6 Best No Subscription Meal Delivery Services 2025

There’s nothing worse than being charged for a subscription you forgot to cancel. Meal delivery services offer many benefits, but they usually require you to sign up for a subscription. While it’s generally easy to cancel or pause your plan, this still opens you up to the risk of forgetting and being charged.

Fortunately, there are services out there that don’t require a subscription to order, offering you more freedom to try out different companies. Each has its own way of structuring plans and fees, so it’s smart to do some research to find which option works best for your needs.

I've researched and shortlisted the best services that offer no-subscription deliveries or an à la carte option without ramping up the prices or cutting corners on quality. At the top of my list, you’ll find Blue Apron. It’s among the only mainstream meal delivery services that lets you order meals without having to sign up for a subscription.

The Best No Subscription Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Blue Apron – Best Overall No-Subscription Meal Delivery Service

Blue Apron stands out due to its versatile approach. The core of its business is a meal delivery subscription, but this isn’t your only option. You can also head to the Market and purchase meal kits, prepared meals, and other items à la carte. You can even find some meal offerings at Walmart stores, depending on your location. 

What’s on the Menu?

In the Market, you’ll find microwavable Pre-Made meals as well as pre-selected meal kit bundles. There are a few themes and categories to choose from, giving you some options to tailor your experience even without a subscription. There’s a Date Night box as well as Wellness and low-calorie options. 

Most of the non-subscription meal kit boxes include 2 meals of 2 servings each, but the family-themed boxes give you 4 servings. There are some other formats available as well, such as the “Weekday” pack of single-serving prepared meals. Rounding out the selection are some fun additions like protein bundles or breakfast packs.

What Makes It Special?

I love that Blue Apron has made these options available for people who want to try the meals without locking into a subscription. You’ll still have to make an account (a quick and easy process), but you won’t risk any extra surprise fees. If you like the meals, you can save money by subscribing for weekly deliveries.

What makes this service stand out the most, however, is the gourmet nature of its recipes. After testing the service for ourselves, we found that the dishes were restaurant-quality. It was a treat to prepare meals fancier than your average weeknight dinner. Take a look at our tested Blue Apron review to see our full unboxing experience.

Is It Good Value?

One-off bundles come with a set number of dishes. Subscribers can order a minimum of 2 meal kits for 2 people or 4 ready-to-eat dishes per order. There is no apparent maximum, as you can manually add as many meals as you want beyond the specified maximum per plan. The cost per meal starts from $4.00.

2. Home Chef – Best Delivery Service for Meal Customization

Home Chef is another top candidate thanks to its flexible account model. Technically, you do have to open an account to make an order. However, it’s easy to pause the subscription and simply opt-in to receiving deliveries, meaning you won’t be on the hook for unexpected orders. You can also find Home Chef meals in Kroger-owned grocery stores, but prices will vary. 

What’s on the Menu?

Home Chef categorizes its meals into several groups. Sections of its basic plan are Meal Kits, Express, Oven-Ready, Fast & Fresh, Lunch, Bundle & Save, and Extras. There's also a family-oriented program of kits and extras.

You'll typically need 30 or 40 minutes to serve Meal Kits recipes, although some offerings take more or less time than that. If you prefer quick-prep meal kits, check out the Express selection, with offerings you can serve in as little as 10 or 15 minutes. But if you prefer microwaveable recipes that take just a few minutes to prepare, try the Lunch options.

There's also a middle ground in the form of Oven-Ready and Fast & Fresh meal kits. These require either little time or effort. For example, the Oven-Ready Piri-Piri Pork Tenderloin Medallions require only quick assembly on your part and baking in the oven. You can serve this Premium Home Chef dish in 25 to 35 minutes. Read our tested Home Chef review to learn more about the service’s recipes.

What Makes It Special?

Home Chef's Customize It tool allows you to tailor proteins to your preferences in many of its recipes. For example, with the Steakhouse Sirloin dish, you can switch Sirloin Steaks for Salmon Fillets or Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.

You can also exclude up to 9 ingredients from the menu when opening a Home Chef account. At step 3, you can eliminate poultry, pork, beef, fish, shellfish, sesame, mushrooms, peanuts, and tree nuts. Also, you can state your dietary preferences, including Gluten-Smart, Keto-Friendly, and Paleo-Friendly, at the same step.

You can select from 4 distinct categories to filter the menu. These are Carb-conscious, Calorie-conscious, Vegetarian, and < 30min. You can preview the menu up to 6 weeks ahead, so you can decide the best time to make a one-off order.

Home Chef is an excellent meal delivery service that caters to individuals, couples, and both large and small families with its comprehensive menu. The only catch is that you need to open a subscription account, which you can then pause for as long as you want. If you prefer purchasing à la carte, I highly recommend Blue Apron.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef offers an attractive pricing model where the cost per meal remains consistent, regardless of the number of servings ordered. With per-serving prices beginning at $5.00, it presents a more budget-friendly option compared to the expense of eating out or opting for takeout.

You can order between 4 (2 meals for 2 people) and 36 meals (6 recipes for 6 people). If you opt for regular delivery after trying Home Chef meals, you can change the chosen plan whenever you wish.

3. Balance by Marley Spoon – Best Health-Focused Prepared Meals

Balance offers prepared meals with under 400 calories and up to 50% lean protein. You can choose between 8 and 20 holistically healthy meals and snacks for each order. The service offers flexibility in its ordering, as you can opt for delivery every 1 or 2 weeks. You can pause your account after placing an initial order if you just want to try it out.

What’s on the Menu?

The service caters to a range of dietary preferences, including Mediterranean, Vegan, Heart Healthy, and more. The meals themselves are mostly typical American fare like meatloaf or BBQ pork, but there are also international dishes like African Peanut Stew or Indian-Inspired Butter Chicken. Put in your zip code to see the exact menu selection available to you.

In addition to the standard menu, Balance by Marley Spoon has a list of snack add-ons to supplement any order. These snacks include things like nut mixes, breakfast bars, and meat jerky.

What Makes It Special?

Balance’s mission statement is to provide a flexible and convenient way to enjoy low-calorie meals without sacrificing flavor or balanced nutrition. Many prepared meals on the market aren’t as healthy as they may claim to be, but Balance is upfront about its macros so you can decide for yourself.

The menu doesn’t refresh every week, but there is an absolutely massive selection of meals and snacks. With well over 100 options, there’s enough variety to keep any picky eater entertained. 

Is It Good Value?

Balance meals are individually priced, so your taste preferences will influence what you end up paying. There’s plenty of variety, even if you limit yourself to the most affordable menu items. Prices can go as low as $4.69 per meal.

4. Nutrisystem – Best for Planning Your Weight Loss

Nutrisystem has a massive menu of meals and snacks designed for weight loss. The service mainly offers a subscription with regimented meals to replace your daily diet, but there are a few ways to order that don’t require a long-term commitment. You can browse the à la carte menu or prepay for multiple months of meals. 

What’s on the Menu?

The menu includes frozen snacks and meals as well as shelf-stable options. Look for the frozen tag on menu items to see which is which. It’s fairly important to note the difference, as the service separately ships shelf-stable items and frozen items. This can lead to excessive shipping fees or confusing tracking if you don’t pay attention.

There is such a wide range of offerings, from personal pizzas and Beef Lo Mein to cookies and breakfast cereal. You can view customer ratings (out of 5 stars) and even real reviews before adding any dish to your cart. This is a great way to get suggestions and recommendations if you feel intimidated by the variety of choices.

What Makes It Special?

I particularly like the robust filtering system, which might be the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen. It allows you to refine your meal selections through a variety of filters like dietary needs or allergens. You can exclude all dishes with shellfish or soy, for example, or you can see only meals with high fiber or high protein contents.

Is It Good Value?

When we reviewed Nutrisystem, we found that the meals were enjoyable even if you aren’t on a strict diet. However, a service like this is well-suited for anyone who needs to adhere to a specific eating regimen. Nutrisystem’s structured plans start at $8.64 per day.

5. Magic Kitchen – Chef-Prepared Meals for Every Diet

Magic Kitchen’s menu has some delicious meals, whether you’re looking to lose weight, have a gluten intolerance, or are vegetarian. The company says it can accommodate every diet, but the offer covers only some of the most common dietary needs.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is flexible and varied, so you should find something to fit your needs. Magic Kitchen has special offers for seniors and family-sized meals. I also like that the offer includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks. Learn more about the service’s offerings in our detailed Magic Kitchen review.

You can order à la carte, which is where you can mix and match main courses, side dishes, soups, snacks, and desserts as you like. If you don’t like doing that, try the complete meals, where everything is paired up.

What Makes It Special?

Magic Kitchen has a streamlined filtering system. You can research a la carte options by Meal Course and Diet. Meal Course categories are Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, Snacks, and Desserts. For dietary preferences, there are options like Diabetic, Dairy Free, and Low Fat. Use the dedicated search box for a more targeted search.

You will find symbols accompanying most Magic Kitchen meals that reveal more about the product than you can conclude at first glance. Hover over these to reveal what they mean. You’ll see symbols such as dairy free, low sodium, gluten free, and microwaveable.

Is It Good Value?

Magic Kitchen is a great choice for people with different dietary needs. It's also suitable for busy individuals and couples since you can serve most of its dishes in a few or several minutes. Options for families are also available. But if you wish to lose weight alone or with your partner, Nutrisystem has better plans. 

Make sure to check the number of servings before purchasing the product. If you need more or fewer meals, check the available options from the drop-down menu accompanying meals. The cost per recipe starts from $9.49.

Bonus: Marley Spoon – Easy-to-Cancel Gourmet Meal Kits

Marley Spoon is a subscription-based meal kit that offers a lot of flexibility. Its FAQs offer advice for people who only want a single order. The advice is simply to cancel or pause your account immediately after placing an order. While you could employ this strategy with other subscription services, I appreciate that Marley Spoon is forthcoming with the information, which is why it’s made my list.

What’s on the Menu?

Marley Spoon’s diverse and expansive menu is inspired by Martha Stewart’s culinary sensibilities. As such, you can expect simple, quirky dishes as well as complex culinary creations featuring unique ingredients. 

The menu changes weekly and features over 100 options, and it’s not limited to dinners: there are also breakfasts, appetizers, and other dishes. You’ll find many internationally inspired recipes as well as elevated American fare like burgers. 

Each item on the menu is tagged with various labels to help you narrow your search. Some tags refer to prep styles like One Pot Meal or Under 30 Minutes. Other tags include Kid Friendly, Optional Spice, and Climatarian.

What Makes It Special?

This service is a dream for foodies. When we tried Marley Spoon at home, we loved challenging ourselves with the more complex recipes. At the same time, the menu also includes simpler dishes for people with less confidence in the kitchen. Regardless of your skill level, the recipe cards are well thought out and a great resource.

My other favorite aspect of Marley Spoon is its commitment to sustainability. Its recycling measures are among the most thorough I’ve seen, and the Climatarian tag helps eco-conscious diners find recipes with sustainable ingredients.

Is It Good Value?

Marley Spoon’s largest and cheapest box (6 meals for 4 people) starts at $4.99 per serving. The minimum order, which comes at a higher per-serving cost, is 2 meals for 2 people. Remember that you have to manually cancel or pause your subscription after placing an order if you don’t want to receive recurring deliveries.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best No Subscription Meal Delivery Services

Here are some of the criteria I used to identify the meal delivery services that made it on my top 6 list:

• Option for buying à la carte: The a la carte option gives you complete freedom over what you order and how you pair various items. There shouldn’t be any restrictions on the process. Blue Apron lets you choose Meal Kits and Prepared & Ready dishes from its Market section with no subscription.

• Check for limits for one-time purchases: In an effort to reduce the costs of order processing and shipping, some services will require you to buy a certain number of items if you don’t subscribe. This isn't unusual, but if you only want a few items, it can be a hindrance. All the services on my list are fully transparent regarding order limits.

• Good menu variety: Look for services that include international cuisine offers and regularly add new items. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of ordering without prior commitments. Home Chef changes the menu regularly and you can view it 6 weeks in advance.

• Fits your budget: In most cases, buying à la carte means you pay more per serving. So look for services that are affordable and have good price variety. Balance prices its meals individually to help you order meals within your budget.

FAQ

Which meal delivery service is easiest?

Look for the service that best fits your unique needs. Balance is a refreshingly simple option with ready-made meals and à la carte ordering.

Are prepared meals worth it?

If you don’t have the time or the disposition to go shopping for ingredients and then spend hours in the kitchen cooking, prepared meals are a great option. Plus, services such as Blue Apron help widen your culinary horizons by making it easy to try new cuisines and gourmet meals.

Is it cheaper to use a meal delivery service?

Depending on where you live and what your order, they can be. Services like Blue Apron take care of every aspect of cooking so you can enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without effort.

Best No Subscription Meal Delivery Services in 2025 — Final Score