HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron, How A Holistic Nutritionist Compares These Meal Delivery Services

If you aren't following a specific dietary plan and want to mix and match meals, you can choose multiple plans to have access to a more robust menu.

Once you pick a plan, you'll select how many meals you want to receive each week (two to six) and whether you'd like two or four servings for each recipe. As you customize your box, you'll see the price adjust in real time; the bigger your box, the lower the cost per serving.

Next, you'll be given access to the weekly menu. The brand will suggest recipes based on which plan you've selected—but you can view the options from all meal plans.

When your recipes are confirmed, HelloFresh will work to build your box for the week. You'll receive all the ingredients you need to make each meal, plus recipe cards that walk you through each step.

As with HelloFresh, you can choose multiple plans to have more menu options. You can opt for between two and five recipes per week that serve two or four people. Again, the cost per serving goes down with the larger plans.

Once you've determined which meal plan you want to sign up for, the next step is to choose your meals—the menu updates weekly and includes more than 70 options across all meal plans.

For smaller plans, HelloFresh is less expensive than BlueApron. However, BlueApron becomes more affordable than HelloFresh when you commit to five (or more) meals per week.

Both brands also discount certain groups of people. HelloFresh has a "Hero Discount" of 55% off your first box plus free shipping, and 15% off all other boxes for a year. Medical providers, nurses, hospital employees, active military, and veterans all qualify for this discount.

HelloFresh offers 100+ meals each week, while BlueApron has about 70+. Both brands have ever-changing menu options, meaning new recipes are added each week.

HelloFresh allows you to mix and match from all meal plans, regardless of which you signed up for. Blue Apron limits you to meals from the plan you initially sign up for. However, you can change your plan at any time.

As far as dietary considerations go, HelloFresh has a slight edge here—but neither company has a ton of customization options available. While both brands do clearly mark any meals containing the top eight major allergens (wheat, milk, soy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish), neither uses a dedicated kitchen, so cross-contamination is a possibility.

While not allergen-friendly, HelloFresh's meals can be customized to be beef-free, pork-free, and seafood-free. There are also a handful of vegetarian options and vegan options (about six total out of the 40+ on the menu) but no gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free meals. Some, but not all, ingredients are organic.

HelloFresh does allow you to change, swap, or add on about 12 sides and proteins each week. For example, if a meal features beef but you prefer chicken, you can make a request when selecting your recipes.

Both brands are 100% carbon-neutral and are making strides when it comes to sustainability and environmental impact.

HelloFresh uses renewable energy sources and local suppliers to shorten the supply chain. Blue Apron purchases carbon offsets and is working toward a goal of net zero (which means no carbon will be generated in the first place). HelloFresh and Blue Apron both use some recyclable materials but some plastic materials as well.

As for animal welfare? Both HelloFresh and Blue Apron only source from suppliers that adhere to strict humane animal welfare policies.