The Cheapest Meal Kit in Canada: We Ranked the Most Affordable Meal Kits for Your Budget

Let’s face it: groceries are wildly expensive in Canada right now. With our food budgets constantly shrinking—and no end in sight to rising prices—we are all searching for a solution that beats pricey takeout without the headache of daily meal planning. That is why so many people are searching for the cheapest meal kit Canada has to offer.

If you’re primarily focused on cutting costs, you need a straightforward answer, not vague price ranges. We cut through the sign-up bonuses and hidden fees to find the true, long-term champion of affordability.

Quick Answer: Which Meal Kit is the Cheapest?

If your one goal is to find the lowest possible price per plate from the top Canadian providers, the answer is clear: Chefs Plate.

It is the most affordable meal kit service for customers looking for a reliable, budget-friendly option after any temporary discounts expire.

The Price Proof: Lowest Possible Cost Per Serving in Canada

Chefs Plate secures the top spot by strategically minimizing two crucial expenses: the base price per serving and the inevitable delivery fee.

To get the most bang for your buck, you must maximize your order size, which is how all services reward bulk buying. For Chefs Plate, selecting the largest available plan—the 5 meals per week for 4 people option (20 servings total)—pushes the price down to its lowest level. Even without a sign-up code, you can consistently expect to pay in the range of $8.99 to $9.24 CAD per serving for this largest plan.

More importantly, this affordable pricing is supported by a superior delivery structure. The majority of Chefs Plate plans, including all family options, come with free shipping, or a minimal flat fee of $4.99 to $6.00. This is a game-changer when you compare it to competitors who impose a flat $10.99 fee on every single box. That lower shipping cost alone immediately lowers the true cost per serving

The Dollar Menu Advantage

Chefs Plate reinforces its commitment to being the cheapest meal delivery service by featuring a unique “$1 Dollar Menu.” For a small additional charge, often just one or two dollars, you can upgrade your meals with extra ingredients or simple sides. This feature helps cost-conscious Canadians stretch their meals, add variety, or accommodate a growing family without having to jump up to a more expensive, premium meal plan. Plainly speaking, Chefs Plate is the clear winner for the most affordable long-term subscription.

Second Place: HelloFresh

HelloFresh is the global giant and the most popular meal kit service in Canada, and this massive scale is its primary value proposition. While its base price of around $10.00 per serving (for the largest 5 meals for 4 people box) is slightly higher than Chefs Plate, many Canadians still consider it a more affordable choice because of the sheer variety and ease it provides.

HelloFresh offers over 100 recipe choices each week, which is significantly more variety than its competitors . This is important because more choice means you are less likely to experience menu fatigue and cancel, thereby ensuring your long-term goal of saving money is met. Furthermore, HelloFresh has the largest delivery network, reaching over 95% of Canadian households . This makes it the only truly reliable and affordable meal delivery service for those living in rural or remote regions.

The main drawback to HelloFresh’s pricing is the flat shipping rate of approximately $10.99 CAD on every box. This fixed cost drastically inflates the price per serving for small orders, pushing a 3-meal/2-person box closer to $15.00 per serving. Therefore, if you choose HelloFresh, always maximize your order size to dilute the shipping fee.

Third Place : Goodfood

Goodfood is the Canadian-owned challenger and a true contender for the cheapest meal kit title, often ranking #2 on pure price alone. Goodfood’s most affordable pricing for its standard meal kits—like the popular Family Basket—starts around $9.99 per serving for their biggest configurations 



Where Goodfood excels in value is its flexible delivery model. The company offers $0 delivery for all orders totaling $99 CAD or more . For families who rely heavily on meal kits, crossing this threshold is easy, effectively eliminating the shipping cost entirely and bringing the true cost per plate well under the HelloFresh average. Additionally, Goodfood has expanded its offering to include a full online grocery store, allowing you to combine your meal kit order with Canadian-sourced meat, fresh produce, and pantry staples. This strategy makes it an exceptional tool for budget-friendly meal planning and consolidating errands.

The Definitive Price Comparison

We’ve established that Chefs Plate is the winner for the lowest long-term price per serving, but what does that actually look like on your weekly bill? Since pricing varies so much based on order size, this breakdown compares the non-promotional, full retail price for two common subscription scenarios.

The crucial metric to track here is the Total Box Price, which is the base cost plus the mandatory shipping fee. This gives you the most honest cost per meal.

Small Order (3 Meals for 2 People)

This is the most popular size for couples, roommates, or individuals planning lunches. Because this size contains only six servings, the high fixed shipping fees dramatically increase the price per portion for HelloFresh, making Chefs Plate the clear winner.

Meal Kit Service	Cost Per Serving (Retail)	Shipping Fee (Approx.)	Total Box Price	Final Cost Per Portion
Chefs Plate	$10.95 CAD	$6.00 CAD	$71.70 CAD	$11.95 CAD
Goodfood	$11.49 CAD	$5.99 CAD	$74.93 CAD	$12.49 CAD
HelloFresh	$12.99 CAD	$10.99 CAD	$88.93 CAD	$14.82 CAD

Conclusion for Small Orders: Chefs Plate is the clear cheapest meal delivery service for smaller households, thanks to its lower starting price and a shipping fee that is significantly less punishing than HelloFresh’s flat rate.

Large Order (4 Meals for 4 People)

This scenario maximizes volume (16 servings total), which is the key to achieving the lowest price per portion. Note how the shipping fee impact shrinks considerably when spread across more meals.

Meal Kit Service	Cost Per Serving (Retail)	Shipping Fee (Approx.)	Total Box Price	Final Cost Per Portion
Chefs Plate	$8.99 CAD	$6.00 CAD	$149.84 CAD	$9.36 CAD
Goodfood	$9.99 CAD	$0.00 CAD	$159.84 CAD	$9.99 CAD
HelloFresh	$9.75$CAD	$10.99 CAD	$166.99 CAD	$10.43 CAD

Conclusion for Large Orders: Chefs Plate maintains its position as the cheapest meal kit Canada offers, coming in just slightly under Goodfood. However, Goodfood’s elimination of the shipping fee makes it arguably the better value for families who prefer the Canadian-owned brand and its extensive Market add-ons. HelloFresh, while coming in third, achieves its lowest overall price point in this large volume setting.

Maximizing Savings with Meal Kit Hopping

If you are committed to finding the cheapest meal kit experience possible, you need a strategy that goes beyond simply comparing long-term base prices. The true financial loophole in the Canadian meal kit market lies in maximizing the companies’ aggressive introductory offers. This practice is known as “meal kit hopping,” and it is the single best way to dramatically reduce your food bill for several months.

The Art of “Meal Kit Hopping” (A 6-Month Savings Strategy)

Every major meal kit company, for example: Chefs Plate, HelloFresh,FreshPrep or Goodfood—offers substantial discounts to new customers, often dropping the price per meal down to $4.00 or less for the first few boxes. Your strategy should involve cycling through these offers to keep your monthly food costs artificially low.

Here is the simple, honest playbook:

1. Start with the Absolute Cheapest: Begin with Chefs Plate to capitalize on their biggest introductory offer, which often includes a massive discount (sometimes 50% or more) off your first box and tiered savings on subsequent boxes

2. Max Out the Initial Discount: Immediately select the number of meals and servings that maximizes your first box discount. This could mean choosing the 4-person, 5-meal plan, as introductory deals are usually based on the highest possible dollar value discount 

3. Use and Monitor: Enjoy the first three to five discounted boxes. Critically, monitor your account. Companies are aiming to auto-renew you at the full, non-discounted rate 

4. The Pre-emptive Pause: Before your final heavily discounted box ships, log into your account and skip all future deliveries or pause your subscription entirely . Every service offers flexibility to pause or skip weeks easily from your account settings.

5. Hop to the Next Cheapest: Immediately sign up for HelloFresh or Goodfood to activate their new-customer promotion, extending your run of deeply discounted meals. Repeat the process of maximizing the box size and setting your pre-emptive pause date.
   
   

By strategically hopping, a price-aware couple or family can secure meals at a fraction of the full price for four to six months or more, turning meal kits into the genuine cheapest meal delivery service available on the market.

Long-Term Savings: Minimizing Your Standing Order Price

If jumping between subscriptions sounds like too much work, you still have options to maintain affordable pricing with your favorite service.

• Maximize Volume to Dilute Shipping: This is the most crucial tip. Since HelloFresh charges a fixed $10.99 shipping fee and Goodfood charges a smaller fee under $99, ordering the largest possible box size (5 meals for 4 people) immediately lowers the shipping cost per serving to almost nothing.

• Leverage Referral Codes: Once you are a customer, actively use your own referral code to get friends and family to sign up. Both HelloFresh and Chefs Plate often reward you with account credit (up to $60 or more) that can be used to purchase a full-price box, essentially giving you a free box while maintaining your current subscription.

• The “We Want You Back” Offer: If you successfully pause or cancel, wait a few weeks. Meal kit companies are famous for sending aggressive “come back” offers—often a steep discount on your next two boxes—to win you back. This is a smart way to get a discounted box without the hassle of a new sign-up.

 

Final Verdict: Our Pick for the Cheapest Meal Kit in Canada

Ultimately, the best cheapest meal kit Canada offers is the one that stays within your budget consistently, matches your schedule, and keeps you out of the expensive takeout lane.

Based on our real-cost analysis and factoring in everything from hidden shipping costs to menu fatigue, here is the final breakdown of which affordable meal kits are best suited for different kinds of budget shoppers:

If You Are a Couple or Small Household: Choose Chefs Plate

For a small household or single people, Chefs Plate is the undeniable winner.

• The Cost Factor: Their minimum plan price is the lowest overall, giving you a base price that undercuts competitors right away. Crucially, even their smaller boxes benefit from highly competitive, or even free, shipping, which keeps your overall weekly bill low.

• The Value Factor: The simple, 15-to-30-minute recipes mean less time cooking and less mental fatigue, delivering high value for your time.
  
  
  

If You Are a Family or High-Volume User: Choose Chefs Plate or Goodfood

When you commit to feeding a family, Chefs Plate still offers the lowest long-term price per serving at around $8.99 CAD for large family boxes.

However, Goodfood is a strong runner-up and is often the preferred choice for bulk buyers.

• The Goodfood Advantage: Goodfood makes its mark because orders over $99 CAD qualify for free delivery. Since large family orders easily exceed this threshold, you can completely eliminate the fixed shipping cost, making Goodfood an excellent, high-volume choice.
  
  
  

If You Prioritize Variety and Delivery Reach: Choose HelloFresh

HelloFresh is the choice if you struggle with menu fatigue and need the most diverse options.

• The Value Factor: Although its price is slightly higher (starting around $10.00 per serving), HelloFresh wins on sheer choice. Its 100+ weekly recipes and expansive delivery network mean you can stick with the service longer without getting bored, which is the best long-term budget-saving strategy.
  
  

The Final Word on Affordability

The hunt for the true cheapest meal kit stops with Chefs Plate. They have cornered the market by maintaining the lowest price point in the long run, and they actively market themselves as Canada’s most affordable meal kit. If your primary goal is the lowest weekly recurring cost, look no further.

If you are just starting out, however, remember to use our “Meal Kit Hopping” playbook to test all three top services—Chefs Plate, HelloFresh, and Goodfood—while enjoying deep introductory discounts. This smart strategy allows you to secure the most affordable meal kits Canada has to offer for several months, maximizing your savings while you discover which service fits your cooking style and budget best. Don’t pay full price until you absolutely have to.