Some of us love to spend time in the kitchen — others, not so much. Prepared meal kits can save a tremendous amount of time, and they’ve come a long way: If you’re picturing a freezer-burnt TV dinner, think again.
We’ll admit that we were skeptical when we read about services like Factor and Sunbasket; if the food arrives ready-to-eat, how good could it actually be? Fortunately, these brands have pulled out the stops to compete with pre-portioned cooking kits like Hello Fresh. When you’re ordering a prepared meal delivery service online, you’re paying for quality — many brands hire award-winning chefs to run their kitchens, and with dedicated options for different dietary considerations (think vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto, gluten-free, and more), you can easily find something that suits your tastes.
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 to make it easy for you to know which subscription is right for you. Below, you’ll find our insights for shopping prepared meal subscription boxes, and see readers’ top choices for ready-to-eat meal services.
Top Subscription Boxes Featured In This List:
FactorThe Best Keto Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Starting at $60.00Active DealGet up to $130 off + free shipping on your first boxUse Coupon Code MSA130FREEOrder Factor
Purple CarrotThe Most Convenient Option for Vegan Meal Deliveries
Starting at $51.94Get Purple Carrot%20copy.png)
Daily HarvestThe Best Customizable Vegan Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Starting at $71.10Active DealUse code ADDICTION40 for up to $40 off your first boxUse Coupon Code ADDICTION40Try Daily Harvest
SmoothieBoxThe Best Prepared Meal Subscription for Smoothie Lovers
Starting at $160.00Taste SmoothieBox
And more! Keep reading to see the full details of the top subscriptions plus many more recommendations.
What To Look For When Shopping for Prepared Meal Subscriptions
Here are a few excellent reasons to try a prepared meal kit and features to look for when shopping around:
- Consider subscriptions that may lower your carbon footprint. By switching to a prepared meal service, you’re making even more of an impact. On average, meal kits result in 33 percent lower carbon emissions than meals made from grocery store purchases.
- Make sure it can be customized to meet your dietary needs. Food subscription services often have gluten-free, nut-free, and all-organic options (wherever possible, we’ve provided that information in our list).
- Find a box that helps you avoid food waste. Each year, about 30-40 percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted. By structuring your diet around meal kits or ready-to-eat meals, you can do your part to reduce that figure.
- Look for brands that help you explore new foods. Some services feature ingredients that you might not be able to find at your local retailer.
The Most Popular Prepared Meal Delivery Services
Read on for our reader’s recommendations for the best prepared meal subscription boxes 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. Factor_
The Best Keto Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Image from our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
This keto meal delivery service sends dishes that are already cooked, so all you have to do is pop 'em in the microwave for 5 minutes or less. Factor_ ingredients include grass-fed meats with no antibiotics or hormones and organic and non-GMO produce. All of the keto-friendly meals are gluten-free, soy-free, and free of added sugars.
Pros
- All meals are fresh and never frozen.
- Meals are free from hormones, antibiotics, refined sugars, and GMOs.
- You can filter the menu to view recipes that are for paleo, keto, low calorie, low carb, or vegetarian diets.
Cons
- On the pricier side.
- Not many plant-based meal options available.
What Reviewers Say:
Being able to pop a fresh-made meal into the oven or microwave for less than five minutes and have a complete dinner is kinda nice. I found these meals to be delicious and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I’m really bad at nutrition as well and these are portion-controlled and seem generally quite healthy, especially if you’re following a diet like keto or paleo. -Marne, MSA Reviewer
Shipping: The US
2. Purple Carrot
The Most Convenient Option for Vegan Meal Deliveries
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Purple Carrot is an entirely vegan meal subscription service, so you’ll never have to worry about checking ingredients. These irresistible plant-based meals are fun, fresh, and ready to eat.
When you’re committed to the vegan lifestyle, finding healthy meals can be difficult (and finding healthy meals that taste great is — well, hey, that’s why we’re writing this list). Purple Carrot simplifies your search by delivering prepared vegan meals with easy-to-follow instructions.
Meals are divided into categories (quick & easy, high-protein, gluten-free, or chef’s choice), so you can build a custom delivery for your exact dietary needs. Featured meals range from Thai noodles to Indian butter tofu. You can also add tasty vegan snacks to your order, and you can easily manage your subscription online; if you need to skip a week, you can do so without penalty.
Overall, Purple Carrot delivers fantastic vegan meals at a fair price — this service is a fairly straightforward meal delivery subscription, but their focus on interesting, ready-to-eat vegan meals sets them apart.
Pros
- Exclusively provides vegan-friendly meals.
- Provides breakfast and lunch meal options.
- Option to add extra meals to your plan.
Cons
- Meals might not be filling for some.
What Readers Say:
"Tried the high protein plan to get myself used to learning how to meal prep. I really like how thoughtful the meal plan and recipes are. Lots of variety, and delicious flavor combinations. Would order again." -ElephantsLovePistachios
Ships to: The U.S.
3. Daily Harvest
The Best Customizable Vegan Prepared Meal Delivery Service
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Daily Harvest offers healthy, pre-portioned plant-based meals and drinks. You can choose from a wide variety of options for delicious meals including smoothies, bowls, flatbreads, soups, ice cream, lattes, and more. In fact, it has by far the most options for any plant-based meal subscription service we've seen. To get started, you'll first need to decide on which size of a box you want. You can choose from small, medium, or large, with each containing 9, 14, and 24 items respectively. Then, simply choose any meal from all meal types to add to your box. 95% of the ingredients that Daily Harvest uses are organic and the company always goes organic for ingredients that appear on the Environmental Working Group's "dirty dozen" list.
Pros
- Tons of meal options
- 95% organic ingredients
- All food is gluten and dairy-free
Cons
- Its kitchen is not certified allergen-free
- Small/single portion sizes
What Readers Say:
"I really appreciate having a simplified method of preparing unique plant based meals. With numerous superfoods included as ingredients. This is especially important in the current climate to pamper your immune system as much as possible with a healthy diet." -Jennipher
Shipping: Most of the U.S.
4. SmoothieBox
The Best Prepared Meal Subscription for Smoothie Lovers
Image via our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
SmoothieBox is exactly what it sounds like—an assortment of healthy, plant-based smoothie ingredients prepped, frozen, and ready-to-blend. They’re out to make it easy to make a fast, healthy breakfast, complete with veggies, healthy fats, protein, and even grass-fed collagen! Choose to receive a box every 30 or 60 days. The company offers five smoothie flavors: cacao, berry, green, strawberry banana, and clementine and lets you choose how many 5-packs of each flavor you’d like per box.
Pros
- SmoothieBox offers collagen packets so you can add extra protein to the smoothies.
- Easy to make - just add pouch and 7oz of water into your blender.
- No added sugars.
Cons
- Pricier than making your own smoothie at home.
- Finding storage for all of the frozen smoothies might be tough.
Ships to: The US.
5. Splendid Spoon
The Best Plant-Based Delivery Service for Soup Lovers
Image from our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Splendid Spoon is a plant-based prepared meal delivery service that specializes in nutrient-rich smoothies, soups, and grain bowls. All of their products are vegan, gluten-free, and made with GMO-free ingredients. Splendid Spoon is one of the more affordable ready-to-eat food subscription boxes on the market, and many of their products are made to be enjoyed cold — including some soups — so you can enjoy a wholesome meal on the go. The 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, this is a great service to get you on the right track.
Pros
- Choice of a range of soups, smoothies, and meals.
- All meals are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten- and soy-free.
- Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Cons
- On the pricier side.
- Not all ingredients are organic.
What Our Reviewers Say:
I found Splendid Spoon to be a really helpful and easy way to eat healthy when I was super busy going to work and night school. Even now that I’ve been staying safe at home for two weeks, I think having meals that I don’t need to prepare or think much about can be helpful when I’m having days where eating at all is a triumph. And I found the meals to be DELICIOUS. Like, really good. And I love their smoothies. This is a pricy meal plan when I look at objectively, but I also know that I am paying for the convenience and for the ease of eating more healthy with a few clicks on my computer. Will I order this every single week? No. Will I treat myself maybe once a month or at times when I know the cost is worth it? Absolutely. -Marne, MSA Reviewer
Shipping: The US.
6. Tovala
Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Baking Prepared Meals
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
In a sea of meal delivery subscriptions, Tovala is different. Instead of simply signing up and getting food sent to your doorstep, the barrier to entry here is higher: you have to purchase the Tovala smart oven, which scans your meals and pulls cooking instructions (time, temperature, method) from the cloud. If you've ever had mediocre results microwaving or baking a frozen meal, you can probably understand the draw here.
Tovala's recipes are designed and prepped by chefs, and the meals are shipped fresh. The oven is the final step that ensures your food is cooked just so and that all the work that goes into creating the meal truly pays off. Using a combination of cooking techniques, the oven cooks your meal perfectly; all you have to do is scan the provided QR-code, place your meal in the oven, and press start.
Pros
- The Tovala oven is amazing.
- Tovala's meals are tasty.
- Hands-on cooking time is practically zero.
- Meals are ready in 20 minutes or less.
- Food is fresh, never frozen.
- The oven can be used for non-Tovala meals.
- You can try risk-free with Tovala's 100-day trial.
Cons
- There's a significant upfront investment.
- 2.4 GHz WiFi and a smartphone are required.
- Tovala's meals do not support all special diets.
- Portion sizes are sufficient, but not ample.
Shipping: The contiguous United States. (They do not yet service Hawaii or Alaska.)
7. Trifecta
The Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Athletes
Image via Trifecta
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Trifecta is a no-prep healthy meal delivery service designed with various lifestyles in mind. Each meal is made with organic ingredients and grass-fed meat and wild-caught seafood where applicable. The following plans are available: Keto, Clean, Paleo, Vegan, and Vegetarian.
Each plan outlines the average macronutrients per meal, sample meals, and more. With such a dedicated focus on nutrition, we think Trifecta is the best-prepared meal delivery service for athletes. Trifecta plans pair you with meals each week; if you'd like to select your own meals, you can opt to sign up for classic meals or even choose the components of your meals with an a la carte option.
Pros
- Free shipping throughout the US.
- Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal options.
- Provides meal options that are Keto, clean, Paleo, vegan, and vegetarian.
Cons
- On the pricier side.
- Doesn't allow you to choose your meals on their plans.
Shipping: The US.
8. Sakara Life
The Best Plant-Based Meal & Wellness Lifestyle Plan
Image from our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
If you have a soft spot for beautiful food, you may be pleased to hear that Sakara Life sends fresh and healthy meals that are Instagram-ready. The colorful salads and picture-perfect pastries are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and ready-to-eat. Products are created in collaboration with chefs and nutritionists to ensure they’re as nourishing as they are delicious, and everything is organic, clean, and nutrient-rich. Meal plans include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sakara Life also offers a range of snacks and supplements, as well as guidance on organic nutrition, wellness, and mindful living. The biggest downside? This luxury meal delivery service comes at a premium price.
Pros
- Promotes a whole-food plant-based diet that is backed by science.
- Ingredients used are functional with a focus on gut health and providing all the nutrition you need in a meal.
- Afterpay available for orders $35 and over.
Cons
- On the pricier side.
What Reviewers Say:
Sakara Life has truly re-envisioned subscription meal delivery. The recipes are thoughtfully designed, and the food is really impressive. All of the meals I received were exciting and delicious; never once during my program did I pout about eating “healthy food” or want to skip a meal in favor of something more enticing. I’m a total sucker for a pretty plate of food, and my Sakara meals were all drop-dead gorgeous. (Scroll down to see what I mean. That donut? I mean come on.) When it comes to nutrition, taste, and visual appeal, Sakara really does deliver. All that said, it might be the most expensive meal subscription I’ve ever sampled. -Lindsey, MSA Reviewer
Shipping: The US.
9. Mosaic
The Best Vegetarian Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Image from our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Mosaic delivers healthy, flavorful meals that are made from real ingredients. Mosaic’s food is all vegetarian-friendly, and the menu features veggie-heavy noodle bowls, risottos, and veggie bowls packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and flavor. Each meal can be heated in 5 minutes or less in the microwave, or you can remove the food from its tray to heat it in the oven or stovetop.
Meals are chilled in transit using dry ice, so your box can sit unopened for up to 12 hours. They keep in the freezer for 3+ months. If you need convenient meal options that work for your vegetarian diet, Mosaic is an excellent choice. The major disadvantage: The pricing is fairly high relative to other services (but still significantly cheaper than takeout — and much healthier).
Pros
- Frozen meals give you more leeway with how long you can wait to make them.
- Packaging can be easily recycled after use.
- Perfect meal plan for single households.
Cons
- Not explicitly vegan meals.
What Reviewers Say:
"The vegetarian meals I tried were some of the best, most filling lunches I’ve had, packed with plant protein and fresh-tasting vegetables I felt good about eating." - Emily, MSA reviewer
Shipping: Most states in the U.S. Enter your zip code here to check if they serve your area.
10. CookUnity
The Best Prepared Meals From Award-Winning Chefs
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
CookUnity is a chef collective that ships hand-crafted prepared meal subscription boxes curated by skilled, award-winning, local chefs right to your door. Their mission is to become more than just a meal subscription - they want to bring the creations of talented chefs to your kitchen table.
As a prepared meal service, the only real step to cooking is to reheat - but any chef knows there's more than one way to heat something. That's why as an extra touch, CookUnity gives you the "fast" way or the "chef's" way to heat your meal to get even closer to that top-tier quality.
Pros
- Meal options are higher-end than other services.
- Meals arrive fresh, (not frozen) in compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging, with expiration dates, heating instructions, and nutrition information.
- CookUnity texts you with meal recommendations to help you customize your next plan.
Cons
- Doesn't ship everywhere in the US.
- Meal portions might not be filling enough for some.
What Our Readers Say:
"I’ve tried most of the food delivery companies. Cookunity is the best. Food is already cooked and there are tons of options to choose from every week, including ethnic foods. The chicken and salmon dishes are so moist! I haven’t tried one dish that wasn’t delicious in months." - Pamela
Shipping: CookUnity is expanding - they currently deliver to most states in the East-coast, Midwest, and Southwest regions - but they have a full delivery map to see if they're in your area, so check back soon if they're not in your area yet.
11. Snap Kitchen
The Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Special Diets
Image via Snap Kitchen.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Snap Kitchen makes fresh meals with dietician-designed portions, macros, and ingredients. All food is free from hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, artificial flavoring, and gluten, and arrives in compostable packaging. Plans are available for various lifestyles including low-carb, high-protein, paleo, keto, vegetarian, and Whole30 lifestyles. You can also build your own custom plan. Meals keep for 4-6 days in the refrigerator.
Pros
- Free shipping.
- More affordable than other prepared meal delivery subscriptions.
- All of Snap Kitchen’s meals are free of the following: added hormones, preservatives, antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, gluten.
Cons
- There are no vegan or vegetarian options.
What Our Readers Say:
Snap Kitchen's meals are healthy, but they are SO good! I never thought I'd feel so great about eating a delicious pasta dish, but with Snap, I do because every meal is gluten-free. I've lost 10 lbs since I started eating Snap, and I love how convenient the meals are. 10/10 recommend. -Alex E
Shipping: The US.
12. Sprinly
The Best Vegan Fresh Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Image from our review.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
This plant-based meal subscription ships fresh, pre-prepared meals that make it easy for you to eat healthy on a tight timeline! Some menu items can be enjoyed right out of the fridge, others require a quick heat-up in the microwave.
All Sprinly meals are plant-based, organic, dairy-free, 100% gluten-free, and contain no refined sugars. Sprinly lists fresh ingredients in every weekly meal selection form so that you can avoid anything you wish to when choosing your meals. Meals keep in the fridge for 5-6 days and can be frozen to extend shelf life if needed.
Pros
- Meals are free of refined sugar and artificial preservatives.
- Meals are made in gluten-free facilities.
- Some meal options are ready-to-eat cold.
Cons
- On the pricier side.
- Only gives you six meals to choose from per week.
What Reviewers Say:
Sprinly has a lot to offer— especially for vegans and those looking for healthy, pre-prepared meals in a hurry. It’s far from the cheapest meal delivery service, but if you’re looking for plant-based meals that are ready to heat & eat, the convenience might make this subscription well worth the cost. -Lindsey, MSA Reviewer
Shipping: The US.
13. Veestro
The Best Calorie-Conscious Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Image via Veestro.
What This Prepared Meal Delivery Service Subscription Delivers
Looking for vegan meals that are also health-conscious? Veestro specializes in plant-based frozen meals that are designed around a 1200 calorie-per-day diet. You don’t have to give up delicious meals just because you’re on a weight loss journey.
Unlike heat-and-eat meals of the past, Veestro’s dishes are all organic, plant-based, dairy-free, preservative-free, and non-GMO, and they offer a gluten-free option, too. Choose to subscribe to 18, 30, or 42 meals every other week depending on your needs. Veestro recommends storing meals in the freezer and moving 1-2 days’ worth of food to the refrigerator to thaw before heating. Meals last up to 8 weeks in the freezer, and up to 1 week in the fridge.
Pros
- Veestro has over 40 different meal options to choose from including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Offers meals with plant-based “meats” such as vegan chicken.
- Provide 50% off every 5th subscription order.
Cons
- Flavor of some meals can be on the blander side.
- New meal options aren't added frequently.
Shipping: The US.
How to Get The Most Out of Your Prepared Meal Kit Once You’ve Picked
Once you’ve picked out the right box for you, follow our steps to help make sure you make the most of your new subscription.
- Check for coupons before buying. There’s often a deal to be had if you know where to look, and you’ve come to the right place. Here at MSA, we have the best coupons around. Keep an eye on our feed for money-saving special deals, and always make sure to check in with our reviews and brand pages for the best coupons before buying.
- Personalize your subscription. Many prepared meal delivery services allow you to update your profile with your dietary preferences and likes/dislikes. Want vegetarian meals? Or don’t eat pork? Make sure to update your subscription so you’re matched with the best meals for you.
- Schedule your preferred delivery day. Most prepared meal delivery services allow you to choose your preferred delivery day. Check your account portal to see which delivery days are available.
- Make your subscription work for you. Keep in mind that you don’t have to receive a box every single week. If you need a break or feel like dining out, you can always skip a week by logging in to your account. If you don’t want to leave meal selection in someone else’s hands, you can also select the meals you’d like to receive each week.
- Make sure you always have space in the fridge. Once your shipment arrives, you’ll need a good amount of space in the fridge (or freezer) for storage. Try to keep a shelf clear if you want plenty of space to organize.
- Remember there is plenty of fish in the sea. Falling out of love with your favorite prepared meal delivery service? Maybe it’s time for a break. There are loads of different options to choose from, and if you decide to mix things up and give another service a try, make sure to circle back to the top of this checklist and sign up with a new subscriber coupon to make sure you get the best deal.
Factors We Considered When Reviewing These Prepared Meal Kits
This list features our fellow subscription fanatics’ top choices, and we can confidently recommend the subscriptions above since we’ve researched and reviewed them all. Factors we considered when reviewing these subscriptions include:
- Reliability: A prepared meal delivery service is only convenient when things go according to plan. If the box is late or damaged, things can get inconvenient fast. Of course, accidents happen, but we’ve made sure to only select prepared meal subscriptions that take reliability seriously.
- Taste: Prepared meal delivery services can do everything else right, but if the food isn’t tasty, it’s a total deal-breaker. Whether vegan meals or comfort classics are on the menu, the food MUST taste good to make our list.
- Packaging: In order to ship fresh ingredients to your front door, a fair amount of packaging is required. However, we value prepared meal subscriptions that limit the amount of packaging used and opt for recyclable materials whenever possible.
- Variety: Are there plenty of meals to choose from each week? Are there enough menu options to keep things fresh and exciting? It may be trite, but variety really is the spice of life. When preparing this list, we sought out prepared meal delivery services that know how to keep things interesting.
- Dietary Options: Whether you follow a strict keto diet, prefer a plant-based menu, or are looking for meals designed for kids, our list features prepared meal delivery services for a wide variety of special diets and styles of eating.
- Price: While we wish money was no object, the truth is that price is a key factor for most people when picking out the right prepared meal delivery service. Our list includes options to suit a variety of budgets.
- Customer Reviews: We know prepared meal subscriptions better than anybody, but our opinion isn’t the only one that matters. We value the thoughts of the MSA community, and we’ve designed this list with their feedback in mind. Readers are encouraged to leave their own reviews on our brand pages, and their input has helped shape this list.
Which of these prepared meal delivery services looks best to you? We'd love to know in the comments!
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