Are you interested in healthy, fast food and thinking about a food box? Today I'll tell you which food boxes don't require a subscription and what alternatives there are to the conventional options.
The idea behind a cooking box is really great. You don't have to go shopping, you get the Ingredients directly in front of the Front door delivered, just as much as you need. This results in less waste and the Creativity in the kitchen rises to a new level. 😋
But unfortunately there is a Hook: Subscriptions. In other words, monthly fixed costs that are usually debited directly from your account.
I'm really not a fan of that. But what's the alternative? Do without the practical cooking box model altogether?
Fortunately not. More and more providers are realizing that many customers do not want to take out a subscription for a cooking box.
You bring Cooking boxes on the market without a subscriptionthat you can order whenever you feel like it. Or not, if you don't feel like it. This means you only pay when you really need the box and there is no notice period during which you have to continue paying. 🤠
But which manufacturers offer something like this and what different models are available? I've taken a closer look and will tell you which cooking boxes don't require a subscription.
Table of contents
- Which cooking boxes are available without a subscription?
- The food boxes in a big comparison
- What are the advantages of a cooking box without a subscription?
- What types of food boxes are available without a subscription?
- What kind of commitment periods are there for cooking packages?
- How much does a cooking box cost without a subscription?
Which cooking boxes are available without a subscription?
Most cooking box providers want to persuade you to take out a subscription. That way they can earn more from you. But there are also Provider, where you unique without having to take out a subscription right away. If you like the offer and you like the food, you can switch to a subscription offer and save money.
I'll tell you now which Meal boxes without subscription and what their offer is. Let's dive into a world of delicious dishes and recipes together - with no strings attached.
Before we look at each box in detail, I would like to give you a quick overview procure. I have summarized here what customers say in reviews, what the providers themselves say about themselves, how much a portion costs and whether I have found a discount code.
| Provider | Positive | Negatives | Price | Discount code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrepMyMeal |
|
|
from € 5.99 per meal | WEGOWILD
10 % on the order |
| HelloFresh |
|
|
from € 5.45 per meal | – |
| Marley Spoon |
|
|
4,49 € per portion | HAFFALLO |
| Dinnerly |
|
|
from € 3.65 per meal | HADTRACTION80O |
| Lion's share |
|
|
from 6,99 € | wegowild10 |
| BetterFeast |
|
|
from 5,07 € | BETTER50 |
| EasyCookAsia |
|
|
from 5 € per main course | – |
| Wyldr |
|
|
from 4,69 € | – |
And now let's take a closer look at the meal boxes. I'll tell you all the important information and what you need to know about each box.
The food boxes in a big comparison
PrepMyMeal
If you have very little time and really don't want to worry about a healthy and balanced diet want to do, could Prepmymeal the right thing* be for you.
Since 2017, Prepymeal has been supplying you with ready meals that you just have to put in the microwave. The dishes are ready to eat and deep-frozen.
You can choose from a wide selection of different dishes and destinations. These include
- Slimming
- Muscle building
- Low carb and keto
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Paleo
- and breakfast
For you choose a sample box from over 50 dishes* 6 different ones. They will then be delivered to you frozen within a few days. Then it's time to taste them: if they've won you over, you can take out a subscription or simply order a new one the next time you feel like it.
We were recently allowed to test it ourselves. You can read our experience report here: Prepmymeal in the big taste test - How the fast food performs!
Hellofresh without subscription
There are several classic providers where you can order cooking boxes without a subscription. These also include large and well-known providers such as HelloFresh*.
This cooking box is probably the best known and something like the Mother of all cooking boxes.
However, you cannot order a single box. But you can pause or cancel your subscription immediately. The trick: If you receive your cooking box on Mondays, you must cancel by Wednesday of the previous week. You will then no longer receive a parcel in the following weeks.
After your first order, you are automatically on a flexible subscription. This means you can adjust, pause or cancel at any time.
For this choose the HelloFresh sample box* from. The flexible subscription can be canceled directly after ordering the first cooking box.
At FAQ section of HelloFresh you will find the exact procedure and how to take out a subscription that can be canceled immediately - and is therefore somehow not a real subscription.
The HelloFresh cooking box is ideal for:
- Professionals and couples: The box offers quick and easy recipes that are perfect for preparing after a long day at work.
- Families: HelloFresh offers child-friendly recipes and boxes in various sizes that are ideal for families with children.
- Cooking enthusiasts: HelloFresh offers a large selection of recipes from all over the world that can inspire even experienced cooks.
Marley Spoon without subscription
You have Marley Spoon already viewed*but can't find a cooking box without a subscription? As with HelloFresh, there is a loophole here too.
You take out a subscription with your first order. However, if you cancel immediately after ordering, the subscription is no longer valid. You even have the option of ordering just one box - as Marley Spoon explains in its FAQ section.
To ensure that you do not receive any more boxes, you must cancel 6 days before the planned delivery date of your next box. If you don't do this, the delivery chain has already been set in motion. However, if it is too late, you can cancel at any time.
Marley Spoon costs 4.49 euros per portion.
The Marley Spoon cooking box is ideal for:
- Connoisseurs and gourmets: The box offers high-quality ingredients and creative recipes that make cooking a special experience.
- Health-conscious: Marley Spoon attaches great importance to fresh and seasonal ingredients as well as healthy and balanced recipes.
- Many eating habits: The box offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan recipes that will also delight meat lovers.
Dinnerly without subscription
Did you know that Dinnerly is part of Marley Spoon? It's the cheaper alternative to Marley Spoon and is aimed at anyone who doesn't want to spend so much money but still wants to eat healthily.
Dinnerly convinces many users* due to its reasonable prices and sustainability. You can choose from a wide range of dishes every week.
With prices starting at 3.65 euros per portion, Dinnerly leaves its competitors far behind.
You can follow the same program here: Order a trial box, the subscription is taken out automatically. And then the Cancel your subscription immediately*.
With a simple trick, you can have a cooking box without a subscription.
The Dinnerly cooking box is ideal for:
- Price-conscious: Dinnerly is the cheapest of the three cooking boxes and offers delicious recipes at an affordable price.
- Students and singles: The boxes are small and compact, making them ideal for small households.
- Beginners: Dinnerly offers simple and quick recipes that are easy to prepare, even for beginners.
Lion's share
What's missing is the filling side dish. You'll have to do it yourself. Pasta, rice, quinoa, potatoes, bread, salad - they all go perfectly with it.
Currently you can choose from 13 dishes*, with new ones being added regularly. Many of them are vegan or vegetarian. The range extends from curries and chilis to various stews.
Most are based on pulses - which makes them very filling and suitable for both losing weight and building muscle.
My My personal favorite is the Sweet Chili*, which even won the Vegan Food Award in 2023.
Incidentally, the jars can be kept unrefrigerated for over 2 years. There is a discount for larger quantities. For me personally, this is one of the best cooking boxes without a subscription.
You can read a detailed test article here: "The lion's share in the big taste test: This is what the dishes can really do!“
Löwenanteil dishes are ideal for:
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts: Löwenanteil offers dishes with a high protein content and balanced macronutrients
- Lovers of quick and simple dishes: The dishes are already prepared and just need to be heated up.
- Flexitarians and vegetarians: Löwenanteil offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes that will also satisfy meat lovers.
BetterFeast
Preparing healthy food quickly and easily - that's the The aim of BetterFeast*. The focus is on simple recipes that sometimes contain superfoods - such as quinoa or Chia seeds*.
Unlike traditional cooking boxes, however, you don't receive any ingredients that you have to prepare yourself. BetterFeast delivers ready-made dishes that you just have to heat up.
You can choose from the family box, diet box, everyday box or Taster box choose. The prices depend on the box you choose. You can decide whether you would like to receive a cooking box for one or four weeks.
If you just want a taste, cancel the subscription directly after the first order and do not renew. If you like the food, you can reactivate your subscription at any time.
The BetterFeast cooking box is ideal for:
- Connoisseurs and gourmets: The box offers high-quality ingredients and creative recipes that make cooking a special experience.
- Health-conscious: BetterFeast attaches great importance to fresh and seasonal ingredients as well as healthy and balanced recipes.
- Flexitarians and vegetarians: The box offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan recipes. But there is also plenty for meat lovers.
EasyCookAsia
If you're a fan of Asian cuisine and are looking for no-subscription meal boxes, then you'll love EasyCookAsia. This food box contains delicacies from Asian countries such as Thailand, China, Japan, Indonesia and Korea. More variety is really not possible!
It's great that you can only order once and are not forced into a cooking box subscription.
There are also themed cooking boxes such as the Korean gift box or vegetarian cooking boxes.
If you want to expand your cooking skills and immerse yourself in the real world of Asian cuisine, this is definitely the place for you.
EasyCookAsia's cooking boxes are ideal for:
- Lovers of Asian cuisine: The box offers authentic recipes from various Asian countries, with fresh and exotic ingredients.
- Explorers and the curious: EasyCookAsia makes it possible to get to know new flavors and cooking methods.
- Comfortable connoisseurs: The boxes are already portioned. This makes cooking quick and easy, even with unfamiliar ingredients.
Wyldr
Have you ever heard of the organic cooking box Wyldr? This company sells cooking boxes without boxes - i.e. with cotton bags - and wants to avoid waste.
Wyldr offers a very large selection of recipes. Ideal for people who have intolerances or allergies. From gluten-free to lactose-free, everything is possible.
The motto here is: environmentally friendly, healthy and fast food. This food box is ideal for organic fans and contains 100 % seasonal, regional organic products. There are simple recipes with step-by-step instructions. There is a large selection for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
You can also use the trick here: Order a trial box - subscription is automatically concluded, cancel subscription again.
EasyCookAsia's cooking boxes are ideal for:
- Fans of organic and regional products: This is actually the only cooking box without a subscription that consists only of organic ingredients. At least I couldn't find any others on the internet.
- Fans of sustainability: If high-quality ingredients and sustainability are important to you, you will become a fan of this box. Even crooked vegetables are processed here and delivered in organic cotton bags.
- Vegans, athletes and children: There really is something for everyone here. Large selection!
What are the advantages of a cooking box without a subscription?
Basically, you find cooking boxes super interesting. If only it weren't for the subscription. Almost all the big providers quickly lure you into the subscription trap, even though you're not even sure if it really suits you. Does the food taste good? What about the portion sizes and ingredients?
It would be nice if you could have a relaxed taste before you have to commit to a provider.
Cooking boxes without subscriptions offer these advantages:
- No minimum term
- No notice period
- Spontaneous orders possible
- Budget control
- Control over frequency
- Selection of dishes
- No unwanted deliveries
- No subscription trap
Probably the biggest advantage is that you don't have to worry about a minimum term. Unlike with traditional subscriptions, where the box continues to run for a while. Even though you might not want it to.
One of the biggest advantages of cooking boxes without a subscription is the incomparable flexibility. You decide when and what you want to cook without having to make a long-term commitment. Perfect if you like to plan spontaneously or want to keep your cooking habits flexible.
Compared to traditional models, cooking boxes without a subscription offer a stress-free alternative where you are not tied to recurring deliveries or long-term commitments.
This allows you to keep control of your meals and your budget. What's more, you can combine several boxes as the mood takes you and add variety in between. And without having to deal with the restrictions of a subscription.
Ideal if you want to try out gourmet boxes or just need occasional culinary inspiration. ✨
What disadvantages do they have?
There are hardly any disadvantages. But there is one that is financially noticeable. If you opt for a cooking box without a subscription, you pay more. Individual orders mean more work for the provider and this is reflected in the price.
Otherwise, food boxes like this don't have any disadvantages for me personally. I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that they have far more advantages than disadvantages for me.
Good to know:
In the meantime, however, things have also changed for subscription boxes. Providers have realized that many people are not fans of long subscription periods.
That's why with most cooking boxes you can pause, cancel and adjust your order at any time or suspend it for a while (e.g. when you're on vacation). However, if you do not process your order, you will receive a Foodbox every week.
What types of food boxes are available without a subscription?
If you don't know much about meal boxes, you should know that there are basically two types of meal boxes: Ready meals and boxes with ingredients.
Ready meals:
- Ready cooked and ready to eat: These cooking boxes offer ready-prepared dishes that only need to be heated up. They are ideal for anyone who has little time to cook or simply wants to treat themselves.
- Healthy fast food: These types of cooking boxes usually offer healthy and tasty dishes that can be prepared in just a few minutes. You can heat them up in the pan or microwave.
- Delivery: Usually frozen or in jars for reheating.
Examples of these are Löwenanteil or Prepmymeal. If you would like to take a detailed look at these two, I have the links from our test reports for you here:
- Lion's share in the test: How fast food from the jar performs!
- Prepmymeal in the test: does the frozen food really taste delicious?
Another option is cooking boxes, where the ingredients are delivered to you but you can/must cook yourself.
Cooking boxes with ingredients:
- Ingredients and recipes: These cooking boxes provide you with exactly the ingredients you need for the specified recipes. They are ideal for anyone who loves cooking but doesn't always have time to go shopping and would like more variety in the kitchen.
- Various dishes: Different boxes offer different types of dishes, e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or low-carb dishes.
- Fresh ingredients: The ingredients in the cooking boxes are usually fresh and of high quality.
What kind of commitment periods are there for cooking packages?
If you look purely at the commitment period, you quickly realize that there are classic menu boxes with a subscription and there are cooking boxes without a subscription. In the case of classic boxes, a distinction is made between providers with a minimum term and providers with flexible terms.
Many cooking box providers offer several term models at the same time so that there is something to suit every customer. I have listed for you here what these are and how they differ:
Cooking boxes without subscriptions
- No obligations
- No notice period
- Only ordered if you really want them
Flexible cooking box subscriptions
- Monthly cancelable: You can cancel at any time at the end of the month
- Weekly cancellation: You decide every week whether you want to order a cooking box
Cooking boxes with term subscriptions
They are significantly cheaper per portion than cooking boxes without a subscription. But you are tied to them for a certain period of time. You can choose from these notice periods:
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
Trial subscriptions
Many offers are advertised as a cooking box without a subscription, but it is important to take a close look here. This is because the offer is often extended after the trial period if you do not cancel before the end of the trial period.
These trial subscriptions are common with many providers:
- 1 week: You can test the menu box for one week without a subscription
- 2 weeks: Here you have more time to try out the cooking box and decide afterwards
How much does a cooking box cost without a subscription?
There is a hidden disadvantage here. Cooking boxes without a subscription are more expensive than those with a subscription. There are also different models, which is why they are really not easy to compare.
With some manufacturers you still have to cook yourself, with others everything is ready to go. With others, the side dish is still missing to make a complete meal.
But I still tried to work it down to one portion.
Who are cooking boxes without a subscription suitable for?
Have you been toying with the idea of a cooking box for a while, but aren't sure whether the concept is right for you? Then a Box without subscription a good choice. Without any pressure or obligation, you can immerse yourself in the world of cooking boxes, discover the benefits and decide for yourself whether you want more.
If you are rarely at home and eat out a lot, then you are much better off with a cooking box without a subscription. You can plan ahead better and are not obliged to buy so much food that you don't need.
Because you don't take out a subscription, you can switch regularly between providers and always have plenty of variety on your plate.
My conclusion
There aren't very many cooking boxes without a subscription. But there is a simple trick to get around this "problem". You order a trial box and the subscription is taken out automatically. However, if you cancel immediately afterwards, most providers really only offer a single box. 🤑
If you like the offer, you can take out a subscription. That's what you do when you know it really tastes good. 😋
I wish you every success with your selection! 😙
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