We Tested All the Cheapest Meal Kits and Prepared Meal Services. These Are the Best

Our meal delivery experts have logged more than five years of cooking more than 75 meal kits and tasting upwards of 100 prepared meals, from popular meal delivery services to help land on our list of the best cheap meal subscriptions. CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Life’s busier than ever -- at least it seems that way -- and carving out time to plan a week’s worth of meals, let alone shop for all the ingredients, can feel impossible. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with takeout or junk food, and it doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on dining out and delivery. Meal delivery kits make it easy to enjoy healthy, flavorful dishes without the hassle, and today’s options are better than ever. With plenty of budget-friendly choices -- some as cheap as $6 per serving -- you can save time, eat well and even cut costs. What's the best cheap meal delivery service overall? EveryPlate has the cheapest meal kits of any service I tried. David Watsky/CNET There are many reasons to delve into the world of meal delivery services. For one thing, groceries aren't as cheap as they used to be, but luckily, meal kit prices have remained relatively stable, which in some instance make them a better bargain in 2025. With all this new information, you might be wondering what the best cheap meal delivery service actually is. After much testing, I've found that there are plenty of options with services as cheap as $6 a serving. If you're looking for the most affordable meal kits, you can't go wrong with EveryPlate or Mosaic Foods, which is a vegetarian favorite. At CNET, we've tested EveryPlate numerous times over the years, and the budget-friendly option is the best cheap meal kit delivery service and has always stayed consistent. There are great budget-friendly options available, including services that offer nutritious vegan meals and meal kits for $6 per serving. For those looking to elevate their meals, some meal kit services even include steak and seafood in their standard plans without extra charges. Here are the most affordable meal delivery services in 2025, plus, why they impressed us. Cheapest meal delivery services for 2025 Filter by all Meal Kit Prepared Meal Variety Healthy Vegan Showing 5 of 5 Results David Watsky/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Seafood dishes will cost you a few bucks extra. David Watsky/CNET Best cheap meal kit overall EveryPlate 8.8 /10 SCORE 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. 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. ... Show more Get it now See at EveryPlate Specs & Configurations Pricing Starts at $6 per serving Type Meal kit Recipes per week 25+ Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy Shipping cost $11 Sample menu Sesame pork bowls; Southwest rajas quesadillas; creamy Dijon chicken Score Breakdown Taste/results 8 Value 10 Ease of recipes 9 Recipe variety 8 Healthiness 7 Add to compare Corin Cesaric/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Seared salmon and cumin Sichuan glaze Corin Cesaric/CNET Another great option for cheap meal kits 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 Why we picked Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a classic example of a quality meal delivery service. One of the original providers, it also stands out for its eco-friendliness. Blue Apron is one of the original meal kit services and one of the best. Blue Apron topped our list of best meal delivery services for 2025 with a wide range of excellent recipes, all affordable. Plans start at $8 a serving. With Blue Apron, you can order bistro steaks and roasted trout dinners even when you sign up for the standard plan. Most other services charge extra for those premium proteins. In addition to solid meal kits, Blue Apron is the most eco-friendly service of the major players, according to a recent study. Who is it for: Blue Apron meal kits are great for families since the price per serving drops to $8 a portion if you choose four recipes for four. They're also great for novice cooks who want to elevate their weekly dinner routine. Who should avoid it: Vegans would be better off choosing a service like Mosaic Foods or Purple Carrot. ... Show more Get it now See at Blue Apron Specs & Configurations Pricing Starts at $8 per serving Type Meal kit Meal options per week 70+ Good for Pescatarian, diabetes-friendly, low-calorie, picky eaters, families, quick meals. Shipping cost $10 Sample menu Pork belly fried rice; Lemon-caper salmon; Poblano and sausage gnocchi Add to compare Corin Cesaric/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Even before heating up the meals, they looked delicious. Corin Cesaric/CNET Best cheap prepared meal kits CookUnity 8.8 /10 SCORE 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 order them for lunch or dinner. The more you buy, the cheaper they get, but you can incur an upcharge for some of the premium options. 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 trying to stick 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 less sodium than others, many of them are unusually high. This service might not be the best choice for someone on a low-sodium diet. ... Show more Get it now See at CookUnity Specs & Configurations Pricing Starts at $11 per serving Type Prepared meal service Recipes per week 100+ Good for Special diets, including plant-based, keto, Whole30 Shipping cost $10 Sample menu Chickpea & spinach-stuffed sweet potato, pappardelle with beef ragù, Indian butter shrimp curry Score Breakdown Freshness 9 Taste/results 9 Value 8 Recipe variety 10 Healthiness 8 Add to compare Corin Cesaric/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 The six meals we taste-tested in the office. Corin Cesaric/CNET Another good option for cheap prepared meals Factor 8 /10 SCORE Pros Plenty of meal options per week to fit any diet or preference Dietitian-approved meals available Can shop by dietary preferences Cons Some meats were tough and not tender High sodium content in many meals Why we liked Factor: Factor meals are delivered fresh instead of frozen, which was a high point for us. They target the health, fitness, and diet crowds. A generous amount of lean proteins, such as chicken and salmon, along with greens, cauliflower, grains, beans, and other high-protein, low-calorie foods, are available to choose from. Who is it for: This is a good option for someone on a specific diet since many meals are keto and paleo-friendly. You can also use filters to search for meals that fit your taste, nutrition, and diet preferences. Plus, there are about six or seven vegetarian meals per week. Who should avoid it: This is slightly more expensive than CookUnity, so if you're on a tight budget but still want a prepared meal kit, CookUnity may be the better option. ... Show more Get it now See at Factor Specs & Configurations Pricing Starting at $12.50 per meal Type Prepared meal Meal options per week 35+ Good for Keto, paleo and high-protein diets Shipping cost $10 Sample menu Roasted garlic chicken, baja salmon, butternut squash & sage chicken macaroni Score Breakdown Freshness 9 Taste/results 8 Value 7 Recipe variety 8 Healthiness 8 Add to compare Anna Gragert/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 This was one of my favorites and I especially enjoyed the plantains. Anna Gragert/CNET Best cheap vegan and vegetarian meals Mosaic Foods 9.2 /10 SCORE 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. 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 and interesting global flavors and creative meat substitutes such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower, and vegan sausages to create tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals -- even for this omnivore. There are some vegan meals, but many use dairy products, so vegans must choose their Mosaic meals more carefully. 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 great vegan options, too. Who should avoid it: This might not be the best option for picky eaters because the menu doesn't include many basic meals. ... Show more Get it now See at Mosaic Foods Specs & Configurations Pricing Starts at $6 per serving (family meals) Type Prepared meal Meal options per week 80 Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie Shipping cost $10 or free for orders of 12 items Sample menu Peanut tofu bowl; coconut chickpea curry; eggplant moussaka Score Breakdown Freshness 9 Taste/results 9 Value 9 Recipe variety 9 Healthiness 10 Add to compare 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 needed) 25+ $6 8.8 Blue Apron Meal kit (cooking needed) 70+ $8 9 CookUnity Prepared meal service (heat and serve) 100+ $11 8.8 Factor Prepared meal service (heat and serve) 35+ $12.50 7.7 Mosaic Foods Meal kit (cooking needed) 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. David Watsky/CNET 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 four and sometimes as many as 10 meals from any given service. In 2025, 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 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 a serving, and they 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. 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. David Watsky/CNET Healthiness While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are healthier. Specific meal kits and delivery services are better than others if you want to eat low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based, or pescatarian food. This list of the healthiest meal delivery services for 2025 is a good place to find the most nutritious options. A spread of Mosaic'd plant-based prepared meals. David Watsky/CNET 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. 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. 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.