Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron Comparison and Prices (+3 Samples of Each)
Are you tired of the same old routine at dinnertime? Looking to spice up your meals with exciting new recipes but not sure where to start? In this article, we delve into the world of meal kit delivery services with a head-to-head comparison between two popular options: Dinnerly and Blue Apron. Both services offer convenience and variety, but which one truly delivers on taste, quality, and affordability?
By examining three samples from each provider, we aim to uncover the ultimate winner in the battle of Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron. So take a seat at the table. Get ready for a cooking competition. It will leave your taste buds tingling and your wallet happy!
In this detailed article, we have compared the advantages as well as the limitations of two highly popular meal kit delivery services, Dinnerly and Blue Apron. Dinnerly is a very affordable meal kit delivery service that aims for accessibility for all. Blue Apron is preferred by those who want to learn new cooking skills or simply oil-up rusty ones.
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. Blue Apron Comparison
In the following table, you will find the different features of Dinnerly as well as those of Blue Apron. We have also mentioned the delivery areas of these two meal kit delivery services, along with the types of recipes that you can expect to find on these platforms.
Feature | Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii |
Price range | $35 to $67 per week for two | $50 to $180 per week for two |
Price per plate | $4.99 per plate | $4.99 per plate |
Difficulty levels | Easy | Easy,Intermediate,Expert |
Avg. cooking time | 30 minutes or lesser | 25 – 35 minutes per meal |
Avg. calorie count | 800-900 calories per serving | 500-700 calories per serving |
Supporting material | Only digital recipe cards | Recipe cards, Mobile app, Blog, Nutritional facts |
Recipes supported | Vegetarian,Dairy-free, Low carb,Gluten-free,Healthy, One-pot,Kid-friendly | Beef, Fish, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Shellfish, Vegetarian, Carb-conscious |
No. of choices | 28 per week | 12 per week |
Introductory deal | 60% off on first box, 20% off on next two | $110 off on first box with free shipping |
Avg. shelf life | 3-5 days for meat, 4 days for veggies | 3-5 days for meat, 1-2 days for seafood |
Types of Plans: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Two-Person box $6.39 per portion + $9.99 shipping, 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 meals per week | 2-serving Signature 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week, 2 or 3 or 4 choices per week |
Family box $5.69 per portion + $9.99 shipping; 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 meals per week | 4-serving Signature 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week, 7 choices per week |
Vegetarian Plan for 2–3 vegetarian recipes every week | |
Meal Prep 8 servings of ready-to-go meals with 2 types of protein per week |
In Dinnerly, the customer can expect to find a number of meal plans based on the needs and requirements of their household. The user is also free to add more meals to their meal box in case they want more days off from the kitchen during the week. The recipes in Dinnerly also cover a number of cuisines and meet a variety of dietary requirements.
Blue Apron also offers a number of plans for its customers. Blue Apron’s meal plans include the 2-serving signature plan. It’s perfect for singles and couples. They also have the 4-serving plan for larger households. There is also a vegetarian plan in Blue Apron for plant-lovers of all types of preferences.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Ingredient type | Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Produce | Farm-fresh produce | Family-run farms |
Meat, eggs, fish | NAE chicken, Antibiotic free meat | Hormone-free, Subtherapeutic antibiotic-free meat and poultry, Sustainable seafood |
Other ingredients | Seasonings,Sauces | Seasonings, Sauces, Spice Blends |
Dinnerly uses the very best of ingredients in order to create its meal kits. This also goes for Blue Apron which sources its ingredients from local farms and vendors. Both of these meal kit delivery services do not use any organic ingredients and are not always GMO-free. This can be a letdown for many users.
Winner: Dinnerly and Blue Apron win the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Dessert, Breakfast | Dessert, Appetizers, Sides, Extra meals, Wine delivery, Spices, Cookware |
At Dinnerly, the customer can access more than just meal kits and fully prepared meals. This meal kit delivery service allows the user to add extra items in the form of add-ons to their meal boxes. Dinnerly’s add-ons include healthy desserts and nutritious breakfast items. They are also delicious.
Blue Apron also offers a whole variety of add-ons for the customer to choose from. The add-ons in Blue Apron include dessert items along with tasty appetizers and sides. Furthermore, Blue Apron also has a wine delivery service, which also brings plenty of information about the wines to the customer. Furthermore, Blue Apron also sells cookware through its marketplace.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal kit: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Meal box,Separator,Ice packs,Box liner,Bottles,Containers, Bags | Plastic cups, trays and lids, Metal cans,Glass bottles, Cardboard box, Molded fiber, Recipe cards, Ice packs, Produce bags |
Fully recyclable | Mostly recyclable |
Dinnerly uses easily recyclable packaging for its meal kits. The packaging of the meal kits use recycled cardboard, which can also be recycled furthermore curbside. The ice packs used in Dinnerly contain a non-toxic gel. You can throw it in the trash or mix it with salt and pour it down the drain.
Recyclability is another important factor that Blue Apron considers. The meal kits in Blue Apron come in a recycled cardboard box. The metal cans and glass bottles that hold the various liquids and sauces can be easily recycled curbside. Blue Apron also uses non-toxic gels to create its ice packs.
Winner: Dinnerly and Blue Apron win the Packaging of Meal kit segment.
Customer Support: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Feature | Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Chat support | – | – |
Email support | + | + |
Phone support | + | + |
Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Dinnerly customers can contact the platform for guidance or assistance in a number of ways. The best way to reach out for customer support in Dinnerly is through the phone support which is present on all days of the week. Furthermore, there is also email support present in Dinnerly.
Blue Apron’s customer support can also be reached in a number of ways. Blue Apron has phone and email support every day of the year. The only exceptions are certain public holidays, like Christmas and Labor Day. One limitation is that there is no live chat feature present in Blue Apron.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Sample | Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Sample 1 | Name: Keto-Friendly Smoky Paprika Steak, Preparation time: 20-30 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Wonton Noodle Stir-Fry, Preparation time: 25 mins, Spice level: Medium, No. of calories: 560 calories |
Sample 2 | Name: One-Pot Tomato Ravioli with Basil Pesto, Preparation time: 20-30 mins, Spice level: Mild, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Chipotle Chicken Chili, Preparation time: 45 mins, Spice level: Medium, No. of calories: 640 calories |
Sample 3 | Name: Crispy Ranch Fish Sticks, Preparation time: 40-50 mins, Spice level: Mild, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Seared Cod & Olive Tapenade, Preparation time: 40 mins, Spice level: Mild, No. of calories: 680 calories |
Dinnerly recipes cover a variety of cuisines, but mainly aim to help users cook comfort food easier and quicker. Most of the recipes in Dinnerly can be prepared in very little under an hour, while there are very easy to cook meals in this meal-kit delivery service. The meals cover a number of cuisines and, thus, can easily suit any type of palate.
Blue Apron also has a number of great recipes. The great thing about Blue Apron is that the difficulty levels vary. They range from easy to expert and thus can accommodate home cooks who like a challenge. The labels mention the nutritional facts. The fully-prepared meals come with heating instructions on them.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Sample Meals segment.
Pricing and Plans: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Starting: $4.69 per serving | Starting: $9.99 per serving |
$35 to $67 per week for two | $50 to $180 per week for two |
Dinnerly is known for its affordability, with prices starting at just $4.69 per serving. They offer a two-person box and a family box. On the other hand, Blue Apron’s prices start at $9.99 per serving, making it a bit more expensive than Dinnerly. They offer a two-person plan and a family plan.
Winner: Dinnerly wins the Pricing and Plans segment.
App rating: Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron
Platform | Dinnerly | Blue Apron |
Google Play Store | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Apple App Store | 4.7 | 4.7 |
TWP Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Final Verdict: The winner of the showdown is Blue Apron with its numerous recipes and various challenges.
Dinnerly became an instant hit among customers due to its easily affordable options. Dinnerly is great. Most of its recipes cover comfort foods and crowd-favorites. And therefore, this meal kit delivery service can become popular among all the members of the family, not just the grown-ups.
Blue Apron not only offers meal kits but even fully prepared meals for customers. The meal kits in Blue Apron come with recipes of various difficulty levels. Blue Apron places high emphasis on teaching cooking. This focus has made it a favorite among home chefs who are eager to learn.
Between Dinnerly and Blue Apron, the latter takes the crown. Blue Apron has much more to offer than just meals and meal kits. This meal kit delivery service has a great wine delivery option. It can suit even singles, who just want a glass or two. Blue Apron takes the crown in this battle.
Methodology
We spoke to testers and real users. We reviewed the info on each service’s website. We did primary research on social media. We checked user reviews on social media. We have also used the reviews of current users. We found them on the services’ 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 what our external reviewers said, we will update this post. You will get both points of view. Then, you can decide which provider better suits your needs based on the above information.
We used these types of criteria to assess the meal delivery services. They include simple recipes. They have a wide variety of meals. They work for many diets and cuisines. They also include supporting material.
In addition to these, we have also highly considered the packaging’s sustainability and recyclability. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer service of these platforms.
Frequently asked questions: “Dinnerly vs. Blue Apron”
Are Dinnerly portions small?
No, Dinnerly portions are not small. Even though this meal kit delivery service focuses on affordability, it certainly does not skimp out on quantity and even quality. And therefore, a single meal can easily fill up two people. Dinnerly also allows the user to add more meals and even snacks to their meal box.
Are Blue Apron meals already cooked?
Yes, Blue Apron Heat and Eat meals are already cooked. Since they are already cooked, the meals only need to be heated for a bit in the microwave oven or a conventional oven. In addition to fully prepared meals, Blue Apron is known for its standard meal kits. These kits require the user to cook the meals using the instructions on the recipe card.
Does Blue Apron taste good?
Yes, Blue Apron meals taste good. Customers who have used Blue Apron say the meals in this meal kit delivery service have the right balance of flavors and nutrition. This makes them instant crowd-pleasers.