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Tuesday, October 15th
HelloFresh might be the first meal delivery service that comes to mind - and with good reason. With over a billion kits shipped last year alone, lots of people were introduced to the joy of skipping the grocery store and meal planning by HelloFresh. However, it's a competitive marketplace now, and subscriber dissatisfaction with this company seems to be on the rise in recent months. There are still more than 10,000 five-star ratings for this service, but you might want to check out HelloFresh's higher-ranked rivals before jumping into a subscription here.
Freshly offers a unique approach to meal delivery: instead of requiring you to choose how many people and how many servings you want, you simply select 4-12 meals per order. That could be several of the same item, a dozen different ones, or a combination of repeats and unique selections. All meals arrive fresh-not-frozen, ready to heat-and-eat, but can be put in the freezer for longer storage. Freshly has been outpaced by several other services, and a failure to respond to more than a few customer complaints is part of why they're no longer our #1 recommendation for meal deliveries.
Isn't it amazing how many ways we have to make our lives easier, from Instacart grocery deliveries to DoorDash dinners from our favorite restaurants? Meal delivery services fall in the middle of that spectrum: you save the time and hassle of planning a menu and buying the ingredients, while not spending tons of money on weekly (or nightly) take-out meals and the corresponding gratuities. These services include heat-and-eat meals that arrive either fresh or frozen, as well as kits that come with all the ingredients necessary to make a gourmet-style meal right at home.
You may have noticed that meal delivery recipe choices are abundant. From classic, hearty favorites like chicken parm and burgers to exotic dishes from around the world, there's something for everyone. Vegan? No problem. Following a special diet for health or medical reasons, like keto or diabetic-friendly? You've got possibilities!
Many of these services are subscription-based: you choose the types of meals you prefer (or pick specific entrees), how many servings in each one, and how many meals you'd like in a week, and your deliveries will come like clockwork unless you pause your membership, skip a shipment, or cancel altogether. If that's not your preference, there are some meal delivery companies that let you place your orders whenever you like, with no ongoing commitment.
With almost every meal delivery service, you'll get big discounts on your first order (and sometimes several ones thereafter) - you could pay less than $2 per meal at the start. Just be aware that the regular pricing is higher, typically ranging from $6 to $20 per serving; you'll pay more for premium options with higher-quality proteins and ingredients (maybe for a special occasion?).
It's easy to get overwhelmed as you try to figure out which service to pick. Want some help? Here are a few factors to guide your decision:
To help you simplify your life with regular meal deliveries, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular services available today. We're confident that this will make it a breeze to choose the one that's right for you. Bon appetit!
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