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Does Hungryroot Take EBT for Meal Kits in 2025?

Do Quyen
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Online grocery and meal kit services have completely changed the way we shop. The convenience of having personalized groceries and recipes delivered to your door is undeniable. Hungryroot is an incredibly popular choice, blending the convenience of meal kits with a personalized grocery delivery service, which seems like a perfect fit for a weekly grocery budget.

This raises a critical question for many households relying on food assistance: Does Hungryroot take EBT?

Unfortunately, the rules for using EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards online are very specific and limited. This guide will explain Hungryroot’s official policy, break down the exact reasons why it’s not EBT-eligible, and provide you with your best alternatives for using your SNAP benefits to purchase groceries online.

1. Does Hungryroot Take EBT?

Here is the concise answer to your question, along with the specific reasons behind our policy.

The Official Answer: Does Hungryroot Accept EBT?

No. To answer the question directly, Hungryroot does not accept EBT (SNAP benefits) as a form of payment.

As they state on their official support page, Hungryroot is not set up to process EBT payments. The primary reason is that Hungryroot is an online subscription service, and it is not an authorized retailer in the USDA’s SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. 

This means you cannot use your EBT card to pay for their meal kits or weekly groceries. The answer to “Does Hungryroot accept EBT?” is a clear no at this time.

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What is Hungryroot?

To understand why it’s not eligible, it helps to understand what Hungryroot is. It’s not a traditional online grocery store. Instead, it’s a personalized subscription service.

Here’s how it works:

  1. You Take a Quiz: You tell Hungryroot about your dietary needs, preferences, and health goals.
  2. It Builds a Plan: The service generates a weekly grocery list and recipes tailored to your needs.
  3. It delivers: You receive one box per week containing curated groceries and instructions on how to prepare those specific meals.

This business model, which is based on a recurring weekly subscription fee, is the primary reason it doesn’t align with the current structure of the SNAP EBT program.

2. Why Don’t Most Meal Kit Services Take EBT?

The problem isn’t just with Hungryroot. This policy is standard across the entire meal kit industry (HelloFresh, Blue Apron, etc.), and it ultimately stems from the specific rules of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot.

What is the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot?

The SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot is the USDA program that allows SNAP recipients to use their EBT cards to pay for grocery orders online. 

While this program has expanded rapidly, it was designed to mirror the in-store grocery shopping experience, not to accommodate subscription services.

The program has two major limitations that exclude services like Hungryroot:

  1. Authorized Retailers Only: Only traditional grocery stores (like Walmart, Kroger, Amazon, etc.) that meet specific USDA criteria have been approved. A store must stock a wide variety of staple foods (breads, cereals, meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables) to be authorized.
  2. No Subscriptions: This is the most significant barrier. The EBT system is not designed for recurring charges or subscription-based models. EBT benefits are loaded onto your card monthly, and the amount can change. The system requires you to enter your PIN for every single transaction, which is not possible with an automatic weekly renewal.

Which Retailers Are Part of the Program?

Instead of subscription boxes, the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot includes major grocery retailers and platforms. The list of national participants includes:

These retailers sell staple food items for individual pickup or delivery, which fits the SNAP program’s goals.

Can I Use EBT for Other Food Subscription Boxes?

No. For the same reasons listed above, no major meal kit or food subscription box services, such as HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Misfits Market, or Thrive Market, are part of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. The subscription-based model is the primary barrier for all of them.

3. How to Use Your SNAP to Receive Benefits from More Programs

While you can’t use your benefits at Hungryroot, your SNAP eligibility is extremely valuable and unlocks other critical benefits that can save you a significant amount of money.

Get a Free Phone with Your EBT Eligibility

Although Hungryroot doesn’t accept EBT, your SNAP eligibility is valuable. It automatically qualifies you for the federal Lifeline program.

This government benefit program is designed to ensure that low-income households have access to essential communication services. With a leading provider like AirTalk Wireless, you can use your SNAP eligibility to get a complete package at no cost:

This allows you to stay connected with work, school, and family, and even place your online grocery orders from the SNAP-approved retailers listed in this article.

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4. FAQs About EBT, Meal Kits, and Online Shopping

Explore some common FAQs about EBT, meal kits, and more! (Image by Unsplash)

Here are some of the most common questions about using EBT for online food purchases.

Where Can I Buy Groceries Online with EBT?

You can buy groceries online from any retailer that is part of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot in your state. The most common national options include:

You can see the full list of stores available in your state on the official USDA website.

What Foods Can I Buy with EBT at Approved Online Stores?

The rules for online purchases are exactly the same as for in-store purchases. You can buy any SNAP-eligible staple food item, such as:

You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, cleaning supplies, or hot, prepared meals. It is also important to know that you cannot use your EBT SNAP funds to pay for delivery fees, service charges, or driver tips. You must use a separate credit or debit card for these non-food costs.

Can I use EBT Cash (TANF) for Hungryroot?

This is a possibility and a key distinction. Your EBT card may offer two types of benefits: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food assistance) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as cash assistance). 

If Hungryroot accepts regular debit cards (which it does), you can use your TANF cash benefits to pay for the subscription. TANF cash benefits can be used for most purchases, including non-food items and services. However, your SNAP food benefits will not work.

Are there any SNAP-friendly ‘meal kits’ available?

Yes, but not from subscription services. Many authorized grocery stores, like Kroger, Walmart, and Target, now sell their own “meal kits” in the refrigerated section (e.g., ‘Home Chef’ or ‘Walmart Meal Kits’). 

Since these are sold as individual grocery items from an approved SNAP retailer, you can buy them with your EBT card. This is a great alternative if you want the convenience of a meal kit without the commitment of a subscription.

5. Final Words

To answer the main question, does Hungryroot accept EBT? The answer is a clear no. As a subscription-based meal kit service, it is not an authorized retailer in the USDA’s SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot, and its recurring payment model is incompatible with the EBT system.

Although this may be disappointing, your EBT card remains a valuable tool for purchasing groceries online. You can use it at major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger to get groceries delivered. Additionally, your SNAP eligibility also qualifies you for a free smartphone and monthly service through the Lifeline program.

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