As our Flex Editor, Corin Cesaric learned, they can also teach you a few valuable cooking skills.
Our Picks
Why we picked EveryPlate:
Pros
- Excellent value with plans starting at $6 a serving
- Easy to execute and tons of family-friendly options
- Option to swap proteins and sides
Cons
- Not many low-carb or plant-based options
- $11 extra for shipping
Why we liked CookUnity:
Pros
- Enormous selection of diverse meals
- Lots of options for folks on a special diet including plant-based, keto, Whole30 and more
Cons
- Pricier if you order a small plan
- Some meals were shockingly high in sodium
- Extra $10 for shipping
Why we picked Dinnerly:
Pros
- As many as 50 recipes to choose from each week
- Meal kits are easy to prepare
- As cheap as it gets
Cons
- Not as consistently good as EveryPlate
- Some recipes are basic
Why we picked Mosaic Foods:
Pros
- Food is some of the best we tried
- Hearty and filling recipes
- Skillful use of plant-based proteins like jackfruit and lentils
Cons
- Vegan pizzas are just OK
- The occasional bland meal
Why we picked Blue Apron:
Pros
- A standard plan includes steak and seafood recipes
- Recipes are interesting and easy to make
- Excellent value if you choose a larger plan
Cons
- Doesn't allow for much customization
- Expensive if you only order two meals per week
- No vegan options
If you're tempted by easy meal kits but deterred by the cost, we've rounded up the cheapest service available in 2026. As a former cooking editor for Chowhound, the current CNET Home managing editor and resident meal kit tester, my standards are high. I've tested at least a dozen meals and enlisted colleagues to do the same -- all to provide deep insights into which meal kits deliver the highest quality at the lowest prices.
What's the best cheap meal kit service?
Mosaic Foods' heat-and-eat family meals start at around $6 per serving.
There are budget-friendly meal kits tailored for plant-based eaters, dieters, families and everyone in between, so don't make your decision without consulting our human-tested list. Our top two cheap services are EveryPlate (meal kits) and Mosaic Foods (prepared meals). But there are other wallet-friendly options to consider.
After testing meals and crunching the numbers, here are the most affordable meal delivery services in 2026.
Cheapest meal delivery services for 2026
Seafood dishes will cost you a few bucks extra.
Best cheap meal kit overall
EveryPlate
Pros
- Excellent value with plans starting at $6 a serving
- Easy to execute and tons of family-friendly options
- Option to swap proteins and sides
Cons
- Not many low-carb or plant-based options
- $11 extra for shipping
Why we picked EveryPlate:
EveryPlate's affordable meal kits were all solid and our testers found them easy to execute. This is also the cheapest meal kit, with plans as low as $6 a serving. EveryPlate meal kits are easy to prepare and I loved everything I made in multiple rounds of testing.
EveryPlate's plans and website are simple, they're intuitive and the food is satisfying. There are twenty-seven recipes per week, typically one featuring chicken or ground beef, a few pork chop recipes and a few plant-based meals. You won't get beef or seafood unless you shell out for premium meals, and there aren't many options for vegans.
That said, after three CNET editors tested EveryPlate, we were pleasantly surprised with how much we liked the meals. You won't find much high-end, upscale cuisine or complicated recipes, but you will find satisfying comfort food, such as hoisin meatloaf with mashed potatoes, cheeseburgers, umami pork chops and sweet potato quesadillas.Â
Who is it for:
This meal kit is a great option for beginner cooks since the meal kits are easy to execute, and the service is also a great option for those new to meal kits since they're the most affordable option.
Who should avoid it:
Since there are only a handful of vegetarian options, this might not be the best choice for vegetarians or vegans.
Even before heating up the meals, they looked delicious.
Best cheap prepared meal kits
CookUnity
Pros
- Enormous selection of diverse meals
- Lots of options for folks on a special diet including plant-based, keto, Whole30 and more
Cons
- Pricier if you order a small plan
- Some meals were shockingly high in sodium
- Extra $10 for shipping
Why we liked CookUnity:
The CookUnity meals were tasty and diverse. Whether you're craving Haitian vegetable stew or red wine-braised short rib, you can simply heat them up for lunch or dinner. The more you buy, the cheaper they get, but some premium options may incur an upcharge.
Because there are so many options, this is a great way to diversify your palette. There are also plenty of low-carb, vegan, and paleo options, so this is a good meal delivery service if you're sticking to a specific diet.
Who is it for:
This meal kit is ideal for those who don't have the time or desire to meal prep during the week. All you have to do is pop them in the microwave or heat the meal on the stove, and they're ready to eat -- no prep needed!
Who should avoid it:
Although some meal options have lower sodium, many are unusually high. This service might not be the best choice for someone on a low-sodium diet.
Pros
- As many as 50 recipes to choose from each week
- Meal kits are easy to prepare
- As cheap as it gets
Cons
- Not as consistently good as EveryPlate
- Some recipes are basic
Why we picked Dinnerly:
Dinnerly is the other cheap meal kit service. Like EveryPlate, plans start at around $6 per serving, and recipes are more basic than other services such as Blue Apron and Marley Spoon. The big advantage Dinnerly has over EveryPlate is variety. You'll choose from up to 50 recipes per week, while EveryPlate has more like 25 or 30.
The hit rate for Dinnerly wasn't as high as EveryPlate, with some big misses among the hits. That said, if you find yourself tiring of the same-old, same-old, Dinnerly has dozens of recipes to keep things interesting, help hone your skills, and add new dishes to your rotation.
Who is it good for:
Because Dinnerly offers the most recipe options of any cheap meal kit service, it is a good pick for families with picky eaters or dietary restrictions. With as many as 50 recipes to choose from, you're likely to find a few that satisfy everyone in the home. These meal kits were also easy to prepare, with some ingredients already chopped and ready to cook.
Who should avoid it:
If you're seeking a gourmet meal kit experience, Dinnerly might not meet your standards.
This was one of my favorites and I especially enjoyed the plantains.
Pros
- Food is some of the best we tried
- Hearty and filling recipes
- Skillful use of plant-based proteins like jackfruit and lentils
Cons
- Vegan pizzas are just OK
- The occasional bland meal
Why we picked Mosaic Foods:
This plant-based meal delivery service had some of the best, healthy prepared meals of any service I tried. Meals are also affordable, especially when you choose family-size portions, which work out to about $6 or $7 per serving, depending on the plan size.
We sampled about a dozen of Mosaic Food's plant-based prepared meal offerings, and the vegetarian prepared meal delivery service had an astoundingly high hit rate. Mosaic uses bold, global flavors and creative meat substitutes, such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower, and vegan sausages, to create tasty, satisfying vegetarian meals -- even for this omnivore.
Mosaic offers a quick breakfast with plant-based bowls, flatbreads, oat bowls, and smoothies. It's an affordable way for a family looking to cut meat out one or several nights per week to get dinner on the table.
You can choose one of three plans, choose between six, 12, and 18 meals, and either select your food or let Mosaic pick for you. Meals are easy to freeze, and subscription is easy to pause or cancel if you want to take a break or if meals start piling up in the fridge and freezer.
Who is it for:
If you're a busy vegetarian or vegan or want to incorporate more plant-based meats into your diet, this is a great meal delivery pick. In addition to a nice selection of vegetarian meals, there are some tasty vegan options, too.
Who should avoid it:
This might not be the best option for picky eaters.
This sheet-pan meal, roasted salmon and veggies, is from Blue Apron and took only 30 minutes to make.
Pros
- A standard plan includes steak and seafood recipes
- Recipes are interesting and easy to make
- Excellent value if you choose a larger plan
Cons
- Doesn't allow for much customization
- Expensive if you only order two meals per week
- No vegan options
Why we picked Blue Apron:
Blue Apron has always impressed us in terms of quality, freshness and overall value. Recently, the service adopted a subscription-free model. Meals can still be had for an approachable $8 or $9 per serving, but you're no longer required to sign up for weekly deliveries to try Blue Apron's recipes.
Who is it for:
Blue Apron meal kits are perfect for those looking to try meal kits without the commitment. Blue Apron has more inventive food on its menu to satisfy adventurous eaters and more seasoned home cooks. Blue Apron meal kits start at around $8 per serving, so there's little reason not to give this top-rated meal kit service a chance.
Who should avoid it:
While there are plant-based options, vegans would be better off choosing a service like Mosaic Foods or Purple Carrot.
Comparing the cheapest meal kits and prepared meals
| Brand | Meal service type | Recipes per week | Starting price per serving | CNET rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | Meal kit (cooking required) | 25+ | $6 | 8.8 |
| Blue Apron | Meal kit (cooking required) | 70+ | $8 | 9 |
| CookUnity | Prepared meal service (heat and serve) | 100+ | $11 | 8.8 |
| Dinnerly | Meal kit (cooking required) | 50+ | $6 | 7.4 |
| Mosaic Foods | Prepared meal service (heat and serve) | 50+ | $6 | 9.2 |
How we test meal kits and meal delivery services
We cooked our way through dozens of meal kits from all of the most popular services.
Over the past few years, editors at CNET have tested nearly every meal kit delivery and prepared meal delivery service we could get our hands on, including the best budget meal delivery services. Many of the menu options for the meal delivery services I've listed include nutritious plant-based food or high-protein recipes with lots of veggies and lean meats.
To test each cheap meal delivery service, I tried at least 4 meals and sometimes as many as 12 from each service. In 2026, my fellow editors retested the services to ensure they stood the test of time. We always choose a range of meals from the various menus and meal plan offerings. For instance, if a meal subscription service offers vegan or vegetarian meals, our wellness editor Anna Gragert, who's been a vegetarian for over 20 years, tested it this year. We also mixed up the cuisine types to include pasta, meat dishes, bowls and other various styles offered by the brand.
To test the best cheap meal kits, there was another set of standards and protocols to adhere to. Here's more on how we test meal kits at CNET.
Factors to consider when choosing a cheap meal delivery service
Overall cost
After you've picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you'll want to find a service within your budget. Meal kits with recipes can cost as little as $6 per serving and include basic menus and no-frills recipes. More expensive services include recipes with more exotic ingredients, high-end cuts of meat, and organic produce, but they can cost as much as $15 or $20 a serving.Â
And don't forget about shipping. Most services charge $10 to $12 per box unless you order a certain number of meals. Larger meal plans are also typically cheaper per serving, so stocking the freezer with a larger regular order of prepared meals can keep overall costs down.
Meal kit or prepared meal delivery
The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep work and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat. Meal kits will demand more of your time and energy but they'll also cost a little less per serving. Prepared meals require almost no time and energy, other than what it takes to actually eat the food, but typically run a few dollars more per serving.
Blue Apron is budget-friendly and includes steak and seafood options.
Healthiness
While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are healthier. Specific meal kits and delivery services are better for those who want to eat low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based, or pescatarian food. This list of the healthiest meal delivery services for 2026 is a good place to find the most nutritious options.Â
A spread of Mosaic'd plant-based prepared meals.
Number of meals per week
With almost every service, the more meals or servings you order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. Ideally, you'll want to determine precisely how much food makes sense for your household. If you can't imagine yourself cooking more than twice per week, don't order more than two meal kits because they typically won't last more than a week in the fridge.Â
Most prepared meals either arrive frozen or can be frozen after unboxing. That means it's less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go-around. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you've started.Â
Why you can trust us
Our meal delivery experts have logged more than five years and have cooked more than 75 meal kits, and tested more than 100 prepared meals, from popular services to help land on our list of the best and cheapest meal delivery services.Â
Cheap meal delivery FAQs
What is the cheapest meal delivery service?
From our list, EveryPlate offers the cheapest meal kits, with most plans clocking in around $6 per serving. With family meals clocking in at $6 a serving and single meals around $11, Mosaic Foods is the cheapest prepared meal service we've tested.
What is the healthiest meal delivery service?
When it comes to meal kits, you have many options, and most services provide weekly recipes that are low on calories but still filling.
Depending on your weight loss goals, a healthy prepared meal delivery or meal kit service can help. Factor offers a generous amount of lean proteins available to choose from.
What's the difference between meal kits and premade meal delivery?
Some of the services listed here are healthy prepared meal delivery services, sending fully cooked meals -- often frozen or partially frozen -- and ready to eat when you receive them. Others include health-focused meal kits with pre-measured ingredients boxed up and ready for easy weeknight cooking. There's a stark difference between meal kits and meal delivery, but both make dinnertime easier and can translate into healthier eating choices. Plus, we sussed out the best healthy meal delivery services for those on special diets like keto or paleo or for those who wish to eat organic prepared meals and meal kits.
