Top Meal Delivery Services, Reviewed by Our Experts

Top Pick

CookUnity strikes a balance between restaurant takeout and mail-order meals, making it a great option for those who want convenience and simplicity. We appreciate the menu's wide selection, featuring dishes from over 70 chefs across the U.S. Notable favorites include Chinese dumplings, tacos, and Niçoise salad.

Since all the meals came pre-cooked, we simply had to heat them in the microwave. Most took around 10 to 15 minutes. We sampled dishes like coconut lime hanger steak, carnitas street tacos, butternut squash ravioli, and chili roasted shrimp. While we enjoyed the variety of protein options, we found the sides a little lacking. However, we were pleased with how fresh everything tasted.

The menu changes based on location, but you can filter your choices according to dietary preferences and preferred proteins. Additionally, you'll find nutritional details, heating instructions, a star rating, and the chef’s profile before placing your order. Just keep in mind that the website can be a bit glitchy at times. Plans start at $10, with prices reaching up to $177 depending on the number of meals ordered each week.

Starting Price: $10.39 per serving | Delivery Area: Available in 47 states | Products Arrive: Fresh

Best Deal

Daily Harvest aims to inspire people to consume more fruits and vegetables, with its meals—crafted using vegan recipes—full of wholesome ingredients. We were impressed by the diverse range of flavors and options, including smoothies, harvest bowls, flatbreads, soups, ice cream, nut “mylks,” and sweet “bites” that mimic frozen cookie dough. Our top pick was the tomato basil portobello Bolognese pasta.

The meals arrived frozen (to maintain the nutrients, according to the company) and required very little preparation. While we needed to blend the smoothies in a blender and cook some items in the oven, most meals were microwave-ready. Many options were hearty enough to be considered a full meal, although a few definitely needed additional protein.

Items are priced individually (starting at $6), so you can choose how many meals you'd like each week and pick as many smoothies, oat bowls, or flatbreads as you want. We especially liked the flexibility of the ordering system, which lets you schedule deliveries every week, every two weeks, or every four weeks.

Starting Price: $6.79 per serving | Delivery Area: Available in 48 states | Products Arrive: Frozen

Top Gluten-Free Option

Unlike other services with limited gluten-free choices, Epicured is specifically crafted for those with gluten sensitivities and various health conditions. The chefs collaborate with nutritionists to ensure the meals meet strict dietary guidelines. All meals are gluten-free and low FODMAP, with options available for vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and other dietary needs.

During our review, we were pleasantly surprised by how fresh the meals tasted (far better than they appeared on the website). Most meals were ready to eat, with some needing only a brief microwave heat-up. We enjoyed dishes such as Vietnamese rice noodles, pad Thai with chicken, sesame-crusted grilled salmon, and pulled barbecue chicken. Portions were generous, and everything came with sauces and sides for a complete experience.

While you can select your preferred proteins, we found the meal selection somewhat limited. However, there were enough rotating options to keep things fresh. If you prefer not to choose individual meals, you can opt for themed bundles, like a brunch collection or freezer-friendly favorites.

Starting Price: $10.29 per serving | Delivery Area: Available in 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh

Best for Keto

Factor, formerly known as Factor 75, is a fantastic choice for those seeking a variety of keto-friendly meals. Upon signing up, you can tailor your menu based on your preferences—whether keto, calorie-conscious, vegan, protein-packed, or a mix of them. Almost half of the weekly meals cater to keto, and the selection updates weekly.

Factor provides several plan options (ranging from four to 16 meals weekly) and a vast list of add-ons. While the core meals focus on lunch and dinner, you can add breakfasts, smoothies, juices, desserts, and extra proteins or salads. This flexibility lets you design your full day’s meals by building around lunches and dinners, with additional add-ons for the rest.

Starting Price: Varies by region | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Fresh

Best for Seniors

Magic Kitchen is particularly suited for seniors, offering ease and great customer service, making meal planning hassle-free.

Unlike other services that require subscriptions, Magic Kitchen provides à la carte and set meals that include a main and sides. You can select your dishes or opt for recurring packages. This is perfect for caregivers or anyone who prefers simplicity. Plus, they partner with insurance and Medicare for qualifying customers.

With options like diabetic-friendly, dialysis-friendly, low-sodium, gluten-free, low-carb, and more, Magic Kitchen offers a variety of specialized meals. We tested dishes like eggplant parmigiana, polenta with spinach and roasted peppers, and beef shepherd's pie. While tasty, they weren't the most flavorful options we tried, so it may not be ideal for food enthusiasts. But for those who need easy, diet-compliant meals, it's a reliable choice.

Starting Price: $10 per serving | Delivery Area: 48 states | Products Arrive: Frozen

Best for Allergy-Friendly Diets

The Good Kitchen offers a focus on high-quality, sustainable foods, utilizing ingredients like grass-fed, non-GMO meats. What truly differentiates this service is its flexibility. It doesn't just cater to typical dietary restrictions; it also lets you exclude specific allergens and even foods like nightshades and garlic from your meals.

With all meals delivered pre-cooked and ready to go, preparation was a breeze. The menu was varied, featuring dishes such as chicken satay with cilantro rice and broccoli, miso-glazed wild boar meatballs with hibachi zucchini, and our favorite—red chimichurri chicken with sun-dried tomato mashed potatoes. While the portion sizes were a bit smaller compared to other services, the high-protein meals were satisfying and filling.

If you're dealing with allergies, food sensitivities, or just want to up your protein intake, The Good Kitchen is an excellent option. It also offers the convenience of both one-time deliveries and recurring subscription plans to suit your needs.

Starting Price: $11.50 per meal | Delivery Area: Available in all 50 states | Products Arrive: Fresh

Final Verdict

We recommend CookUnity for its wide variety of meal plans that cater to various dietary needs, health considerations, and budgets. For the best value, consider Daily Harvest, which offers vegan meals as well as smaller snacks and smoothies, with prices starting as low as $6.

Our Testing Process

To identify the top prepared meal delivery services, we tested 40 different options over a period of four weeks. First, we ordered from each company's website, assessing the ease of account setup and order placement. We also considered the flexibility of the delivery schedule and the responsiveness of customer service.

Once the meal kit arrived, we verified that all items were intact (frozen items remained frozen, packages were properly sealed, etc.). Then, we prepared the meals according to the provided instructions, without adding any extra ingredients. During this process, we noted the amount of prep work required, the clarity of the instructions, whether additional cooking equipment was needed, and if the dish took longer to cook than the provided time.

After completing the testing phase, we evaluated the quality of the meals (whether they tasted fresh or processed) and the variety of options. Did the menu offer sufficient variety, or would long-term users grow bored of the selection? We also assessed how satisfying the meals were, especially the vegan and vegetarian options, considering whether we felt full or needed additional protein or sides.

Take Our Word for It

This guide was written by Jamie Fischer, a writer at Mytour with nearly two years of experience in home and lifestyle roundups. She takes pride in her cooking skills and enjoys trying out new, simple-to-make recipes.

To create this list, we tested 40 different prepared meal delivery services, focusing on those that offered easy ordering, a wide variety of meals, minimal preparation, and, most importantly, great taste.