8 Best Cheap Meal Kits of 2026

This list is for households that want dinner kits at the lowest real cost per serving, counting the shipping fee and the smallest box a service will sell. We compared documented features and published prices on each company's own website and help center in November 2026. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%. Starting prices are the lowest regular price per serving each company publishes in USD, before first-box discounts. Shipping is charged per box, so the per-serving cost falls as you order more meals or more people per meal. Three services do not show prices until you enter a US zip code, and those are marked as pending.

1. 01Top value

   

   EveryPlate

   8.6/10

   Budget home cooking box with simple recipes, flat shipping and no minimum order.

   Price

   $5.99per serving, plus $10.99 shipping per box

   Plans from $5.99 per serving plus a flat $10.99 shipping fee per box; new customers can get $2.99 per meal on the first box

   “Plans start at just $5.99 per serving, and new customers can get meals for as low as $2.99 on their first box.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forHouseholds that want the lowest regular price per serving and simple, family-friendly dinners.

   EveryPlate calls itself America's lowest-priced home cooking box, and its own FAQ backs that up with a clear number: plans start at $5.99 per serving and shipping is a flat $10.99 per box. That pairing makes it easy to work out a weekly bill before you sign up. You choose 3 to 5 meals per week for 2, 4 or 6 people from a menu of 35+ recipes, and the company says it has no minimum order or term. Recipes use six simple steps and take about 30 minutes, which suits beginners and busy families. Menus lean on comfort food and kid-friendly flavors, with vegetarian dishes and tags such as Calorie Smart and Carb Smart. Premium proteins cost extra, and EveryPlate says plainly that it does not cater to restrictive diets. New customers can get $2.99 per meal on a first 2-person, 3-recipe box, but later boxes renew at the regular price, so budget on $5.99 per serving plus shipping.

   • ✓Lowest published starting price in this list at $5.99 per serving
   • ✓Flat $10.99 shipping per box
   • ✓No minimum order or term

   • ✕Does not cater to restrictive diets
   • ✕Premium proteins cost extra
   • ✕Plan prices only show after you enter a zip code

   Starting price:

   $5.99 per serving

   Shipping:

   $10.99 per box

   Plan sizes:

   3 to 5 meals for 2, 4 or 6 people

   Minimum order:

   None stated

   Bottom line: EveryPlate is the cheapest regular price per serving we found, and its flat shipping and lack of a minimum keep the weekly bill predictable. Look elsewhere only if you need a specific diet.

   Visit everyplate.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Dinnerly

   8.5/10

   Low-cost meal kit with a public price table for every box size and 100+ recipes a week.

   Price

   $5.99per serving, plus $11.99 shipping per order

   Meals from $5.99 per person; boxes from $57.95 for 2 meals for 2 people to $227.63 for 6 meals for 6 people, plus $11.99 shipping per order

   “Fast, easy, tasty meals start at just $5.99 per person.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.3

   Features (35%)

   7.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forFamilies of four to six who want to check the exact weekly price before signing up.

   Dinnerly is the most transparent budget kit we checked. Its help center lists the price of every combination: 2 meals for 2 people cost $57.95, 6 meals for 4 people cost $203.75 and 6 meals for 6 people cost $227.63, with a shipping fee of $11.99 on every order. That lets you calculate a true per-serving cost before you enter any details. At the large end, the 6-person, 6-meal box comes to about $6.66 per serving with shipping, close to EveryPlate. The homepage headline of $5.99 per person matches the biggest boxes. Small households pay far more: a 2-person, 2-meal box is about $17.49 per serving once shipping is added. The menu offers 100+ recipes a week, menus can be viewed three weeks ahead, and a Market section adds ready-to-heat meals and desserts. Recipes are designed around 5 simple steps. It offers fewer specialty diets than premium kits.

   • ✓Every box price is published in the help center
   • ✓6-person box works out to about $6.66 per serving with shipping
   • ✓Large weekly menu for a budget kit

   • ✕$11.99 shipping makes small boxes expensive per serving
   • ✕2-person boxes cost about $17.49 per serving with shipping
   • ✕Fewer diet-specific plans than premium kits

   Starting price:

   $5.99 per person

   Shipping:

   $11.99 per order

   Smallest box:

   2 meals for 2 people, $57.95

   Largest box:

   6 meals for 6 people, $227.63

   Bottom line: Dinnerly is the best choice for larger families that want to see the full price table before buying. For one or two people, its shipping fee erodes the savings.

   Visit dinnerly.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Home Chef

   8.4/10

   Customizable meal kit from Relish Labs with oven-ready options and a separate Family Plan.

   Price

   $8.99per serving, plus shipping

   Meal kits from $8.99 per serving; minimum weekly order of $50.95 for the Home Chef Plan and $82.91 for the Family Plan, shipping included

   “Find your new favorite meal with meal kits starting at $8.99 per serving” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.2

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.5

   Best forHouseholds that want more menu choice and customization at a mid-range price.

   Home Chef costs more than the two budget leaders, with meal kits starting at $8.99 per serving and standard meals averaging $9.99 according to its FAQ. What you get for the extra money is choice. Each week you pick from over 35 meals and 18 Extras, and the Customize It tool lets you change meals to suit your taste. Alongside classic kits there are Oven-Ready options, and the Family Plan sells family-friendly meals, including Taco Kits, in 4-serving increments. Home Chef publishes its minimum weekly order with shipping included: $50.95 on the Home Chef Plan and $82.91 on the Family Plan. That makes it easy to tell what the smallest order will cost. Deliveries run Sunday through Friday, and the menu closes at 12pm CT each Friday. The company offers a satisfaction guarantee on meals. New customers get large discounts on the first five boxes, and a shipping fee applies after the first box. Budget shoppers will pay about 50% more per serving than EveryPlate.

   • ✓Large weekly menu with customization
   • ✓Clear minimum order including shipping
   • ✓Satisfaction guarantee if you are not happy with a meal

   • ✕Starting price is $3 higher per serving than EveryPlate or Dinnerly
   • ✕$50.95 minimum each week you order
   • ✕Menu closes at 12pm CT each Friday for the next delivery

   Starting price:

   $8.99 per serving

   Minimum order:

   $50.95 Home Chef Plan, $82.91 Family Plan, shipping included

   Weekly choice:

   Over 35 meals and 18 Extras

   Owner:

   Relish Labs LLC

   Bottom line: Home Chef is the pick for cooks who want a bigger, customizable menu without paying premium-kit prices. If price per serving is the only test, EveryPlate and Dinnerly cost less.

   Visit homechef.com ↗

4. 04

   

   HelloFresh

   8.1/10

   Meal kit with 100+ weekly recipes, diet-focused plans and ready-made meals.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.2

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forHouseholds that want the widest menu and diet tags and can pay more than budget-kit prices.

   HelloFresh offers the broadest menu of the kits we compared, with 100+ chef-curated recipes and market add-ons each week, most cooked in 30 minutes or less. You can swap proteins and adjust portions, and plan styles include Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Pescatarian, Calorie Smart, High Protein, Carb Smart and Mediterranean. Newer formats such as Prep & Bake and Low-Lift Dinner come with prepped ingredients or aluminum trays to cut cleanup, and the company also sells ready-made meals. Recipes tagged GLP-1 Support aim to balance protein and fiber. The trade-off for budget buyers is price visibility: HelloFresh shows plan prices only after you enter a US zip code, so we could not confirm a USD per-serving price from this location. Its offer terms say a shipping fee applies on all deliveries after the first box, and premiums and meal upgrades cost extra.

   • ✓Largest weekly menu in this list
   • ✓Many diet tags, including GLP-1 Support recipes
   • ✓Pause or cancel anytime

   • ✕Plan prices only appear after entering a US zip code
   • ✕Shipping fee applies on all deliveries after the first box
   • ✕Premiums and meal upgrades cost extra

   Weekly menu:

   100+ recipes

   Cook time:

   Meals in 30 minutes or less

   Shipping:

   Fee on deliveries after the first box

   Commitment:

   Pause or cancel anytime

   Bottom line: HelloFresh is the strongest all-round meal kit here on menu size and flexibility, but not the cheapest. Budget households should look at EveryPlate or Dinnerly first.

   Visit hellofresh.com ↗

5. 05

   

   Hungryroot

   8.1/10

   Grocery and recipe delivery that fills your cart around your diet and weekly budget.

   Price

   $8.99per dinner serving

   Dinners from $8.99 per serving, breakfast from $3.99 and lunch from $5.99; free shipping on orders over $70

   “Breakfast $3.99 Lunch $5.99 Dinner $8.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.8

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.3

   Best forShoppers who want groceries, snacks and quick recipes in one box at a budget they set.

   Hungryroot sits between a meal kit and an online grocery store. You answer questions about your diet, health goals and budget, and it fills your cart with groceries and recipes that fit. Its homepage lists prices per serving from $3.99 for breakfast, $5.99 for lunch and $8.99 for dinner, with snacks and sweets from $1.99. Shipping is free on orders over $70, which matters because a bigger weekly order avoids the fee entirely. The catalog includes junk-free groceries, chef-crafted recipes that auto-add their ingredients, and ready-made meals such as grain bowls and microwavable dishes. Diet filters cover options like high protein, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian. You can change or skip any week, and every delivery includes a free gift worth up to $20. For a household that only wants cheap dinners, Hungryroot costs more per plate than EveryPlate or Dinnerly. For one that would otherwise buy groceries and lunches separately, the budget control is useful.

   • ✓You set a weekly budget and the box is built to it
   • ✓Covers breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, not only dinner
   • ✓Free shipping once an order passes $70

   • ✕Dinner at $8.99 per serving costs more than budget kits
   • ✕Orders under $70 pay shipping
   • ✕Less of a step-by-step cooking kit than classic meal kits

   Dinner price:

   From $8.99 per serving

   Free shipping:

   Orders over $70

   Recipes:

   50,000+

   Commitment:

   Pause or cancel anytime

   Bottom line: Hungryroot is the best fit when you want one weekly delivery to cover groceries and quick meals at a set budget. Pure dinner buyers will pay less with a budget kit.

   Visit hungryroot.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Marley Spoon

   7.9/10

   Meal kit with 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-person boxes, published prices and an add-on Market.

   Price

   $10.35per serving on the 6-person, 6-meal box, plus $12.99 shipping

   Boxes from $68.95 for 2 meals for 2 people to $372.63 for 6 meals for 6 people (about $10.35 per serving), plus $12.99 shipping

   “6 meals for 6 people cost $372.63 All orders are also charged a shipping fee of $12.99.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.4

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forHouseholds of three, which most budget kits do not serve with a dedicated box size.

   Marley Spoon publishes its full US price table, which makes the math simple even though the numbers are higher than Dinnerly's. A 2-person box with 2 meals costs $68.95 and 6 meals for 6 people cost $372.63, which works out to about $17.24 down to $10.35 per serving before shipping. Every order adds a $12.99 shipping fee, the highest we saw. Marley Spoon is one of the few kits with a 3-person box, where 3 meals cost $125.40, and every size lets you choose 2 to 6 meals a week. A Market adds extra items, and an automatic volume discount lowers the price of meals and Market items as your basket grows. Orders need a minimum value of $47, and you can fill a box with Market items or repeat portions of one recipe. For people eating alone, Balance by Marley Spoon sells prepared single-serving meals from $93.93 for 6. Menus are visible three weeks ahead.

   • ✓Full price table published in the help center
   • ✓Dedicated 3-person box
   • ✓Larger baskets earn an automatic volume discount

   • ✕Highest shipping fee in this list at $12.99
   • ✕Small boxes cost about $17.24 per serving before shipping
   • ✕Orders must reach a $47 minimum value

   Lowest per serving:

   About $10.35 on 6 meals for 6 people

   Smallest box:

   2 meals for 2 people, $68.95

   Shipping:

   $12.99 per order

   Minimum order:

   $47

   Bottom line: Marley Spoon is worth a look for households of three or anyone who values a public price table. Budget buyers will pay less per serving at Dinnerly.

   Visit marleyspoon.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Green Chef

   7.5/10

   Organic, health-focused meal kit with free nutrition coaching from a registered dietitian.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.4

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forHealth-focused households that want organic ingredients and diet plans such as gluten-free or Mediterranean.

   Green Chef is the health pick in this list rather than a budget one. It says it is the only meal kit that delivers fresh organic produce and proteins at no extra cost, and it bans more than 100 ingredients to help customers avoid ultra-processed foods. Each week brings 15+ new recipes ready in under 25 minutes, across styles such as Mediterranean, Plant Based, Gluten-Free, High Protein, Calorie Smart and Carb Smart. The menu is fully customizable: you can swap or double proteins, carbs and vegetables, with up to 50 grams of protein per serving on doubled meals. Subscribers also get free one-on-one nutrition coaching with a registered dietitian. Like HelloFresh, Green Chef hides plan prices until you enter a US zip code, so we could not confirm a USD price from this location. Its offer terms exclude premiums, upgrades and shipping from discounts. Expect to pay more per serving than the budget kits ranked above it.

   • ✓Organic produce and proteins at no extra cost
   • ✓Nutrition coaching included
   • ✓Avoids 100+ banned ingredients

   • ✕Prices only appear after entering a US zip code
   • ✕Smaller weekly menu than HelloFresh or Home Chef
   • ✕Premiums, upgrades and shipping are excluded from discounts

   Ingredients:

   Certified organic produce and proteins

   Weekly menu:

   15+ new recipes

   Coaching:

   Free with a registered dietitian

   Commitment:

   Pause or cancel anytime

   Bottom line: Green Chef suits buyers who put organic ingredients and diet plans ahead of price. Households watching every dollar should start with EveryPlate or Dinnerly.

   Visit greenchef.com ↗

8. 08

   

   Purple Carrot

   7.3/10

   Fully plant-based meal kit with high-protein recipes, frozen meals and add-ons.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.6

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forVegan and plant-based households that want a dedicated menu instead of a vegetarian filter.

   Purple Carrot is the only fully plant-based service in this list, and that focus is the reason to choose it. Every recipe is vegan, and each week includes options with 30+ grams of protein, 10+ grams of fiber and under 600 calories. Beyond cook-at-home kits, the menu covers frozen meals, ready-to-eat dishes, grab-and-go breakfasts, protein add-ons, and 4-serving value meals like a family lasagna bake. You can shop the full menu and build a first order before creating an account, and the company says sign-up is free with no commitment and cancellation at any time. It reports a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 50,000 reviews and over 10 years in business. For budget buyers, the problem is that the public plans page did not show prices from our location, so we could not confirm a USD per-serving price. Plant-based households will value the dedicated menu, but it is not a low-cost option.

   • ✓Entire menu is vegan
   • ✓High-protein and high-fiber recipes each week
   • ✓Free to sign up, no commitment, cancel anytime

   • ✕Prices are not shown on the public plans page
   • ✕Narrow fit for households that eat meat
   • ✕Costs more per serving than budget kits

   Menu:

   100% plants

   Rating:

   4.6/5 from 50,000+ reviews (vendor-reported)

   Track record:

   10+ years delivering

   Commitment:

   Cancel anytime

   Bottom line: Purple Carrot is the right kit only if you want an all-vegan menu. Mixed households will save money with the vegetarian options at EveryPlate or Dinnerly.

   Visit purplecarrot.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.