Best meal delivery services to subscribe to in 2024
From reducing time in the supermarket to stopping food going to waste in your fridge, there’s a lot of upsides to meal delivery subscriptions.
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If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the supermarket after a long day in the office, at an utter loss for what to buy and cook for dinner you are not alone.
In a state of exhaustion you end up buying a bunch of random items that by the end of the week are still sitting in your fridge, slowly wilting and rotting away.
Let’s face it: trying to cook nutritious and tasty meals every night is near impossible.
There has to be a better way. And there is: meal delivery services.
A cheaper alternative than eating out or ordering UberEats every night (no, I don't know this from personal experience...), meal delivery services have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years.
If you haven’t tried one yet, here’s a quick rundown on how they work.
You sign up to a flexible plan, choose how many meals you want per week and how many people you’re cooking for, choose the recipes you’re keen on (there’s a rotating selection to choose from every week), and they do the rest.
By the rest, I mean they put together a kit with the pre-portioned ingredients and a simple-to-follow recipe card and all you have to do is whip up tasty and speedy meals.
They save on time (no more of those evening supermarket stops), and effort (trying to find new recipes to replace the high-rotation spaghetti bolognese) and also reduce food waste by providing you with the exact portions you need. They help me eat healthily too, as I'm no longer reaching for takeaway but cooking my own meals which has all the nutritional info displayed handily on the recipe cards.
I am a big fan for all of the above reasons and have been using various meal delivery services for the last few years now. And with ready to heat meals (you know, those vacuum-sealed microwavable meals) so easily accessible and much improved in quality, I’ve jumped on board for those days you really do not feel like cooking at all.
If you’re in the same boat, and curious to know which one to try out, I’m here to help. I’ve tried pretty much all the ones on this list - including HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, EveryPlate, Dinnerly, Youfoodz, Chefgood, and My Muscle Chef - and will give you my honest review so you can make up your mind.
Hot tip: The prices shown are without any discounts but all of these meal delivery services have excellent promotional offers for first-time users so you can save big. I've also included the most popular subscription plan but keep in mind the more meals you add, the cheaper it is.
BEST VALUE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
Like most Aussies, this was the first meal delivery kit I ever tried. HelloFresh gives you a versatile range of recipes and cuisines to select from each week, so you’ll never be bored. Using high quality fresh and seasonal ingredients, you’ll be able to create delicious meals like Cheesy Chicken Parmigana Tenders with Loaded Bacon Wedges & Apple Salad, Easy Double Baked Salmon & Herby Caper Mayo with Lemon Pepper Wedges & Garden Salad, and Sweet Chili Glazed Tofu & Japanese-Style Salad with Crunchy Fried Noodles & Aioli.
HelloFresh also offer a variety of upgrade recipes and add-ons like quick and easy, calorie smart or premium meals so you can tailor the menu to your household to keep everyone happy.
The individual meal ingredients are packaged up into bags (bar the protein and sauces and condiments), so can be quickly stored in the fridge and pulled out when needed. The recipe card provides a picture of each ingredient, as well as the cooking steps, which I find super handy. It also has the nutritional information clearly laid out on the recipe card.
Compared to its main competitor Marley Spoon, I find HelloFresh doesn't offer as much variety in the recipe selection that I am after, but while not the cheapest available, Hello Fresh does give you the best value for money for the range and quality of meals available. Plus, they have locked their prices so you won’t see any price hikes on their plans unlike the supermarkets.
BEST CUSTOMISABLE AND VARIETY MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
Offering over 70 delicious meals each week to inspire everyday chefs, Marley Spoon is a great choice for those wanting to excite their tastebuds. Their menu offers options for all tastes and lifestyles, including vegan, low-calorie, and family-friendly options (so you don’t need to stress about picky eaters).
Like its main rival Hello Fresh, Marley Spoon works pretty much the same way - there are plenty of add ons available, meal ingredients come in individual bags, recipes cards have all the photos and nutritional info, and flexible delivery options.
While there’s not too much to separate the two and ultimately it comes down to personal preference, I did find that Marley Spoon had a bigger variety of meals weekly that appealed to me and my partner more, as we tend to get bored easily and are always looking to try new recipes.
While HelloFresh edges out Marley Spoon in terms of bang for your buck, Marley Spoon is my pick for those wanting more variety for flavourful and well-balanced meals. Popular meals include Teriyaki Chicken and Rice with Cucumber-Avocado Salad and Sesame Seeds, Easy Beef Potato Gnocchi with Carrot, Tomato and Italian Herbs and Crunchy Chicken Katsu with Japanese-Style Slaw
CHEAPEST MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
EveryPlate is the cheapest meal kit option on the market right now. They cut back on the frills and extras, focusing on fresh veg and quality produce for delicious meals, to keep their prices super affordable.
In this economy, I decided to try EveryPlate out earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised by the yummy recipes on offer but best of all, every meal was cooked in four steps or less - a win because the less time I spend in the kitchen, the better.
Top choices include American Beef Tacos with Caramelised Onion & Slaw, Creamy Butter Chicken Curry with Garlic Basmati Rice, and Spicy Mexican Black Bean Nachos with Salsa & Sour Cream.
EveryPlate doesn’t offer much in the way of special dietary requirements (certain dietary requirements are catered to in some of the weekly recipes) and all the ingredients for every meal are mixed together in the box so you have to sort through it all, which can be a time-consuming process. They also don’t provide you with as many pantry staples like HelloFresh and Marley Spoon do (for example, you’ll need to supply mayo or mustard, whereas the others do provide that for you) but considering how cheap the meal kit is, I can’t complain.
The food is tasty and delicious, and at such an affordable price, it’s a big tick for me.
MOST SIMPLE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
What You Need To Know
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
A super affordable meal kit option, Dinnerly offers six-ingredient recipes with five simple steps, ready in 30 minutes or less. For busy households or time-poor people (like me!), Dinnerly's focus on super simple and easy-to-make meals will be much appreciated on weeknights. It really helped my sanity that after a long day in the office I knew that I would only need to spend half an hour max making dinner.
Having said that though, be prepared for less variety of recipe options and not as complex meals than other meal kit options. However, there are still plenty of delicious recipes that I devoured like fan favourite Chicken Katsu Curry with Basmati Rice, the kid-approved Mongolian Chicken and Broccoli with Steamed Rice and Satay Beef Stir-Fry with Jasmine Rice and Crunchy Peanuts.
Dinnerly doesn’t come with recipe cards (although you can change that in settings) so you’ll have to log on to Dinnerly to view the recipe, which sometimes can be a bit tricky when you’re in the midst of cooking. The recipe steps don’t come with pictures either, unlike the other services, only the final completed meal. It’s a small thing but I found the recipe step pictures were helpful in ensuring I was following the recipe correctly.
But considering the excellent price point of Dinnerly, these extras are by no means a necessity, because you still end up with a tasty meal on your table in less than half an hour. It’s a big yes from me.
BEST OVERALL PRE-MADE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
Providing healthy, ready-made meals, Youfoodz offers a huge variety of meals to satisfy any and every craving, including popular options like Nonna's Spaghetti Bolognese, Peri Peri Chicken, and Beef Lasagne, as well as add ons like snacks and drinks. There’s options to add in high protein Fuel’d meals which are 30 per cent bigger and macro-friendly so it’s a good choice for gym-goers as well.
They use locally sourced produce that is prepared fresh by chefs, and their no lock-in plans allow you to simply order however many meals you need, whenever you want – or, you can set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly recurring order.
I found Youfoodz consistently delivered tasty meals that were full of flavour - special shoutout to the Fuel’d carbonara that was restaurant quality. I also love that there is a huge range to choose from so you’ll always find something to suit your tastes.
BEST TASTING PRE-MADE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
Chefgood offers healthy lunch and dinner meal plans with a focus on nourishing, nutritious, tasty food. They’ve been rated the best for catering to different diets such as anyone on weight loss diet, is a vegetarian or vegan or is gluten or dairy intolerant.
Meals are hand crafted with fresh local produce, and contain no hidden sugars. Some bestsellers include Nonna's Lasagna, Chicken Katsu Curry and South Indian Prawn Curry with Coconut Rice.
One point of difference with Chefgood is their regular guest chef series - where a world renowned chef creates a selection of quality, gourmet meals - which continually offers something new and exciting to the menu.
When I tried Chefgood, MasterChef alum Sarah Todd created these mouth-watering dishes of Braised Lamb Saag, Cumin Rice and Tandoori chicken, Dhal and Yoghurt Sauce that honestly felt like I was eating at an Indian restaurant. The addition of guest chef-made meals is a huge selling point for me as you’re guaranteed delicious, gourmet meals.
BEST MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE FOR GYM-GOERS
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
These days you can find My Muscle Chef meals at your local supermarket as well as gyms around the country, but did you know they also offer subscription service and personalised meal plans tailored to your goals (weight-loss, calorie control, and muscle gain) which are delivered straight to your door.
With a focus on fitness and health, clearly displayed macros and calories on each meals, as well as being consistently tasty, My Muscle Chef is the go-to microwavable meals for gym-goers.
As someone who started tracking my macros last year, My Muscle Chef was the top recommendation from my trainer when I needed a quick and easy meal that was high protein and low in fat. It helps that their meals are delicious and there are plenty of options to choose from so you’ll never get bored.
Popular meals include Stroganoff with Spinach Fettuccine, Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl, Beef Ravioli with Napolitana Sauce, and Crumbed Chicken. My Muscle Chef also has a range of snacks, treats, and drinks like protein muffins and protein shakes.
What You Need To Know
Offering a wide variety of meal bundles including weight loss, balanced, and plant-based to name just a few, MACROS single-serve, chef-made meals make healthy eating easy.
Every meal is dietitian-formulated to give your body all the goodness it needs with none of the unhealthy extras. Dietary requirements can be catered to as well, with paleo, low carb, dairy free, and no added nuts options. Delicious and all-time customer favourites include Chicken Pesto Pasta, Fettuccine with Garlic Chilli Prawns and shredded Mexican Chicken Bowl.
BEST MEAL DELIVERY FOR PLANT-BASED DIETS
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking to go plant-based, or even add some more plant-based meals to your diet, then Soulara is the way to go. Offering tasty, dietitian-designed, plant-based meals in three minutes, Soulara aims to make eating plant-based meals easier than ever.
With dishes like Thai-style Tofu, Supercharged Satay and Balinese Mie Goreng, there’s over 50 meals to choose from so you’ll be able to find something to suit you. They also offer ready-to-drink juices, smoothies and kombuchas.
Given the focus on eating healthy, some reviewers on ProductReview note that the portion sizes are small and left them hungry.
BEST SNACK DELIVERY SERVICES
What You Need To Know
Sticking to healthy snacks is a whole challenge of its own – especially when it comes to finding ones that don’t taste like dirt. If you’re someone who loves to nibble on goodies to keep you going through the day (and who doesn’t?) then a snack delivery subscription from GoodnessMe Box.
All products are natural, GMO-free, and free from artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colours, additives, and other nasties. Dietary requirements are catered to, with specific boxes for those who are gluten free, dairy free, or vegan.
BEST GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICES
Want to make life a little easier but not so keen on a full meal delivery service? Shopping for your groceries online is a small change that can make a huge difference. Don’t stress about battling the crowds and queues at the shops – just add your usual order to cart via your phone on your daily commute or from the couch in the evening, and get everything delivered to your front door.
What You Need To Know
Truly the store for everything, Amazon’s wide range of products includes all your must-have pantry food and drinks. From your morning cereals or spreads to pantry essentials like pasta, rice, and canned goods, all the way to your favourite alcoholic beverages, they’ve got you covered. You can also save an extra 10 per cent on certain items with their Amazon “subscribe and save” offer that allows you to save money on those items you buy again and again.
If you want to get the best possible deals, you can sign up to Amazon Prime for $9.99 per month or $79 annually (with the first 30 days free, of course) to get free delivery in as little as two days, as well as access to exclusive discounts.
What You Need To Know
If you’re after locally grown, fresh, organic produce, Doorstep Organics is for you. They source their produce from local markets and direct from farmers to support local businesses and ensure everything is of the highest, freshest quality. You can buy anything from organic fruit and veg to organic eggs and baked goods and even fresh meat and fish. Free standard delivery is available on orders more than $150.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
The market for meal delivery, whether it’s a meal kit or a pre-prepared meals, is getting more crowded, but by and large there’s not a whole that separates them besides personal preference. In saying that, here are a few things to consider when choosing the right service for your needs.
Costs: You’ll want to compare the price of the meal delivery service with your supermarket bill to see if you’re saving money. But remember that most people choose meal delivery not just to save on costs, but to save on time and decision-making. The pre-prepared meals are generally more expensive but will save you a lot of time as you don’t need to prepare and cook the meal yourself. Keep an eye out for vouchers as well, as most of the services offer a first-time user discount.
Extra features: How much are you willing to spend considering the more affordable options cut back on the frills that you may actually want?
Variety and range: If you get bored with your meals easily then you might want to consider an option that has a wide range of options to pick from.
Dietary requirement: If you have a particular diet you follow, you’ll want to check with the particular service to see the range they offer. Some are better than others with the options they have available.
Taste and quality: You want the meals to taste good, but taste is quite personal so I’d recommend trialling the different services to find the one that suits you. It’s easy to do as all the above have no lock-in subscriptions, although remember to unsubscribe!
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the best meal delivery service for you, I tested a number of well-known brands at different price points, including HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, EveryPlate, Dinnerly, Youfoodz, Chefgood, and My Muscle Chef. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews to find the best meal delivery service from premium to budget to help you find the right one for your needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE MEAL KITS WORTH IT?
If you feel like you waste a lot of time planning and shopping for your dinners, a meal kit will absolutely be worthwhile. They take the think work out of creating healthy, versatile and delicious meals by sending you the exact amounts of ingredients with easy-to-follow instructions.
WHAT IS THE BEST PREMADE FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE?
There’s a few available on the market, and it comes down to what you’re looking for. Households looking for healthy and tasty meals will love Youfoodz and ChefGood, while health and fitness buffs will benefit most from My Muscle Chef and MACROS.
If you’re not a wiz in the kitchen, worry not. We found the gadget beloved by home cooks of all levels of proficiency. Plus, check out the best microwaves for heating up all those tasty leftovers.
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