Let's be honest - meal planning isn't always fun, or easy. This is especially true if you don’t have much free time or dread how much time goes into meal prep and cooking. Even seasoned cooks have their days when they want to throw in the towel and give in to fast food or a quick bowl of cereal for dinner.
In these cases, a food subscription can be a lifesaver. Food subscriptions allow you to get the food you need and enjoy it without having to find a new recipe, spend time at the grocery store, take forever to prepare it, and inevitably create food waste. Not to mention, they can make it easier to eat healthy foods and explore creative recipes.
However, it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the subscription box choices out there. There are tons of traditional meal kits, ready-to-heat easy meals, grocery delivery service options, and more. How on earth are you supposed to decide which one is the best subscription box for your exact needs? Don’t worry–that's where we step in!
Every year, we ask our readers to share their top recommended subscriptions of all types. Then we ask our experts to share what they know about each subscription box to make it easy for you to know which is right for you. Below, you’ll find our insights for shopping food subscription boxes and see readers’ top choices for meal kits, snack boxes, and grocery deliveries. There's a subscription box for everyone on our list - picky eaters included!
Top Subscription Boxes Featured In This List:
HelloFreshBest Overall Food Subscription Box
Starting at $56.95Try at Hello Fresh
Green ChefBest Low-Carb Food Subscription Box
Starting at $71.94Try at Green Chef
Home ChefBest Customizable Meal Kit Subscription
Starting at $65.00Shop Home Chef
ModifyHealthBest Healthy Food Delivery Service
Starting at $25.00Try at Modify Health
Purple CarrotThe Best Vegan Food Subscription
Starting at $51.94Try at Purple Carrot
The 20 Best Food Subscription Boxes And Meal Delivery Subscriptions
Read on for our reader’s recommendations for the best meal subscriptions currently available. If we missed anything, drop us a comment. If you’ve tried one of these services, be sure to leave a quick review (even if you had a poor experience — your review can help other readers avoid subscription remorse).
1. HelloFresh
Best Overall
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Our readers love HelloFresh, and so do thousands of others. In fact, it’s currently rated as the best subscription box for food in the United States.
They offer six different types of meals which include:
- Meat & Veggies
- Veggie
- Family Friendly
- Fit & Wholesome
- Quick & Easy
- Pescatarian
You’ll get a recipe and the ingredients to whip up your meals. This variety allows you to satisfy a number of diets; so if you have a family with members who all eat differently, you can ensure that they’re all fed well. You can order 2-6 recipes per week for 2 or 4 people.
In our experience, HelloFresh recipes were significantly easier than other premium services; we never found ourselves rushing back and forth between hot pans and the prep table, which made for a less stressful cooking experience. On average, they take about 20-30 minutes to cook.
Our readers also love how HelloFresh meals use easy-to-find ingredients. If you want to recreate a recipe, you won’t need to head to a specialty grocery store. It’s a great feature for people who like to try food subscriptions for a bit, then pause (and by the way, HelloFresh offers easy options for skipping weeks or canceling).
The ingredients are dependably high quality, and the recipes are delicious and versatile. A large number of the recipes tend to feature Southwestern flavors, but by logging in online, you can suit the menu to your taste preferences. Helpful tags help you find meals with quick prep times, limited calories, and other features. If you’ve never tried a meal kit service, this is the perfect place to start.
Shipping: Ships to the contiguous US for $7.99.
2. Green Chef
Best for Low-Carb Eating
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
The Green Chef subscription box focuses on providing gourmet meals with fresh, organic ingredients. They also offer paleo- and keto-friendly meals, so if you’re cutting carbs, they’re certainly worth a look. Ingredients come pre-measured and prepped along with pre-made sauces, marinades, and spice blends. You're also able to receive 3 or 4 meals per week for 2, 4, or 6 people and can subscribe to one of the six following plans:
- Keto + Paleo
- Vegetarian
- Mediterranean
- Fast & Fit
- Vegan
- Gluten-Free
Green Chef uses 100% organic foods and offers over 20 recipes per week. Popular recipes include Pecan-Crusted Pork Chops, Baked Ricotta Chicken with Risotto, and Mushroom Curry Udon Bowls.
Green Chef was the first food delivery box to offer certified gluten-free meals, and they’re dedicated to addressing subscribers’ unique needs. Despite being able to filter out certain allergens from your weekly recipe selection, though, be aware that all ingredients are processed and packaged in the same facility, and cross-contact with major food allergens may occur.
Shipping: Ships to the continental US for $7.99 per box.
3. Home Chef
Best for Customization
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Home Chef is a food delivery box that provides delicious, crowd-pleasing meals for 2, 4, 6, or 8 people.
Home Chef offers a customization option for most plates, which is what readers love. Add proteins, swap ingredients, or make other changes — you’ll pay more when customizing, but we appreciate the option. They also offer low- or no-prep meals (their Fresh & Easy food subscription service) and dietitian-approved plans (Fresh Start). Subscribers can easily add meals, pause deliveries, or make other changes as needed.
Home Chef also allows people to screen for the following allergens: wheat, dairy, nuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish. However, be aware that Home Chef’s facility is not certified allergen-free so it's only recommended for those without severe or life-threatening allergies.
Given the price, Home Chef offers an excellent value. The customizable menu is definitely the selling point but be prepared to pay extra if you’re adding additional items to your order.
Shipping: Ships to most of the US.
4. ModifyHealth
Best for Low FODMAP and Gluten-Free Meals
Image via ModifyHealth.
About the Subscription:
When you’re on a specific diet, it’s not always easy to find food subscription plans that suit those needs. However, ModifyHealth delivers tasty, ready-to-eat low FODMAP and Mediterranean meals right to your door. Both of the meal plans offered are gluten-free, and customers are able to customize their boxes based on plant-based needs, allergies, or low sodium.
This subscription aims to support those who want to eat healthy meals, learn about foods that cause sensitivity, as well as gain control over their digestive health (via the low FODMAP program).
What our readers really love, though, is that there is optional dietician support. If you’re getting used to a new diet, having an expert on hand to help is great.
5. Purple Carrot
Best for Vegan Food
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Purple Carrot is a vegan food subscription box aimed at bringing plant-based eating into the mainstream. They deliver weekly boxes of fresh produce and easy-to-follow recipes for some tasty veggie meals. Subscribers can also add on plant-based breakfasts, lunches, and packaged snacks.
Going veggie helps to lower your environmental impact; on average, each Purple Carrot meal has a 72% lower carbon footprint than the standard American meal, per the company’s site. Of course, switching to a plant-based diet is easier if you’re eating delicious food, and that’s where Purple Carrot’s recipes shine.
With Purple Carrot you can expect to see dairy- and meat-free versions of staple classics (such as loaded avocado toast), along with adventurous offerings inspired by worldly cuisine (like grape leaf mezze bowls). There's definitely something for everyone with this subscription service as you can also choose from meals that are designated as low calorie, high protein, quick and easy, and more.
The menu changes regularly, and you’ll find 12 different vegan meal options every week that even non-vegans will love. If you choose to go with meal kits, you can subscribe to 3 or 4 dinners per week with 2 or 4 servings each, whereas if you choose prepared meals instead you can order 6, 8, or 10 dinners per week–but each of those meals will only have one serving.
While you can select meals that are gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free, it's important to note that Purple Carrot's facility is not certified allergen-friendly so those with severe food allergies should proceed with caution.
Shipping: Ships to most of the US.
6. Splendid Spoon
Best for Plant-Based, Ready-to-Eat Meals
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Want something light for meals and snacks? Splendid Spoon is a plant-based food delivery box specializing in nutrient-rich smoothies, soups, and grain bowls. All of their products are vegan, gluten-free, and made with GMO-free ingredients.
Many of their products are made to be enjoyed cold — including some soups — so you can enjoy a wholesome meal on the go, with no cooking at all.
Some of their plans include:
- Breakfast - 5 smoothies
- Lunch - 5 soup & grain bowls
- Breakfast + Lunch - 5 smoothies, 5 soups & grain bowls
- Breakfast + Lunch + Reset - 5 smoothies, 5 soups & grain bowls, 5 light soups (Reset day)
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Reset - 5 smoothies, 5 soups & grain bowls, 5 noodles, 5 light soups (Reset day)
Splendid Spoon is one of the more affordable meal delivery services on the market, depending on what you choose. Their menu changes regularly, and you’ll find satisfying options regardless of your preferences; if you don’t have time to cook, but you’re ready to improve your diet, here’s a great service to get you on the right track.
Shipping: Ships free to the US.
7. Butcher Box
Best for High-Quality Meats
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
The Butcher Box is a food subscription box that sends you a preferred mix of grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage-breed pork. It’s a convenient way to ensure you’re getting healthy, high-quality meats sourced from animals that have been raised humanely.
For carnivores and omnivores, Butcher Box offers a more ethical (and eco-friendly) way to eat. The real draw is the quality — for about $6 per meal, you’ll have a freezer full of the best meats available. If you love meat, this is one of the best food subscription boxes available. We’d recommend trying the mixed protein boxes — while the quality of their beef is incredible, the chicken is just as good, and the company has recently added wild-caught seafood to their selection.
You can choose to subscribe to one of the following meat subscription boxes and select either a classic box (good for individuals and small families) or a big box (good for mid-size families and large freezers):
- Custom Box - 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood.
- Mixed Box - 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, and pork raised crate-free.
- Beef & Chicken Box - 100% grass-fed beef and free-range organic chicken.
- Beef & Pork Box - 100% grass-fed beef and pork raised crate-free.
- All Beef Box - 100% grass-fed beef.
Shipping: Ships free to the continental US.
8. Dinnerly
Most Affordable
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Dinnerly is a fast, simple, and affordable meal subscription, with servings starting at $1.99/each. This subscription sends you six-ingredient dishes that only take about 30 minutes to make.
You’ll get ingredients by mail, but Dinnerly provides digital recipe cards for each dish to help cut down on both cost and clutter. By cutting out unnecessary marketing campaigns and simplifying packaging, Dinnerly is able to maintain an incredibly low cost per meal.
When subscribing to Dinnerly you can choose from a two-person or family box and order 3-6 meals per week. Popular–and familiar–meals include Homestyle Chicken & Biscuits, One-Pot Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli Florentine, and Vegetarian Pad Thai. Our readers report that this subscription is especially good for picky eaters because of the classic meals available.
Shipping: Ships to most of the contiguous US for $8.99.
9. Gobble
Best for Quick Cooking
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Hate cooking or don’t have a lot of time? Gobble offers recipes that can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Their chefs handle all of the prep work, so you can skip the cutting board and get right to work.
You can choose meals from its Classic Dinner and Lean & Clean Dinner plans and there are plenty of mouth-watering recipes to try, including:
- Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice & Naan Bread,
- Pan-Seared Ribeye Steaks with Balsamic Glaze & Roasted Root Vegetables
- Wagyu Beef Sliders with Crispy Potatoes & Cabbage Slaw
Given the time you’ll save peeling, chopping, and marinating, Gobble is remarkably affordable. Its per-meal prices are on par with some of the other full-meal subscriptions on this list, and the recipes are delicious. The service also accommodates some dietary preferences, with dairy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free options.
The main disadvantage of ready-to-eat meal kits is the pricing: Gobble is significantly more expensive than options like HelloFresh, but you’re paying for the convenience. We love that Gobble is still less expensive than takeout (and much, much more nutritious than fast food). Still, if you’re on a budget and you don’t mind cooking, some of the other meal delivery options on this list make more sense.
Love to cook, but only have 15 minutes? No worries - Gobble's got the meal subscription for you.
Shipping: Ships to the continental US for $6.99.
10. Hungryroot
Best for Groceries
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Hungryroot aims to “make healthy eating easy.” To that end, they give you more control over ingredients than other services; think of Hungryroot as a trip to the grocery store (without the lines). In fact, if you aren’t ready to subscribe, Hungryroot can also serve as an easy way to get your grocery store shopping out of the way.
Mix and match ingredients from their catalog of prepped veggies, sauces, proteins, and more to create quick meals in a matter of minutes. You can hand-pick every item in your shipment each week, or you can have Hungryroot provide recipes and matching ingredients.
By combining high-quality groceries with a typical food delivery box model, Hungryroot provides versatility for aspiring home chefs. Other options make more sense if you’d rather not fuss about each meal — but if you’d like to expand your abilities while still getting guidance, this is an exceptional service.
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Shipping: Ships free to the US with ground shipping; $10 with air shipping, determined by zip code.
11. EveryPlate
Best for Simplicity
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
EveryPlate is a wallet-friendly food subscription with crowd-pleasing meals — but the company doesn’t emphasize hard-to-find gourmet ingredients. Their recipes feature high-quality produce and proteins, but the recipes are simple and easy to follow.
Their recipes feature high-quality produce and proteins, but the recipes are simple and easy to follow. You get one of 16 or 17 recipes, the ingredients, and directions to prepare them and you’ll have a full meal on the table in less than half an hour.
You can choose to subscribe to either the ClassicPlate, VeggiePlate, FamilyPlate, or EasyPlate plan, and can order 3-5 meals per week for 2 or 4 people. Each week features a rotating menu with tasty (and kid-friendly) recipes including meals that your kids will be begging to have seconds of such as Southwest Sloppy Joes, Caramelized Onion Burgers, and Easy Chicken Fajitas. Our readers say that kids typically like these meals because they’re familiar with them–and they taste great!
EveryPlate cuts out unnecessary expenses to keep their per-meal price low. It’s one of the cheapest food delivery box options on this list, but currently, the service doesn’t offer options for special dietary needs.
Shipping: Ships to the majority of the continental US.
12. Sun Basket
Best for Gourmet Food
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Sun Basket makes planning easy with options for meal kits and ready-to-eat meals. Created by the former head chef of a James-Beard Award-winning restaurant, this subscription emphasizes clean, healthy eating.
Plan options address special dietary considerations (you can pick paleo-friendly, vegetarian, vegan, or Mediterranean diet options, among others), and all food boxes include organic produce and responsibly sourced meats & seafood.
If you’re interested in culinary exploration — and you don’t mind paying slightly more for adventurous recipes — Sun Basket is one of the best food subscription boxes to try.
Shipping: Ships to most zip codes in the contiguous US.
13. Martha & Marley Spoon
Best for Learning Cooking
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
The goddess of domestic arts, Martha Stewart herself, has teamed up with Marley Spoon to offer this food subscription. Martha & Marley Spoon is a gourmet food delivery box with recipes and inspiration from Martha Stewart. The high-quality ingredients are already pre-portioned, and the recipes are easy to follow.
Given the name on the label, it’s no surprise that this subscription focuses on teaching new techniques. It’s surprisingly simple, affordable, and fun — in other words, it’s right in line with the Martha Stewart brand.
Unlike other recipe-based meal subscriptions, you're not required to subscribe to a specific meal plan. Rather, you choose the number of people you're ordering for (2 or 4), the number of recipes you want each week (2-6), and then select Martha Stewart meals from 40 options which fall under the following categories:
- Health & Diet,
- Vegetarian & Vegan
- Meat & Fish
- Under 30 Minutes
- Family-Friendly
Some of Marley Spoon's most popular recipes include Harissa Salmon with Couscous & Broccoli, Honey-Dijon Steak with Green Beans & Potatoes, and Chicken Milanese with Cucumber-Arugula Salad.
Shipping: Ships to most of the contiguous US for $8.99.
14. Freshly
Best for Prepared Food
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Only feeding yourself and don’t want to spend time cooking? That’s why our readers keep calling Freshly a great choice. Their meals are prepared in advance — you simply heat them up in minutes— so there’s no prep work to speak of (and fewer dirty dishes). Each plate is gourmet quality, which is incredible given the affordable cost per meal. And if the meals can be refrigerated; if you don’t touch them for a few days, you won’t have to worry.
You can sign up to receive anywhere from 4 to 12 meals per week and choose from 50+ recipes that include categories like Signature Collection, Purely Plant, FreshlyFit, and Protein and Sides. Popular recipes include Asian-Style Chicken & Noodles, Golden Oven-Fried Chicken & Mash, and Three-Grain Harvest Bowl.
Unlike most other subscriptions we've reviewed so far, all of Freshly's gluten-free meals are prepared in a certified gluten-free safe spot and some of its meals are made in kitchens free from peanuts and wheat as well. However, the same cannot be guaranteed for other allergies like dairy so be sure to check each meal's ingredient labels before ordering.
Options are available for people with different dietary preferences, and unlike many other services, Freshly offers options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The one downside: There are limited plant-based options, so if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll probably want to check out other food delivery boxes like Splendid Spoon (detailed earlier in this list) for a pre-made meal option.
Options are available for people with different dietary preferences, and unlike many other services, Freshly offers options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The one downside: There are limited plant-based options, so if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll probably want to check out other food delivery boxes like Splendid Spoon (detailed earlier in this list) for a pre-made meal option.
Shipping: Shipping costs vary by order size and location.
15. Blue Apron
Best for Adventurous Recipes
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Blue Apron is the food delivery box that perfected many of the standards of the industry — high-quality ingredients, gourmet recipes, and pre-portioned ingredients, with extensive online and offline resources for refining your cooking techniques.
With a lower cost per plate (starting at about $40, depending on what you choose), Blue Apron offers a mix of quality and value, and they’ve taken steps to make their packaging more eco-friendly. We wouldn’t recommend this service for absolute beginners; you’ll need some basic cooking skills (and we do mean basic) to get started.
Blue Apron offers the following plans:
- Signature- offers a mix of meat and fish and is Weight Watchers approved and diabetes-friendly
- Wellness- fresh produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, and natural sweeteners.
- Vegetarian
- Heat & Eat: these are Blue Apron’s premade meals
Also, you can order 2-4 recipes for 2 or 4 people per week.
The recipes tend to be a little on the adventurous side, with options such as Hoisin Duck & Orange Lo Mein or Tilapia & Orange-Jalapeño Salsa. However, there are plenty of options available that are more traditional in nature that the whole family will enjoy like Crispy BBQ Chicken Sandwich and Pan-Seared Chicken & Mashed Potatoes. The Heat & Eat offerings bring the Blue Apron experience to your microwave; they’re ready to eat in less than five minutes.
The service also has limited options for special diets — apart from the seafood and vegetarian options — though you can accommodate most diets with careful meal selection. With that said, if you’re looking for innovative dishes without a hefty price tag, Blue Apron is still one of the best food subscription boxes around.
Not to mention, they also offer their own wine club! You can learn more about their program here.
Shipping: Ships to the contiguous US.
16. Daily Harvest
Best for Healthy, Ready-to-Eat Meals
Image via Daily Harvest.
About the Subscription:
Daily Harvest offers pre-portioned smoothies, soups, bowls, and snacks. Most of the nutrient-packed items arrive in frozen cups (with the exception of the flatbreads). That makes them excellent for healthy on-the-go eating, and they’re seriously delicious — and surprisingly filling.
Subscribe for a weekly or monthly plan, then customize your own box (if you don’t feel choosy, you can also receive the best-sellers). With minimal sugars and mostly organic ingredients, this is a hassle-free, vegan-friendly option at a great price.
Note: In May, Daily Harvest had to recall their French Lentil and Leek Crumbles after customers complained of severe abdominal pain and other issues. Daily Harvest customers at large did not feel they were as forthcoming as they could be.
17. Vegancuts Snack Box
Best for Vegan Snacks
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Vegancuts Snack Box provides an outstanding selection of vegan snacks each and every month (the name sort of gave it away, didn’t it?).
Many of the items are gluten-free, but this is not a dedicated gluten-free food box. Each delivery contains 7-10 vegan snacks, pantry items, and supplements. Whether you’re a strict vegan or you’re just looking for healthier options, Vegancuts is a fun way to upgrade your snacking.
They also offer a beauty box of cruelty-free makeup, if you’re looking for cleaner beauty products.
18. SnackCrate
Best for Healthy Snacks
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Each month, the SnackCrate food subscription sends a bright-blue box full of hand-picked treats from around the globe. A new country is featured with every delivery. They guarantee you’ll never receive the same snack twice — we love the element of surprise. They offer 3 sizes of snack boxes:
- Mini: contains 5-6 full-sized snacks
- Original: contains 10-12 full-sized snacks
- Family: contains 18-20 full-sized snacks
To give you a better idea of the snacks that may come in your box, the Poland box contains snacks such as a Jeżyki Classic cookie bar, Wypiekarnia Bajgle pretzel crackers, and a Princessa Zebra chocolate wafer treat.
Each box includes a booklet with fun facts, games, and a music playlist. SnackCrate also has a store you can shop at for individual snacks and candy, called The CandyBar. There, you can shop for snacks with a pretty comprehensive search feature that allows you to filter by country and select your favorite snack types.
Our readers also love that you could get more than just snacks from SnackCrate. Every single box you purchase enters you into a contest where the prize is a trip around the world; you just have to win the lucky Adventure Ticket.
Shipping: Ships worldwide for free.
19. SnackSack
Best for Savory Snacks
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
SnackSack focuses on natural, healthy snacks–which is great if you like to eat between meals but don’t want to feel guilty.
Their snacks tend to be organic, all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, or fair trade — and options are available for people on vegan or gluten-free diets.
Each month, you’ll receive anywhere from 11 to 15 new snacks all selected around a season or theme. You may not be able to customize your snack order, but they offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. You can expect to receive items like popcorn, cookies, jerky, or energy bars (depending on which plan you pick). What our readers really appreciate, however, is that you can choose between classic, vegan, gluten-free, or vegan & gluten-free plans.
With free shipping, this is a great way to keep a steady supply of additive-free snacks. It makes a great gift, and the seasonal themes add to the excitement of every unboxing.
20. Mantry
Best for Stocking Your Man Cave
Image via our review.
About the Subscription:
Build “the modern man’s pantry” with Mantry, a quarterly subscription box. You'll receive 5 to 6 full-size premium food products from small artisans across the US in each box.
From bacon, BBQ, and honey, to chocolates, crackers, and beyond, the box has fun and exciting pantry items to try each time. Our readers appreciate that Mantry also donates 1% of its sales to City Harvest, an organization that helps redistribute food to families in need.
What Do You Think About These Food Subscription Boxes?
Have you tried any of these food subscription boxes/meal delivery services? Should we add another subscription box to the list? Make sure to comment below with your thoughts on and experiences with these food delivery companies.
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