My first experience with a meal delivery service was with HelloFresh back in 2019, when I was fresh out of college and saying hello to cooking for myself. Although I was a beginner in the kitchen, I’d long considered myself a foodie, and I was impressed by the quality and variety of the recipes, as well as the ease of preparation.
Since then, my cooking chops have improved (fortunately!), and I’ve tried five other meal delivery services, including Home Chef, Dinnerly, Green Chef, EveryPlate and the two compared here. My initial conclusion remains: Meal delivery services are a major value-add.
All the meal delivery services we’ve tested are good and worthwhile. You might roll your eyes, but it’s the truth. Sure, some recipes are tastier than others. But really, meal delivery services are largely similar, with equally user-friendly websites, flexible subscription policies and quality ingredients. When it comes down to it, it’s more a matter of finding which one is right for you and your family.
What’s the difference between Blue Apron and HelloFresh?
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Cost & Plan Differences
When it comes to Blue Apron vs. HelloFresh, the companies have a slew of similarities. They’re both meal delivery services that send the makings for professionally developed and tested recipes straight to customers’ doors. The cardboard boxes in which they arrive are insulated and contain ice packs, and the ingredients are divvied up by meal. Both allow users to skip and cancel with ease without contacting the company via a button in account settings.
Blue Apron lets subscribers order between two and five meals per week, with two or four servings of each. You can also add additional meals a la carte. Meals range between $7.99 and $12.49 per serving, depending on how many you buy. HelloFresh offers as many as six meals per week, with two, four or six servings of each. You can also add on more meals for a modest cost. Meals range between $9.99 and $11.49, depending on how many you order.
Dietary Options and Recipe Variety
Aside from technical differences like price and subscription plans, I’d categorize Blue Apron as the more gourmet option, which may explain its higher meal prices. The recipes can be slightly more complex, featuring exciting flavor profiles, as seen in the Hoisin Pork Belly & Miso Ramen I tested. Blue Apron suits empty nesters or busy foodies, though it may not be the best service for picky kids.
In contrast, HelloFresh offers simpler recipes, such as One-Pan Beef Enchiladas Verdes, making it ideal for families. It also provides a broader selection of diet-specific plans, catering to vegetarians, pescatarians and calorie-conscious eaters. While Blue Apron focuses on sophisticated, globally inspired dishes, HelloFresh excels in accommodating specific diets and dietary restrictions.
Unique Add-Ons and Product Lines
Both companies have a handful of unique add-ons and products that set them apart from the other. For example, Blue Apron has a line of Heat & Eat meals—akin to microwaveable TV dinners, but better (of course). Think Cheesy Truffle Cavatappi or Lemon Chicken. Blue Apron also has a collection of Ready to Cook meals available each week. These baked recipes arrive alongside a recyclable aluminum pan and require little prep before going into the oven. The Miso-Maple Chicken Thighs & Rice I tested is an example, as well as Squash & Pinto Bean Tacos or Tuscan Sausage & Gnocchi. You can also add additional a la carte options, like cookies, salads, biscuits or soups.
HelloFresh, on the other hand, has HelloFresh Market, which is a robust selection of food items outside the typical dinnertime entree. Think breakfast items, soups, sides, desserts, meats and even fresh produce. This makes the HelloFresh experience closer to that of going to a grocery store if you so choose. (See more deliverable grocery options.) It’s a highly desirable option for those looking to replace their weekly grocery runs altogether.
Sustainability and Packaging
Both HelloFresh and Blue Apron emphasize sustainable practices and are carbon neutral, which is impressive. However, they differ in their packaging approaches. Blue Apron uses looser packaging, resulting in less overall waste, but this requires users to sort ingredients themselves. In contrast, HelloFresh packages all ingredients individually, which some may find wasteful, though it offers greater convenience. Still, HelloFresh’s packaging is largely recyclable, and the brand provides a recycling guide for users.
Customer Experience and App Usability
Both brands provide customer-facing mobile apps and customer service options, though their execution differs. Blue Apron receives praise for its user-friendly app interface and high service quality, including few issues with billing and subscription management.
HelloFresh’s app is also functional, offering myriad options for managing a user’s account. It shows your current order, upcoming orders and the buttons to “Change Meals” or “Edit Delivery.” All nutrition info is there, as well as ingredients, items not included in delivery, utensils needed and cooking steps with photos.
All About Blue Apron
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New York-based Blue Apron was founded in 2012 and has only grown from there. Among the 80-plus options per week, subscribers can choose from recipes that are labeled as premium, craft, carb-conscious, vegetarian, new and notable and more. Recipes feature fresh ingredients, most of which come directly from producers, that are in keeping with the season. At the time of writing this article, for instance, customers will see Brussels sprouts, figs, kale, apples and pepitas on the website.
When testing, I found Blue Apron’s offerings to be the most elevated. Both the Miso-Maple Chicken Thighs & Rice and Hoisin Pork Belly & Miso Ramen felt worthy of a restaurant and boasted unexpected flavor combinations that I could tell had been vetted and approved by professional chefs.
"The Steaks & Black Bean-Butter Sauce with Miso Broccoli & Sesame Roasted Potatoes was one of my favorite recipes. The sauce on the steak was delicious, and the cut of the steak was great and not very fatty. I really loved the broccoli because of the miso paste, which had great flavor and a slight kick to it. I haven't used white miso paste before, so this was fun to discover how much I enjoyed it. "
sydney Manning
editorial coordinator
There were a couple of snafus regarding leaky packaging and mismatched ingredients, but overall, Blue Apron delivers quality and convenience. Additionally, in Editorial Coordinator Sydney Manning’s latest 2024 tests, these seem to be solved—no leaky packages here!
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Blue Apron, with 80-plus options on the menu each week, stands out for its elevated recipes with a modest price tag.
All About HelloFresh
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HelloFresh is the flagship brand of the HelloFresh Group, which also owns favorites like Green Chef, EveryPlate, Factor and Good Chop (a meat delivery service). An industry leader, HelloFresh began in Germany in 2011 but has had a presence in the U.S. since 2013. It’s known for its amazing deals, seemingly omnipresent marketing, impressive recipe selection and solid reviews.
HelloFresh, which we’ve now tested over three times, is nothing if not consistent. The recipes, albeit slightly more elementary than those from Blue Apron, are easy to make, even for beginners, and palatable for all types of eaters. Customers can find them categorized by popularity, speed, batch size, caloric content, seasonality and more.
"The chicken in my Pecan Crusted Chicken was juicy and tender with a beautiful crunch from the pecan breading. I liked the simplicity of the flavors. The overall dish felt like clean eating. The honey mustard dressing added another level and a creamy element. This would also make a great chicken sandwich on a bun for people who have a bigger appetite. With the side salad, it felt like a wholesome meal."
Sheri Kaz
product tester
The protein and produce always meet my standards, and the brown-bag packaging of each meals’ ingredients makes for easy organization and prep. Cleanup isn’t always the quickest and quoted cook/prep times aren’t always accurate, but those are small complaints for an overwhelmingly pleasant experience.
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HelloFresh is a longtime favorite of meal-kit subscribers, thanks to its universal recipes, fair pricing and customization.
The Bottom Line
Peruse the menus of each before you subscribe! Keep in mind: The pricing is fairly comparable. Generally, I think Blue Apron would be better for young professionals, newlyweds, retirees, self-identified foodies, etc., whereas HelloFresh is best for students or families with young children. However, there will always be exceptions to those rules. Whichever you choose, rest assured the recipes will be yummy, the ingredients will be fresh and those around your kitchen table will be satisfied.
Why You Should Trust Us
Annamarie Higley oversees Taste of Home’s product testing team and daily operations in our testing lab. She is also a former Taste of Home shopping editor, and she has reviewed hundreds of products, from meal kit subscriptions to wine delivery. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, baking, reading and following her cat around.
Nancy Snyder is a registered dietitian and seasoned professional in nutrition and culinary expertise. She reviewed and fact-checked this piece. With nearly a decade of experience collaborating with restaurant chefs and food manufacturers, Nancy has forged a path at the intersection of nutrition consulting and culinary innovation. She is also a senior shopping editor for Taste of Home, working alongside the Test Kitchen to identify and test products that help each individual reader elevate their personal kitchen experience.
FAQs
How much do HelloFresh and Blue Apron cost per week?
HelloFresh meals cost about $9.99 per serving on average, making it the more affordable option. Blue Apron is slightly more expensive, ranging from $10 to $12 per serving, though its meals are often more gourmet.
Do Blue Apron and HelloFresh have add-ons?
Both services offer add-ons. Blue Apron provides appetizers, side kits, extra proteins, desserts and prepared meals. HelloFresh offers additional meat and seafood boxes for an extra cost, as well as charcuterie boards and breakfast and lunch kits.
Is it easy to cancel Blue Apron and HelloFresh?
Neither service requires a long-term commitment and can be canceled anytime following the respective cancellation policy instructions. However, meals that have already been processed or shipped cannot be canceled.