HelloFresh vs Marley Spoon: Which Meal Kit Delivery Service is Better?

When it comes to meal kit delivery services, HelloFresh and Marley Spoon are two of the most popular options on the market. Both companies offer a variety of recipes and ingredients delivered straight to your door, making meal planning and preparation easier for busy individuals and families. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which service is the right fit for your needs.

One of the main differences between HelloFresh and Marley Spoon is their pricing. HelloFresh is generally considered more affordable, with meal options starting at around $7.50 per serving. Marley Spoon, on the other hand, tends to be slightly more expensive, with meal options starting at around $8.70 per serving. It’s important to note that Marley Spoon often uses higher-quality ingredients and offers more complex recipes, which may account for the higher price point. Additionally, Marley Spoon charges an additional shipping fee of around $9 per box, which may be a consideration for some customers.

Overview

Regarding meal kit delivery services, two of the biggest names in the industry are HelloFresh and Marley Spoon. Both companies offer a variety of meal plans and recipes that can be delivered straight to your doorstep, making meal prep and cooking easier and more convenient than ever before.

Our Top Pick
Hello Fresh
9.5/10Our Score
  • Cost: 7/10 - $8.75/serve based on 4 people and 5 recipes per week.
  • Choice: 9/10 - Over 37 recipes to pick from each week.
  • Quality: 9/10 - The best quality vegetables and meat from all we tested, but still not as good as selecting yourself in the grocery store.
  • Taste: 8/10 - There are certainly some meals that didn't suit my tastes, but overall I was impressed and I still replicate my favourites.
  • Flexibility: Skip a week or cancel anytime.
  • Organic: No
  • Allergy Safe: No
Close 2nd
Marley Spoon
9/10Our Score
  • Cost: 7/10 - $8.49 per serving based on 4 people and 5 recipes per week
  • Choice: 10/10 - 50+ recipes to pick from each week.
  • Quality: 8/10 - The ingredient quality is on par with Hello Fresh
  • Taste: 8/10 - I found the taste of the Marley Spoon recipes to be great along with the serving size
  • Flexibility: Skip, pause, or cancel any time.
  • Organic: No
  • Allergy Safe: Only some meals

What are HelloFresh and Marley Spoon?

HelloFresh and Marley Spoon are meal kit delivery services offering a wide range of meal plans and recipes. Both services allow you to select the meals you want to receive each week and will deliver all of the necessary ingredients straight to your doorstep.

HelloFresh was founded in 2011 and is based in Germany, while Marley Spoon was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in New York City. While both companies offer similar services, there are some key differences between the two that are worth noting.

How do they work?

Both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon work similarly. First, you’ll need to select the meal plan you want to sign up for. Both companies offer a variety of plans to choose from, including vegetarian and family-friendly options.

Once you’ve selected your plan, you can choose the meals you want to receive each week. Both services offer a variety of recipes to choose from, and you can typically select between 2-4 meals per week depending on the plan that you choose.

After selecting your meals, your ingredients will be packaged and delivered straight to your doorstep. Each kit will include all of the necessary ingredients and detailed recipe cards to help guide you through the cooking process.

Delivery and Packaging

Both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer delivery services throughout Australia. Delivery times and costs may vary depending on location, but both services typically offer free shipping on your first order.

When it comes to packaging, both companies use similar materials. Each kit will be delivered in a cardboard box insulated with ice packs to keep the ingredients fresh during transit. Both services also use recyclable materials whenever possible, making them more eco-friendly than traditional grocery shopping.

HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer convenient and easy-to-use meal kit delivery services that can help simplify your meal prep and cooking routine. Whether you’re looking for vegetarian options or family-friendly meals, both services offer a variety of plans and recipes to choose from.

Meal Options

Regarding meal options, both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer a wide variety of delicious dishes that are customizable to suit different dietary requirements and preferences. Here are some key aspects to consider when comparing the meal options of both meal kit delivery services:

Menu Variety

Marley Spoon and HelloFresh both offer a diverse range of meals to choose from each week. Marley Spoon offers over 45 meal options across various common meal categories, such as Healthy & Diet, Vegetarian & Vegan, Meat & Fish, Under 30 Minutes, and Family-Friendly. HelloFresh, on the other hand, offers around 25 meal options at any given time, with categories such as Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Meat & Veggies, and Veggie.

Special Diets

Both Marley Spoon and HelloFresh cater to various dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb. Within each category, you can see clear labels for dairy-free meals, no added gluten, low-calorie, and low-carb. HelloFresh also offers a range of dietary options, with clear labels for allergens and special diets.

Meal Plans

Marley Spoon and HelloFresh offer meal plans that cater to different family sizes and preferences. Marley Spoon offers meal plans for two or four people, with Meat and Vegetables, Vegetarian, and Kid-Friendly options. HelloFresh offers a Classic, Family, and Veggie Plan, with options for two or four people. Both meal kit delivery services offer customizable options, allowing you to choose the number of meals per week and servings per meal.

Marley Spoon and HelloFresh offer various meal options catering to different dietary requirements and preferences. Marley Spoon offers more meal options weekly, while HelloFresh offers clear labels for allergens and special diets. Both meal kit delivery services offer customised meal plans catering to different family sizes and preferences.

Quality

Regarding meal kit delivery services, the quality of ingredients is one of the most important factors to consider. In this section, we will compare the quality and sourcing of ingredients between HelloFresh and Marley Spoon.

Ingredients

Both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon use high-quality ingredients in their meal kits. They source their ingredients from local farms and suppliers to ensure freshness and quality. HelloFresh uses hormone-free and sustainably sourced meat, poultry, and seafood. On the other hand, Marley Spoon offers a variety of recipes that use premium ingredients like grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish.

Sourcing and Sustainability

Regarding sustainability, both companies have made efforts to reduce their environmental impact. HelloFresh has committed to using 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. They also work with suppliers who use sustainable farming practices. Marley Spoon, on the other hand, has a “zero waste” policy and only uses ingredients that are in season. They also work with suppliers who use sustainable and ethical farming practices.

Regarding sourcing, Marley Spoon has an advantage over HelloFresh as they partner with Martha Stewart to create recipes that use premium ingredients. This means that Marley Spoon can access a wider range of high-quality ingredients, including organic and non-GMO produce.

Price and Value

Regarding meal delivery services, price and value are important factors to consider. In this section, we will compare the pricing and value for money of HelloFresh and Marley Spoon.

Pricing Comparison

HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer a sliding scale pricing model for their meal plans, where the more you order, the more affordable it gets. However, there are some differences in their pricing structures.

HelloFresh offers plans for two or four people, ranging from around $7.49 to $8.99 per serving. They also charge a shipping fee of $9.99 per box. On the other hand, Marley Spoon offers plans for two to six people, with prices ranging from around $7.99 to $10.25 per serving. They charge a shipping fee of under $9 per box.

HelloFresh is slightly cheaper than Marley Spoon, but the difference is not significant. It is worth noting that both companies often offer discounts and promotions, so it is worth checking their websites for the latest deals.

Value for Money

Regarding value for money, both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer high-quality ingredients and a good variety of meal options. However, there are some differences to consider.

Marley Spoon offers a wider weekly recipe variety, with up to 27 recipes each week. They also provide generously portioned meal kits, which can be a great value for those looking for more filling meals.

On the other hand, HelloFresh covers fewer nights per week, but they offer meal plans that are more calorie smart and kid-friendly. They also provide a good variety of vegetarian and pescatarian meals.

Ultimately, the choice between HelloFresh and Marley Spoon will depend on your preferences and needs. Both companies offer healthy and convenient meal delivery services at a reasonable price, so it is worth trying them out to see which works best for you.

Customer Service and Support

Both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer customer service and support through various channels. You can contact them via email, phone, or chat. Marley Spoon also has a help center where you can find answers to common questions.

HelloFresh has a satisfaction guarantee policy, meaning they will refund or credit your account if you’re unsatisfied with their service. Marley Spoon also has a similar policy, but you must contact them within 7 days of delivery.

Both companies offer free shipping, and their delivery boxes are designed to keep your food fresh during transit. However, if you encounter any issues with your delivery, both companies have customer service agents available to assist you.

In summary, both HelloFresh and Marley Spoon offer excellent customer service and support. They have similar policies and pricing, but Marley Spoon offers various dietary options. If you have questions or concerns, both companies have FAQs and customer service agents available to assist you.