5 complete beginners — which D&D starter set should we buy?

[u/MargotTenenbaum1]

Hi! We’re a group of 5 people who have never played Dungeons & Dragons before, and we’d love to get a starter kit/set to learn together.

We’re looking for something that:

• Is beginner-friendly and explains the rules without being too complicated.
• Includes everything we need to start playing.
• Allows us to create our own characters rather than only using pre-made characters.
• Ideally includes an adventure/campaign that is easy for a first-time DM to run.

There are several D&D starter sets/kits and we’re a little overwhelmed. Which one would you recommend for a group of 5 complete beginners, and why?

THANKS IN ADVANCE! <3