HEALTH & LIFESTYLE COMPARISONS

5 meal kit services compared.
Fresh ideas for dinner.

Explore HelloFresh, Gousto, Mindful Chef, Green Chef and SimplyCook All In to find a recipe box that fits your household.

Compare the meals you would actually choose, the portions you need and the regular cost. A useful meal kit should fit your cooking habits as well as your delivery schedule.

See the Comparison ↗ Explore the Five Options
Illustrative meal kit ingredients and a freshly cooked dinner in a home kitchen

Choose around the dinners you want to cook

Meal kits bring recipes and ingredients together, giving you a starting point for planning dinner. Their usefulness depends on your household: how many people you cook for, which meals you enjoy and how much preparation you want to do on a busy evening.

This guide compares published service information and practical considerations. It is a five-option shortlist rather than a taste test or live price ranking. Menus, offers and delivery coverage can change. The image illustrates home cooking and does not show a verified box or meal from any listed provider.

AT A GLANCE

Meal kit delivery services compared

Start with menu suitability and household size, then compare the complete ongoing cost.

Five recipe box services compared by format and practical details to check.
Service Starting point Recipe box approach Consider when Check before ordering
HelloFresh Weekly recipes for home cooking Selected meals with ingredients and recipe instructions You want to organise several dinners through a recipe subscription Menu, portions, regular price, delivery charge and editing deadline
Gousto Recipe choice and household options A broad weekly menu with pre-portioned ingredients You want to compare different recipes and box sizes Suitable meals, portion count, recipe surcharges and delivery availability
Mindful Chef Recipe-led ingredient delivery Fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes The current recipes suit your tastes and weekly routine Available portions, complete cost, delivery frequency and order deadline
Green Chef Menus organised by meal preferences Recipe options across preferences such as vegetarian, vegan and high protein You want to browse by your preferred style of eating Individual ingredients, menu choice, box size and subscription terms
SimplyCook All In Fresh-ingredient recipe boxes SimplyCook recipes and flavour ingredients with fresh produce You want to explore this fresh-box version of SimplyCook Exact service, postcode coverage, box contents and delivery schedule

On smaller screens, scroll across the table. Compare prices after introductory discounts, including delivery and any premium recipe charges. Check whether cupboard staples must be supplied separately.

OPTION 01 · WEEKLY DINNER PLANNING

1. HelloFresh

HelloFresh delivers ingredients and recipe instructions for meals selected through a subscription. It offers a way to plan a set of dinners together rather than deciding what to cook separately each evening.

Browse the current menu before choosing a box and consider how many recipes genuinely appeal to everyone eating. Check the regular price and the deadline for changing, skipping or cancelling a delivery. Those details matter if your schedule changes during the week. Also look at preparation requirements so the selected meals fit the time you expect to spend in the kitchen.

Explore HelloFresh recipe boxes ↗

OPTION 02 · MENU AND PORTION CHOICE

2. Gousto

Gousto offers a broad weekly menu with pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards. Its household options include boxes for one to five people, making portion selection part of the comparison.

Menu breadth is most useful when you can find meals that suit your household consistently. Look across different weeks where available, rather than judging the service from one appealing recipe. Check any recipe surcharges and delivery charges alongside the box price. Consider how the chosen number of portions fits your appetite, leftovers and weekly cooking plans.

Explore Gousto recipe boxes ↗

OPTION 03 · RECIPE-LED HOME COOKING

3. Mindful Chef

Mindful Chef delivers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients with step-by-step recipes. Customers select meals and arrange deliveries through its recipe box subscription.

Start with the recipes themselves and whether they match what you enjoy cooking and eating. Check the available portions and delivery frequency, then review the complete order total rather than a headline per-portion figure. A service may fit well when its menu gives you enough suitable choices and its delivery schedule works with the evenings you expect to cook.

Explore Mindful Chef recipe boxes ↗

OPTION 04 · BROWSE BY MEAL PREFERENCE

4. Green Chef

Green Chef organises its recipe box offering around different meal preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, high-protein and lower-carbohydrate options. These categories provide another way to narrow a menu search.

Look at the individual recipes as well as the category label. Check their ingredients, preparation steps and the number of meals you would choose for your box. Consider whether the menu offers enough variety for everyone eating and whether the regular cost fits your budget. Preference categories help with browsing but do not replace checking the details of each selected meal.

Explore Green Chef recipe boxes ↗

OPTION 05 · FRESH INGREDIENTS WITH FLAVOUR KITS

5. SimplyCook All In

SimplyCook All In is the fresh-ingredient recipe box offering from SimplyCook. It brings fresh produce together with its recipes and flavour ingredients, providing a different format from the original flavour-kit service.

Check that you are browsing All In when comparing it with other fresh recipe boxes. Review the current recipes, box contents and delivery coverage for your postcode. Its account tools allow customers to manage recipes and deliveries, including skipping boxes or adjusting the schedule. Read the relevant deadlines before relying on a last-minute change.

Explore SimplyCook All In recipe boxes ↗

PLAN BEYOND THE FIRST BOX

Three checks before choosing a meal kit

Compare suitable menus

Look for enough recipes that everyone will eat, with preparation that suits your evenings. Check ingredient lists, portion options and any cupboard staples you need to provide yourself.

Calculate the regular total

Include delivery, premium recipe charges and any extras. Compare the ongoing cost after discounts finish, using the same number of meals and portions. Keep the rest of your weekly shopping in mind too.

Check delivery flexibility

Confirm postcode coverage and available days. Read the deadlines for selecting recipes, skipping a box or cancelling. Check what happens if you do not make a selection before the order is finalised.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Meal kit delivery comparison FAQs

Which meal kit delivery service is best?

There is no single best service for every household. Compare the current menus, portion options, regular prices and delivery arrangements. The most useful choice gives you meals you want to cook at a cost and frequency that suit you.

Are meal kits the same as ready meals?

No. The recipe box services in this guide provide ingredients and instructions for cooking at home. Preparation varies by recipe. Ready meals are generally supplied already prepared for reheating or serving.

Can I skip a delivery or stop my subscription?

Check each service’s current account options and deadlines. Skipping or cancelling a subscription may not cancel an order that has already been finalised. Make changes before the applicable cut-off.

What is the difference between SimplyCook and SimplyCook All In?

The original SimplyCook offering centres on flavour kits and recipes, with fresh ingredients supplied by the customer. SimplyCook All In adds fresh ingredients in a recipe box format. This comparison covers the All In service.