Meal kit delivery services promise to save you time and make cooking easier — but most of them are shockingly expensive. At $10-12 per serving, you're paying more than eating out at a fast-casual restaurant. That defeats the whole purpose if you're trying to eat well on a budget.
But here's the good news: not all meal kits cost a fortune. I've tested 12 meal kit services over the past six months, tracking every cost — including shipping, taxes, and those "introductory offer" price bumps. Here are the services that actually deliver affordable, delicious meals without draining your grocery budget.
How We Ranked the Cheapest Meal Kit Services
Price per serving is just the starting point. Here's what we actually measured:
- True cost per serving — including shipping fees (many services charge $8-10 per delivery)
- Portion sizes — a $5 meal that leaves you hungry isn't really saving money
- Price after introductory offers expire — the "real" price you'll pay after week 4
- Flexibility — can you skip weeks easily without penalty?
- Recipe variety — cheaper services often have fewer weekly options
- Ingredient quality — we won't recommend services that cut corners on food quality
The 7 Best Cheap Meal Kit Delivery Services for 2026
1. EveryPlate — Best Overall Budget Meal Kit
Price: $4.99/serving (regular price) | Shipping: $9.99/box
Servings: 3-5 recipes/week, 2-4 servings each
First box deal: 50% off + free shipping
EveryPlate consistently delivers the lowest per-serving price of any major meal kit service. Owned by HelloFresh's parent company, it uses the same supply chain infrastructure but focuses on simpler recipes with fewer premium ingredients to keep costs down.
What I liked: Recipes are genuinely easy (most take 25-35 minutes), portions are generous, and the ingredients always arrived fresh during my 3-month test. The recipes lean comfort-food (think garlic butter steak, BBQ chicken, creamy pasta) which my family loved.
The tradeoff: Fewer recipe choices per week (around 20 vs. 40+ at premium services), limited organic options, and the packaging generates more waste than competitors.
True monthly cost for family of 4: ~$340/month (4 recipes/week, 4 servings each) vs. ~$600-800 average grocery spending.
Try EveryPlate — 50% Off First Box →
2. Dinnerly — Best for Simple, Quick Recipes
Price: $5.29/serving | Shipping: $9.99/box
Servings: 3-6 recipes/week, 2-4 servings each
First box deal: 57% off first box
Dinnerly keeps costs low by using digital recipe cards instead of printed ones and limiting each recipe to about 6 ingredients. This isn't just a cost-cutting measure — fewer ingredients actually means faster cooking and less food waste.
What I liked: The simplicity is a feature, not a bug. Most meals come together in 20-30 minutes with minimal prep. Their app is excellent for following along step-by-step. They also offer a solid kids' menu.
The tradeoff: Recipes can feel repetitive if you're an adventurous cook. Ingredient substitutions happen more frequently than with premium services.
Try Dinnerly — 57% Off First Box →
3. HelloFresh — Best Value for Recipe Variety
Price: $7.49/serving | Shipping: $10.99/box
Servings: 2-6 recipes/week, 2-4 servings each
First box deal: 16 free meals + free shipping + 3 surprise gifts
HelloFresh isn't the cheapest per serving, but it offers the best balance of price and variety. With 40+ weekly recipes spanning multiple cuisines and dietary preferences, you'll never get bored. Their aggressive introductory offers also make the first month very affordable.
What I liked: Consistently high-quality recipes, excellent step-by-step instructions with photos, and the largest selection of any service. Their "Quick & Easy" meals (under 20 minutes) are perfect for busy weeknights.
The tradeoff: Price jumps noticeably after introductory period. Shipping costs add up.
Try HelloFresh — 16 Free Meals →
4. Home Chef — Best Budget-Friendly Customization
Price: $7.99/serving | Shipping: Free on orders $49.95+
Servings: 2-6 recipes/week, 2-6 servings each
First box deal: 50% off first box
Home Chef stands out with its "Customize It" feature — you can swap proteins in any recipe without extra charges. Want chicken instead of shrimp? No problem. This flexibility helps you pick cheaper protein options to lower your per-serving cost even further.
What I liked: Free shipping threshold is easy to hit, protein swaps save money, and their oven-ready meals (minimal prep) are a game-changer for busy nights. Available at Kroger stores too for pickup.
The tradeoff: Base price is mid-range. You need to actively choose budget-friendly options to keep costs down.
Try Home Chef — 50% Off + Free Shipping →
5. Blue Apron — Best Budget Option for Foodies
Price: $7.99/serving | Shipping: Free on 3+ recipe orders
Servings: 2-4 recipes/week, 2-4 servings each
First box deal: $110 off across first 5 boxes
Blue Apron is pricier than EveryPlate or Dinnerly, but the recipe quality is noticeably higher. If you enjoy cooking and want restaurant-quality meals at home, this is where budget meets gourmet. Their wine pairing add-on ($10/month for 6 bottles) is also surprisingly good value.
What I liked: Chef-designed recipes that actually teach you cooking techniques. Ingredient sourcing is more transparent. The spread-out discount across 5 boxes is smart — it lets you really evaluate the service.
Try Blue Apron — $110 Off First 5 Boxes →
6. Gobble — Best for Ultra-Fast Budget Dinners
Price: $8.99/serving | Shipping: $7.99/box
Servings: 2-3 recipes/week, 2 servings each
First box deal: 50% off first box
Gobble's entire pitch is 15-minute dinners, and they actually deliver on this promise. Everything arrives pre-prepped — vegetables are chopped, sauces are pre-made, proteins are pre-marinated. You're essentially just assembling and heating.
What I liked: If your time is worth money, Gobble offers the best value per minute of cooking. Perfect for parents, busy professionals, or anyone who hates meal prep. Quality is surprisingly high for a "convenience" service.
The tradeoff: Higher per-serving price and limited to 2-person servings (no family plan). Fewer weekly recipe options.
Try Gobble — 50% Off First Box →
7. emeals — Best for Grocery Store Meal Planning (No Kit)
Price: $5/month (subscription) | Shipping: N/A — you buy groceries yourself
How it works: Weekly meal plans + organized grocery lists sent to your Walmart/Instacart cart
eMeals isn't a traditional meal kit — it's a meal planning service that sends recipes and automatically adds ingredients to your online grocery cart. This is the cheapest option by far because you're buying groceries at store prices, not meal-kit markup prices.
What I liked: At $5/month for the planning service, the total cost per serving drops to $3-5 depending on your store. Integrates with Walmart, Instacart, Kroger, and Amazon Fresh. Great variety of diet-specific plans (keto, paleo, budget-friendly).
The tradeoff: You still have to grocery shop and do all the prep. No pre-portioned ingredients. It's really a planning tool, not a delivery service.
Try eMeals — Plans from $5/Month →
Meal Kit Cost Comparison Table
| Service | Price/Serving | Shipping | Cook Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | $9.99 | 25-35 min | Lowest price |
| Dinnerly | $5.29 | $9.99 | 20-30 min | Quick & simple |
| HelloFresh | $7.49 | $10.99 | 25-40 min | Best variety |
| Home Chef | $7.99 | Free* | 25-35 min | Customization |
| Blue Apron | $7.99 | Free* | 35-50 min | Foodies |
| Gobble | $8.99 | $7.99 | 15 min | Speed |
| eMeals | $5/mo* | N/A | Varies | DIY planning |
* Free shipping on qualifying orders. eMeals is a planning service — you buy groceries separately at store prices.
Are Meal Kits Actually Cheaper Than Grocery Shopping?
Let's be honest: most meal kits are NOT cheaper than grocery shopping. Here's the real math:
- Average grocery cost per serving (home-cooked): $2.50-4.00
- Average meal kit cost per serving: $5.00-9.00
- Average restaurant/takeout cost per serving: $12-18
Meal kits sit in the middle. They're cheaper than eating out but more expensive than grocery shopping from scratch. However, there are scenarios where meal kits can save you money:
- You currently eat out 3+ times per week — switching to a meal kit saves $20-50/week
- You waste a lot of groceries — pre-portioned ingredients eliminate food waste (Americans waste ~30% of food purchased)
- Your time has real value — skipping meal planning and grocery shopping saves 3-5 hours/week
- You use introductory offers strategically — rotating between services during promotional periods
Pro Tips to Save Even More on Meal Kits
- Stack introductory offers: Sign up for EveryPlate, use the 50% off deal, then switch to Dinnerly's intro offer. Rotate between services.
- Choose larger serving plans: The per-serving price drops 10-20% when you order 4 servings vs. 2 servings.
- Skip weeks strategically: All major services let you skip weeks without canceling. Use meal kits for busy weeks only.
- Combine with grocery savings strategies: Use meal kits for 3 dinners/week and cook budget meals from scratch for the rest.
- Check for cashback: Sites like Rakuten and TopCashback often offer 10-20% cashback on meal kit signups. Pair this with introductory discounts for maximum savings.
Which Cheap Meal Kit Should You Choose?
- Tightest budget? → EveryPlate ($4.99/serving, can't beat it)
- Hate cooking? → Gobble (15-minute meals, everything pre-prepped)
- Want variety? → HelloFresh (40+ recipes/week)
- Want the absolute cheapest option? → eMeals ($5/month, buy groceries at store prices)
- Families? → Home Chef (customize proteins, free shipping, kid-friendly options)
Whatever you choose, start with the introductory offer and give it at least 3 weeks before deciding. The first box is always the cheapest, but it takes a few deliveries to really evaluate whether a service fits your cooking style and taste preferences.
🏆 Our Top Pick: EveryPlate
For pure budget value, EveryPlate wins. At $4.99/serving with generous portions and solid recipes, it's the closest you'll get to home-cooking costs without actually grocery shopping. Their current deal gives you 50% off your first box + free shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest meal kit delivery service?
EveryPlate is the cheapest traditional meal kit at $4.99 per serving. If you're willing to buy your own groceries, eMeals offers meal planning for just $5/month, bringing your total per-serving cost to $3-5 at grocery store prices.
Are meal kits worth it on a tight budget?
Meal kits are worth it if you currently spend a lot on takeout or waste groceries. They're typically $5-9 per serving vs. $12-18 for restaurants. However, cooking from scratch with groceries ($2.50-4/serving) is still the cheapest option.
Can I cancel a meal kit subscription anytime?
Yes, all major meal kit services (EveryPlate, Dinnerly, HelloFresh, Home Chef, Blue Apron, Gobble) allow you to cancel anytime with no penalties. You can also skip weeks without canceling. Just make sure to cancel before the weekly order cutoff (usually 5 days before delivery).