Plated VS Blue Apron Comparison
Advertiser Disclosure
This website features affiliate links. For purchases made via these links, we earn commissions that allow us to keep producing helpful content. To find out more click here. Close
We selected 6 crucial characteristics of meal delivery services: meal options, variety, nutrition value, portion size, flexibility, and price. Our team of experts used these criteria in order to determine which of these companies, Blue Apron or Plated, offers greater value for your money.
Highlights
Plated offers incredible ordering flexibility, competitive pricing, and one of the richest menus in the meal kit market, with recipes for a vast range of tastes, diets, and cooking skill levels.
- Price Range: $$
- Average Price Per Meal: $9.95
- Shipping Cost: $0 *
- Delivery Area: 48 states
*except on weekly plans under $60
Blue Apron is a healthy home cooking solution that allows you to cook impressive meals, save time on meal planning and preparation, and even save some cash by getting premium-quality ingredients in just the right quantity at a good price.
- Price Range: $$
- 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
Compare Features
Best For
Best for semi-experienced home cooks who value variety and want to eat healthily
Menu/Meal Plans
Plated features one menu that changes on a weekly basis.
Recipes/Meal Options
Plated offers 30 new recipes each week, including dinner, brunch, side dish, appetizer, and dessert ideas.
Meal & Recipe Variety
Every week, the Plated menu features fresh meal ideas suitable for omnivore, vegetarian, gluten-free, low-calorie, and low-carb diets. The recipes are inspired by popular world cuisines, such as French, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, and traditional American cuisine. Most items are quick-prep recipes with hands-on time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes.
Food Quality
Plated does not only offer sustainably sourced meat & seafood and the freshest seasonal produce from the best local farms but also supplies home cooks with rare artisanal spices that give rich flavor and tantalizing aroma to every dish.
Nutritional Value & Portion Size
Plated carefully calculates its portion sizes to satisfy the needs of an average adult, with no leftovers. By thoughtfully combining high-quality ingredients into satisfying meals, the Plated culinary team ensures all meals are rich in nutrients and well-balanced, with plenty of items under 600 calories.
Subscription Flexibility
With Plated, you can change your box's recipes or servings at any time. You can also skip, pause or cancel your order whenever you want. Keep in mind that all changes to your subscription must be made by noon six days before your delivery is due.
Refunds
If you are not satisfied with your delivery or something is missing from your box, you can contact Plated and they may issue a credit to your account.
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.
Compare Plans & Pricing
Plated Plans & Pricing
| 2 Servings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $47.80 (first week: $35.85) | $11.95 |
| 3 | $65.70 (first week: $49.27) | $10.95 |
| 4 | $87.60 (first week: $65.70) | $10.95 |
| 3 servings | ||
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $59.70 (first week: $44.77) | $9.95 |
| 3 | $80.55 (first week: $60.41) | $8.95 |
| 4 | $107.40 (first week: $80.55) | $8.95 |
| 4 servings | ||
| Meals per week | Meal kit price | Price per serving |
| 2 | $79.60 (first week: $59.70) | $9.95 |
| 3 | $107.40 (first week: $80.55) | $8.95 |
| 4 | $143.20 (first week: $107.40) | $8.95 |
Blue Apron 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 |
Suitable For
Meals For Families
Meals For Kids
Meals For Seniors
Meals For One
Meals For Families
Meals For Kids
Meals For Seniors
Meals For One
Compare Meal Options
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
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
![Tahini Chicken Schnitzel]()
- Tahini Chicken Schnitzel
![Brie Mac and Cheese]()
- Brie Mac and Cheese
![Farro and Arugula Salad]()
- Farro and Arugula Salad
![Cauliflower Tinga Tacos]()
- Cauliflower Tinga Tacos
![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
Compare Extras
A La Carte Menu
Gift Cards
Marketplace
A La Carte Menu
Gift Cards
Marketplace
Compare Ratings
Compare Customer Reviews
- Submitted By D Simon on 09/04/2019I've tried several meal delivery services, and so far Plated is my favorite. The reason? The recipes are far more interesting than Blue Apron, Martha Stewart, EveryPlate, and HomeChef (the other services I've tried). Ingredients are good quality, I've had only a handful of occasions where ingredients were not included, and customer service credited me in each instance without delay. I'm quite satisfied with this company.
- Submitted By Alicia Allaire on 08/30/2019After cooking 1458 recipes, I've cancelled Plated. The Service began with great quality ingredients. Occasionally there would be a leaking vinegar, or sauce. We would provide feedback and often there would be improvements made in packaging. But, for the most part, everything was great! In the past 6 months the quality has deteriorated severely. The produce has been horrible. The spinach in my shipment last week was ROTTEN in 2 days from receipt. This week it was already starting to spoil when I opened the box. Previously we noticed that after providing feedback they would make GOOD changes. Now they're just making cheaper decisions and providing less quality every shipment. We have moved on and cancelled our subscription. Plated, get it together! There is too much competition out there these days to cut SO many corners.
- Submitted By Robin K Holmes on 04/27/2019I just wanted to comment on the reason why I cancelled my weekly subscription box from Plated. I was a brand new customer, very excited to try their products, so I opened an account and set up a weekly delivery and made meal plans for several future weeks. I was so excited to receive my first order...and then it didn't come. I contacted customer service and they apologized and refunded me. I was told that everything was straightened out and I would definitely receive a box the very next week. A few days later I received an email from Plated saying "Yay! we're going to ship your order!" So I shopped light at the grocery store, confident that Plated would send me a box...and then it didn't come. Again. (I had nothing planned for dinner for the next 3 days and had to go out and buy more groceries after working a 12-hr shift.) I contacted customer service and received a refund to my bank account. But really? Two weeks in a row? No delivery, no explantion? Did they even want my business? Why would they not make certain that the order was shipped given the failure of the previous week? It was a very disappointing experience, and I would not recommend their service to anyone else. Plated gave me another refund, and when I told the customer service rep that I felt I should cancel my service if they could not deliver food I was told "We understand, sorry to see you go." No offer of a coupon or any type of customer recovery, just sorry to see me go. Don't bother to order from them, they can't seem to guarantee delivery.
- Submitted By Maria Foster on 01/16/20197 meals in and we love love love Plated! Everything arrived super fresh which is way more than we expected in this age of online frauds and dishonesty. One important thing though, NEVER EXPERIMENT with the recipes! We did it once and it was a disaster. The recipes are laser precise and you have to follow them to a T for good results.
- 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.
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
Although both meal delivery services offer a number of new recipes every week, their meal plans aren’t too similar.
Blue Apron provides 4 meal plans, including the 2-Serving and 4-Serving Signature plans for omnivores, the 2-Serving Vegetarian plan for veggie lovers, and the 2-Serving WW Freestyle meal plan, which brings you recipes crafted in partnership with WW, Weight Watchers reimagined.
Plated offers 3 meal plans that differ in the number of people they are suitable for, including 2, 3 or 4. With each plan, you get to choose from a range of gourmet, vegetarian, gluten-free, low-calorie, and low-carb recipes.
Variety
Blue Apron and Plated are both famous when it comes to meal variety. Blue Apron offers 22 recipes every week, 8 delicious omnivore and vegetarian meals on its 2-Serving Signature menu, 3 veggie delights on its 2-Serving Vegetarian menu, 6 WW-approved meals on its 2-Serving Freestyle menu, and 5 kid-friendly omnivore meals on its 4-Serving Signature menu.
Plated always has 20 magnificent recipes for main courses and 2 dessert options. You can choose 2, 3 or 4 recipes that suit your taste and cook for 2, 3 or 4 people.
Nutritional Value
Both companies offer dishes that are perfect for a balanced, healthy diet. With Plated, you can choose meals according to your taste. When it comes to Blue Apron, this meal delivery services allows you to opt for the meal plan that best suits your diet and choose the type of meat and seafood you like the most or narrow your choice down to vegetarian meals.
Portion Size
Plated and Blue Apron both deliver only pre-portioned ingredients that are carefully measured for your balanced meals.
Flexibility
With both of these companies, you can skip a delivery or cancel your subscription free of charge. It’s only important to do it before your next order is shipped.
Price
Blue Apron is a bit cheaper than Plated. Also, shipping is free on all orders, with the exception of 2-recipe boxes for 2 people. On the other hand, with Plated, shipping is free if you order meals for more than $60.