Best Budget Meal Kits: Dinnerly vs EveryPlate vs HelloFresh
These three services dominate the budget meal kit category. We compared them on price, quality, recipe variety, and real customer experience — so you can pick the right one.
Quick Comparison
| Dinnerly | EveryPlate | HelloFresh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price/serving | $4.99-6.99 | $4.99-6.49 | $8.99-11.49 |
| Shipping | $11.99 | $10.99 | $10.99 |
| Weekly options | 25+ | 20+ | 35+ |
| Recipe complexity | Simple (6-8 ingredients) | Simple-medium | Medium (10-15 ingredients) |
| Recipe cards | Digital only | Printed | Printed |
| Meal bagging | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Absolute lowest price | Best value balance | More variety/flexibility |
Dinnerly: Lowest Price — Best for Budget-First Shoppers
The cheapest option at $4.99/serving. Digital recipe cards keep costs down. 25+ weekly options including vegetarian and family-friendly meals. You sort ingredients yourself (no meal bags), which takes 2-3 extra minutes but keeps the price down.
Best if: Your #1 priority is saving money. For a family of four, Dinnerly can cut $200-400/month off your food bill vs takeout.
Try Dinnerly from $4.99/serving →EveryPlate: Best Value Balance
Nearly as cheap as Dinnerly ($4.99+) but includes printed recipe cards and meal-by-meal bagging — the full meal-kit experience at a budget price.
Best if: You want convenience + low price. Printed cards and pre-sorted meal bags save time each week.
HelloFresh: More for More
Higher price ($8.99+) but more recipes, better packaging, and more dietary options including calorie-smart and carb-smart meals.
Best if: You want variety and are willing to pay $2-4 more per serving for premium ingredients and complex recipes.
The Bottom Line
If price is your #1 priority: Dinnerly. If you want the meal-kit experience without the premium price: EveryPlate. If you want the most variety and recipe options: HelloFresh.
All three offer free trials or discounts for new customers. The best way to know which suits you is to try one for a week.