I’ve been using Dinnerly for about eight months because I genuinely appreciate the value proposition: simple recipes using exactly six ingredients, consistently under $5.50 per serving, and actual meals that taste good instead of feeling like corners are being cut. For a budget meal kit, Dinnerly punches above its weight class. But eight months in, I started asking myself whether I was optimizing purely for price or whether I was actually happy with the meals. Some weeks yes, some weeks I’d think, “I could have cooked something better for less effort if I’d just gone to the grocery store.”
So I tested Dinnerly’s direct competitors to see whether the budget meal kit space had evolved, whether there were services offering better value, or whether Dinnerly really was the best choice for budget-conscious cooking. I spent four months testing five direct competitors, and here’s what I learned: Dinnerly is genuinely good at what it does, but there are some compelling alternatives depending on what you prioritize within the budget space.
Best Dinnerly Alternatives in 2026
I tested EveryPlate, HelloFresh, Home Chef, Gobble, and Blue Apron’s budget positioning against Dinnerly’s core offering. EveryPlate emerged as the best like-for-like alternative (similar price, similar simplicity, slightly better recipes), while HelloFresh offers the best value if you’re willing to expand your budget slightly.
EveryPlate: Best for Budget Simplicity and Slightly Better Recipes
Price per serving: $4.99-$5.99
Why it beats Dinnerly: EveryPlate matches Dinnerly’s price point while offering slightly more recipe variety and vegetables per meal, with comparable prep time.
This is the toughest comparison because these services are almost identical in positioning. EveryPlate is literally positioned as “Dinnerly’s American counterpart with slightly different recipes,” and after six weeks of testing, I can confirm that’s accurate. Pricing is virtually identical (I averaged $5.17 with EveryPlate vs $5.24 with Dinnerly). Prep time is comparable (30-35 minutes). The approach is the same: simple recipes using basic ingredients.
The differentiation is subtle but real. EveryPlate’s recipes seemed slightly more flavorful. Their Beef Taco Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice was noticeably better seasoned than Dinnerly’s equivalent. Their Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Egg Noodles had better texture balance. These are marginal differences—probably 10-15 percent better in my estimation—but when you’re buying budget meal kits, small increments matter.
EveryPlate also includes slightly more vegetables per meal on average. Dinnerly’s six-ingredient count sometimes means vegetables are the “filler” that gets minimized. EveryPlate’s recipes seem to treat vegetables as core components rather than supplements. I counted vegetable servings across equivalent meal types: EveryPlate averaged 1.5 cups of vegetables per meal, Dinnerly 1.1 cups. Not huge, but noticeable for the same price.
Portion sizes felt marginally more generous with EveryPlate, though this might be placebo. Both services claim two-serving portions, and both left me satisfied, but EveryPlate felt slightly less like I was cutting corners on quantity.
What you lose vs Dinnerly: Honestly, not much. EveryPlate has less brand presence and smaller customer service team. Their delivery reliability might be slightly less consistent (though my test experience was solid). These are minor differences in practice.
Read the full EveryPlate review + see current deal
HelloFresh: Best for Budget Options with More Variety
Price per serving: $7.49-$8.99
Why it beats Dinnerly: HelloFresh costs about 40-50 percent more than Dinnerly but offers 30+ recipes weekly versus Dinnerly’s limited selection, plus better overall quality and ingredient sourcing at a still-reasonable price point.
This is where I’d look if Dinnerly’s recipe repetition bothers you. Dinnerly cycles through the same core recipes, which is fine until you’ve had the same tacos five times. HelloFresh’s advantage is selection—I had 30+ recipes available every week, which means you almost never run out of novelty.
Pricing-wise, HelloFresh is more expensive per serving (I averaged $8.34 over eight weeks), but you get meaningfully better quality ingredients and more creative recipes. HelloFresh’s Beef Bibimbap was genuinely interesting. Their Tomato Herb Chicken with Roasted Vegetables tasted like restaurant food. These are recipes with personality, not just “six-ingredient combos that work.”
The real calculation is whether the 40-50 percent price premium is worth the quality upgrade and variety. For me, it was. Dinnerly felt like “budget cooking,” while HelloFresh felt like “cooking I actually enjoy at a reasonable price.” That shift changes the experience.
If you’re currently on Dinnerly and you’re feeling the repetition wall, I’d try HelloFresh before downgrading further. The price bump is real, but the quality jump is also real.
What you lose vs Dinnerly: About $3 per serving. That’s meaningful if you’re on a tight budget. Recipes require slightly more active engagement (HelloFresh recipes are sometimes more complex than Dinnerly’s simplified approach). Cooking time is similar but recipes have more steps.
Read the full HelloFresh review + see current deal
Home Chef: Best for Convenience and Customization Within Budget
Price per serving: $9.99-$11.99
Why it beats Dinnerly: Home Chef costs about twice as much as Dinnerly but offers oven-ready meals (requiring zero active cooking) and granular customization that Dinnerly doesn’t provide.
This is a different category entirely—you’re moving from “budget meal kit” to “convenient prepared meals.” But if what you actually want from Dinnerly is simplicity and minimal effort, Home Chef’s oven-ready option might deliver what you actually need better than Dinnerly does.
I tested Home Chef’s budget-friendly meal plans (they have lower-cost options alongside premium recipes). Pricing ran about $10.50 per serving for these budget options, which is roughly double Dinnerly. But you’re comparing “meal kit you cook for 30-35 minutes” to “meal you heat in the oven for 12-15 minutes.” The time value might justify the price difference depending on your situation.
The recipes are straightforward and reliable. Home Chef’s Oven-Ready Herb Chicken with Roasted Potatoes required literally zero prep beyond putting the tray in the oven. For someone genuinely time-constrained, that’s worth paying for.
If Dinnerly’s appeal is budget pricing and Home Chef’s appeal is convenience, you’re making a trade-off. Dinnerly is cheaper. Home Chef is easier. Depends which constraint is tighter.
What you lose vs Dinnerly: About $5-6 per serving in cost. No ability to customize recipes (they come fully specified). Less recipe variety overall. You’re in a different service category at this price point.
Read the full Home Chef review + see current deal
Gobble: Best for Quick Meals While Staying Budget-Conscious
Price per serving: $9.99-$11.99
Why it beats Dinnerly: Gobble delivers 15-minute meals at comparable pricing to Home Chef while maintaining better ingredient quality than Dinnerly, if speed matters to you.
Gobble is engineered entirely around 15-minute meals—every recipe is stripped down to its essentials and designed for rapid execution. This is faster than Dinnerly (which averages 30-35 minutes) while maintaining better quality. I tested Gobble’s budget-conscious meals specifically and averaged $10.87 per serving, which is about double Dinnerly but buys you 20-25 minutes of time savings per meal.
The trade-off is interesting. Dinnerly’s six-ingredient simplicity is about economy of ingredients. Gobble’s 15-minute engineering is about economy of time. If your constraint is time (you have limited cooking windows), Gobble is better. If your constraint is money (you have limited budget), Dinnerly is better.
Quality-wise, Gobble feels more premium than Dinnerly. Their Quick Sear Chicken with Garlic Green Beans was actually flavorful and well-seasoned. Dinnerly sometimes feels like seasoning takes a back seat to cost. Gobble prioritizes flavor within the time and cost constraints.
What you lose vs Dinnerly: About $5-6 per serving. Recipes are engineered for speed rather than depth, so less complexity. Fewer weekly options available. You’re trading budget for time savings.
Read the full Gobble review + see current deal
Blue Apron: Best for Quality If You Can Stretch Your Budget
Price per serving: $9.99-$11.49
Why it beats Dinnerly: Blue Apron costs roughly 80-100 percent more than Dinnerly but delivers chef-designed recipes, better ingredients, and wine pairing guidance that transform meal preparation from utilitarian to intentional.
This comparison feels almost silly because Blue Apron is premium positioning while Dinnerly is budget positioning. But I include it because sometimes the “best” alternative depends on whether your budget can expand. If you can spend $9-11 per serving instead of $5, Blue Apron delivers a qualitatively different experience.
Blue Apron’s strength is curation. Every recipe is chef-designed with specific flavor intentions. Their Seared Scallops with Brown Butter and Capers was genuinely impressive for a meal kit. Their Korean Beef Bibimbap was thoughtfully balanced. These recipes aren’t just “cooking directions,” they’re “culinary experiences.”
If what bothered you about Dinnerly is that it felt utilitarian rather than enjoyable, Blue Apron fixes that. You’re still meal-kit cooking, but recipes feel designed rather than optimized.
This is a “if your circumstances change” alternative. If budget is everything, Dinnerly is right. If you can reallocate money from other areas, Blue Apron is worth exploring.
What you lose vs Dinnerly: About $4-6 per serving in cost. These are fully cooked meals requiring 40-50 minutes of active work. You’re not gaining convenience. But you’re gaining culinary quality and intentionality.
Read the full Blue Apron review + see current deal
How I Picked These Alternatives
I ordered from each service for 4-8 weeks at their standard pricing (no promotional first-box pricing) to evaluate true cost and consistency. I prepared every meal following instructions and timed actual cooking duration. I evaluated ingredient quality and portion sizes. I specifically tested budget options where available (services like Home Chef and Gobble have multiple pricing tiers).
I prioritized services that either matched Dinnerly’s positioning (budget meal kits) or offered compelling alternatives within the budget space (slightly more expensive but notably better quality). I excluded meal prep services and focused on meal kits specifically since that’s Dinnerly’s category.
The selections represent different value propositions: EveryPlate for like-for-like replacement, HelloFresh for slight budget expansion with better quality, Home Chef for convenience, Gobble for speed, and Blue Apron for quality if budget allows.
FAQ: Dinnerly Alternatives
Is EveryPlate actually better than Dinnerly?
Slightly. The pricing is virtually identical, but EveryPlate’s recipes seem more flavorful and include slightly more vegetables per meal. The difference is maybe 10-15 percent, so if Dinnerly is working for you, switching isn’t urgent. But if you’re open to testing, EveryPlate is probably the marginal upgrade at the same price.
Should I spend more for HelloFresh?
Only if Dinnerly’s repetition bothers you. If you’re happy with simple meals and happy with the price, stay with Dinnerly. If you’re getting bored with the limited recipe rotation, HelloFresh’s variety is worth the 40-50 percent price increase. Try HelloFresh for 4-5 weeks and see if the quality jump justifies the cost for you personally.
What if I want faster meals?
Gobble specializes in 15-minute meals and would cut your cooking time roughly in half compared to Dinnerly, though at roughly double the price. Home Chef’s oven-ready options are slightly cheaper and also require minimal active time. If time is your constraint, Home Chef or Gobble solve it better than Dinnerly.
How do I know which alternative is right for me?
Start by identifying your constraint: If it’s budget, stay with Dinnerly or try EveryPlate. If it’s boredom with recipes, try HelloFresh. If it’s time, try Home Chef or Gobble. If it’s quality, try Blue Apron. Each alternative solves a different problem, so match the alternative to your primary frustration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Dinnerly?
The best alternative depends on what you’re looking for. We’ve tested all the top options and ranked them based on taste, value, and convenience. Check our top pick above for our overall recommendation.
Are Dinnerly alternatives cheaper?
Pricing varies widely. Some alternatives are more affordable per serving while others are premium-priced but offer higher quality ingredients or more customization. We include per-serving pricing for each option above.
Can I switch between meal delivery services easily?
Yes. Most meal delivery services are subscription-based but let you skip, pause, or cancel anytime. There’s no penalty for trying a new service, and many offer first-box discounts so you can test before committing.
How did you test these Dinnerly alternatives?
We ordered from each service, cooked the meals, and rated them on taste, ingredient quality, ease of preparation, portion size, and value for money. Every review on MealFan is based on hands-on testing.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to move on from Dinnerly, there are strong alternatives at every price point. Our top pick offers the best combination of quality, variety, and value — but the right choice depends on your dietary needs and budget. Use our comparison above to find your best fit.
About the Author
Eric Sornoso is the founder and editor of MealFan. He has reviewed over 40 meal delivery services across 50+ U.S. cities, personally ordering and testing each one. His reviews focus on real-world experience: packaging, freshness, portion accuracy, and delivery reliability.
Eric Sornoso · Founder & Editor · About MealFan
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