When evaluating Blue Apron vs. HelloFresh, it's not a matter of picking which meal delivery service is best overall, but rather picking which one is best for you
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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 other meal delivery services, including Home Chef, Dinnerly, Green Chef, EveryPlate, along with the two I’ll be comparing 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.
Blue Apron and HelloFresh: At a Glance
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HelloFresh
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.
Blue Apron
New York-based Blue Apron was founded in 2012 and has only grown from there. Among the 80-plus options per week, customers 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.
Blue Apron vs. HelloFresh: What’s Similar?
When it comes to HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron, the companies have many similarities. They’re both meal delivery services that send the ingredients and instructions 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.
Sustainability
Both HelloFresh and Blue Apron emphasize sustainable practices and are carbon neutral, which is impressive.
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-quality customer service, 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.
Blue Apron vs. HelloFresh: What’s Different?
Cost & Plan
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 $8.99 and $10.49, depending on how many you order.
Blue Apron switched from a subscription to an à la carte model, allowing you to purchase as many as you need in each delivery. Meals range between $7.99 and $11.99 per serving, depending on how many you buy.
You will have to pay shipping for either option. Blue Apron costs $11.49 per delivery, but if you subscribe to Blue Apron+ ($9.99 per month), you’ll get free shipping with each delivery; the membership can quickly pay itself back, depending on how much and often you order. If you subscribe to Hello Fresh, you’ll be charged $10.49 per delivery, but there are often promos and/or minimum order amounts that can score you free or discounted deliveries, so it pays to keep an eye out.
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 slightly higher prices for certain meals. 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. The company also has introduced newer options, like one-pan meals, family-friendly dinners and pre-made, high-protein meals. Editor’s note: When we test the latest offerings, we’ll be sure to update our review.
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 à 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.
Packaging
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.
How We Tested Blue Apron
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.
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!
Blue Apron
Blue Apron, with 80-plus options on the menu each week, stands out for its elevated recipes with a modest price tag.
Pros
- Unique recipes
- Fresh meat and ingredients
- Extremely flavorful meals
- Virtually no food waste
Cons
- Time-consuming prep
- Some packaging issues
- Fewer recipe options
How We Tested HelloFresh
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 protein and produce always meet my standards, and the brown-bag packaging of each meal’s 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
HelloFresh is a longtime favorite of meal kit subscribers, thanks to its universal recipes, fair pricing and customization.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- HelloFresh market
- Strong recipe variety
- Easy-to-follow recipes
- Appropriate portion sizes
- Abundant sides and add-ons available
Cons
- Not always the freshest ingredients
- Considerable cleanup and prep time
- Hard to find low-sodium meals
- Premium dishes are on the pricey side
The Bottom Line
Our biggest piece of advice? Peruse the menus of each before you subscribe! Keep in mind: The pricing is fairly comparable. Generally, Blue Apron is 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 seated around your kitchen table will be satisfied.
FAQ
How much do HelloFresh and Blue Apron cost per week?
It depends on how many meals and servings you choose. HelloFresh meals typically range between $8.99 and $10.49 per serving, and the Blue Apron price list ranges from $7.99 to $11.99 per serving, on average. (Some meals are higher on both brands, depending on the ingredients included.) Both offer discounts when you purchase more meals/servings per week.
You’ll also pay for shipping. Hello Fresh charges $10.49 to ship each delivery, although there are often chances to score free shipping with promos and/or minimum order costs. Blue Apron charges $11.49 per delivery, but if you subscribe to Blue Apron+ ($9.99 per month), shipping costs are waived for each delivery, which can add up to considerable savings over time.
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.
Why You Should Trust Our Opinion
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.
