Best Meal Delivery Service for Singles in 2026
Key takeaways
- Factor and CookUnity suit singles who want ready meals with no cooking, while HelloFresh and EveryPlate suit singles who like to cook.
- EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest kits here, but they need more cooking time and offer fewer premium ingredients.
- Single-serving portions matter more than headline price, so check meal size, fridge life and delivery fees before ordering.
- Most services let you skip or cancel, but cutoff times and delivery areas vary, so check your postcode first.
- Prepared meals usually cost more per serving than kits, and that gap is the price of saving cooking time.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Great for | Pricing starts at | Free tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ready meals for one | $10.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Chef-made single meals | $11.00 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Cooking kits for one | $9.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Cheapest kits for singles | $5.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Flexible kits and ready meals | $9.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Classic kits plus ready meals | $7.49 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Simple budget kits | $5.99 per serving | No | Visit | |
| Plant-based single servings | $9.99 per item | No | Visit |
The best meal delivery services for singles
We focused on services that let one person order a small box without paying for family-sized portions or wasting food. Prices are per serving or per item before delivery fees, and they vary with box size.

Factor is the simplest option for a single person who does not want to cook on weeknights. Meals arrive ready to heat, in single trays, and the weekly menu covers a wide range of diets and flavours. That format suits people who live alone and want dinner ready in a few minutes, without leftovers piling up in the fridge.
Listings in October 2026 showed prices from about $10.99 per serving, with the per-meal price falling as the weekly box gets larger. The main drawback is fridge life, usually about seven days, so you need to eat through the box on schedule or freeze what you can. If you cook most nights and only want help on busy days, a smaller Factor box works well as a top-up.
- Fully prepared single meals
- Wide weekly menu
- Diet options including calorie-smart and protein-rich meals
- Higher price than kits
- Fridge life is limited, so plan the week

CookUnity feels more like ordering from a rotating set of small restaurants than from a single meal factory. Independent chefs create single-serving meals, and you pick a set number each week from a large menu that spans many cuisines. That variety helps singles avoid the repetition that comes with a fixed weekly menu.
Prices in October 2026 listings ranged roughly from $11 to $16 per meal, depending on the meal and box size, so it is not a budget pick. Delivery coverage and menu choice also vary by area. If you value interesting food and zero cooking over the lowest price, CookUnity is the strongest ready-meal choice here. If you want the same reliable meals each week, Factor may suit you better.
- Meals from many independent chefs
- Single servings with no cooking
- Wide cuisine range
- Price varies by meal
- Menu changes can make favourites hard to repeat

HelloFresh is a meal kit, not a ready meal, so you cook each dinner from pre-measured ingredients and a recipe card. Singles can order a two-serving plan and keep one portion for lunch the next day, or cook a single portion and save the rest, which works well if you like leftovers. The weekly menu is large, and recipes are written for home cooks rather than chefs.
Listings showed prices from about $9.99 per serving, with the exact figure depending on box size and plan. The main limit for solo diners is that HelloFresh is not built around single servings, so you need a plan for the second portion. If you enjoy cooking and want variety without shopping, it is still a strong fit. If you want dinner with no cooking, choose Factor or CookUnity instead.
- Two-person recipes can be adapted for solo cooking
- Clear recipe cards
- Wide weekly choice
- Most plans are built for two or four servings
- Cooking takes 20 to 40 minutes
EveryPlate is the budget answer for singles who cook. Recipes use fewer ingredients and simpler steps, which keeps the per-serving price down and the cooking time manageable. A small box works for one person, especially if you are happy to repeat a portion as lunch or share the second serving across two nights.
Listings in October 2026 showed prices from about $5.99 per serving on larger boxes, with smaller boxes higher and a flat shipping fee on top. That fee matters for singles, because it is a larger share of a small order. Even with shipping, EveryPlate usually undercuts other kits. If you want restaurant-style ingredients, look elsewhere. If you want cheap, filling home cooking, it is hard to beat.
- Lowest per-serving price here
- Simple recipes
- Good for budget-conscious solo cooks
- Fewer premium ingredients
- Shipping fee adds to the total
- Menu is simpler than HelloFresh
Home Chef gives singles two routes in one account. The classic kits cover two or four servings and suit solo cooks who like leftovers, while Tempo by Home Chef offers fully prepared single meals for people who want no cooking. That flexibility helps if your week mixes busy nights and slower cooking nights.
Listings showed kit prices from about $9.99 per serving, with Tempo ready meals from about $10.98 per serving depending on box size. The menu changes weekly, and you can skip weeks, which helps solo diners avoid waste. Home Chef is a good middle ground: not the cheapest kit, not the fanciest ready meal, but flexible enough to fit a changing single-person routine.
- Two-serving and four-serving options
- Oven-ready and fast meals
- Tempo ready meals for singles
- Per-serving price varies a lot by plan
- Ready meals cost more than kits
Blue Apron has moved beyond its original kit model to offer both meal kits and Prepared and Ready single meals. The kits suit singles who like to cook and learn new techniques, while the ready meals suit solo diners who want a single portion in minutes. That dual offer is useful if you want to mix cooking and convenience in the same week.
Listings in October 2026 showed kit prices from about $7.49 to $14.99 per serving and prepared meals from about $8.99 to $14.99, with a delivery fee unless you hold a membership. The prepared menu is smaller than Factor, so choice can feel limited. If you like Blue Apron recipes and want occasional ready meals, it is a solid pick. If ready meals are your main need, Factor has a wider weekly menu.
- Well-tested recipes
- Single-serve prepared meals
- No forced subscription on some options
- Delivery fee without membership
- Prepared menu is smaller than Factor
Dinnerly keeps costs down by using digital recipes and fewer ingredients per meal, and that approach works well for singles on a budget. Recipes are straightforward, portions are clear, and a two-serving box can cover two solo dinners or one dinner plus lunch. It is less polished than HelloFresh, but the cooking is no harder.
Listings showed prices from about $5.99 per serving, with shipping on top, so the total for a small box needs a quick check at checkout. Menu choice is smaller than the biggest kits, and premium ingredients are rare. For a single person who wants cheap, simple home cooking without fuss, Dinnerly is a strong alternative to EveryPlate, and the better pick if you prefer its weekly menu.
- Low per-serving price
- Simple recipes with fewer ingredients
- Digital recipe cards reduce packaging
- Less choice than larger kits
- No printed recipe cards for some users
Splendid Spoon is different from the kits and ready meals above, because it sells single-serve smoothies, soups, grain bowls and noodle bowls rather than full cooked dinners. That format suits singles who want a quick plant-based lunch, a light dinner or a breakfast option without cooking for one. Items are individually portioned, so there is no waste from a family-sized pot.
Listings in October 2026 showed smoothies from about $9.99, soups from about $12.49 and bowls from about $13.49 per item, depending on the plan. That makes daily use expensive, and the portions may feel light if you want a large evening meal. As a top-up for busy days, or as a plant-based option alongside a kit, Splendid Spoon fits a single-person fridge well.
- Single-serve smoothies, soups and bowls
- Plant-based menu
- Easy to order just for one person
- Not a full dinner replacement for everyone
- Per-item price adds up for daily use
How we picked these
We compared official menus, pricing pages and public reviews, and we kept services that deliver in the United States in October 2026 and that work for a one-person household, either through single servings or a small box that a solo diner can use without waste. We weighed per-serving price, portion size, menu choice, cooking time, fridge life and skip or cancel flexibility. We did not claim hands-on tasting, and promotional prices change often, so check the checkout total including delivery before ordering.
How to choose for a one-person household
Start with how much you want to cook. Ready meals suit people who want dinner in minutes, while kits suit people who enjoy cooking and want lower prices. Next, work out the real weekly cost, including delivery fees and the number of meals you will actually eat. A cheap per-serving price means little if half the box goes uneaten.
Check fridge life and freezer options, since a single person cannot eat through a large box as fast as a family. Also check the skip cutoff, because missing it means paying for a week you did not want. If you eat out often, a small box of four meals may fit better than a large box. If you work from home and eat lunch at home too, a kit with leftovers can stretch further than a ready meal.
Frequently asked questions
What meal delivery service is best for singles?
Factor and CookUnity are the best ready-meal picks for singles, because every meal is a single serving with no cooking. HelloFresh and Home Chef are better if you like to cook, since a two-serving kit can cover dinner and lunch. The best choice depends on whether you value time saved or lower cost more.
What is the best affordable meal delivery service?
EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest kits here, with prices from about $5.99 per serving before shipping. They use simpler recipes and fewer premium ingredients to keep costs down. For prepared meals, Blue Apron ready meals and smaller Factor boxes are cheaper than large premium ready-meal orders, but kits remain the budget winner.
What is the best cheapest meal delivery service for one person?
EveryPlate is the cheapest overall pick for a solo cook, followed closely by Dinnerly, with both starting around $5.99 per serving on larger boxes. Remember to add shipping, which matters more on a small box. If you want no cooking at all, the cheapest ready-meal route is usually a small Factor or Blue Apron ready-meal box, not a kit.
Can I order meal delivery for just one person?
Yes. Factor, CookUnity, Tempo by Home Chef, Blue Apron ready meals and Splendid Spoon all sell single servings. Kit services like HelloFresh, EveryPlate, Home Chef and Dinnerly usually sell two-serving recipes, but singles can use the second serving as lunch or cook half the kit. Check the box size at signup, not just the headline price.
How many meals should a single person order per week?
Four to six meals per week suits many singles, with the rest covered by leftovers, eating out or simple home cooking. If you cook most nights, two or three kit meals may be enough. If you want dinner covered every weeknight, six to eight ready meals is more realistic, but check fridge life so nothing goes to waste.
Do meal delivery services let you skip or cancel?
Most services here let you skip a week or cancel, but you must do it before the weekly cutoff, which varies by service. Check the cutoff time in your account, and set a reminder if you travel often. Some services also let you pause for several weeks, which is useful for singles with changing schedules.
Sources
- https://www.factor75.com
- https://www.cookunity.com
- https://www.hellofresh.com
- https://www.everyplate.com
- https://www.homechef.com
- https://www.blueapron.com
- https://www.dinnerly.com
- https://splendidspoon.com
- https://mealfan.com/best-meal-delivery-for-singles/
- https://www.garagegymreviews.com/best-meal-delivery-service
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