Are meal kits actually worth it? We crunched the numbers on Australia’s best options

Verdict: Best value for families on a budget

With meals as low as $4.44 per serving (and promotional pricing as low as $2.19), EveryPlate is the most affordable option in our roundup. Each week, you’ll receive fresh, quality ingredients and simple recipes that put you in control of dinner, with over 30 options to choose from weekly.

The trade-off? Simpler recipes with fewer specialty ingredients – but this actually works in their favour cost-wise. When you’re dealing with familiar ingredients like chicken, potatoes and basic seasonings, it’s harder for supermarket shopping to compete.

“Very convenient having your week’s meals delivered to your door,” shared a recent five-star reviewer on TrustPilot, where Everyplate has over 2650 ratings. “Only need a few pantry staples as everything else is included in the meal kits. Very simple and time efficient for prep and quite tasty meals.”

Another wrote: “The meals I had chosen were fairly basic for a family of 6. But it’s actually a great variety. It’s awesome to have different meals planned out that I would never have thought about doing.”

Verdict: Perfect for adventurous eaters who want variety without breaking the bank

With prices that are still well below premium services, Dinnerly is one of the most budget-friendly meal kits on the market. You’ll get easy-to-follow recipes, fresh ingredients and an impressively large weekly menu (over 100 dishes to choose from), all delivered to your door.

Unlike pricier kits, Dinnerly dials back on packaging and complex prep – fewer ingredients, fewer steps and less fuss. That simplicity means lower costs without skimping on taste or variety.

As one five-star customer on ProductReview put it: “Our experience with Dinnerly has been great so far! The food is always tasty and you can choose your recipes and change them. Also love that you can choose the date when you want it to arrive and the time. The main thing we are impressed with is the quality of the produce – it’s always fresh. Definitely recommend over the supermarket produce. Love that the price is very affordable too.”

Verdict: Fresh produce, lower prices and less food waste

Farmers Pick isn’t your typical meal kit – but it is one of the most affordable ways to stock your kitchen with fresh, seasonal produce. Based in Melbourne, the service partners with Aussie farmers to deliver “imperfect” fruit and veg that would otherwise go to waste. Think crooked carrots or spotty apples that still taste great but don’t make the cut (aesthetically) for supermarket shelves.

We recently tried one of their boxes and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety. There was plenty of fresh produce for the week, just with the occasional blemish or odd shape (nothing you’d notice once it’s in a curry or roast). And we weren’t the only ones impressed.

Farmers Pick has a 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot from over 630 reviews, with customers consistently praising the freshness, value and generous box sizes. One reviewer said their box was “colourful and nutritious,” adding: “I love the concept and can’t recommend it highly enough.” Others highlighted great delivery service, quality extras like olive oil and jam, and the feel-good factor of reducing food waste.

Boxes start at $39, and there are 18 options to suit different household sizes and preferences. You can also top up your order with extras like meat, eggs, bread and pantry staples.

Verdict: Healthy convenience minus the cooking (comparable to mid-range takeaway)

YouFoodz does things a little differently. Instead of a meal kit, you’ll get fully prepared meals that are ready to heat and eat in minutes. It’s a handy option if you want something healthy without having to cook it yourself.

Each week, there are over 40 meal selections, including low-calorie, high-protein, vegetarian and gluten-friendly picks. They cover everything from breakfast to dinner (plus snacks), and all meals are dietitian-approved and made fresh in Brisbane using Aussie ingredients.

Prices start from $5.79 with promo offers (usually around $7-$12 per meal) and everything stays fresh in the fridge for up to nine days. Just heat it up and you’re good to go!

“Loved the meals – fresh, tasty and easy to prepare,” one happy reviewer wrote on TrustPilot. “Delivered to my workplace at the same time every order, perfectly chilled. There honestly wasn’t one meal we decided we wouldn’t order again! The only reason I stopped my subscription was because once the sign-up deal ended, the meals were the same price as they are in the supermarket.”

Verdict: A safe, reliable choice for balanced variety and convenience

Whether you’re after family favourites, vegetarian dishes, or something new, HelloFresh delivers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards straight to your door – cutting down food waste (and time at the shops).

While it’s not the cheapest meal kit, HelloFresh hits the sweet spot between convenience, quality and variety. Seniors also receive 10 per cent off weekly orders, and new customers can save up to $200 across their first boxes.

Many customers on ProductReview say these kits helps reduce decision fatigue, especially for busy households juggling work, kids and the daily dinner grind. “As a busy professional and parent, I appreciate not having to constantly plan meals from scratch or spend time at the supermarket,” one person shared. Others love how easy it is to get teenagers involved, thanks to the clear, step-by-step recipe cards.

Freshness can vary slightly (some users noted that salad ingredients don’t always last the full week), but overall, feedback is glowing – particularly when it comes to quality and variety. “Some meals are like what you would get from a restaurant and the meal prep is so much easier,” one reviewer explained.

Verdict: Worth the premium for restaurant-quality meals at home

Marley Spoon sits at the premium end of the pricing scale, but you’re paying for variety, convenience and quality.

With 150+ recipes to choose from every week, there’s something for nearly every diet – including vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, no added wheat and family-friendly options. Each box includes pre-portioned, seasonal ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards that help you get dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.

The subscription is flexible, letting you skip weeks, pause, or cancel anytime, and you can even customise delivery days and times to suit your schedule.

“I really appreciate being able to sort meals that are wheat-free (gluten free friendly) to help with deciding on dishes,” said a customer who left five stars on TrustPilot, where Marley Spoon has almost 3000 reviews. “Great variety of recipes. It really makes cooking a good variety of healthy and tasty meals each week easy.”

Another added: “We’ve finished our second box – two orders so far, and I’m absolutely loving the flavours of the food and how everything is organised in the paper bags ready to go. It’s taken all the guesswork out of trying to figure out what to eat for dinner, because it is structured, organised and waiting to go. I feel like in the long run we will save money by not getting takeaways or unnecessary and often wasteful products at supermarkets.”

Verdict: For serious food lovers willing to pay premium prices for gourmet experiences

QuiteLike is a premium meal kit for people who really love to cook. The recipes are a little more gourmet than your average kit – think restaurant-style dinners with seasonal produce, clever flavour combos and thoughtful presentation.

Each week, you can pick from around 30 rotating dishes spanning cuisines and dietary needs, with a clear focus on quality ingredients and Australian sourcing. QuiteLike is also Aussie-owned (as part of the Coles Group), and has perks like Flybuys points and surprise gifts through its Cook’s Perks rewards program.

Yes, it’s a bit more expensive – but that price reflects the high-quality recipes, fresh produce and extra attention to detail. If you want to enjoy cooking again, or impress a dinner guest, this is the one.

QuiteLike has a 4.3 star rating from 365 reviews on TrustPilot, with a recent shopper posting: “Meals are straight forward and easy to follow with ingredients really flavoursome. Portions are not sparrow meals so keeps us all happy. The one time there was an ingredient missing, the team were helpful in refunding that portion so no complaints.”

Verdict: Best for those who love the shopping flexibility and meal kit convenience

Harris Farm Markets has ready-to-cook meals that fit right between meal kits and regular grocery shopping. You’ll find marinated proteins, pre-prepped veggies and full meal packs made from their fresh produce.

This option works well for those who trust Harris Farm’s produce quality and want the convenience of meal planning without the subscription commitment of traditional meal kit services.