We Tried the 9 Best Meal Kit Delivery Services in 2026
- Michal Elyasaf
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Meal kits promise to solve dinner, but the gap between the best and worst is wide — ingredient quality, recipe clarity, and price all vary a lot. We subscribed to the major services and cooked dozens of dinners to sort them out. These are the nine best meal kit delivery services in 2026.
Quick verdict
HelloFresh is the best meal kit service for most people in 2026 thanks to its variety and reliability. EveryPlate is the best budget pick, Factor is best if you would rather not cook at all, and Green Chef is the top choice for organic eating.
The best meal kit services, ranked
1. HelloFresh — best overall
Best for: households that want variety and consistency.
HelloFresh offers the widest weekly menu, dependable ingredients, and recipes that are hard to get wrong. It is the safest first subscription and the one most people stick with.
2. Home Chef — best for customization
Best for: picky eaters and mixed households.
Home Chef lets you swap proteins and adjust portions more freely than most rivals, plus offers quick oven-ready options. It bends to your preferences instead of forcing a fixed menu.
3. Blue Apron — best for learning to cook
Best for: home cooks who want to build skills.
Blue Apron leans into chef-driven recipes and technique, with well-written steps that teach as you go. Portions run refined rather than oversized.
4. Green Chef — best organic
Best for: eaters who prioritize organic and clean ingredients.
Green Chef is USDA-certified organic and strong on keto, paleo, and gluten-free plans. It is the pick when ingredient sourcing matters most.
5. Factor — best no-cooking option
Best for: busy people who want ready-to-eat meals.
Factor delivers fully prepared meals that heat in minutes — technically prepared meals rather than kits. It is the answer when you want the convenience without the chopping.
6. Sunbasket — best premium healthy
Best for: health-focused cooks who want quality proteins.
Sunbasket emphasizes organic produce and responsibly sourced proteins across flexible diet plans. It costs more, and the ingredient quality shows.
7. EveryPlate — best budget
Best for: anyone who wants meal kits for less.
EveryPlate strips the menu to crowd-pleasing dinners at the lowest per-serving price in the category. It skips the frills and nails the fundamentals.
8. Purple Carrot — best plant-based
Best for: vegans and vegetarians.
Purple Carrot is fully plant-based, with creative recipes that go well beyond salads. It is the standout for meat-free households.
9. Marley Spoon — best classic recipes
Best for: cooks who want familiar, market-fresh dinners.
Marley Spoon focuses on simple, seasonal recipes with quality ingredients. It is comfort-food cooking without the guesswork.
How we tested
We rated each service on ingredient freshness, recipe variety and clarity, ease of cooking, packaging waste, and price per serving. Every service was cooked from for at least a week of real dinners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest meal kit delivery service?
EveryPlate is the cheapest meal kit service in 2026, with the lowest per-serving price among major providers. HelloFresh and Home Chef also run frequent first-box discounts that lower the entry cost.
What is the best meal kit for families?
HelloFresh and Home Chef are the best meal kits for families, offering kid-friendly recipes, larger portion options, and flexible plans that scale to four or more servings.
How does meal kit pricing work?
Meal kits charge per serving, with the total based on how many recipes and servings you select each week. Per-serving prices typically fall as you order more meals, and shipping may be added on smaller plans.
What is the best meal kit for healthy eating?
Green Chef and Sunbasket are the best meal kits for healthy eating, with organic ingredients and dedicated keto, paleo, and low-calorie plans. Factor is a strong ready-to-eat option for calorie-controlled meals.
Last updated: July 2026. Rankings reflect We Tried It All's hands-on evaluation and are updated as products change.
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