As someone always on the lookout for convenient and delicious meal options, I’ve tried my fair share of meal kit services. Today, I’ll be comparing two of the most popular choices: HelloFresh and EveryPlate. I’ll be diving into the specifics of pricing, health ratings, convenience, customer support, packaging, recipe options, website ease of use, delivery options, and overall value for money. So, let’s get started!
| Comparison Point | HelloFresh | EveryPlate | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Range | $8.25-$11.67 | $4.44-$8.00 | EveryPlate |
| 3 Meals for 4 People | $134.99 | $89.99 | EveryPlate |
| Menu Range | 35 main meals, various other options | 22 Meals | HelloFresh |
| Menu Type Variety | 8/10 - Many options | 4/10 - Few Options - Most Basic | HelloFresh |
| Delivery Days | 5 Per Week | 4 Per Week | HelloFresh |
| Packaging Info | Individually Bagged Meal Ingredients | Loose in Box | HelloFresh |
| Quality of Ingredients | 7/10 - Occasionally average quality. | 5/10 - Low quality at times. | HelloFresh |
| Customer Service | 8/10 | 6/10 | HelloFresh |
| Convenience | 9/10 - Easy ordering, easy to follow instructions, few pantry items required. | 6/10 - Easy ordering, easy to follow instructions, some pantry items required. | HelloFresh |
| Overall Winner... | HelloFresh |
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, HelloFresh offers meal plans that serve 2 or 4 people, with the choice of 3, 4, or 5 meals per week. Prices range from $8.25 to $11.67 per serving. On the other hand, EveryPlate provides meal plans for 2, 4, or 6 people, with the choice of 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals per week. The prices for EveryPlate range from $4.44 to $11.67 per serving, making it a more budget-friendly option overall.
Health Ratings
HelloFresh offers a wider variety of meal types, such as Classic, Vegetarian, Family-Friendly, Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Carb Smart, Flexitarian, and Protein Rich. This means that if you’re looking for healthier meal options, HelloFresh might be the better choice. While EveryPlate does have Kid Friendly, Speedy, and Veggie recipes, it doesn’t have as many health-focused options as HelloFresh.
Convenience
Both HelloFresh and EveryPlate deliver to Melbourne, but HelloFresh has a slight edge in this category, as it delivers 5 days per week (Tuesday to Saturday), while EveryPlate delivers 4 days per week (Sunday to Wednesday). Both services offer flat rate shipping of $9.99, at least in Melbourne (this may vary in other locations).
Customer Support
I’ve had great experiences with the customer support teams for both HelloFresh and EveryPlate. They’re helpful and responsive when dealing with any issues that may arise, such as ingredient quality or missing ingredients. While I’ve only had to contact HelloFresh once for an issue, I’ve reached out to EveryPlate a few times. That being said, considering the price difference, occasional issues with EveryPlate can be forgiven.
Packaging
HelloFresh’s packaging is generally sustainable, using paper bags to separate different meals, recyclable ice packs, and cool storage. This is convenient when unpacking and storing your meal kits. EveryPlate, on the other hand, has a more sustainable approach but may be less convenient. They use recyclable cooler bags with ice packs for chilled items, but all other ingredients are loosely placed in the cardboard box. This can lead to damaged produce during transit and may be more time-consuming when it comes to putting items away or cooking.
Range of Recipe Options
HelloFresh has an impressive range of meal options, with 35 main meals, 15 breakfasts, 21 desserts, 26 snacks, 2 boxes of seasonal fruit, 3 soups, and 12 drinks available to choose from. EveryPlate has a more limited selection, with 22 meals available (including 2 premium options at a higher cost). While EveryPlate’s selection is more focused on family-friendly meals, HelloFresh offers a broader variety of choices.
Website Ease of Use
Both HelloFresh and EveryPlate have user-friendly websites that make browsing and selecting meals a breeze. The recipe cards included with EveryPlate give them a slight edge in this category, as they make it easy to follow along when preparing meals.
Delivery Options
As mentioned earlier, HelloFresh delivers 5 days per week, while EveryPlate delivers 4 days per week. Both offer flat rate shipping of $9.99 in Melbourne, but this may vary in other locations. The difference in delivery days may not be a significant factor for some, but if you’re looking for more flexibility in delivery options, HelloFresh has a slight advantage.
Overall Value for Money
To provide a fair comparison, let’s consider the cost of a 4 person, 3 meal kit, which is a standard configuration available across all meal kit options. EveryPlate’s pricing for this option is $89.99, which is about $5 cheaper than Dinnerly, its closest competitor. HelloFresh, with its wider variety of meal options and more premium offerings, will come at a higher cost.
The Verdict
When comparing HelloFresh and EveryPlate, the winner depends on your priorities. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with a focus on family-friendly meals, EveryPlate is the clear choice. However, if you prefer a wider variety of meal options, more health-focused choices, and better convenience in packaging and delivery, HelloFresh might be worth the extra cost.
Personally, I appreciate the extensive menu options and the convenience provided by HelloFresh, but I can also see the value in the budget-friendly offerings of EveryPlate. It really comes down to your individual preferences and priorities.
It’s important to note that both brands have the same parent company, so deliveries are likely packed in the same distribution centre at the end of the day, but EveryPlate is a stripped-back version of a meal kit, with basic recipes and reduced packaging, allowing them to drastically reduce the cost of the meal kit.
In the end, both HelloFresh and EveryPlate provide delicious meal kit options that can make your weeknight dinners more enjoyable and stress-free. Whichever service you choose, you’re sure to find tasty recipes that will satisfy your taste buds and make meal planning a breeze.
