HelloFresh vs. Fresh Prep Comparison Review and Prices (+9 Features of Each)
When it comes to meal delivery services, two names often rise to the top of the list: HelloFresh and Fresh Prep. Each of these platforms offers unique features designed to simplify your cooking experience and provide delicious meals right at your doorstep.
HelloFresh, a well-established player in the meal kit industry, has gained a loyal following with its diverse recipe options and user-friendly approach. On the other hand, Fresh Prep focuses on fresh, local ingredients, promoting sustainability and convenience for busy home cooks. With both services vying for your attention, choosing the right one can be a challenge.
Have you ever wondered which service truly delivers the best value and taste? What if your next culinary adventure depends on this choice? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the comparisons between HelloFresh and Fresh Prep, examining their meal options, pricing structures, and unique features to help you make an informed decision.
By the end of this review, you’ll gain valuable insights that can streamline your meal planning process, ensuring you choose a service that not only fits your taste preferences but also aligns with your lifestyle. Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned chef looking for convenience, this comparison will guide you toward the perfect meal kit for your needs.
HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep Comparison
This table will be showing you the different features that are present in HelloFresh and Fresh Prep. We will also be listing the limitations or disadvantages that you can find in these meal kit delivery services. Using the information below, you will be able to understand which meal kit delivery service works better in your favor.
| Feature | HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden | Western Canada |
| Price range | $120 to $460 per month | $10 to $13 per serving |
| Price per plate | $7.49 per plate | $10.50 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy,Intermediate,Expert | Easy,Intermediate,Expert |
| Avg. cooking time | 20 – 50 mins per meal | Less than 30 minutes per meal |
| Avg. calorie count | 500-800 calories per serving | 500-800 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Recipe cards,Nutritional facts,Meal description | Meal description, Nutritional facts, Recipe cards |
| Recipes supported | Calorie-smart, Carb-smart, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Beef, Chicken, Beans, and Legumes,Grain | Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Pork, Lamb, Plant-protein |
| No. of choices | 30 per week | 10 per week |
| Introductory deal | 60% off on first box | $13.5 for first week |
| Avg. shelf life | 3-5 days for meat,1-2 days for seafood | 4 days after arrival |
Types of Plans: HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep
| HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Meat & Veggies Meal kits containing meat and veggies | Two-Person meals 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week from $13.50 per serving |
| Vegetarian Plant-based meals Not always vegan | Family plan 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week from $12.25 per serving |
| 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 |
When it comes to the plans in HelloFresh, the customer can choose from plenty of options here. The options include different types of ingredients, like seafood, veggies, and even meat and veggie combinations. For those who want their cooking to be done even faster, they can choose the quick and easy options in HelloFresh.
Fresh Prep offers mainly two types of plans for its customers. The plans include the two-person plan and the family plan, which is perfect for larger households. These plans include several recipes that feature ingredients like lamb, seafood, pork, beef, and greens. Since the meals are assembled in the same factory, those with food allergies may want to stay away from Fresh Prep.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Hello Fresh vs Fresh Prep
| Ingredient type | HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Produce | Farm-fresh produce | Farm-fresh produce |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free | Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free |
| Other ingredients | Seasonings, Spice blends | Seasonings, Spices |
HelloFresh as well as Fresh Prep take the sourcing of their ingredients very seriously, in order to bring freshness and taste to the customer’s table. In all countries of operation, HelloFresh turns to local suppliers and vendors who partner with the meal kit delivery service to bring fresh and seasonal ingredients that are safe to consume on a long-term basis.
Fresh Prep also uses local vendors to gather its ingredients. The ingredients in Fresh Prep come from distributors who are guaranteed to use safe and sustainable practices in their farming. Therefore, the produce here does not use any dangerous insecticides and pesticides, while the meat and poultry are hormone-free and antibiotic-free.
Winner: HelloFresh and Fresh Prep win the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep
| HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Garlic bread,Yogurt dip,Garden salad, Cheesecake Mousse Parfait | Baked goods, Juices, Breakfast items, Kids lunches, Protein, Salads |
In HelloFresh, the customer is free to add more items to their meal boxes in the form of add-ons. The add-ons in HelloFresh include tasty garlic bread and even delicious yogurt dip. Garden salad is also available as an add-on in HelloFresh, along with dessert options like cheesecake mousse parfait.
FreshPrep absolutely rocks when it comes to add-ons. The add-on items include healthy baked goods like banana bread, cold-pressed juices, and even easy breakfast items. There are also a number of kid-friendly lunch items that can be taken to school. Cheese and salads are also available as add-ons in Fresh Prep.
Winner: Fresh Prep wins the Add-ons segment.
| HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Cardboard box,Kit bag,Separator,Insulator,Ice packs | Meal box,Cold packs,Grab & Pour cups,Recipe cards |
| Fully recyclable | Zero-waste,Fully recyclable |
HelloFresh has been the pioneer and inspiration for many other meal kit delivery services in a many number of ways, including recyclability. The meal kits in HelloFresh come packed in a cardboard box made of recycled cardboard. The plastic used is BPA-free, while the cold packs use a non-toxic gel that can be disposed of in the trash.
Fresh Prep has gone another step ahead when it comes to eco-friendly packaging. Many of the recipes in Fresh Prep come in zero-waste kits. These kits do not use any single-use plastics and therefore can be cleaned and returned to Fresh Prep for reuse. These meal kits have their ingredients in grab-and-go cups, which can be cleaned in the dishwasher after use.
Winner: Fresh Prep wins the Packaging of Meal kits segment.
| Also read: EveryPlate vs. HelloFresh Comparison Review |
Customer Support: HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep
| Feature | HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | – | + |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Customers who are having issues with their meal kits or their ingredients can easily contact the customer support of HelloFresh through a number of ways. The best way to reach out to the customer support in HelloFresh is through the live chat. There is also phone support here, which is present on all days of the week.
Fresh Prep does not feature a live chat support system, and this can be a letdown for many users. There is, however, email support as well as phone support, which is present on all days of the week at limited hours. For media inquiries and sponsorship inquiries, Fresh Prep has different email ids.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep
| Sample | HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Sample 1 | Name: Hearty Steak and Potatoes Preparation time: 40 mins Spice level: Mild Difficulty: Easy | Name: Crispy Baja Fish Tacos with Avocado, Salsa & Creamy Cabbage Slaw Preparation time: 30 min Spice level: Medium Difficulty: Expert |
| Sample 2 | Name: Winner Winner Chicken Orzo Dinner Preparation time: 30 mins Spice level: Mild Difficulty: Easy | Name: Double Cheese Smash Burgers with Special Burger Sauce & Classic Slaw Preparation time: 30 mins Spice level: Mild Difficulty: Easy |
| Sample 3 | Name: Ginger Beef Stir-Fry Preparation time: 30 mins Spice level: Medium Difficulty: Easy | Name: Black Pepper Top Sirloin Steak Preparation time: 25 mins Spice level: Medium Difficulty: Easy |
In HelloFresh, the customer can find a large number of options to add to their meal box. The recipes in this meal kit delivery service range in difficulty levels and spice levels to satisfy the preferences of various types of palates. Most of the recipes can be cooked in less than half an hour, while the quick and easy options require much less time.
Fresh Prep combines comfort foods and international cuisines in its meal kits and is therefore will be a knockout among all members of the family. The recipes in Fresh Prep cover a range of difficulty levels, but using the instructions in the recipe cards, even very amateur home chefs can whip up some delicious beauties in the kitchen.
Winner: HelloFresh wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep
| Platform | HelloFresh | Fresh Prep |
| Google Play Store | 3.4 | Rating not available |
| Apple App Store | 4.4 | Not available |
| TWP Rating | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
Final Verdict: HelloFresh wins the clash against Fresh Prep because of its larger delivery area and wide variety of choices.
HelloFresh has become a common household name in many countries due to its well-established presence. HelloFresh meal kits come with the best and freshest of ingredients, which users are bound to love. The recipes are not only designed to cater to various palates but even different dietary preferences.
Fresh Prep is only available in a few regions of Canada but has definitely created a strong niche for itself in the meal kit delivery industry. The recipes are flavorful and have a good balance between nutrition and taste. Fresh Prep is also very popular among customers due to its immense add-on options and the zero-waste packaging for some of the recipes here.
Between HelloFresh and FreshPrep, HelloFresh is definitely the best contender for the top spot because of its immense availability. The customer satisfaction of HelloFresh is also pretty high since it not only delivers standard meal kits, but even quick-cooking meals and fully-prepared meals as well. HelloFresh is the winner here.
Methodology
In order to provide you with the most comprehensive meal delivery service evaluations, we conducted primary research on social media platforms, interviewed evaluators and actual users, and reviewed user reviews on a variety of platforms. Additionally, we reviewed the data provided on each service’s websites. We also examined the reviews that genuine users had left on the corresponding Google and Apple apps for these services.
We will continue to refresh this page with any media that we receive from our events as we conduct our own evaluation. In the event that their perspectives differ significantly from those of our external evaluators, we will revise this website to ensure that you have access to all perspectives and can utilize the aforementioned information to determine the most suitable service provider for your needs.
Our primary focus was on the breadth of meals available, the ease of executing the recipes, the number of diets and cuisines that were accommodated, and the level of assistance provided during the evaluation of these meal delivery services.
Additional sustainability and convenience of recycling service packaging factors have been considered. Our ultimate objective was to evaluate the websites’ delivery and customer support options.
FAQs on “HelloFresh vs Fresh Prep”
How long do HelloFresh boxes stay cold?
HelloFresh boxes stay cold for up to 24 hours after delivery. The meal boxes are insulated with denim cotton which preserves the chillness of the foods inside. Furthermore, there are also ice packs provided here to keep the ingredients nice and cool even after the delivery has been completed.
Can I dump HelloFresh ice packs in the sink?
No, you cannot dump HelloFresh ice packs in the sink as the gel may clog your pipes. You can, however, empty the ice packs into the trash to get rid of the gel. You can also use the gel for your plants since it can help the soil retain more water.
How do I return Fresh Prep bags?
You cannot return Fresh Prep bags. These need to be recycled along with other soft plastics which may come with the meal kit. However, the zero waste meal kits can be returned when you get your next order. Just rinse and wash them before returning.
