• Thoughtful recipes you won't find everywhere
• Extremely fresh ingredients
• Not a lot of plastic waste

• Smaller plans are on the expensive side
• Shipping is $11 per box

Why we picked it:

If you're looking for a meal kit that is both delicious and easy to prepare, while expanding your recipe repertoire, Marley Spoon is the perfect choice. The service, backed personally by Martha Stewart, offers thoughtful recipes that are perfect for both foodies and experienced home chefs. We've loved Marley Spoon in past rounds of testing, but it was always a few bucks more expensive than others. That's no longer the case, with subscriptions starting at just $9 per serving -- and the average plan clocking in at around $11.

Some meals require a bit more work than others, but express meal options are still available if you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner. The weekly menus offer more than 100 recipes to choose from, and you can also filter by dietary preference.

Who is it for:

Marley Spoon is great for anyone who wants a challenge when cooking dinner or to expand their recipe repertoire. With meals like homemade ricotta gnocchi and butternut squash and bacon galette, there are sure to be new and exciting recipes for you to explore each week.

Who should avoid it:

If you're a meal kit beginner, this one might not be for you right off the bat. While there are plenty of express recipes to choose from, the "chef series" recipes and more in-depth options are where this brand really stands out. It may be better to try Home Chef or HelloFresh first to get a hang of meal kits, then switch over to Marley Spoon when you feel like your cooking chops are up to par.

• Steak and seafood options are included in a standard meal plan
• As cheap as $8 per serving if you choose more than two recipes per week
• Good for families
• Recipes are elevated but not fussy
• No subscription required

• Fewer total recipe options than other services
• Doesn't allow for much customization
• Not good for vegan diets

Why we picked Blue Apron:

Having tested dozens of meal delivery services, Blue Apron is the only service that doesn't require a subscription of any kind. What's more, the meals are quite good, with all three editors who tested Blue Apron ranking it in their top three in terms of taste and quality.

We love Blue Apron's family-style and oven-ready meals, which take roughly 5 minutes to prepare and net four or five servings -- perfect for feeding a crew or meal planning for the week. We found the recipes inventive without being overly complicated. Of the more than 15 meal kits we've made from Blue Apron, none of them have been bad.

As mentioned, Blue Apron is no longer a subscription service, so you can order meals without the commitment. The running menu choices available range from simple pasta dishes to more daring global cuisine, with high-end recipes including nice cuts of beef and fresh seafood at no extra cost.

With its new structure, the per-meal costs have increased slightly compared to its previous iteration. Meal kits range from $9 to $14 per serving for most meals.

Who is it for:

Blue Apron recipes are thoughtful and elevated, featuring interesting global cuisines. Since there is no subscription commitment, this is the best service for anyone who wants to try meal kits but doesn't want to worry about canceling if it doesn't work out. This meal kit service is ideal for those with high food standards who prefer uncomplicated recipes.

Who should avoid it:

There are very few vegan options available each week, and recipes aren't intended to be substituted, so this isn't the best choice for plant-based eaters. It's also more expensive in its new iteration, so this is not a good budget meal kit pick. There's no discount for ordering more servings, either, so this may not be the best pick for families.

• The most affordable meal kit service
• Most recipes were either good or better
• Not a ton of plastic waste
• Super simple recipes that kids can help with

• No seafood and very few plant-based options
• Recipes are basic and get repetitive
• Very little customization allowed
• Not the healthiest

Why we picked it:

At between $6 to $8 per serving -- even cheaper with a sign-up offer -- and an emphasis on hearty meal options and generous portion sizes, all three editors who tested it agree that EveryPlate is the best cheap meal kit. 

EveryPlate keeps overhead costs low (oftencheaper than buying groceries yourself) by offering just a dozen or so easy meal kit recipes to choose from each week. No swaps or substitutions are allowed. These options include a few options for those on vegetarian and other special diets, but you'll find lots of meat and potatoes and other classic comfort meals, including meatloaf, burgers, crispy chicken strips and pasta.

If you're looking to try an easy meal kit service without risking much dough, you can score meals for as low as $2 a serving with free shipping on your first order.

Who is it for:

Those looking to get dinner on the table quickly and without blowing their budget. EveryPlate's meal kits are simple, quick to make and comforting -- but that doesn't mean they're not also great. We liked nearly all of the 14 meal kits we made from EveryPlate, and with the lowest price per serving of any subscription, it's a great pick for those trying to keep the family fed without putting the budget at risk.

Who should avoid it:

After enough time, the recipes can feel repetitive. EveryPlate doesn't mix it up as much as pricier services and relies on a lot of the same meal bases -- chicken breast, pork chops and ground beef. There are about 15 recipes per week, which is far fewer than services like HelloFresh and Home Chef. There aren't any seafood options and very few plant-based offerings.

• More than 70 weekly recipes
• Good for keeping to specific diets or eating plans
• Our wellness editor loved the vegan and vegetarian options, more than 15 per week
• Recipe variety is great for families with picky eaters

• Some recipes are a little boring and uninspired
• Extra $10 for shipping

Why we picked it:

HelloFresh offers more convenience, selection and family-friendly options than any other meal kit service. The recipes we tried were consistent and the prices are fair. This was enough to give HelloFresh the edge over Blue Apron as the best meal kit service for most families in 2026.

The weekly menus offer endless combinations, and swaps and substitutions are allowed to please even the most particular eaters in your family. This meal kit service's portion sizes are generous, and there are meals to suit various dietary needs and preferences. There are dozens of keto meals, low-calorie options and as many as 15 plant-based meal kits for those eating vegan or vegetarian.

HelloFresh is also fairly affordable. Most plans cost $10 per serving, but there's no real discount for ordering a large plan. HelloFresh recipes are quick and easy to follow, even for beginner cooks.

Who is it for:

HelloFresh offers the most recipes per week, with over 70 options, of any meal kit service we tried, making it a good option for families and homes with children (or choosy adults). Our vegan editor said HelloFresh had the best plant-based recipes of any service she tested, including Purple Carrot.

Who should avoid it:

These meal kits may challenge more experienced home cooks. We found some of the recipes to be a bit basic, featuring numerous comfort pasta dishes and simple cuisine. But if you're feeding a family of four or five, basic may be just what the doctor ordered.

• Had a solid hit rate with our testers
• Good value if order more than 10 meals
• Tons of healthy menu options per week
• Healthy food to service most diets and nutrition plans
• Just heat-and-serve

• Some meals contain extremely high levels of sodium
• Expensive if you only choose a few meals per week
• Meals were hit or miss

Why we picked it:

This prepared meal service focuses on gourmet fare made by chefs with local and national acclaim. While some of our testers found the food too salty, CookUnity was generally at a higher level than the others we tested, with tender meat, fresh veggies and a huge range of gourmet recipes to choose from. It may not have reached the culinary heights of our splurge pick for prepared meals, MealPro, but at about $13 per meal, CookUnity represents a better value considering the quality.

Food is delivered fresh -- not frozen -- although most of the meals would be easy to freeze and save for later. I liked almost everything I tried, with recipes ranging from very healthy to more comfort-style food. There are plenty of options for vegetarians, too, but remember that the menu varies depending on where you live because it pulls from local chefs to create the weekly offerings.

Who is it for:

Those seeking variety and quality in their prepared meals. There are seemingly endless options, and the food is aimed at those with a more refined palate and an adventurous culinary spirit. The best thing about CookUnity is the sheer volume of meal options you can choose from culinary masters of different cultural backgrounds and culinary styles. There's always something different on the Cook Unity menu, although each one is specific to a region, meaning someone in New York City may not have all of the same options as someone in Chicago.

Who should avoid it:

Anyone following a low-sodium diet should exercise caution when choosing CookUnity meals. Some contained more than 3,000mg of salt, which is about 170% of the daily recommendation for adults.

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• Interesting and filling vegan recipes
• Fresh and high-quality ingredients
• Great for learning to cook vegan food
• Not a lot of processed meat substitutes

• No options for meat eaters
• Expensive if you only choose 2-serving meals

Why we picked it:

For authentic, organic, plant-based cooking, Purple Carrot delivered big with a bounty of interesting recipes and fresh ingredients. Several of us here at CNET have tried Purple Carrot and the inventive meatless meal kits have become a clear staff favorite. A hearty lentil soup and herby cauliflower steak were among our favorites.

Purple Carrot also had the freshest produce of any service we tried, with much of it coming from organic farms. There aren't many options for keto dieters but this meal kit subscription is a dream for vegans looking to get dinner on the table with less fuss.

Interestingly, Purple Carrot wasn't our vegan wellness editor's favorite -- she chose HelloFresh -- but others agreed that this service offers the best quality and variety for those avoiding meat in their daily diet.

Who is it for:

This service is ideal for those looking to learn the ropes of vegan cooking. Out of all thevegan meal kits I've tried, Purple Carrot provides the best base for cooking vegan cuisine and its mainstays, such as lentils and grains. There are about eight recipes to choose from each week.

Who should avoid it:

Meal kits are pricey, with plans starting out at $11 per serving. There are also fewer recipes to choose from each week, but that means quality control is far higher than services that offer many recipes in a given menu.

• Nearly all the meals we tested were good or better
• Interesting use of international cuisine and flavors
• Affordable, especially for the family plan
• Lots of healthy whole foods

• The pizzas were just OK
• Extra $10 for shipping on orders of less than 12 items

Why we picked it:

This plant-based service was one of the best-prepared meal services we tried, and not just among vegan options. Our wellness editor, who eats only plant-based food, found every recipe to be at least good, often great. It's also affordable because family meals start at just $6 a serving, making it one of the better services for feeding a crew. Single-serving meals clock in at about $10 or $12 each.

We sampled more than 15 of Mosaic Food's plant-based prepared meal offerings, which include rice bowls, noodle dishes, flatbreads, oat bowls, and smoothies. Of the food I ate, this vegetarian-prepared meal delivery service had an astoundingly high hit rate. some standouts included the bean and jackfruit chili, tomato olive and feta ragout and a tangy Thai noodle dish.

Most meals arrive fresh but can be frozen and thawed later for a quick lunch or a healthy, meatless dinner.

Who is it for:

Discerning eaters of plant-based food. Mosaic uses global flavors and employs creative use of meat substitutes such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower and vegan sausages to create tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals.

Who should avoid it:

There are no meat options and very few low-carb meals. If you're trying to cut calories or carbs, this might not be the best meal service to try.

• Dozens of recipes that take 30 minutes or less
• Oven-ready "sheetpan" meals require almost no prep
• A wide selection fo recipes every week
• Easy to select recipes for picky eaters

• Some recipes were a little basic
• Not a good pick for foodies and experienced cooks
• Premium meals cost extra

Why we picked it:

If you're looking for meal kits that can be prepared quickly to get dinner on the table with minimal fuss on busy nights, Home Chef is the clear choice. While the service didn't have the best recipes among the services we tested, it had some of the easiest, with a slew of meals ready in under 30 minutes and plenty of oven-ready meals that require no prep, just assembly and baking. Called "sheet-pan" or oven-ready meals, these recipes often require as little as 5 minutes of active work and have become one of our favorite meal kit trends.

There are also several premade Fast & Fresh meal options. These come prepared and can be microwaved and eaten or warmed on the stovetop or in an air fryer.

Who is it for:

Those seeking fast, healthy dinners without the prep. These recipes aren't as high-brow as those from other services on our list but they were filling, easy to make and required very little effort. There's also a decent amount of customization available for those with strict diet followers or picky eaters in the house.

Who should avoid it:

Advanced home cooks looking for a challenge may not find it with Home Chef.

• The best service for salad eaters
• At about $12 per salad, it's cheaper than most fast-casual options
• Good variety of classics and more inventive recipes
• Shipping is free on orders over $65

• Salads can't be frozen, so you have to eat them the week of delivery

Why we picked it:

Gardencup is a subscription-based meal delivery service that delivers ready-to-eat salads, grain bowls, soups, snacks and produce cups in portable, insulated plastic jars. You order six or nine meals to be delivered weekly or bi-weekly and lunch is handled for your busy week. Simply pop the top, shake with the included dressing and toppings, and lunch is served. Salads range from $11 to $14, with the majority featuring grilled chicken, clocking in at about $12.

We found Gardencup's salads fresh and filling, with tender chicken, shrimp and steak over crisp greens and veggies. Classics like chicken Caesar, chicken bacon Cobb and steakhouse wedge are available alongside more inventive salads like the 3-meat Italian and Mexican shrimp with cilantro and lime.

While we didn't try any, there are heartier power cups with grain and pasta bases, such as a pesto pasta chicken bowl and soba noodles with garlic shrimp. These are priced similarly to the salads, with premium proteins costing a bit more. Soups and snacks can be added to any order and range between $5 and $10.

Who is it for:

This is the working person's answer to $18 fast-casual meals or unhealthier choices that loom in workplace cafeterias and fast food joints. A delivery of Gardencup means light, healthy meals are never far away and you don't have to scramble to make sure you're fed at lunchtime.

Who should avoid it:

While $12 for a meal salad is cheaper than most restaurant or takeout fare, it's still more expensive than making your lunch at home, so those on a tight budget may choose to assemble their workday lunches from scratch.

• The highest quality food of any prepared service we tested
• Restaurant-level meals including tender brisket and hearty lasagna
• You can make a one-time order

• Expensive with some meals costing more than $20
• Some meals, such as the salmon, didn't microwave well
• Must order at least 18 meals

Why we picked it:

If money is no object, this meal delivery service has the goods. We tested the gourmet prepared meals in our New York office and many of them were of restaurant quality. According to MealPro's website, the meals are cooked daily so they can be delivered as fresh as possible and the proof was in the pudding. From tender brisket ($21.49) and pork carnitas ($16) to a hearty spinach lasagna ($15), this service had our test group clamoring for more.

You can order one box at a time or opt in or out of recurring orders but you have to order either 18 or 21 meals, so plan some space in your freezer. Meals are priced individually and most are between $12 and $20, making it one of the most expensive meal services we tried but also the best in terms of pure taste and quality.

Orders of 21 meals ship free to West Coast states, while shipping to other states varies based on distance from the California fulfillment center.

Who is it for:

If your standards are high, MealPro delivered the best-tasting prepared meals of any service we tried. If the cost isn't an issue, this is a great way to stock your fridge and freezer with high-end meals for those nights you don't want to cook.

Who should avoid it:

This is not a meal service for bargain shoppers. Most meals are about $15 and many of the premium recipes are $20 or more, which is comparable to takeout.