Meal Delivery Comparison
Dinnerly vs Home Chef: Full Comparison
Budget-friendly meal kits with simpler recipes and fewer ingredients vs Flexible meal kit with customizable options and family-friendly recipes
Quick Answer
Dinnerly offers meal kit starting at ~$5/meal, best for budget-conscious households wanting simple, affordable meals. Home Chef offers meal kit starting at ~$7/meal, best for families wanting flexible portions and approachable recipes.
When comparing Dinnerly and Home Chef, the key difference comes down to their approach: Dinnerly is a meal kit service starting at ~$5/meal, while Home Chef is a meal kit service starting at ~$7/meal.
Dinnerly is best for budget-conscious households wanting simple, affordable meals. Home Chef is best for families wanting flexible portions and approachable recipes.
In this detailed comparison, we break down pricing, meal variety, dietary options, preparation requirements, and overall value so you can choose the right service for your needs.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Dinnerly | Home Chef |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Meal Kit | Meal Kit |
| Starting Price | ~$5/meal | ~$7/meal |
| Min. Meals/Week | 3 | 2 |
| Prep Time | 20-30 min | 15-40 min |
| Best For | Budget-conscious households wanting simple, affordable meals | Families wanting flexible portions and approachable recipes |
| Dietary Options | Vegetarian, Healthy | Vegetarian, Calorie-Smart, Carb-Conscious |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Meal Variety | 20+ recipes weekly | 20+ recipes weekly |
Key Differences
The biggest difference between Dinnerly and Home Chef is their service model. Dinnerly delivers meal kit at ~$5/meal per serving, requiring 20-30 min of preparation. Home Chef delivers meal kit at ~$7/meal per serving, requiring 15-40 min of preparation.
If you enjoy cooking and want to develop culinary skills, the meal kit format from Dinnerly may be the better choice. If your priority is time savings and convenience, the Home Chef prepared meal option is hard to beat.
Dietary options also differ: Dinnerly offers Vegetarian, Healthy, while Home Chef offers Vegetarian, Calorie-Smart, Carb-Conscious.
Dinnerly Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lowest-priced meal kit
- Simple recipes (6 steps or fewer)
- Fewer ingredients per recipe
- Digital recipe cards
Cons
- Requires active cooking time
- Minimum 3 meals per week
Home Chef Pros & Cons
Pros
- Customizable portions
- Oven-ready meal options
- Family-friendly recipes
- 15-minute meals available
Cons
- Requires active cooking time
- Minimum 2 meals per week
Price Comparison
On price, Dinnerly is more affordable at ~$5/meal per meal, compared to ~$7/meal for Home Chef. Both services offer free shipping and flexible weekly ordering with no long-term commitment.
Keep in mind that prices vary based on the number of meals per week you select. Ordering more meals per week typically reduces the per-meal price for both services.
Which Should You Choose?
Dinnerly is ideal for budget-conscious households wanting simple, affordable meals. The service offers lowest-priced meal kit, simple recipes (6 steps or fewer), fewer ingredients per recipe, digital recipe cards, making it a strong choice if these features align with your priorities.
Home Chef is ideal for families wanting flexible portions and approachable recipes. The service offers customizable portions, oven-ready meal options, family-friendly recipes, 15-minute meals available, making it the better choice if these features matter more to you.
Both services allow you to pause or skip weeks, and you can cancel at any time without penalty.

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