Everyone needs to eat, but unless you’re fortunate enough to have a personal chef, making food takes time and energy. Consider how much effort goes into shopping for, cooking, and eating food. Subscribing to a meal kit delivery service, including Editors' Choice winner CookUnity, may help you cut down on lengthy grocery trips. If you want even less work, feast on the top prepared meal delivery services we've tested.
Overview
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![CookUnity Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Meals From Famous ChefsCookUnity Meal Delivery Service
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![Factor Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Hello Fresh FansFactor Meal Delivery Service
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![Mosaic Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Vegan and Vegetarian DietsMosaic Meal Delivery Service
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![Veestro Meal Delivery Service]()
Most Flexible Purchase OptionsVeestro Meal Delivery Service
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![Balanced Bites Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Keto and Paleo DietsBalanced Bites Meal Delivery Service
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![Daily Harvest Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Unusual IngredientsDaily Harvest Meal Delivery Service
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![NutriFit Meal Delivery]()
Best for Comprehensive Meal PlanningNutriFit Meal Delivery
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![Splendid Spoon]()
Best for Soups and SmoothiesSplendid Spoon
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![Sprinly Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Fresh FlavorsSprinly Meal Delivery Service
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![Trifecta Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Fitness-Focused Meal PrepTrifecta Meal Delivery Service
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![CookUnity Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Meals From Famous ChefsCookUnity Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
CookUnity lets you choose between hundreds of tasty, fully prepared meals designed by its chef collective, including some notable celebrity chefs. You'll find plenty to eat, no matter your cuisine preferences or dietary needs.
Who It’s For
CookUnity is for anyone who wants a convenient and comprehensive prepared meal service without sacrificing choice. The service has occasionally inconsistent portions and gaps in its delivery map, but it's a delicious and overall excellent prepared meal option.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Pescetarian Options Price Per Serving $11.09 Shipping Fee $9.99 Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More CookUnity Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Factor Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Hello Fresh FansFactor Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Factor is a prepared meal-kit delivery service owned by HelloFresh, an Editors’ Choice pick for traditional meal kits. Factor is similarly excellent, selling delicious rotating dishes that are incredibly convenient to prepare.
Who It's For
If you want more variety in your prepared meals, Factor is a great overall option. You must subscribe to the service (it lacks an a la carte option), but the menu is varied enough to accommodate all diets. Plus, you can purchase add-ons for your weekly meals to round out your deliveries.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Pescetarian Options Price Per Serving $10.49-$12.99 Shipping Fee $9.99 Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Factor Meal Delivery Service Review -
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Credit: Mosaic
![Mosaic Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Vegan and Vegetarian DietsMosaic Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Mosaic offers surprising variety despite focusing on vegetarian diets. Its prepared meals include soups and bowls for individuals, as well as pies designed to feed an entire family.
Who It's For
Mosaic is for people who want choice in their healthy, prepared vegetarian meals. This flexibility also extends to the service; it lets you choose between cheaper, smaller items and larger, more expensive ones as you craft your subscription.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Price Per Serving $5.99 to $23.95 Shipping Fee $9.99 Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Mosaic Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Veestro Meal Delivery Service]()
Most Flexible Purchase OptionsVeestro Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Prepared meals are especially useful for vegan and vegetarian diets, as they remove the hassle that makes it so hard to form healthier eating habits. Veestro offers many vegan meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that taste great and don't require much prep time.
Who It's For
Veestro is for people who want to really commit to eating vegan. You must buy many meals upfront, but they last a while in the freezer. A la carte and subscription plans give you plenty of flexibility when choosing meals.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Price Per Serving $11.99 to $22.99 Shipping Fee $7.95-$12.95 Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Veestro Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Balanced Bites Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Keto and Paleo DietsBalanced Bites Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Balanced Bites carefully crafts high-protein meals that are so good you would never believe they come fully prepared. Boxes are more expensive than many competing services, but you have many options for customizing your food deliveries.
Who It's For
Balanced Bites is for people who want weekly keto and paleo boxes (each meal contains meat, so it's not for vegetarians). If you're on board with the company's focus, you'll find a lot to like with this low-carb meal-kit delivery service.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Price Per Serving $19.99 Shipping Fee $9.99-$13.95 Learn More Balanced Bites Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Daily Harvest Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Unusual IngredientsDaily Harvest Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Daily Harvest helps you eat more vegetables throughout the day thanks to its breakfast and lunch options, along with soups and smoothies. Even the packaging is good for the planet. Note, though, that the company has recently recalled some menu items that caused sickness.
Who It's For
Even if you aren't vegan, adopting a more plant-based diet improves your health. And who doesn't want faster cook times? Daily Harvest is an especially good choice if you want a variety of vegetables in your prepared meals.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Price Per Serving $6.99-$7.75 Shipping Fee Free Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Daily Harvest Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![NutriFit Meal Delivery]()
Best for Comprehensive Meal PlanningNutriFit Meal Delivery
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
NutriFit doesn't just prepare meals for convenience. It prepares meals to help you lose weight, recover from a pregnancy, get ready for a sport, or achieve some other body-related goal. The system tailors its menus to the health data that you put input into the site.
Who It's For
NutriFit is explicitly designed for people looking to accomplish health goals. The company's offerings are meant to replace your non-NutriFit meals, which is why it's so expensive. In short, it's for customers willing to fully buy into the system.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Pescetarian Options Price Per Serving $18 Shipping Fee Free Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More NutriFit Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Splendid Spoon]()
Best for Soups and SmoothiesSplendid Spoon
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
We already enjoyed Splendid Spoon’s healthy breakfast and lunch menu items, especially the tasty soups. The recently added high-protein meals make it an even more appealing prepared meal-kit option.
Who It’s For
Splendid Spoon reminds you that healthy, prepared meals don’t have to sacrifice flavor. Some meals are better than others, but overall we enjoy the company's fun and interesting meal selection.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Price Per Serving $9.50-$13 Shipping Fee Free Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Splendid Spoon Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Sprinly Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Fresh FlavorsSprinly Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Some prepared meal kits struggle with the logistics of providing fresh meals. The timing is too tricky. That's not the case with Sprinly. Its plant-based meals arrive fresh, and you can absolutely taste the difference.
Who It's For
Anyone looking to add more veggies to their diet. Sprinly is an excellent example of a plant-based, prepared meal delivery service. The food is not only flavorful, but quite filling. You don't always have many options to choose from, but the available options won't disappoint you.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Price Per Serving $18 Shipping Fee Free Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Sprinly Meal Delivery Service Review -
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![Trifecta Meal Delivery Service]()
Best for Fitness-Focused Meal PrepTrifecta Meal Delivery Service
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Getting in shape requires a proper diet and regular exercise. Trifecta helps you achieve both. Its meal plans ensure you put the right food in your body, while its fitness app encourages you to move your body.
Who It’s For
Trifecta is for people who want to incorporate meal planning into their overall fitness routine. The food could use more flavor, but you have many customization options. And even without the meals, the free app is an excellent fitness tool.
Specs & Configurations
Dairy-free Options Gluten-free Options Paleo Options Pescetarian Options Price Per Serving $15.49 Shipping Fee No Vegan Options Vegetarian Options Learn More Trifecta Meal Delivery Service Review -
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4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
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3.5 Good |
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3.5 Good |
3.5 Good |
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4.0 Excellent |
Best For | Best for Meals From Famous Chefs | Best for Hello Fresh Fans | Best for Vegan and Vegetarian Diets | Most Flexible Purchase Options | Best for Keto and Paleo Diets | Best for Unusual Ingredients | Best for Comprehensive Meal Planning | Best for Soups and Smoothies | Best for Fresh Flavors | Best for Fitness-Focused Meal Prep | Best for Meals From Famous Chefs | Best for Hello Fresh Fans | Best for Vegan and Vegetarian Diets |
Price Per Serving | $11.09 | $10.49-$12.99 | $5.99 to $23.95 | $11.99 to $22.99 | $19.99 | $6.99-$7.75 | $18 | $9.50-$13 | $18 | $15.49 | $11.09 | $10.49-$12.99 | $5.99 to $23.95 |
Shipping Fee | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $7.95-$12.95 | $9.99-$13.95 | Free | Free | Free | Free | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | |
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Buying Guide: The Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services for 2025
What Is a Prepared Meal Delivery Service?
A traditional meal kit delivery service sends you a box full of ingredients. When you sign up for Editors’ Choice picks, such as Blue Apron, Green Chef, HelloFresh, or Hungryroot, you’ll get everything from raw meat to whole produce to spice packets. Using the included instructions, it’s up to you to assemble and cook those separate ingredients into a complete meal.
Prepared meal delivery services, however, send you complete meals. You must reheat them, whether it’s in a microwave, in an oven, or on a stovetop. Still, the work is mostly done before the box arrives at our doorstep. You can spend less time planning and more time eating, the true appeal of food in the mail.
Fortunately, this doesn't limit the types of food you'll find with these services. If anything, chefs get more creative with their meals since they aren't asking you to cook. Our top picks offer everything from BBQ beef with mashed parsnips, tomato flatbreads, breakfast frittatas, healthy smoothies, and complex soups. Sometimes, you don't need to heat the food; you can eat the cool salad or frozen dessert straight from the box.
These meals come already prepared, so they tend to last longer in the fridge or freezer compared to raw ingredients. These services also pack far more meals into a single package. A traditional meal kit box may have three meals at max, while a prepared meal box has ten.
Are There Any Vegan Prepared Meal Delivery Services?
You can find prepared meal delivery services to suit all kinds of tastes and diets. Balanced Bites and Trifecta offer meaty, protein-heavy cuisine perfect for keto. NutriFit tailors its meals to help reach specific health goals. Mosaic, Sprinly, and Veestro make it easier than ever to go vegan. Factor's menu has a little something for everyone, as does our Editors' Choice pick CookUnity.
Is It Cheaper to Get Meal Kits Than Prepared Meals?
There are a few reasons why prepared meal services may not be best for you. These services go through the extra work of cooking the food beforehand, so each prepared meal tends to cost more compared to a traditional meal kit box. For example, HelloFresh costs about $10 per meal, whereas Balanced Bites costs $20 per meal. You’re paying for that chef’s labor.
Traditional meal kit delivery services also provide culinary education you won't receive with prepared meals. Even if you’re simply following instructions, you’ll learn to cook. With prepared meals, you have far less room to customize.
Flavor can also suffer compared to truly home-cooked meals. The least appetizing meals we ate through meal services, such as bistroMD, Daily Harvest, and Splendid Spoon, reminded us that these are pretty much rebranded frozen TV dinners. The best services prepare fresh meals just days before they arrive on your doorstep.
Fast Food That's Good Food
There’s nothing stopping you from mixing and matching meal kit delivery services. Get a traditional one when you have time to cook, get a prepared one when you don’t. Sunbasket and a few other services offer both options with one subscription. Think of these services as big, online buffets, so dig in.
If you're looking for some more ways to get healthier, check out our Ultimate Guide to Health and Fitness Tech. For more on improving your culinary life through tech, check out the best meal planning apps and best grocery delivery services.