Choosing the right meal kit delivery service can feel like navigating a maze, especially when there are so many options available. Among the top contenders, Dinnerly and HelloFresh have gained popularity for their convenience, variety, and ability to make home cooking both fun and accessible. But how do these two services stack up against each other?
Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or someone looking to simplify your weeknight meals, understanding the differences between Dinnerly and HelloFresh can help you make an informed decision.
Are you wondering which service offers the best value for your money? Or maybe you’re curious about the variety of recipes and ingredients each service provides.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the details, comparing everything from price points to meal options and delivery experience.
Reading this comparison will save you time and potentially money by guiding you to the service that best meets your needs. Whether you’re after affordability, gourmet meals, or simply looking to try something new, this article will help you find the perfect fit. So, let’s get started and explore what Dinnerly and HelloFresh have to offer!
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these two may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
This info-rich blogpost will show you the various advantages as well as the limitations that are present in two meal kit delivery services, Dinnerly and HelloFresh. While HelloFresh has operations in a number of countries, Dinnerly only delivers meal kits in the United States. Meal kits have gained popularity today because of the convenience they bring to users.
The following table will show you the different characteristic features that are present in Dinnerly as well as those in HelloFresh. You will also be able to check out the different types of recipes that you can find in these meal kit delivery services, along with their price ranges, so that you can make a better calculated choice as to which of these serves you better.Feature Dinnerly HelloFresh Delivery areas 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii,UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium,Luxembourg,Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Canada,New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden Price range $35 to $67 per week for two $120 to $460 per month Price per plate $4.99 per plate $7.49 per plate Difficulty levels Easy Easy,Intermediate,Expert Avg. cooking time 30 minutes or lesser 20 – 50 mins per meal Avg. calorie count 800-900 calories per serving 500-800 calories per serving Supporting material Only digital recipe cards Recipe cards,Nutritional facts,Meal description Recipes supported Vegetarian,Dairy-free,Low carb,Gluten-free,Healthy,One-pot,Kid-friendly Calorie-smart,Carb-smart,Vegetarian,Pescatarian,Beef,Chicken,Beans and Legumes,Grain No. of choices 28 per week 30 per week Introductory deal 60% off on first box,20% off on next two 60% off on first box Avg. shelf life 3-5 days for meat,4 days for veggies 3-5 days for meat,1-2 days for seafood
1. Types of Plans: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Two-Person box $6.39 per portion + $9.99 shipping,2 or 3 or 5 or 6 meals per week | Meat & Veggies Meal kits containing meat and veggies |
| Family box $5.69 per portion + $9.99 shipping,3 or 4 or 5 or 6 meals per week | Vegetarian Plant-based meals,Not always vegan |
| Family Friendly Kid-approved meals | |
| Calorie-Smart meals 650 calories or less in each serving | |
| Quick and Easy Meals which can be cooked within 30 minutes | |
| Pescatarian Meals containing seafood proteins |
Dinnerly allows its customers to choose among various sizes of meal boxes depending on the needs and requirements of the family. The meal boxes come in mainly two sizes, as a two-person box and a family box for larger households. The
Customers can also add more meals to their box if they wish to do so.
HelloFresh also has a large collection of options for the user. The customer can go for the meat and veggie plan, which has recipes that contain both meat and vegetables. As an alternative, they can also go for the veggie plan, which solely features vegetables as the star ingredients. In addition to meal kits, HelloFresh also offers fully prepared meals.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Types of Plans segment.
2. Types of Ingredients: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Ingredient type | Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Produce | Farm-fresh produce | Farm-fresh produce |
| Meat, eggs, fish | NAE chicken, antibiotic-free meat | Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free |
| Other ingredients | Seasonings,Sauces | Seasonings, spice blends |
Dinnerly sources its ingredients from local vendors and farms, which are guaranteed to use only safe farming practices. The meat and poultry used in Dinnerly meal kits are antibiotic-free and come from sustainable sources. The meal kits also come with the required seasonings and spices, while also mentioning the necessary cooking essentials that the user needs to have.
HelloFresh manages to tie up with local family-run farms in every country of operation in order to ensure that only the best ingredients make their way to the customer. The produce is more seasonal, so fewer insecticides are used, and more quality is present in the meal kits. The seasonings and spices are also healthy and tasty at the same time.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Read: Can You See Hellofresh Meals Before Buying?
3. Add-Ons: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Dessert,Breakfast | Garlic bread,Yogurt dip,Garden salad,Cheesecake Mousse Parfait |
Dinnerly allows its customers to gain much more than just meal kits through this platform. In addition to meal kits, the customer can add items such as desserts and even healthy breakfast options to their meal boxes. They are also free to add more meals and recipes to their meal kits if they want to get a bigger bang for their buck.
HelloFresh also has a wide range of add-on options for its customers. The add-ons in HelloFresh include freshly baked garlic bread, which, along with the yogurt dip can make any meal more fulfilling and wholesome. Fiber-filled garden salads are also available as add-ons to HelloFresh. For dessert time, HelloFresh offers yummy cheesecake mousse parfaits.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Add-ons segment.
4. Packaging of Meal kit: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Meal box,Separator,Ice packs,Box liner,Bottles,Containers,Bags | Cardboard box,Kit bag,Separator,Insulator,Ice packs |
| Fully recyclable | Fully recyclable |
Both Dinnerly and HelloFresh use easily recyclable packaging for their meal kits. The packaging is not only easily recyclable but also reusable. While the meal boxes are made of recycled cardboard, the containers and the bags are made of BPA-free plastic. The ice packs in the meal kits contain a non-toxic gel that can be just tossed into the trash for disposal.
Winner: Dinnerly and HelloFresh win the Packaging of Meal kit segment.
5. Customer Support: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Feature | Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Chat support | – | + |
| Email support | + | – |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Dinnerly users can contact the customer support of this meal kit delivery service through emails and even phone support. The phone support at Dinnerly is available on all days of the week except for certain public holidays. The customer support on this platform also has very limited hours.
HelloFresh customers can also contact the support team in a number of ways. The easiest and best way to reach out for assistance on this meal kit delivery platform is through the live chat, which will immediately put the customer in touch with an executive. In addition to live chat, phone support is also present in HelloFresh.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Customer Support segment.
6. Sample Meals: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Sample | Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Sample 1 | Name: Keto-Friendly Smoky Paprika SteakPreparation time: 20-30 minsSpice level: MediumDifficulty: Easy | Name: Hearty Steak and PotatoesPreparation time: 40 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy |
| Sample 2 | Name: One-Pot Tomato Ravioli with Basil PestoPreparation time: 20-30 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy | Name: Winner Winner Chicken Orzo DinnerPreparation time: 30 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy |
| Sample 3 | Name: Crispy Ranch Fish SticksPreparation time: 40-50 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy | Name: Ginger Beef Stir-FryPreparation time: 30 minsSpice level: MediumDifficulty: Easy |
Dinnerly’s menu is filled with recipes that are instant crowd favorites and even unexplored recipes from international cuisines. The recipes are quite easy to follow, and most of the meals here can be cooked within 30–50 minutes. The spice levels of each meal also vary to cater to different palate preferences.
HelloFresh also offers a number of recipes for the customer to choose from. The recipes in HelloFresh can mostly be prepared within a span of 30 minutes. For those who want to spend even less time in the kitchen, HelloFresh offers quick-cooking recipes in which the ingredients are pre-chopped and ready to be cooked.
Winner: Dinnerly wins the Sample Meals segment.
7. App rating: Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh
| Platform | Dinnerly | HelloFresh |
| Google Play Store | 4.6 | 3.4 |
| Apple App Store | 4.7 | 4.4 |
| TWP Rating | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
Final Verdict: The winner of this clash is Dinnerly with its simple recipes and variety of choices.
Dinnerly, as a meal kit delivery service, was designed to be a more affordable option when compared to its other competitors. This meal kit delivery service offers easy-to-cook recipes. They require very little prep time. This achieves the goal of a meal kit delivery service.
HelloFresh is a very popular meal kit delivery service and was certainly one of the first on the market. The recipes in HelloFresh use various ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, and even seafood. The customer has the freedom to choose the recipe types they need to add to their meal kits.
When we compare Dinnerly and HelloFresh, Dinnerly emerges as the winner. The recipes in Dinnerly are very easy to prepare. At the same time, they are not lacking in quality and can easily tempt even the pickiest eaters to try them. Dinnerly’s low cost is a key reason it tops the list.
Methodology
To find the best meal delivery service reviews, we did several things. We spoke to testers and real users. We reviewed each service’s website. We did research on social media. Finally, we checked user reviews on those sites. We have also used the reviews presented by current users of these services on their respective Google and Apple apps.
We are currently conducting our own internal review, and we will update this page with videos and pictures of our experiences. If they differ greatly from our reviewers, we’ll update this post. You’ll then have both views. You can decide which service provider suits your needs.
We used four main criteria to assess the meal delivery services. They are: the simplicity of the recipes, the variety of meals, the inclusiveness of diets and cuisines, and the supporting material.
Also, we considered the sustainability and recyclability of their packaging. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer service of these platforms.
FAQ: “Dinnerly vs. HelloFresh”
How does Dinnerly stay cold?
Dinner stays cold through the ice packs as well as the smart packaging that goes into the meal boxes. The boxes are insulated with denim, cotton, and paper. The ice packs in the meal box contain a non-toxic gel. It keeps the ingredients fresh for 48 hours after delivery.
Who is Dinnerly owned by?
Dinnerly is owned by Marley Spoon. Dinnerly was originally intended to be the affordable arm of Marley Spoon. The ingredient sourcing between these two platforms is pretty much the same. The only major difference is in the packaging. Marley Spoon uses a lot more packaging that Dinnerly does.
Where does the meat from HelloFresh come from?
The meat in HelloFresh comes from local partners who use safe farming practices. The meat comes from grass-fed animals, while the farming practices are guaranteed to be cruelty free. This not only ensures sustainability, but also great taste and flavors for the customer. There are also organic ingredients available in HelloFresh at a slightly higher price.
