The Most Affordable Meal Kit Services

Note: We write our honest review on each product, however, we might receive a sales commission to support this website. See our full disclosure here.

Meal kits are an increasingly popular service, offering a fantastic way to save time on meal planning and meal prep. They also expose you to new tastes and meal options, with new recipes every week. Moreover, meal kits usually offer balanced and healthy dinners that are packed with veggies. 

Many assume meal kits are a luxury service, too expensive to fit their budget. If you are one of those people – this article is for you!

We know you might be surprised, but using some of the meal kit services on our list below can end up being cheaper than buying groceries for the same meal in the grocery store!

Another money-saving tip we have for you is to change your meal kit service regularly! You can take advantage of beginner promotions when you initially subscribe. It’s effortless to do, and there are no cancellation fees to worry about. 

Click here to check out the Meal Delivery Service coupons we have compiled for you. 

At the Meal Kit Review, we have a team of passionate meal delivery experts who know all the ins and outs of the meal delivery services industry. To complete this review, our team researched all the relevant companies in the lower price range, then underwent a thorough testing process for each.

Our review process includes subscribing to each service, updating account details, asking for help from customer service, choosing meals for weeks ahead online, unpacking our deliveries, cooking the meal, and, most importantly – tasting them! 

Using a meal kit delivery service can be pretty economical if you work out how much it costs to prepare your evening meals. You will find a range of cheap meal delivery services, each with its benefits.

Now, let’s get down to business.

Our List Of The Cheapest Meal Delivery Services

1. Dinnerly - Cheapest Meal Delivery Service

dinnerly_logo
Full Pricing:
$8.99
Shipping:
Starting at $4.99 per serving
Updated In:
December 26, 2023

With meals that start at a cost as low as $4.49 per serving, Dinnerly is undoubtedly an affordable meal delivery kit service on the market! 

Dinnerly is here to supply you with simple and delicious recipes for affordable evening meals. The company makes the extra effort to provide the same high-quality ingredients as other meal delivery services – but at a fraction of the cost. 

The service has a straightforward approach to keeping its prices low – digital recipe cards instead of paper-printed, fewer ingredients per dish (which also means less prepping, dirty dishes, and cleaning), simple packaging, and less fancy marketing campaigns.

The company now offers an outstanding variety of 45+ recipes weekly, with cheap meals designed to create a no-fuss dinner experience.

The vast weekly menu presented by Dinnerly cater to a few special diets and lifestyles, such as low-calorie meals, meals for picky eaters and kids, quick meals, low-carb, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly meals. Moreover, there are many convenient add-on options, such as protein packs and simple desserts.

What Do You Get?

Pre-portioned ingredients for three to six meals, with two or four servings per meal.

Sample Meals To Try From Dinnerly

  • Low-cal everything bagel crusted steak with sour cream mashed potatoes
  • Herbed pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes & gravy
  • One-pot chicken tagine with olives & couscous
  • Quick meal! Skillet chicken enchiladas with shredded cheese & scallions
Japanese BBQ Pork Rice Bowl Dinnerly
Japanese BBQ Pork Rice Bowl Dinnerly
dinnerly_logo
2024 OFFER! Dinnerly Coupon: Up to 43% Off First Box With Free Shipping

2. EveryPlate- Cheap, yet quality-based meal kits

A Top Cheap Meal Delivery Service – Quality-Based Comfort Foods

EveryPlate
Full Pricing:
$8.99 per box
Shipping:
$4.99 per serving
Updated In:
December 26, 2023

If you want delicious homemade meals at the most affordable prices, EveryPlate can be your choice, with meal kits at 5$ per serving!

How do they keep prices low? Their secret is keeping the meals simple and using fewer ingredients – but this doesn’t mean their meals are not tasteful! From our experience, EveryPlate’s meals are delicious, comforting, generously portioned, and fulfilling!

Their second secret for keeping their pricing low is using less packaging, allowing them to be eco-friendly while maintaining low prices. 

The company offers 18 easy-to-follow recipes each week to choose from, ready to eat in around half an hour.

To summarize, EveryPlate brings taste, value, and convenience to your family dining table!

What Do You Get?

Pre-portioned ingredients for three to six meals, with two or four servings per meal.

Some Popular Recipes From EveryPlate

  • Caramelized onion burgers with horseradish aioli and carrot fries
  • Chili-garlic shrimp over lemony parmesan risotto
  • Sweet chili pork tacos with red cabbage slaw, zesty crema & peanuts
  • Sweet potato & broccoli donburi with a fried egg, scallion rice, pickled cucumber & sriracha mayo
everyplate meal delivery
EveryPlate
BEST 2024 OFFER: Try Everyplate at $1.49 per meal + get 20% off next 2 boxes!

3. Hello Fresh - High Quality and Affordable Meal Kit

HelloFresh
Full Pricing:
$9.99 First shipping is FREE
Shipping:
$7.99-$9.49
Updated In:
February 21, 2024

HelloFresh is A subscription-based service that can make your weeknight dinners easy and tasty at an affordable price. 

All meal choices from their extensive 20 meals menu are full of farm-fresh ingredients you would love to eat. 

When opening the bags of each dish, the first thing to notice is the excellent ingredients, so the value for money with Hello Fresh is fantastic.

Hello Fresh offers a Classic two-person plan, a family plan, a calorie-smart plan, and a vegetarian plan – all at less than $9 per meal.

What Do You Get?

Pre-portioned ingredients for two to six meals, with two or four servings per meal.

Recipes Recommended To Check From Hello Fresh

  • Cheddar Wonderburgers & old bay fries with caramelized onion & special sauce
  • Low-carb seared chicken with creamy pesto sauce, smashed carrots & roasted zucchini
  • Moo shu pork bowls with cabbage, scallions & buttery rice
  • Cheesy chicken casserole with broccoli and rice
hello fresh unbox
HelloFresh
16 Free Meals + First Box Ships Free + Free Breakfast for Life

4. Blue Apron – Upscaled Dinners At A Cost-Effective Price

Full Pricing:
$7.99. FIRST SHIPPING FREE
Shipping:
$8.79-$9.99 per serving
Updated In:
December 26, 2023

Blue Apron is one of the most cost-effective meal delivery services to try. The meals, at around $10 per serving, are designed by real chefs and will make you feel like dining out, all in the comfort of your home -and at a fraction of the cost.

Each meal arrives with easy-to-follow cooking instructions, so you don’t need special cooking skills to cook.

The menu now offers 20 meals per week, with some premium meals, vegetarian options, kid-friendly meals (perfect for picky eaters), quick meals that are prepped and ready to cook, and even some prepared meals for easy dinner or lunch.

Moreover, the menu offers flexibility to change ingredients in some of the meals, making it even easier to best fit your taste and food preferences. For example,

What Do You Get?

Pre-portioned ingredients for two to four meals per week, with two or four servings per meal.

Recipes Recommended To Check From Blue Apron

  • Oven-baked chicken & romesco couscous with tomatoes, currants & labneh
  • Coconut korma chicken with chickpeas & rice
  • Mediterranean turkey stuffed peppers with feta & Mediterranean farro
  • Garlic-caper salmon with roasted potatoes & broccoli
blue apron meal delivery
BEST 2024 OFFER- Get Blue Apron from $4.00 per meal + free shipping on first box

5. Home Chef Affordable Meal Kits

Easy Classic Meals At an Affordable Price Per Serving

Full Pricing:
$9.99 First shipping is FREE
Shipping:
$7.50 - $9.50
Updated In:
December 26, 2023

Home Chef is a meal delivery service that makes home cooking simple and fun at affordable prices. The Home Chef meals are excellent, and with a varied weekly menu of 25+ dishes, an extra few $, compared to their lower price competition – Dinnerly or Everyplate – is worth it in our eyes! 

The Home Chef recipes are usually classic but include interesting modern twists. The meals are designed to be easy to cook, with meal-time of only about 15-30 minutes. The easy-to-follow recipe cards make the Home Chef experience very friendly.

Home Chef offers a diverse menu with a few unique features for different eating patterns like entree salads, oven-ready meals, and express meals designed to be ready in 15 minutes, carb-conscious and low-calorie meals.

The service also offers a unique feature that allows you to customize the proteins in your selected meals.

What Do You Get?

Pre-portioned ingredients for two to six meals per week, with two, four, or six servings per meal.

Some Home Chef Sample Meals

  • Pretzel-crusted pork chop with mustard potatoes and peas
  • Beef & poblano tamale pie with cornbread-cheddar crust
  • Mojito lime Mahi-Mahi and pineapple salsa with cilantro coconut risotto
  • Salmon with brown-butter tomato relish and wild rice
home chef tacos
Baja Fish Tacos Home Chef
Special 2024 OFFER: Up To 18 Free Meals - 45% OFF Your First 5 Boxes

6. Martha and Marley Spoon- affordable meal delivery

Martha
Full Pricing:
$8.99
Shipping:
$10.49 to $8.20 per person
Updated In:
December 26, 2023

When you think of home cooking, there is one name that springs to mind – and that is Martha Stewart. There is no one who better represents the joy of home cooking. That makes her meal kit company, Martha & Marley Spoon, so exciting!

This meal subscription service operates worldwide, servicing the USA, Australia, and many European countries. In addition, the company offers cost-effective services, with an extensive menu that includes 45 delicious weekly recipes.

The menu is divided into five categories: Health & Diet, Vegetarian & Vegan plant-based, Meat & Fish, Under 30 Minutes, and Family-Friendly. All their recipes result in enjoyable comfort food meals. The menu also includes some desserts and proteins as add-ons.

Martha & Marley Spoon is focused on keeping their recipes balanced, healthy, and full of high-quality ingredients.

What Do You Get?

Perfectly portioned ingredients for two to six meals per week, with two to four servings per meal.

Recommended Meals From Martha & Marley Spoon

  • One-Pan Caprese chicken with balsamic sauce & garlic bread
  • Pan-Roasted Steak & French Fries with Caesar Wedge Salad & Buttery Pan Sauce
  • Low-carb herb-crusted barramundi with roasted veggies & radish salad
  • Seared steak salad with maple-glazed pears, blue cheese & walnuts
Martha and Marley Spoon Products
Martha
2024 Deal! Get up to 40% off through 5 orders

Final Notes

In our opinion, it is always best to initially experiment with at least two different services. That way you can compare the companies and decide which is the best option for you.

All meal kit services are flexible and offer options to skip weeks or order every second week. So you can easily test two different services simultaneously or week after week. That way, you can also enjoy great beginner’s promotions from each company you try. 

Regardless of which company you select, using a meal kit service will save you time on meal preparation and money. 

About the author

Share

Related FAQ’s

Suppose you are watching your budget, and the price is a priority, then surprisingly to many. In that case, some meal kits offer the cheapest and most convenient way of enjoying delicious, healthy, and freshly cooked meals in the comfort of your own home.

A meal kit service does your planning, recipe writing, and grocery shopping. They then provide perfectly portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes that result in delicious meals that everybody loves to eat.

Using a meal service will also be cutting down on waste and not spending money on excess ingredients that end up in the garbage.

Meal delivery services provide perfectly portioned ingredients for an exact number of people. It is often hard or impossible to buy small portions of some ingredients at the supermarket. One of the main attractions of using a cheaper meal kit service is that they can actually save you more money compared to doing the more traditional supermarket shop for ingredients.

The answer to this question is easy – they simply do more for less. Our experiences have shown us that the cheaper meal kit delivery services still use the same quality ingredients as many other services despite the low prices. However, they tend to have a little simpler recipes with fewer ingredients. This does not mean that their meals lack anything regarding portion sizes or taste. However, simple recipes can still taste great and be fulfilling; it is just that they cost less to prepare and generally also take less time to cook.

Cheaper meal kit services manage to keep their pricing down by using less packaging, which is excellent for the environment and your hip pocket. Another way of keeping costs down without skimping on the meals’ quality is by avoiding any fancy marketing campaigns. By doing this, they can deliver fabulous low-cost meals with amazing ingredients without glossy advertising!

Obviously, the meal plan pricing is a significant factor, but you will also want to look at a few other details when deciding which company is the best fit for you. Therefore, we always recommend trying at least two companies initially.

There are many things to consider when choosing meal delivery services. Some of these things include the quality of the ingredients, style of the recipes, menu variety, nutritional values of the meals (is it healthy meals?), dietary requirements you may have, and flexibility of meal plans.

Dinnerly is one of the cheaper alternatives to HelloFresh, with options that can bring the per-plate cost down to $5 plus shipping.

While EveryPlate also has options in this price range, Dinnerly has more options overall on the menu, so it’s a better choice if cost is your biggest concern.

In addition to being cheaper, Dinnerly also offers more flexible subscription plans, so you can better customize your experience to suit your needs. Moreover, the vast menu includes recipes that match different diet needs like vegetarian, low-cal, low-carb, gluten-free-friendly, and more.

So if you’re looking for a HelloFresh alternative that won’t break the bank, Dinnerly is an excellent option to consider.

Compared to Every plate, Dinnerly is also one of the market’s most affordable meal delivery services. We chose it as one of our top picks for the budget-conscious shopper.

Dinnerly offers 28 new meals each week, and the prep is easy and approachable. In addition, you can add breakfast, dessert, and extra protein to your order.

While other meal delivery services may be cheaper in terms of price per serving, Dinnerly’s fee makes it the most affordable option overall.

And, because Dinnerly uses less packaging than other services, you’ll save even more money on your grocery bill. So, if you’re looking to save money on your weekly dinner tab, look no further than Dinnerly.

Before subscribing to a meal delivery service, it’s important to research and understand what you’re getting into.

One of the first things to consider is whether or not you can see the meals before you buy them. Most meal delivery services allow you to browse and choose the specific recipes and fresh meals you want to be delivered, while others send you a selection of recipes each week based on your preferences.

If you have dietary restrictions or want to know what you’re going to be eating in advance, it’s important to choose a meal service that allows you to preview the recipes.

Though each service is a little different, most subscription-based meal kit services, such as HelloFresh, charge their customers on a weekly basis.

This makes sense from a business standpoint, as it allows the company to more accurately predict how much food they need to source and prepare each week. It also helps ensure that customers can skip weeks or cancel their subscriptions with a few days’ notice.

While some meal delivery services allow customers to order food online using a credit or debit card, HelloFresh does not currently accept EBT as a form of payment.

There are a few reasons why this may be the case. First, unlike other forms of payment, EBT transactions must be processed in person, which means that HelloFresh would need to have someone available to accept payment on delivery day. Second, EBT can only be used to purchase certain types of food, which may not align with HelloFresh’s offerings. Finally, there may be concerns about potential fraud associated with EBT payments. As a result, HelloFresh has opted not to accept EBT at this time.

However, Hello Fresh accepts most other primary payment forms, so customers can still enjoy the convenience of having their meals delivered.

The simple answer is – Yes, they are easy to make. For proof, ask any home chef, and they’ll tell you that meal kits are a godsend. Not only do they provide delicious, healthy meals that can be made in minutes, but they also take all the guesswork out of meal planning.

HelloFresh and Blue Apron are two of the most popular meal delivery services, and for a good reason. Their recipes are easy to follow and require minimal prep time. Plus, their oven-ready and pre-made meals make cooking dinner a breeze.

Whether you’re short on time or don’t feel like cooking, meal kits are the perfect solution.

EveryPlate is a food subscription service that delivers boxes of pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to your door. It’s one of the most affordable options on the market, and it’s owned by HelloFresh, one of the most popular meal delivery companies.

EveryPlate was launched in 2018 as a lower-cost alternative to HelloFresh, and it offers a similar experience with some key differences. First, EveryPlate only offers three weekly recipes, while HelloFresh provides five. Second, EveryPlate doesn’t include premium ingredients like organic meats and seafood, while HelloFresh does. Third, EveryPlate requires a minimum order of two dishes per week, while HelloFresh has no minimum order.

Overall, EveryPlate is an excellent option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly meal delivery company with familiar recipes.

Quick Navigation
Top Delivery Services
green chef logo
Green Chef Meal Delivery Review 2023
HelloFresh
HelloFresh Meal Delivery Review 2023
Home Chef Meal Delivery Review 2023
dinnerly_logo
Dinnerly Meal Kit Delivery Review 2023
Blue Apron Review 2023 – Is Blue Apron Worth It?

Related Articles

hello fresh turkey thanksgiving 2021
Best Thanksgiving Dinner Meal Kits and Delivery Services of 2023
Best Climatarian Diet Recipes Meal Plans To Try In 2023
Home Chef whole 30 meal kits
Best Whole30 Meal Kits Services To Try In 2023
Best Meal Kits for Dairy-Free Diet
Best Dairy-Free Meal Delivery Services 2023
sun basket fresh and ready meals
Best Microwave-Ready Meal Delivery Service
Caramelized Onions- Home Chef
Best Meal Delivery For Christmas Dinner 2023
Best Mediterranean diet meal kits
Best Meal Delivery Services for Mediterranean Diet 2023
Cheapest Meal Kits
The Most Affordable Meal Kit Services
best meal kits for singles
Best Meal Kits for Singles (or One Person) 2023
Best Meal Kits Delivery Services for 2023
blue apron box
Corporate Meal kits gifts
Best Meal Kit For Valentine's Day
Best Meal Kit For Valentine’s Day 2023
sun basket oven ready Pollock and tomato-fregola rissoto
Best Oven-ready Meal Delivery Kits
Diet To Go Review
Best Refrigerated Meal Delivery Services
Factor75 Keto meal
Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services for Keto and Low Carb Diets
Benefits of Organic Food
Best Organic Meal Kit Delivery Services
Egg-free Diet meal kits
Egg-Free Friendly Meal Kits To Try In 2023
Best Meal Kits for nut allergy
Nut-Free Friendly Meal Delivery Service
Soy-Free Meal Kits
Best Soy-Free Meal Kits
7 days meal delivery plan
The best meal kits that provide 7 & 5-day delivery plans
Best Meal Kits for a Low Sodium Diet
Best Low Sodium Meal Delivery Services
Best Meal Kits for Diabetic Diet
Best Diabetic Meal Kits
Vegetarian Meal Kits
Best Meal Kits for the Vegetarian Diet
vegan meal kits
Best Vegan Meal Kits for 2023
family of three meal delivery
Best Meal Delivery Services For Families Of Three 2023
diet to go inside the box
Best Meal Kit with Less Packaging
plated dessert meal kit
Best Meal Delivery Services With Desserts
Hello Fresh Vegetarian Pizza
Best Easy-to-Cook Meal Delivery Services
Steak au Poivre by Home chef
Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services
Meal Kits with Mexican-Style Meals
Best Mexican – Style Meal Delivery Services
lunch meal kits
Best Lunch Meal Delivery Kits
Green Grass
Best Eco-Friendly Meal Delivery
veestro breakfast
4 Breakfast Meal Delivery You Must Try
kids meal kits box
Best Kids Meal Delivery Services
one-pan-orzo-italiano-e15b9da8.jpg
Italian-Style Meal Kits
asian meal kits
Best Asian Meal Kit Delivery Service 2023
Picky Eaters meal kits
Best Picky Eaters Meal Kits For 2024 – Reviewed By A Picky Eater’s Desperate Mom
College Students meal kits
Best Meal Kits for College Students 2023
Frozen Meal Delivery
Best Frozen Meal Delivery Services
meal kits for seniors
Best Meal Delivery for Seniors
meal kits for couples
6 Best Meal Kit Delivery Services for Couples
best meal kits for families
Best Meal Delivery Services for Your Family
Best Heart-Healthy Meal Delivery Services For 2023
Sun Basket oven ready meals
Best Meal Kits Without Subscription
south beach diet keto
Best Atkins Diet Meal Delivery Service
Whole30 Diet
Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Kits 2023
Paleo Meal Kits
Best Paleo Meal Delivery for 2023
Allergies meal kits
Best Allergy-Friendly Meal Kits
sun basket keto meal
Best Keto Diet Meal Delivery Services
Neapolitan Pizza Margherita with an arugula salad
Best Low-Calorie Meal Kits
steak meal kit
Best Meal Kits for Carnivores and Meat Lovers 2023
bodybuilders meal kits
Best Meal Delivery for Athletes, Bodybuilders and Muscle Gain
Weight Loss meal kits
Best Lean Diet Meal Delivery Services To Try In 2023
low carb meal kit by Factor
Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery Services
Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Programs
Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Plans 2023
Pescatarian Diet Meal Kits
Best Pescatarian Diet Meal Delivery 2023
Diet To Go Review
Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services for Diabetes