Blue Apron VS HelloFresh Comparison
Choosing the right meal kit delivery service to fit your personal taste and that of your entire family is challenging enough even without having two high-quality options such as Blue Apron and HelloFresh pinned against each other.
This HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron comparison serves as a comprehensive guide about both companies, including their biggest advantages but also their potential shortcomings. If you are torn between these two companies, our objective Blue Apron vs. HelloFresh comparison covers all the essential features of these services in order to make your final choice as easy as possible.
Highlights
- Price Range: $$
- Average Price Per Meal: $9.74
- Shipping Cost: $0 *
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Price Range: $
- Average Price Per Meal: $8.87
- Shipping Cost: $6.99 *
- Delivery Area: 48 states
Compare Features
Compare Plans & Pricing
| 2-Serving Signature plan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $39.96 | $9.99 |
| 3 | $59.94 | $9.99 |
| 2-Serving WW Freestyle Plan | ||
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $39.96 | $9.99 |
| 3 | $59.94 | $9.99 |
| 2-Serving Vegetarian Plan | ||
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $39.96 | $9.99 |
| 3 | $59.94 | $9.99 |
| 4-Serving Signature Plan | ||
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $71.92 | $8.99 |
| 3 | $95.88 | $7.99 |
| 4 | $119.84 | $7.49 |
| Classic Plan (2 servings) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $9.99 | $39.96 |
| 3 | $8.99 | $53.94 |
| 4 | $8.99 | $71.92 |
| Classic Plan (4 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $8.99 | $71.92 |
| 3 | $7.49 | $89.88 |
| Veggie Plan (2 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $9.99 | $39.96 |
| 3 | $8.99 | $53.94 |
| Veggie Plan (4 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $8.99 | $71.92 |
| 3 | $7.49 | $89.88 |
| Calorie Smart Plan (2 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $9.99 | $39.96 |
| 3 | $8.99 | $53.94 |
| Calorie Smart Plan (4 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $8.99 | $71.92 |
| 3 | $7.49 | $89.88 |
| Family Plan (4 servings) | ||
| Meals per week | Price per serving | Price per week |
| 2 | $7.87 | $62.96 |
| 3 | $7.49 | $89.88 |
Suitable For
Compare Meal Options
Compare Sample Meals
![Baked Harissa Chicken]()
- Baked Harissa Chicken
![Creamy Polenta Spicy Tomato Sauce]()
- Creamy Polenta Spicy Tomato Sauce
![Mexico City Chicken Tinga Tostadas]()
- Mexico City Chicken Tinga Tostadas
![Pork Chorizo Tacos]()
- Pork Chorizo Tacos
![Winner-Winner Chicken Orzo Dinner]()
- Winner-Winner Chicken Orzo Dinner
![Spiced Dijon Salmon]()
- Spiced Dijon Salmon
![Maple Glazed Pork Chops]()
- Maple Glazed Pork Chops
![Balsamic Glazed Strip Steak]()
- Balsamic Glazed Strip Steak
Compare Extras
Compare Ratings
Compare Customer Reviews
- Submitted By George on 07/02/2019We have had Blue Apron for over a year now. They have cleaned up alot of mistakes from the past - missing ingredients, etc.. Their food is very good, they know how to spice a dish and great sauces. We will keep using them. However, I have to say, there are now several competitors with fully organic food and a wider choice of meals each week. We are going to check them out. Organic food matters. If BA wants to survive for another year (I hope they do), they are at least going to have to expand their choices to 18 a week.
- Submitted By LISA on 03/23/2019I have tried many different delivery services. I love to cook and have no problems in the kitchen, however sometimes shopping and planning...well there is no time. I love that you can choose which recipes you like which meats ect. Why better than fast food and takes just about the same time. things I would like they change, less pots to clean, and tripe the veggies in each recipe; CUSTOMER SERCVICE IS THE BEST. However I wish they would not send a box unless I order, trying to remember to cancel for the week because I wont be home is something
- Submitted By Virginia Cole on 11/28/2018When I first started using Blue Apron, I was amazed! The meals were delicious, flavorful, and very easy to prepare. We slowly switched to eating Blue Apron meals six days every single week and it was all great until a couple of months ago when they started sending the shipments late and missing the ingredients. Sometimes they don’t pack a garnish or a spice which isn’t a deal breaker but I’ve missed main ingredients a couple of times as well. Hope Blue Apron ups their game since I would really hate to switch companies after such pleasant experiences in the past.
- Submitted By Jan on 09/04/2018I have been using Blue Apron for about 10 months now. The ingredients are always fresh. The recipes have been delicious. And the variety and portion sizes make BA a top meal delivery service. I would recommend BA to anyone looking to cook healthy meal options. I love BA and can't imagine what I'd do without them now. I can't remember how we cooked prior to BA. Our meal planning before BA was so blah now that I think about it. Sign up for BA and you really will be glad you gave them a try.
- Submitted By Ann on 10/25/2019We think the meals are terrific because they are tasty, ingredients are fresh, we don't get palpitations after eating, prices are more than fair, a good variety, and huge portions.
- Submitted By Esther on 10/23/2019I've given HelloFresh too many chances because I actually do like the concept and recipes. When I went to order my first free box they ended up charging me full price for it. I worked with customer services (was on hold for an atrociously long time). The second time I ordered it for my fiance and used a free box coupon and I was afraid it was going to charge me again so immediately after trying to place the order I called customer service because I'd put my payment info in but never got a confirmation that I had gotten the box for free (It showed up that it was charging me full price). When I got on the line the woman was incredibly condescending and rude to me say that it was free and I wasn't charged. I'm sorry HelloFresh--if you can get better customer service and checkout platform then maybe I'd be worth it. To top it all off I never even got my box...
- Submitted By Rachael on 09/27/2019Hello Fresh is TERRIBLE. I've tried Blue Apron (fantastic!) and Home Chef (just ok) in the past, and didn't ever have any issues with them. But Hello Fresh has been a nightmare. Messed up the address of the first box. Produce that goes bad VERY quickly (like the very next day). Twice in a row, the wrong ingredients were shipped. It's such a mess! I complained each time and got a credit instead of a refund which is frustrating. On top of it all, I've been very unimpressed with the meals. Very rarely has something been truly delicious. My kids will barely touch these meals, and I don't blame them. They're barely edible. (My kids are not picky eaters.) So yeah, never going back to Hello Fresh.
- Submitted By Alissa on 03/29/2019This is my first meal delivery service and I just finished my 2nd week and have loved every meal! There have been some meals that I look at the ingredients and think it is hardly going to make much but each meal has been at least 2 servings. And usually I get a lunch out of them too. I'm become a pescatarian and I have subbed one of the veggie meals each week with fish, which is great. There have some slight issues with a few of the bags but not a big deal and I think the instructions could be clearer. Prior to this I meal planned and grocery shopped on Sundays and made dinner every night, with some meals taking me forever to make. This service seems to have meals down to less than 30 mins and that is awesome. Also, the packaging is great. I appreciate the environmentally friendly packaging and even though I compost, it is definitely great to get exactly the right amount of veggies per meal (no more buying a bunch of scallions and only using 2). Having said all this, I have a feeling that I will get tired of the veggie options. There are only 3 choices each week but if you eat fish like I do, then you get an extra one. I feel there is too much dairy and rice, which is not something I normally eat much of. I love the service so far but may try another one at some point to change up my vegetarian options.
Winner
Blue Apron is a meal delivery service geared toward suiting your particular eating preferences, so you have a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing your ingredients. It focuses on responsible food and animal growing practices, which sets it apart from other meal kit deliveries. Read our Blue Apron review to discover if it is the right service for you.
Meal Options
Blue Apron takes the lead in this category since it offers 4 different meal plans. HelloFresh has only 3.
If you decide to go with HelloFresh, you can choose between the Classic, the Vegetarian, and the Family plan. With the Classic plan, you can pick 2, 3 or 4 out of 17 recipes available every week. The Veggie plan brings you 2-3 out of 3 chef-selected recipes per week. With the Family plan, you can choose 2 or 3 out of 9 picky-eater-friendly recipes on the weekly menu.
On the other hand, Blue Apron lets you choose from the following plans: 2-Serving Signature (omnivore), 4-Serving Signature (kid-friendly), 2-Serving Vegetarian, and 2-Serving WW Freestyle, designed in cooperation with WW, Weight Watchers reimagined. With 2-serving plans, you can order 2 or 3 recipes per week while the 4-Serving Signature plan lets you cook 2, 3 or 4 meals per week.
Variety
Both HelloFresh and Blue Apron introduce various creative recipes to their customers each week.
HelloFresh crafts 29 fresh recipes every week. The options include omnivore, vegetarian, kid-friendly, calorie-smart, gourmet, egg-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free recipes. You can also opt for the handy 2-in-1 kits that let you cook a great dinner and use the leftovers and extra ingredients to quickly make a healthy lunch the next day.
Blue Apron’s culinary team designs 22 new recipes every week. However, not all recipes are available with all meal plans. The 2-Serving Signature plan brings you 8 omnivore and vegetarian recipes per week. The 2-Serving Vegetarian plan includes 3 meat-free recipes per week. The 2-Serving WW Freestyle plan includes 6 WW-approved recipes per week. Finally, the 4-Serving Signature plan allows you to choose from 5 omnivore, kid-friendly recipes every week.
Nutritional Value
HelloFresh and Blue Apron both provide recipes for meals that perfectly satisfy the dietary needs of the whole family.
Every recipe from HelloFresh features the number of calories the meal contains. Moreover, HelloFresh is very careful with the choice of their ingredients, so you can be sure that you will eat only healthy, wholesome food.
Blue Apron works hard to provide ingredients of the highest quality for you and your family. The nutritive value of their meals can be found on their recipe cards, so you can choose dishes according to your diet.
Portion Size
Every ingredient you get from both HelloFresh and Blue Apron is carefully measured and prepared. You always receive just the right amount of ingredients needed to cook the perfect meal, never too much and never too little.
Both meal delivery services tailor their servings to meet the needs of an average adult. HelloFresh’s Family plan and Blue Apron’s 4-Serving Signature plan are created for sumptuous dinners for a family of four.
Flexibility
This isn’t a category that’ll help you make up your mind since both companies are very flexible when it comes to orders and subscriptions.
HelloFresh allows you to change or skip your delivery any time you want. You just need to be careful and do it at least 5 days before the delivery date. You can also cancel your subscription without any penalties.
Blue Apron accepts any changes as well. All you have to do is log in to your account and check whether your order is “changeable.” In case it is, you can choose to change something or to skip a delivery. Subscription cancellation can also be done online in a few simple steps.
Price
HelloFresh meal kits cost between $6.99 and $9.99, depending on the meal plan you choose. The shipping costs range from $6.99 to $7.99.
With Blue Apron, the prices vary depending on meal plan type and recipe quantity. If you opt for one of the 2-serving plans, you pay $9.99 per serving regardless of how many recipes you order. With the 4-serving plan, you pay $8.99 per serving with 2-recipe boxes, $7.99 per serving with 3-recipe boxes, and $7.49 per serving with 4-recipe boxes. Shipping is free on all orders except for 2-recipe boxes for 2 people, which come with a $7.99 shipping fee.