What share of subscription spending goes to food delivery?

Roughly 19%, according to aggregated subscription-spending data.

Are meal kits cheaper than groceries?

Usually not; they're best compared against takeout or dining-out costs, where they're often cheaper per meal.

Is a delivery membership like DashPass worth it?

Only if you order frequently enough that waived delivery fees exceed the membership's monthly cost.

Meal Kit and Food Delivery Subscriptions: Worth the Cost?

Published 2026-04-27 · TrimWell Media

Direct answer: Food delivery and meal kit subscriptions make up close to 19% of total household subscription spending, and are worth the cost mainly for households that would otherwise order takeout at a higher per-meal price — not as a general grocery replacement.

The real comparison point

The right comparison for a meal kit isn't your grocery bill — it's what you'd otherwise spend on takeout or dining out for the same number of meals. Against takeout, meal kits are frequently cheaper per meal; against home-cooked groceries, they typically cost more.

The delivery membership stack

Services like DoorDash's DashPass and Uber One layer an additional monthly membership fee on top of per-order costs, which only pays for itself if you order frequently enough that the waived delivery fees exceed the membership price.

Doing the actual math

Divide your monthly meal-kit or delivery-membership cost by the number of meals or orders you actually use it for. If that per-meal or per-order cost is close to or higher than takeout, the subscription isn't providing its intended value.

A practical cadence

Many households find a middle path: pausing meal-kit subscriptions during busier or lower-cash-flow months rather than canceling entirely, since most services allow easy pause-and-resume.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What share of subscription spending goes to food delivery?: Roughly 19%, according to aggregated subscription-spending data.
Are meal kits cheaper than groceries?: Usually not; they're best compared against takeout or dining-out costs, where they're often cheaper per meal.
Is a delivery membership like DashPass worth it?: Only if you order frequently enough that waived delivery fees exceed the membership's monthly cost.