Gousto vs SimplyCook Which Should You Choose
May 30 2026
When trying to simplify your dinner routine in the UK, Gousto and SimplyCook are two of the most popular choices. While both promise to elevate your mid-week meals and take the stress out of planning, they operate on completely different concepts.
Here is a straightforward, side-by-side comparison to help you figure out which service fits your lifestyle, budget, and cooking preferences best.
The Core Difference Explained
Gousto (Full Meal Kit): Gousto sends you everything you need for a meal including fresh meats, vegetables, dairy, grains, sauces, and herbs pre-measured and delivered in a chilled box. You barely need to buy anything extra.
SimplyCook (Flavour Kit): SimplyCook sends you a small, letterbox-sized box containing 4 recipe flavour kits (each with 3 pots of stocks, pastes, rubs, or infused oils). You supply the 4 to 6 fresh ingredients yourself from your own supermarket shop.
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Gousto vs. SimplyCook: Feature Comparison
Feature | Gousto | SimplyCook |
What's In The Box? | All fresh ingredients + pre-measured spices/sauces | 4 Flavour Kits (3 pots per meal) + recipe cards |
Supermarket Shopping Needed? | No (only basic cupboard staples like oil, salt, pepper) | Yes (you buy fresh meat, fish, and veg) |
Box Delivery Type | Chilled parcel (requires doorstep drop-off or safe place) | Small box that fits through standard UK letterbox |
Average Cost per Box | ~£28 to £55+ depending on box size | £9.99 per box (for 4 meal kits) |
Cost Per Portion (Total) | Starts from ~£3.20 per portion | ~£2.50 for the flavour kit + fresh ingredient costs |
Weekly Recipe Variety | 175+ choices weekly | 140+ total recipes in catalog |
Average Cooking Time | 10 to 40 minutes | Fast (typically 15 to 20 minutes) |
Flexibility / Cancellation | Skip, pause, or cancel online anytime | Skip, pause, or cancel online anytime |
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Gousto: Pros, Cons & Who It's Best For
Gousto is built for ultimate convenience. It completely eliminates the need to visit a grocery store or plan meals for the week.
Pros
Zero Grocery Hassle: You do not need to walk through supermarket aisles or wait for grocery deliveries.
Massive Variety: Over 175 different recipes are available every single week.
Dedicated Box Sizes: Offers boxes for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 people.
No Food Waste: You get exactly 2 sprigs of rosemary or 15ml of fish sauce, leaving no half-used jars in your fridge.
Cons
Higher Total Cost: You are paying for the convenience of fresh ingredient picking and chilled delivery.
Fridge Storage: A 4-meal Gousto box takes up notable space in your fridge.
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SimplyCook: Pros, Cons & Who It's Best For
SimplyCook focuses purely on taste and simplicity. They provide restaurant-quality sauces, marinades, and spice pastes so you can make exciting dinners easily.
Pros
Extremely Affordable: At just £9.99 per box for 4 meals, it is far cheaper than full meal kit services.
Fits Through the Letterbox: No waiting around for delivery couriers or worrying about ice packs.
Long Shelf Life: Flavour pots last for months in your kitchen cupboard, so there is no pressure to cook them immediately.
Full Ingredient Control: You pick the exact quality of meat, organic veg, or dietary swaps at your local shop.
Cons
Supermarket Run Still Required: You still have to buy the main ingredients (chicken, rice, peppers, cream, etc.).
Potential Fresh Waste: If you buy a large bag of onions or spinach for a recipe, you may still end up with leftover ingredients.
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Head-to-Head Comparison: Which Is Right for You?
1. If You Are on a Strict Budget 💰
Winner: SimplyCook
SimplyCook is much lighter on the wallet. Because you buy your own fresh ingredients, you can shop at budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl for the fresh produce, keeping the total meal cost very low while still getting restaurant-style flavor.
2. If You Want Maximum Convenience ⏰
Winner: Gousto
Gousto wins hands down if your main goal is saving time. Unpacking a Gousto box means dinner is ready to cook without a single trip to the shops or secondary shopping list.
3. If You Have a Small Kitchen or Limited Fridge Space 🏠
Winner: SimplyCook
SimplyCook pots live neatly in a tiny drawer or pantry cupboard. Gousto boxes arrive with ice packs, vegetables, and meats that immediately fill up your fridge space.
4. If You Love Trying Unique Global Cuisines 🌏
Tie
Both services excel at global flavors. Gousto offers an enormous weekly menu with over 175 choices, while SimplyCook features over 140 expert-blended spice and sauce pots covering Thai, Indian, Mexican, Vietnamese, and Italian dishes.
Explore SimplyCook's Top-Rated Flavour Kits Here!
Final Verdict
Choose Gousto if... You are busy, hate meal planning, dislike grocery shopping, and want the complete package delivered to your door so dinner is sorted in 6 simple steps.
Choose SimplyCook if... You don't mind picking up fresh items during your weekly shop, want to save money, and just want shortcut sauce pots to make your home-cooked meals taste incredible.