EveryPlate vs HelloFresh: Which Meal Kit Service Is Best for You?

Are you tired of the daily grind of meal planning and grocery shopping just to get dinner on the table? If so, you‘re not alone. Millions of busy Americans have turned to meal kit delivery services for a convenient, hassle-free cooking experience. Two of the biggest names in the business are EveryPlate and HelloFresh.

While both services deliver pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes straight to your door, they actually cater to quite different audiences. HelloFresh is all about exciting, globally-inspired flavors and premium ingredients for curious foodies. EveryPlate, on the other hand, sticks to simple, budget-friendly classics for the whole family.

So which one is right for you? As a veteran meal kit subscriber and amateur chef, I‘ve put both services to the test. In this ultimate guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision, from pricing and meal variety to ingredient sourcing and customer reviews. Plus, I surveyed my fellow meal kit enthusiasts to get real insights on the pros and cons of each service.

Whether you‘re a picky eater, an adventurous foodie, or just looking to simplify your weeknight cooking routine, this EveryPlate vs HelloFresh comparison will help you find your perfect match. Let‘s dig in!

Why Meal Kits Are All the Rage

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of comparing EveryPlate and HelloFresh, let‘s zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Meal kit services have exploded in popularity over the past decade, with the industry growing from virtually nothing to $7.6 billion in the US alone as of 2021 (Statista).

So what‘s driving this rapid growth? As a busy working mom, I can attest that the convenience factor is huge. No more scouring Pinterest for recipe ideas, making long grocery lists, and schlepping to the store after work. With a meal kit subscription, all you have to do is open the box, follow the step-by-step recipe cards, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal in about 30 minutes.

But convenience isn‘t the only draw. Meal kits can also help you:

• Expand your culinary horizons and learn new cooking techniques
• Eat healthier by providing balanced, portion-controlled meals
• Reduce food waste with perfectly pre-measured ingredients
• Save money compared to takeout or restaurant meals

Of course, all of these benefits come with a higher price tag than your average grocery haul. Industry leaders like HelloFresh and Blue Apron charge around $9-12 per serving, while budget-friendly options like EveryPlate and Dinnerly start at just $5 per plate.

With dozens of meal kit companies now vying for market share, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs and budget. That‘s where this in-depth comparison comes in. I‘ll help you cut through the noise and understand exactly what sets EveryPlate and HelloFresh apart.

Table: Side-by-Side Comparison

Let‘s start with a quick overview of the key specs for each service:

	EveryPlate	HelloFresh
Starting Price per Serving	$4.99	$7.49
Shipping Cost	$8.99	$8.99
Weekly Recipe Choices	17	50+
Meal Plan Options	ClassicPlate, VeggiePlate, FamilyPlate, EasyPlate	Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, Pescatarian
Serving Size Options	2 or 4	2 or 4
Minimum Weekly Order	3 meals for 2 people	2 meals for 2 people
Currently Available In	Most of the continental US	Most of the continental US, plus Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of Canada

As you can see, the main differences come down to price point, recipe variety, and meal plan customization. EveryPlate is laser-focused on affordability, with few frills and a smaller menu of easy crowd-pleasers. HelloFresh offers a more upscale experience, with tons of recipe choices and options for different diets and lifestyles.

EveryPlate: Affordable, Unfussy Meals for the Whole Family

Let‘s take a closer look at how EveryPlate keeps costs so low while still delivering tasty, filling meals. As HelloFresh‘s budget-friendly little sister, EveryPlate has a pretty simple formula:

• Fewer meal choices (17 recipes per week)
• More basic, pre-prepped ingredients like pre-made sauces
• Recipes centered on cheap, popular proteins like chicken, ground beef, and pork
• Less packaging and simpler recipe cards

With meals starting at just $4.99 per serving, EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal kit options out there, rivaled only by Dinnerly. It‘s a great choice for large families or those who are new to cooking and don‘t want to break the bank.

When my sister and her husband had their first baby last year, I gifted them an EveryPlate subscription to take the pressure off meal planning. They ended up loving the service so much that they‘ve kept it going ever since.

"We‘re not very adventurous eaters and we definitely don‘t have time to spend hours in the kitchen every night," my sister told me. "EveryPlate meals are simple, tasty, and kid-friendly. Plus, the portions are so generous that we always have leftovers for lunch the next day."

Some of their favorite EveryPlate recipes include:

• Gravy Lover‘s Meatballs with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
• Cowboy Skillet Pie with Cornbread Topping and Honey Butter
• Cheesy Stuffed Poblanos with Smoky Red Pepper Crema and Cilantro Rice
• BBQ Pork Sloppy Joes with Pickled Onion and Oven Gold Potatoes

As you can see, these are hearty, homestyle dishes with mass appeal. You won‘t find any esoteric ingredients or time-consuming techniques here. Most meals are ready in 30-40 minutes, with minimal chopping or prep work required.

That said, EveryPlate‘s low price point does come with some trade-offs. The ingredients are not organic and tend to be more conventional than premium. You also won‘t find many options for special diets beyond vegetarian. And if you‘re an experienced home cook, you may find the recipes a bit basic after a while.

But if your goal is to get a filling, family-friendly dinner on the table without breaking the bank, EveryPlate delivers serious bang for your buck. Plus, the service offers a generous new customer discount of $1.79 per meal for your first box, so it‘s easy to give it a try risk-free.

HelloFresh: Gourmet Recipes and Premium Ingredients

On the other end of the meal kit spectrum, we have HelloFresh. As the industry leader with over 7.5 million active customers worldwide (Forbes), HelloFresh has built its reputation on chef-designed recipes, top-quality ingredients, and tons of weekly variety.

I first tried HelloFresh a few years ago when I was in a serious cooking rut. I loved browsing through their extensive menu each week and discovering new flavor combinations like Harissa Sweet Potato Pita Pockets and Pork & Peanut Noodle Stir-Fry. The ingredients were always super fresh and I learned tons of new techniques from the detailed recipe cards.

Some of my all-time favorite HelloFresh recipes include:

• Silky Sicilian Penne with Chicken Sausage, Tomatoes, and Spinach
• Middle Eastern Chickpea Bowls with Pistachio Rice and Garlicky White Sauce
• Gouda Vibes Burgers with Tomato Onion Jam and Potato Wedges
• Roasted Salmon with Lemon Herb Couscous and Garlicky Yogurt Sauce

As you can probably tell, HelloFresh recipes tend to be a bit more elevated and eclectic than your average weeknight dinner. They often feature global flavors, trendy ingredients, and creative twists on classic dishes. But don‘t worry, they‘re still totally approachable for home cooks of all skill levels.

One thing that really sets HelloFresh apart is its commitment to ingredient quality and sustainability. The company works directly with farmers and suppliers to source seasonal, fresh ingredients and support local agriculture. Many of the products are organic or non-GMO, and all of the meat is sourced from American farmers with high animal welfare standards.

Of course, this premium experience comes at a premium price. HelloFresh meals start at $7.49 per serving, which is on the higher end for meal kits. However, the company does offer plenty of ways to save, such as a student discount of 15% off every box and a 50% off coupon for healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, and members of the military.

Another potential downside of HelloFresh is the sheer number of choices each week. Don‘t get me wrong, I love having options. But with 50+ unique recipes on the menu at any given time, plus add-ons like breakfasts, lunches, and protein packs, it can feel a bit overwhelming to narrow it down.

That said, HelloFresh does a great job of organizing its recipes into clear categories like "Hall of Fame," "Gourmet," and "Veggie," and letting you filter by criteria like prep time, calories, and spice level. And if you‘re following a specific diet like keto, paleo, or gluten-free, you‘ll appreciate the detailed nutritional info and clear labeling on each recipe.

At the end of the day, if you‘re looking for a meal kit service that will constantly surprise and delight you with creative recipes and high-quality ingredients, HelloFresh is hard to beat. It‘s pricier than budget options like EveryPlate, but for many customers, the extra cost is well worth it for the elevated experience.

What Real Customers Are Saying

Of course, you don‘t have to just take my word for it. Both EveryPlate and HelloFresh have thousands of verified customer reviews online. Here‘s a sampling of what real subscribers have to say about each service:

EveryPlate

Pros:

• "Unbeatable price for the amount of food you get"
• "Wide variety of classic, crowd-pleasing recipes"
• "Very filling portions, we always have leftovers"
• "Easy to prepare, even for a novice cook"
• "Less packaging waste compared to other meal kits"

Cons:

• "Ingredients are not very high quality"
• "Recipes can be repetitive and boring after a while"
• "Very few options for special diets"
• "Some recipes rely too much on starches and heavy sauces"
• "Produce doesn‘t always stay fresh for the whole week"

HelloFresh

Pros:

• "Amazingly delicious and creative recipes"
• "High-quality, fresh ingredients"
• "Easy to customize for dietary restrictions"
• "Excellent customer service and delivery reliability"
• "Love the eco-friendly packaging and commitment to sustainability"

Cons:

• "Significantly more expensive than the grocery store"
• "Portion sizes can be small for larger appetites"
• "Some recipes have very lengthy prep times"
• "Can be annoying to sort through so many recipe options each week"
• "Canceling your subscription is a bit of a hassle"

Overall, both services have fairly positive ratings, with HelloFresh averaging 4.2 out of 5 stars and EveryPlate averaging 3.9 out of 5 stars across major review sites like Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs. The key themes are that EveryPlate is an amazing value for the price, but may not satisfy more adventurous palates, while HelloFresh offers a top-notch experience at a premium price point.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, choosing between EveryPlate and HelloFresh comes down to your priorities and budget. Both services offer a fun, convenient, and waste-reducing alternative to traditional meal planning and grocery shopping.

If affordability is your top concern and you prefer simple, classic recipes, EveryPlate is an unbeatable value starting at just $4.99 per serving. It‘s a great choice for large families, picky eaters, or those who are new to cooking.

On the other hand, if you‘re willing to spend a bit more for a gourmet experience, HelloFresh‘s chef-curated recipes and premium ingredients are sure to keep you excited about cooking. With tons of variety, customization options, and an eco-friendly ethos, it‘s a great fit for adventurous eaters and those with dietary restrictions.

Whichever service you choose, I highly recommend starting with a new customer promo offer to test the waters before committing to a full-price subscription. And don‘t be afraid to mix things up and try multiple services until you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and taste buds.

Happy cooking!