Best Meal Delivery Service for Singles in 2026: 8 Services Compared
By ToolNimba Editorial Team November 9, 2026 9 min read
- Top pick
FactorBusy singles who want no cooking
Starting price$13.50 per mealCheck out FactorRead our review - Runner-up
HelloFreshSingles who enjoy cooking
Starting priceSee websiteCheck out HelloFreshRead our review - Also great
EveryPlateCheapest meal kits
Starting priceSee websiteCheck out EveryPlateRead our review
How we researched this
We compared official pricing and feature pages, app store listings, privacy policies and public user reviews. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you pay.
Key takeaways
- Factor is our pick for busy singles because its meals are single-serving, fully prepared and ready in about two minutes.
- EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal delivery services here, and they suit singles who enjoy cooking and want low weekly costs.
- CookUnity stands out for chef-made single meals with more variety, though prices run higher than budget kits.
- Prices vary by plan and region, and first-box offers change often, so check the final per-meal price and shipping before you subscribe.
Quick comparison
| Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busy singles who want no cooking | $13.50 per meal | No | Visit | |
| Singles who enjoy cooking | See website | No | Visit | |
| Cheapest meal kits | See website | No | Visit | |
| Chef-made single meals | See website | No | Visit | |
| Flexible portions and easy recipes | See website | No | Visit | |
| Simple budget kits | See website | No | Visit | |
| Recipe variety for one or two | See website | No | Visit | |
| Plant-based singles and light meals | $9.99 per item | No | Visit |
The best meal delivery services for singles
Singles face a specific meal problem: family-sized kits leave leftovers, grocery shopping for one wastes food, and takeout costs add up fast. The best meal delivery services for singles solve that with single servings, flexible two-serving kits you can split, or small weekly plans that fit a fridge and a solo schedule. The services below cover ready meals, kits and plant-based options.

Factor is the clearest singles-first pick here. Every meal is a single serving, fully prepared and fresh rather than frozen, so dinner is two minutes in the microwave with almost no cleanup. The menu rotates weekly with diet preferences such as Chef's Choice, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Keto and Vegan and Veggie, and add-ons cover breakfasts and snacks.
Factor costs more per meal than a kit, with its site listing a starting price around $13.50 per meal before first-box offers, and shipping adds to the weekly total. Prices vary by plan and region, so check your final box total. If time matters more than the lowest price, Factor is the service to try first.
- Single-serving prepared meals
- Ready in about two minutes
- Diet options including keto and calorie smart
- Higher per-meal price than kits
- Fridge space needed for a full week
- Limited delivery areas

HelloFresh is a meal kit, not a prepared meal service, so you still cook for about 30 minutes using pre-portioned ingredients and a recipe card. For singles who enjoy cooking, that is the appeal: fresh ingredients, no grocery run, and a wide weekly menu with veggie, calorie smart and quick options. You can order two-serving recipes and eat one portion now and one later.
The catch for singles is portion design. HelloFresh plans center on two or four servings, so a solo household needs a plan for leftovers. Prices vary by plan and region, and shipping is charged per box, so check the per-serving total for your exact plan before comparing it with a single-serve service.
- Wide recipe variety
- Flexible servings and add-ons
- Easy to skip or pause weeks
- Plans are built for two or four servings
- A solo cook must split or store leftovers

EveryPlate is the budget pick for singles who cook. Its per-serving prices run well below premium kits, recipes are simple and quick, and you can scale servings and recipes to fit a solo week. For a single person trying meal delivery without a large weekly bill, EveryPlate is the easiest place to start.
The trade-off is choice. The menu is smaller than HelloFresh or Home Chef, and diet-specific filtering is more limited. Prices vary by plan and region, so confirm the current per-serving price and shipping for your plan. If low cost matters most, EveryPlate wins on value.
- Lowest per-serving prices here
- Simple recipes
- Flexible weekly plans
- Smaller menu than premium kits
- Fewer diet-specific options
- Cooking still required
CookUnity offers single-serving meals made by independent chefs, delivered fresh and ready to heat. The menu changes weekly with a wide range of cuisines, which suits singles who get bored eating the same few dishes. Like Factor, it removes cooking and cleanup, but with a chef-marketplace feel and more variety in flavors.
Prices vary by meal and plan, and CookUnity runs higher than budget kits, so check your box total before you commit. Delivery is not available everywhere, so confirm your zip code first. For singles who want restaurant-style variety without cooking, CookUnity is a strong alternative to Factor.
- Single-serving chef meals
- Wide rotating menu
- No cooking required
- Prices vary by chef and meal
- Higher than budget kits
- Delivery areas are limited
Home Chef suits singles who want flexibility. You can choose two-serving recipes, pick oven-ready meals that need little prep, or use express options for faster dinners. Customization lets you swap proteins and adjust portions, which helps a solo cook avoid waste and repetition.
Home Chef is not a singles-only service, so you will still be choosing from household-sized plans and managing leftovers. Prices vary by plan and region, and shipping applies per box. It earns a place here for flexibility and easy recipes rather than for single-serve design.
- Flexible serving choices
- Oven-ready and express options
- Easy to customize meals
- Built mainly for households, not solo-only plans
- Prices vary by plan and region
Dinnerly keeps costs down with simple recipes, fewer ingredients and digital recipe cards instead of printed ones. For a single cook on a budget, that simplicity is a plus: fewer steps, less waste and a lower weekly bill than premium kits. Skipping weeks is straightforward, which helps solo schedules that change often.
The smaller menu and digital-only recipes will not suit everyone, and Dinnerly still requires cooking time. Prices vary by plan and region, so check the final per-serving cost. For budget-first singles who cook, Dinnerly is a close rival to EveryPlate.
- Low per-serving prices
- Simple recipes with fewer ingredients
- Easy weekly skipping
- No printed recipe cards in some plans
- Smaller menu
- Digital-only recipes suit some cooks less
Blue Apron is a classic meal kit with a strong focus on recipe variety and ingredient quality. Two-serving plans work for a single person who is happy to cook once and eat twice, or for a couple, and the menu includes a broad mix of cuisines and seasonal dishes. Add-ons such as sides and desserts extend the box without a separate grocery trip.
Blue Apron costs more than EveryPlate or Dinnerly, and it does not offer single-serve prepared meals. Prices vary by plan and region, so compare its two-serving total with a single-serve service before deciding. It suits singles who cook and value variety over the lowest price.
- Varied recipes and quality ingredients
- Two-serving plans that suit couples or solo leftovers
- Add-ons available
- Higher price than budget kits
- No single-serve prepared meals
- Plans center on two or four servings
Splendid Spoon fits singles who want plant-based, single-serve food without cooking. Smoothies, soups, grain bowls and noodle bowls arrive ready to heat or blend, which makes it easy to cover breakfasts, lunches and lighter dinners. Its site lists smoothies from $9.99 per item, with soups and bowls higher, so check the plan total for your mix.
Splendid Spoon is not the best pick if you want hearty meat-based dinners every night, and a full week of items can cost as much as a prepared meal service. Prices vary by plan and region. For plant-focused singles, or as a supplement to another service, it is a useful option.
- Single-serve plant-based meals
- Smoothies, soups and bowls ready fast
- Good for lighter eating days
- Not a full dinner replacement for everyone
- Prices per item add up for a full week
- Menu is plant-focused
How we picked these
We compared official service pages, menus and pricing, plus current meal delivery reviews, and kept only services that deliver in the US and offer a realistic option for one-person households in 2026. We favored single-serving meals, flexible small plans and low waste, and we marked prices as See website where per-meal costs vary by plan, region or current offer. First-box discounts were not treated as regular prices.
How to choose a meal delivery service for singles
Decide first whether you want to cook. If not, choose a prepared service like Factor or CookUnity. If you enjoy cooking, a kit like HelloFresh, EveryPlate or Home Chef gives better value per serving. That single choice narrows the list faster than any other factor.
Price the whole box, not just the per-meal figure
Add shipping, premium meal surcharges and add-ons to the weekly total, then divide by the meals you will actually eat. A cheap per-serving kit that leaves leftovers you throw away is not cheaper than a single-serve meal you finish.
Check fridge space and delivery day
Prepared meals need fridge space for a week, and kits need space for ingredients. Pick a delivery day that fits your week, and start with the smallest plan until you know how many meals you will actually use.
Use skip and pause freely
Most services here let you skip or pause weeks without penalty. Use that feature for travel, busy weeks or fridge-clearing weeks, rather than letting a box pile up and go to waste.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What meal delivery service is best for singles?
Factor is our top pick for singles who do not want to cook, because every meal is a single serving. EveryPlate is best for singles on a budget who cook, and CookUnity is best for chef-made variety without cooking.
What is the best affordable meal delivery service?
EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest options here, with low per-serving kit prices. Factor and CookUnity cost more per meal, but they save all cooking time, so compare total weekly cost and time saved, not just per-serving price.
Are meal kits good for one person?
Yes, if you plan for leftovers. Two-serving kits from HelloFresh, Home Chef or Blue Apron work well when you eat one portion fresh and save the second for lunch or the next dinner. Single-serve prepared meals avoid that planning entirely.
Can I pause or cancel a meal delivery service easily?
Most services here let you skip, pause or cancel before the weekly cutoff without penalty. Check the cutoff time for your delivery day, because changes made after it will apply to the following week.
Do meal delivery prices vary by location?
Yes. Prices vary by plan and region, and shipping, taxes and availability differ by zip code. Always check the final box total for your address before subscribing, rather than trusting a national advertised price.




