Blue Apron VS Home Chef Comparison

UPDATED Nov. 2024
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Gourmet meal kits created according to your personal taste preferences or creative new recipes that will amaze you with exciting flavors you have never tasted before? This is just one of the questions you will need to answer before making your final choice between Home Chef and Blue Apron.

Our comprehensive Home Chef vs. Blue Apron comparison will answer this question for you and cover many other aspects of these companies in order to make your final choice as easy as possible. In this guide, we explore all the major advantages and potential shortcomings of both services and give you a parallel overview of their offers, which can save you both time and effort in your quest for the perfect meal kit delivery.

Blue Apron
Healthy cooking made fun and easy
VS
Home Chef
Planet-friendly meal service

Highlights

Blue Apron
Blue Apron is a healthy home cooking solution that allows you to cook impressive meals, save time on meal planning and preparation, and even save some cash by getting premium-quality ingredients in just the right quantity at a good price.
  • Price Range: $$
  • Average Price Per Meal: $9.74
  • Shipping Cost: $0 *
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
*free shipping on all orders except for 2-recipe boxes for 2 people
Home Chef
Home Chef offers budget-friendly prices, great flexibility, a diverse menu, and time-saving recipes suitable for all cooking skill levels.
  • Price Range: $
  • Average Price Per Meal: $8.97
  • Shipping Cost: $0 *
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
*free shipping on all orders worth $45+

Compare Features

Blue Apron
Best For
Best for adventurous foodies with little experience in the kitchen
Menu/Meal Plans
Blue Apron offers two menus, including the 2-Person menu and the Family menu.
Recipes/Meal Options
Blue Apron features 8 new recipes on the 2-Person menu and 4 new recipes on the Family menu each week.
Meal & Recipe Variety
Blue Apron's menu focuses on easy-cleanup, quick-prep recipes that are often ready in just 30 minutes. The recipes are suitable for omnivores, vegetarians, and fans of the Mediterranean diet. The chefs aim to strike a perfect balance between meat, seafood, and veggie options and create innovative meals inspired by international classics.
Food Quality
Blue Apron takes pride in offering nothing but the freshest, sustainably sourced seafood recommended by the Seafood Watch, hormone-free, antibiotic-free meat, and nutritious seasonal produce fresh from the farm, free from GMOs, and organic whenever possible.
Nutritional Value & Portion Size
Blue Apron offers optimally balanced meals with portion size based on the rules of healthy eating, thus allowing you to enjoy satisfying meals without overeating or wasting food.
Subscription Flexibility
With Blue Apron, you can switch from one plan to another or pause your delivery whenever you want. All changes to your subscription must be made before the 'Changeable before' date, which you can view in your account.
Refunds
Blue Apron boasts its unique Freshness Guarantee. If you are not happy with your order, you can contact the company and they will gladly resolve your issue.
Home Chef
Best For
Best for home cooks with a busy schedule
Menu/Meal Plans
Home Chef does not separate its meals into distinct meal plans but instead offers one weekly menu to choose from.
Recipes/Meal Options
Home Chef offers 18 new recipes each week plus 3 add-ons including ready-to-cook protein packs and smoothies.
Meal & Recipe Variety
Home Chef’s weekly selection always includes omnivore, vegetarian, carb-conscious, and calorie-conscious recipes. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose to receive recipes that do not contain pork, red meat, gluten, mushrooms, soy, nuts, dairy or shellfish. Lunches and smoothies take just 5 minutes to make and dinners are usually ready in around 30 minutes.
Food Quality
Home Chef sources its ingredients from trusted suppliers and farmers that employ the best sustainability practices. It sources locally whenever possible and makes sure that the food you receive is fresh, natural, and good for you.
Nutritional Value & Portion Size
The calorie count of Home Chef meals significantly varies, from under 200 calories to more than 750 calories. Calorie-conscious meals are clearly labeled. The meals are rich in all valuable nutrients and come in ample portions, keeping you full for hours.
Subscription Flexibility
With Home Chef, you can edit or customize your subscription anytime you want. You can also skip, pause or cancel your order whenever you wish. All changes to your order must be made by 12pm(CST) on the Friday prior to the scheduled delivery day.
Refunds
If you are not satisfied with your delivery from Home Chef, you may be eligible for a refund or credit.

Compare Plans & Pricing

Blue Apron
Blue Apron Plans & Pricing
2-Serving Signature plan
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$39.96$9.99
3$59.94$9.99
2-Serving WW Freestyle Plan
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$39.96$9.99
3$59.94$9.99
2-Serving Vegetarian Plan
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$39.96$9.99
3$59.94$9.99
4-Serving Signature Plan
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$71.92$8.99
3$95.88$7.99
4$119.84$7.49
Home Chef
Home Chef Plans & Pricing
2 Servings
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$39.80$9.95
3$59.70$9.95
4$79.60$9.95
5$99.50$9.95
6$119.40$9.95
4 Servings
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$79.60$9.95
3$119.40$9.95
4$159.20$9.95
5$199.00$9.95
6$238.80$9.95
6 Servings
Meals per weekMeal kit pricePrice per serving
2$119.40$9.95
3$179.10$9.95
4$238.80$9.95
5$298.50$9.95
6$358.20$9.95

Suitable For

Blue Apron
Meals For Families
Meals For Kids
Meals For Seniors
Meals For One
Home Chef
Meals For Families
Meals For Kids
Meals For Seniors
Meals For One

Compare Meal Options

Blue Apron
Vegetarian Meals
Vegan Meals
Paleo Meals
Keto Meals
Low-Carb Meals
Low-Fat Meals
Meals For Diabetics
Gluten-Free Meals
Organic Meals
Weight Loss Meals
Home Chef
Vegetarian Meals
Vegan Meals
Paleo Meals
Keto Meals
Low-Carb Meals
Low-Fat Meals
Meals For Diabetics
Gluten-Free Meals
Organic Meals
Weight Loss Meals

Compare Sample Meals

Blue Apron
Home Chef

Compare Extras

Blue Apron
A La Carte Menu
Gift Cards
Marketplace
Home Chef
A La Carte Menu
Gift Cards
Marketplace

Compare Ratings

Blue Apron
FINAL RATING
9.2/10
Meal Options
Variety
Nutritional Value
Portion Size
Flexibility
Price
Home Chef
FINAL RATING
9.8/10
Meal Options
Variety
Nutritional Value
Portion Size
Flexibility
Price

Compare Customer Reviews

Blue Apron
  • Submitted By George on 07/02/2019
    We 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 03/23/2019
    I 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 11/28/2018
    When 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 09/04/2018
    I 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.
Home Chef
  • Submitted By N. Chamousis on 12/05/2019
    My wife and I really enjoy the Home Chef meals. They've come up with some great, easy to prepare recipes that are healthy quite good. It's just unfortunate that they can't get their act together on the delivery service. A real shame.
  • Submitted By Merrie Smith on 09/24/2019
    I have had several shipments from Home Chef and there has been poor quality produce in every box. At first I thought maybe it was just that the shipping service had mishandled the package. But that turned out not to be the case. I have been sent cauliflower that had a strong odor and turning brown, bruised pablano peppers, damaged zucchini on two occasions, and wilted, browning green onions. It's really a shame because the other ingredients and recipes are of good quality. The first occasion that I received bad produce, I called customer service and received very generous credits to my account and was hoping that future shipments would be better. I started avoid ordering the produce that I had issues with. But most of the produce I received from Home Chef was of poor quality and I have decided that it's just not worth the cost.
  • Submitted By Barbara II on 06/18/2019
    Only 3 weeks in, 6 dinners, but have been able to make third and fourth servings from leftovers. Have added some veggies of our own to be able to do that and remain on healthy portions. Everything delicious! We are ready to see some repeat offerings because they were so good. Starting with easy courses because it has been a while since we have cooked, but an accidental inclusion of one rated intermediate confirmed there are good things to come. I’m not sure that I won’t ‘steal’ some recipes to make again soon. There have been items cooked together we would not have put together and were surprised by how good they were together as well. Everything fresh, nicely packaged, beautiful. THANKS!
  • Submitted By Julie Patterson on 02/20/2019
    A lot of my friends had very positive experiences with Home Chef and they recommended it highly when I started looking for a good meal delivery after getting a new job and having way less time to shop for groceries, plan the meals and cook. The food is great and the customer service answered every single question I had regarding the company and the service in general. The delivery driver is also very nice, which is a very refreshing change.

Winner

Home Chef is a meal kit delivery service that supplies you with only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. What sets it apart is the amazing variety of recipes you can choose from. To discover how the service works, what kind of recipes it offers, how much it costs, and whether it is right for you, read our detailed Home Chef review.

Meal Options

If you are not a fan of inflexible meal plans, Home Chef and Blue Apron are both great choices. They let you pick all the meals yourself. Unfortunately, they do not offer a wide range of meals for special dietary needs and preferences.

Blue Apron offers omnivore, vegetarian, and Mediterranean-inspired recipes with its 2-Serving Signature meal plan, exclusively meat-free recipes with its 2-Serving Vegetarian meal plan, omnivore and kid-friendly recipes with its 4-Serving Signature plan, and recipes approved by WW, Weight Watchers reimagined, with its 2-Serving WW Freestyle plan.

Home Chef does not have any meals particularly designed for people with special dietary needs or preferences, but it does allow you to customize your orders, so you can avoid the ingredients you do not like.

Variety

Home Chef offers a total of 18 items per week, including 13 dinners, 3 no-cooking, 5-minute lunches, and 2 add-ons in the form of a smoothie and a fruit basket. Blue Apron crafts 22 new dinner recipes every week.

With Home Chef, you can choose whether you wish to have 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals delivered weekly for 2, 4 or 6 people. The add-ons do not go into your weekly meal count.

With Blue Apron, the number of recipes you can choose from and the number of meal kits you can order per week depend on your meal plan. The 2-Serving Signature plan lets you choose 2 or 3 out of 8 recipes per week. The 2-Serving Vegetarian plan lets you pick 2 or 3 out of 3 veggie recipes designed for the week. The 2-Serving WW Freestyle plan allows you to get 2 or 3 out of 6 WW-approved recipes per week. The 4-Serving Signature plan brings you 5 recipes every week and you can order 2, 3 or 4.

Nutritional Value

Both companies strive to provide you with just what you need and bring you recipes that are in accordance with your diet. Their meals are incredibly nutritious and thanks to the high quality and vast range of ingredients they offer, they provide you with all the minerals, proteins, and other valuable substances your body needs.

Home Chef lets you state whether you would like to avoid ingredients that contain gluten or whether you do not wish to eat pork, red meat, gluten, mushrooms, soy, nuts, dairy or shellfish. It also lets you choose the recipes according to the requirements of a low-calorie or low-carb diet.

Blue Apron lets you state your preferences as soon as you subscribe. You can choose the kinds of meat and/or seafood you would like to eat or opt for meat-free recipes. Each meal also comes with information on the calorie count, so you can keep track of your calorie intake.

Portion Size

The meals Home Chef and Blue Apron offer are perfectly balanced, with the optimal ratio of proteins, carbs, and fat. The ingredients Home Chef provides are premeasured and come in the amount that is enough to satisfy the needs of an average adult.

Blue Apron also offers premeasured ingredients and carefully calculates the amount, but it does so by keeping in mind the needs of both adults and children. Blue Apron also offers slightly larger portions, so you may even have some tasty leftovers to enjoy the next day.

Flexibility

Home Chef offers somewhat greater flexibility when it comes to ordering options. Still, both companies are extremely flexible when it comes to their subscription plans. They allow you to cancel your subscription or skip a delivery anytime, without any penalties, as long as you notify them in advance. Therefore, if you want to skip or cancel, make sure you do it before they start preparing your next delivery.

Price

The prices at Home Chef and Blue Apron are quite similar. At Home Chef, dinners cost $9.95 per serving, lunches cost $7.99 per serving, while the add-ons cost $4.95. Blue Apron meals for 2 people cost $9.99 per serving while meals for 4 people cost $7.49 to $8.99 per serving, depending on how many recipes you order.

Blue Apron offers free shipping on 4-person recipe boxes and 2-person boxes including 3 recipes. With 2-person boxes including 2 recipes, shipping costs $7.99 per delivery. Home Chef offers free shipping on orders that cost more than $45. It charges $10 for shipping on all orders below that amount.

* All the prices on this website are subject to change without notice. While we put a great deal of effort into making sure that all the prices are accurate, one or more products may have outdated prices. Please visit the specific product’s official website for exact prices.
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