eMeals vs. HelloFresh Comparison Review and Prices (+11 Features of Each)
Meal planning and cooking can often feel like a daunting task, especially when life gets busy. Enter meal planning and delivery services like eMeals and HelloFresh, designed to simplify your weeknight dinners and take the guesswork out of “What’s for dinner?”
Both of these popular services promise to save you time, reduce food waste, and make meal prep easier, but they go about it in very different ways. But which service truly delivers on its promises? Is it the convenience of meal kits delivered straight to your door with HelloFresh, or the customizable meal planning flexibility of eMeals?
In this detailed comparison, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of what sets these two apart—breaking down everything from price and convenience to meal variety and dietary options. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both eMeals and HelloFresh, enabling you to make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and preferences.
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these two may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
eMeals vs. HelloFresh
The following table will show you the various features that are present in eMeals as well as those in HelloFresh. You will find the price ranges of both these meal kit delivery services and also the various types of recipes in eMeals and HelloFresh. Using the data in the table, you will be able to decide which platform works in your favor much better.
| Feature | eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Delivery areas | All over the world | 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 | $9.99 per month for 3 months | $120 to $460 per month |
| Price per plate | $8.49 per plate minimum | $7.49 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy | Easy,Intermediate,Expert |
| Avg. cooking time | 3 minutes of heating | 20- 50 minutes per meal |
| Avg. calorie count | Varies based on diet plan | 500-800 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Grocery shopping | Recipe cards, Nutritional facts, Meal description |
| Recipes supported | Clean eating, Keto, Paleo, Heart healthy, Gluten-free, Plant-based, Diabetic, Mediterranean, Low-carb | Calorie-smart, Carb-smart, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Beef, Chicken, Beans and Legumes, Grain |
| No. of choices | 15 per week | 30 per week |
| Introductory deal | 14-day free trial | 60% off on first box |
| Avg. shelf life | None required | 3-5 days for meat, 1-2 days for seafood |
Types of Plans: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Clean Eating Plan Balanced meals, 1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Meat & Veggies Meal kits containing meat and veggies |
| Keto 75% macros, 70% fat, 25% protein, 5% carbs, 1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Vegetarian Plant-based meals,Not always vegan |
| Quick & Healthy 30 minute meals, 1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Family Friendly Kid-approved meals |
| Budget friendly Freezer friendly and kid friendly, 1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Calorie-Smart meals 650 calories or less in each serving |
| Paleo Protein focused, dairy-free and gluten-free, 1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Quick and Easy Meals which can be cooked within 30 minutes |
| Heart healthy Carb-controlled and sodium-controlled,1-2 servings or 3-6 servings | Pescatarian Meals containing seafood proteins |
When it comes to choices, eMeals offers plenty of variety for its customers. In this meal delivery service, the customer is free to choose among various-sized meal boxes depending on the needs of their family and households. Furthermore, the recipes in eMeals follow different cuisines as well as different types of diets.
HelloFresh also has a number of options for its customers. The meal plans of HelloFresh include meat and veggies and also veggie recipes for those who want to only eat greens. In addition to these, there are even low-calorie options for anyone who is trying to lose a few. There are also quick-cooking meals in HelloFresh for anyone who wants to spend less time in the kitchen.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Types of Ingredients: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| Ingredient type | eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Produce | None provided | Farm-fresh produce |
| Meat, eggs, fish | None provided | Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free |
| Other ingredients | None provided | Seasonings, Spice blends |
The ingredients in eMeals come from the best family-run farms in the country. eMeals ties up local vendors in order to bring the freshest ingredients to the customer. The meat and poultry used here is USDA-certified and free of any preservatives and additives. The meals come with the required seasonings and spices, and the customer does not need to add anything else.
HelloFresh also brings the very best of ingredients to the customer. The produce is sourced from local partners in every country of operation. And thus, the customer is treated to the best of seasonal goodies, which are safer and tastier to consume. The meal kits come with the necessary seasonings for the customer to cook with.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Breakfast plans ,Lunch plans | Garlic bread, Yogurt dip, Garden salad, Cheesecake Mousse Parfait |
In eMeals, the customer gets to enjoy more than just prepared meals. The customer has the freedom to add generous helpings of protein and even healthy sides to their meal box. The proteins in eMeals include healthy chicken breasts and lean beef, which the customer can use to bulk up their meals.
HelloFresh customers can also add a number of items to their meal kit boxes. The add-ons in HelloFresh include tasty garlic bread and even delicious yogurt dip, which can bring wholesomeness to any meal. For those who have a sweet tooth, HelloFresh offers a selection of options, including delicious cheesecake mousse parfaits.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal box: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| eMeals | HelloFresh |
| No packaging | Cardboard box,Kit bag,Separator,Insulator,Ice packs |
| Fully recyclable |
Since eMeals only gives its users food plans and recipes, there is no packing involved. The user can look at the meal plans and recipes on the gadget they are using, or they can download them as PDFs. Along with food plans, eMeals has a number of helpful guides that can make cooking easier and more enjoyable.
HelloFresh also has the same approach when it comes to packaging. The meal kits here are created using recycled cardboard. The individual elements and produce are packed in BPA-free plastic containers and boxes. The ice packs in HelloFresh contain a non-toxic gel that can be simply disposed of into the trash or even mixed with the soil.
Winner: eMeals and HelloFresh win the Packaging of Meal Kit segment.
Customer Support: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| Feature | eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Chat support | + | + |
| Email support | – | – |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
In eMeals, you can email customer service to get help. Users of this food planning service can also call their customer service line to voice their concerns and make requests. eMeals’ customer service is open every day of the week, even on weekends.
HelloFresh’s customer support can be reached through live chat and also phone support. Both of these features are available on all days of the year, except certain public holidays like Christmas Day and Labor Day. The customer support of HelloFresh has been found to be quickly reachable and responsive.
Winner: eMeals wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| Sample | eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Sample 1 | Name: Grilled Chicken with Fresh Corn Relish and Green Beans Meal plan: Clean Eating | Name: Hearty Steak and Potatoes Preparation time: 40 mins Spice level: Mild Difficulty: Easy |
| Sample 2 | Name: Spicy New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp with Seasoned broccoli Meal plan: Paleo | Name: Winner Winner Chicken Orzo Dinner Preparation time: 30 mins Spice level: Mild Difficulty: Easy |
| Sample 3 | Name: Apple Sage Chickpea Patties Meal plan: Plant-based | Name: Ginger Beef Stir-Fry Preparation time: 30 mins Spice level: Medium Difficulty: Easy |
The meals in eMeals come fully prepared, and therefore the customer does not need to do any work in the kitchen. The recipes on the platform gather inspiration from a number of international cuisines while also covering comfort foods. The recipes in eMeals can easily accommodate a variety of dietary and nutritional requirements.
HelloFresh’s options simply travel the world and bring a range of international dishes to the customer’s kitchen and dinner table. The recipes in HelloFresh can mostly be cooked within a few steps and range in their difficulty levels as well. There are also quick-cooking meals in HelloFresh that require an even shorter span of time.
Winner: eMeals wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: eMeals vs. HelloFresh
| Platform | eMeals | HelloFresh |
| Google Play Store | 4.2 | 3.4 |
| Apple App Store | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| TWP Rating | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
Final Verdict: eMeals wins this showdown due to its fully-prepared meals which bring ease and health to users.
Lots of users prefer eMeals due to its fully prepared meals. The meals in eMeals are also found to be healthy and nutritious and can easily accommodate a number of diets and specific nutritional requirements. eMeals is also pretty affordable when compared to many other meal delivery services.
HelloFresh is the largest meal kit delivery service due to its huge international placement. The recipes in HelloFresh cover not only crowd-favorites but even extravagant meals. Another reason why HelloFresh is popular is because the recipes come in several difficulty levels, and thus can please kitchen novices as well as those who are skillfully equipped.
Between eMeals and HelloFresh, eMeals wins. This is because the meals come fully prepared, and therefore very busy folks are going to find this platform a lot more useful. eMeals meals also contain a home-like feel, and frequent users of this meal delivery service are not going to feel like they are eating unhealthy outside food all the time.
Methodology
To offer you the finest ratings of each meal delivery service, we spoke with testers and consumers. We analyzed each service’s website and conducted primary research on social media. We also looked at customer reviews across multiple sites. We also used evaluations submitted by current customers of these services on their Google and Apple applications.
We are now doing our own internal evaluation, and we will keep this website updated with videos and photographs from our experiences. If they significantly differ from our reviewers, we will update this page. It will present both perspectives. You may then determine which supplier best meets your needs.
We evaluated meal delivery services based on four primary criteria. They are: recipe simplicity, meal variety, diet and cuisine inclusivity, and supporting materials.
We also place a high importance on the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging used to deliver these services. Finally, we analyzed the distribution and customer service of these systems.
Frequently asked questions: “eMeals vs. HelloFresh”
Is eMeals pre-cooked?
Yes, eMeals is pre-cooked. The meals on this platform are fully prepared, and therefore, the customer only needs to heat them up for a few minutes. The meals can be heated in a microwave oven or even in a conventional oven as an alternative. The heating instructions are mentioned on the meal boxes for the customer to use.
Is eMeals high in sodium?
No, eMeals is not high in sodium. In each meal, eMeals provides about 700 mg of sodium, which is much less than what FDA recommends. Therefore, this meal delivery service can be great for anyone who is trying to reduce their sodium intake for health reasons.
Can you see HelloFresh meals before buying?
Yes, you can see HelloFresh meals before buying. While the options are not too many, there are enough choices every week to cater to each type of palate and preference. You can choose the recipes that you want and then add them to your cart. You can also use the filters to find recipes of your dietary preference.
