Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron Comparison Review and Prices (+3 Samples of Each)
When it comes to meal kit delivery services, Marley Spoon and Blue Apron are two of the most popular options on the market. Both offer a wide variety of recipes and ingredients, making it easier than ever to cook delicious, home-cooked meals without the hassle of grocery shopping. Marley Spoon prides itself on a diverse menu with premium ingredients, while Blue Apron is known for its emphasis on sustainability and fresh, high-quality produce. But when it comes to choosing the right service for your needs, how do you know which one truly stands out?
Are you trying to decide between Marley Spoon and Blue Apron for your next meal kit delivery? This comparison will break down everything you need to know about pricing, meal variety, ease of use, and customer satisfaction. So, what’s the real difference between these two services, and which one offers the best value?
By reading this article, you’ll have all the insights you need to make an informed decision. Whether you’re focused on flavor, convenience, or cost, this review will help you find the meal kit service that best suits your lifestyle and tastes.
Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron Feature Comparison
The table below will depict the numerous features which are present in Marley Spoon and Blue Apron. We have also listed the delivery areas of both these meal kit services, along with the types of recipes which are present in these platforms. Using the information presented here, you will be able to choose between these two services for your needs and requirements.
| Feature | Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Australia | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii |
| Price range | $55 to $143 per serving | $50 to $180 per week for two |
| Price per plate | $11.50 per plate minimum | $4.99 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy,Intermediate | Easy,Intermediate,Expert |
| Avg. cooking time | 30 minutes or lesser | 25 – 35 mins per meal |
| Avg. calorie count | 650 calories per serving | 500-700 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Meal description,Recipe cards,Photos | Recipe cards,Mobile app,Blog,Nutritional facts |
| Recipes supported | Health & Diet,Vegetarian,Vegan,Meat & Fish,Under 30 minutes,Family-friendly | Beef,Fish,Lamb,Pork,Poultry,Shellfish, Vegetarian,Carb-conscious |
| No. of choices | 45+ per week | 12 per week |
| Introductory deal | $40 off on first box | $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: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Couples plan 2 meals for 2 people per week= $51.96 + $9.99 shipping ($61.95 total) 3 meals for 2 people per week= $65.94 + $9.99 shipping ($75.93 total) 4 meals for 2 people per week= $83.92 + $9.99 shipping ($93.91 total) 5 meals for 2 people per week= $99.90 + $9.99 shipping ($109.89 total) 6 meals for 2 people per week= $113.88 + $9.99 shipping ($123.87 total) | 2-serving Signature 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week, 2 or 3 or 4 choices per week |
| Family plan 2 meals for 4 people per week= $83.92 + $9.99 shipping ($93.91 total) 3 meals for 4 people per week= $113.88 + $9.99 shipping ($123.87 total) 4 meals for 4 people per week= $143.84 + $9.99 shipping ($153.83 total) 5 meals for 4 people per week= $179.80 + $9.99 shipping ($189.79 total) 6 meals for 4 people per week= $208.76 + $9.99 shipping ($218.75 total) | 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 |
Marley Spoon offers plenty of plans for the customer to choose from. Depending on the size of their household, the customer can opt for various-sized meal boxes. The recipes in Marley Spoon cover the usual crowd favorites along with a variety of international options for the user to explore.
Blue Apron also offers a number of options for the customer to choose from. In this meal kit delivery service, the customer has the choice to opt from both standard meal kits as well as fully prepared meals that only need a little heating. There are also quick-cooking meals as well as challenging recipes for those who are eager to learn.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Ingredient type | Marley Spoon | 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 | Pasteurized dairy products,Seasonings,Sauces | Seasonings,Sauces,Spice Blends |
Marley Spoon and Blue Apron both use very fresh ingredients to create their meal kits. The ingredients in Marley Spoo meal kits come from local vendors and farms who tie up with the platform. The vendors are guaranteed to use very safe farming practices which bring the best of the season to the customer.
Blue Apron also brings the very best of options to the customer. The meat and poultry in the meal kits are entirely hormone-free and antibiotic-free. Furthermore, the seafood is sustainably sourced. However, one let down of both of these meal kit delivery services do not have organic ingredients in their meal kits.
Winner: Marley Spoon and Blue Apron win the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Egg bits,Desserts,Protein packs,Snacks | Dessert, Appetizers, Sides, Extra meals |
Customers of Marley Spoon have the freedom of adding more items to their meal kits. The add-ons in Marley Spoon include tasty desserts which can make any meal wholesome. Protein packs are also available here for those who want to get a little bulkier. Healthy snacks are also present in the add-on menu.
Blue Apron also offers a number of add-ons for the customer to choose from. The add-on menu in Blue Apron is quite broad and offers dessert options and even healthy appetizers for the customer to add to their dish. There are also numerous sides in Blue Apron for customers to opt from.
Winner: Marley Spoon wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal kit: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Cooler bags, Ice packs, Cardboard boxes, Insulation bags, Paper bags, Plastic packaging, Plastic container | Plastic cups, trays and lids, Metal cans, Glass bottles, Cardboard box,Molded fiber, Recipe cards, Ice packs, Produce bags |
| Mostly recyclable | Mostly recyclable |
The packaging of the meal kits in both these delivery services are eco-friendly and use safe plastic. Marley Spoon uses recycled cardboard to create the meal boxes which are insulated to keep the ingredients nice and cool inside. The produce is packed in paper bags while others are packed in plastic containers which can be easily recycled packaging.
Blue Apron also uses very simple and sustainable packaging for its meal kits. The packaging in Blue Apron includes plastic trays and cups to hold the ingredients. The recipe cards in Blue Apron can be used to recreate the recipe at a later time, while the ice packs use a non-toxic gel which can be simply emptied into the trash.
Winner: Marley Spoon and Blue Apron win the Packaging of Meal kit segment.
Customer Support: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Feature | Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Chat support | – | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
The customers of Marley Spoon can bring forth their complaints and grievances through a number of manners. The customer support can be reached through email support as well as phone support which is available throughout the year, with the exception of a few public holidays like Christmas and Labor Day.
Blue Apron also offers excellent customer support for its users. However, one disadvantage of Blue Apron is that there is no live chat feature here. Email support is also present in Blue Apron which can be used at any time. Phone support is also present through toll-free numbers on all days of the week.
Winner: Blue Apron is the winner of the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Sample | Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Sample 1 | Name: Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak & Parm Potatoes, Preparation time: 30-40 mins, Spice level: Mild, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Wonton Noodle Stir-Fry, Preparation time: 25 mins, Spice level: Medium, No. of calories: 560 calories |
| Sample 2 | Name: Hot Honey-Glazed Barramundi, Preparation time: 20 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Chipotle Chicken Chili, Preparation time: 45 mins, Spice level: Medium, No. of calories: 640 calories |
| Sample 3 | Name: Easy Prep! Chicken Biryani, Preparation time: 40-50 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy | Name: Seared Cod & Olive Tapenade, Preparation time: 40 mins, Spice level: Mild, No. of calories: 680 calories |
Marley Spoon recipes are very simple and great for everyday cooking and eating. The flavors are mild but strong enough to bring their presence to the table. And as a result, the recipes in Marley Spoon are sure to be a hit among the entire family. Most of the recipes in Marley Spoon can be cooked within a span of 30-45 minutes.
Blue Apron features some great recipes in its platform and thus is a hit among customers. The recipes differ in difficulty levels, and the easy and intermediate levels can be attempted by even those who are illiterate in the kitchen. The more extravagant recipes in Blue Apron can be great for those who like challenges.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron
| Platform | Marley Spoon | Blue Apron |
| Google Play Store | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| Apple App Store | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| TWP Rating | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Final Verdict: Blue Apron wins this clash because of its ease of use and large variety.
Marley Spoon is perhaps pretty popular among customers due to the smart marketing of the platform using the queen of the kitchen, Martha Stewart herself. The recipes are homely and are sure to tickle the taste-buds of anyone browsing the menu. The ingredients are also fresh and come from sustainable sources.
Blue Apron’s meal kit delivery service is a hit among customers because of the plenty of variety in this platform. Blue Apron is also superb for those who are eager to learn new cooking skills due to the emphasis it gives on the learning part of the user. In addition to the difficulty levels, there are also many add-on items which can make any meal a wholesome experience.
Between Marley Spoon and Blue Apron, the latter is definitely the winner. Blue Apron is much better at satisfying customers who use this versatile meal kit delivery service comparison for various household needs. Blue Apron offers much more than just recipes and also has a marketplace for users to purchase essentials for the house.
Methodology
To bring you the best reviews of each meal delivery service, we spoke with testers and real-life users, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, conducted primary research on social media platforms, and read user reviews on various social media 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 differ significantly from what our external reviewers indicated, we will update this site so you may compare both points of view and select which service provider is most suited to your needs based on the facts above.
We utilized the following criteria to analyze and evaluate these meal delivery services: the simplicity of the recipes, the range of meals available, the inclusivity of diets and cuisines, and even the accompanying documentation.
In addition, we have given careful consideration to the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging used to deliver these services. Finally, we analyzed the distribution and customer service of these systems.
FAQs on “Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron”
Does Martha Stewart own Marley Spoon?
No, Martha Stewart does not own Marley Spoon. She is, however, the face of Marley Spoon and is responsible for the major popularity of this meal kit delivery service. The founder and owner of Marley Spoon is Fabian Siegel.
Can you skip weeks with Marley Spoon?
Yes, you can skip weeks with Marley Spoon. You can do this by going to your settings and choosing the ‘Skip deliveries’ option. This can hold your orders until you get back from your vacation.
Are Blue Apron meals already cooked?
Yes, Blue Apron meals are already cooked. The Heat and Eat meals come fully prepared and thus only need to be zapped in the microwave for a bit. The standard meal kits in Blue Apron, however, need to be cooked from scratch.
