So, you’ve been looking at meal kit delivery companies, and your search has brought you to the point where you’ve narrowed it down to two choices. It’s the battle of Home Chef VS Hello Fresh, and you want to know all the nitty-gritty details of what sets these two apart.
One reason people like you turn to meal kit delivery services is because they long for simplicity. At Home Chef, simplicity is their mantra. They focus on simple, fresh ingredients that can be transformed into simply delicious meals with minimal time and effort.
Hello Fresh is one of the more well-known meal kit delivery services. Like Home Chef, they’re all about simplifying your life by making meal time easier, less stressful, and more delicious without time spent meal planning, shopping, and then preparing meals every night.
Both Hello Fresh and Home Chef have pros and cons. Let’s start by taking a closer look at each.
Home Chef
Pros
- Choose a plan or choose your Home Chef meals
- Flexibility in choosing meals that fit your budget
- Answer simple questions to help Home Chef guide your choices
- Choose from lifestyle categories – like slow cooker meals or ready in 15 meals
- Home Chef has an easy to use app to enhance your experience
- Products are available in some retail locations
Cons
- Cost of Home Chef meals is highly dependent on the meal plan chosen
- Home Chef isn’t upfront about shipping costs
- You need to supply contact information before really being able to browse their site
- Limited meal options compared to Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh
Pros
- An economical option, with a slight discount when ordering more portions
- Shipping is a flat rate with no hidden charges
- A larger selection of meal options than other meal kit services
- Meals include world cuisines and unique flavor profiles
- Easy to skip weeks if you want to take a break or go on vacation
Cons
- Payment is processed before choosing meals
- While offering more selection, their options for special diets are limited and difficult to filter
- Some of their packaging is difficult to dispose of and recycle
- Information about nutrition, ingredients, and prep takes some digging to access
Dietary Options
Home Chef
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Hello Fresh
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Both Home Chef and HelloFresh offer classic style, family-friendly meals, created to appeal to a wide range of taste preferences. Neither meal kit delivery company claims to cater exclusively to any specific dietary preferences. If you’re following specific dietary restrictions, you’d be better served by looking at companies that cater specifically to your needs.
Home Chef provides filters that let you choose meals that are calorie-conscious, carb-conscious, and vegetarian. There are about six meals in the low carb and calorie-conscious categories, with most of those meals overlapping. At the time of this comparison, Home Chef had only two vegetarian options listed.
An advantage that Home Chef has in this category is they make it easy to see all ingredients, nutritional information, and prep instructions by clicking on a meal. From there, you can better assess if Home Chef recipes can be customized in your kitchen to meet special dietary needs.
Hello Fresh offers low-calorie meal options designed for weight loss and a couple of vegan/vegetarian options, although none of these are very plentiful, and there aren’t specific meal plans that only feature those meal choices.
If you’re following a strict dietary protocol, you might find perusing their menu frustrating because it’s hard to find information about nutritional content or ingredients at first glance. You need to access their recipes, located at the bottom of the page, for more detailed information. Inspecting each recipe for nutritional information is time-consuming and frustrating, but that’s also not a concern for every customer.
Dietary Options Winner
With a few more selections and easier access to ingredient and nutritional information, Home Chef wins by a slight margin for those with special dietary concerns. Home Chef could improve some by offering better variety of vegetarian options. Again, neither Home Chef or HelloFresh are ideal if you have strict dietary restrictions.
Meal Prep & Variety
Home Chef
- 40+
- 2 meals for 2 people
Hello Fresh
- 70+
- 2 meals for 2 people
For many people, this is a category that weighs heaviest on their final decision. If you’re not crazy about the end product, then the rest of the details don’t matter. There are a few minor differences between Home Chef and Hello Chef to be aware of.
First, Home Chef’s selection is a little limited compared to Hello Fresh. Home Chef offers a rotating menu of 12-15 entrees, with every meal feeling “safe”. Think along the lines of Sirloin Steak with Loaded Potatoes or Italian Sausage Penne. That said, they do step outside the box with dishes like Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Risotto.
The Home Chef weekly menu does include one perk you won’t find with other meal delivery services; oven ready meals. These are healthy meals, ready to heat in the oven and eat, with no prep required. Oven ready meals arrive in the meal kit box along with your other meals, but unfortunately, there are only a few of these meals on the Home Chef menu per week.
Home Chef might be a good option if you have a picky eater at your table who likes traditional, comfort food style dishes (really, who doesn’t?). Prep/cook time for the majority of Home Chef’s meals fall in the 30-45 minute range, although they do have quick and easy to follow recipes that can be prepped and cooked in about half that time.
Hello Fresh offers a bit more variety with about 20 meal options each week. They do a good job of offering both classics and dishes that provide customers with an opportunity to try new flavors. For example, their Zucchini and Chickpea Tagine is so popular it’s in their Hall of Fame recipe collection.
You’ll find a few meals from Hello Fresh that can be on the table in 20 minutes or less, but most are double that at 35-40 minutes from start to finish. Hello Fresh makes it easy to prepare nutritious meals, even if you’re a novice in the kitchen.
As an FYI, both Home Chef and HelloFresh send recipe cards with their meal kits but you can also find their recipes online. Those recipes can even be recreated with ingredients from your kitchen and the grocery store when you don’t want to wait for another delivery. I’ve certainly added some of my favorite recipes from both companies to my list of go-to recipes because I know they’re easy to prepare and my whole family will love it every time.
Meal Variety Winner
This was a close call because Home Chef and HelloFresh both have good weekly menu options, but Home Chef came out on top. Home Chef wins this category because of their oven ready meals. The ability to benefit from a meal kit even on the days you don’t have time for meal prep increases the overall value and flexibility of your subscription.
Ingredients
Home Chef
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- Non-GMO
grass Organic- Grass Fed
- Wild-Caught
Hello Fresh
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Quality ingredients are key to a quality meal but it isn’t always easy to know what you’re getting with a meal kit delivery service. You’re not in the store, picking out the ingredients yourself, so how do you know you’re getting the highest quality?
Both Home Chef and HelloFresh offer some information about their ingredients on their websites, although you do have to dig a little for it. Both companies could improve in terms of their transparency in this department, so keep that in mind before we start to compare.
Home Chef claims they use some organic ingredients but can’t guarantee the use of organic whenever possible at this time. They offer little information about their proteins on their website. Still, looking over customer reviews leads you to believe that Home Chef meals tend to have a good overall ingredient quality.
Hello Fresh is a bit more transparent about their ingredients. Their produce is sourced straight from the farm, and they’re committed to quality, ethics, and sustainability when sourcing proteins. HelloFresh meals receive overwhelmingly positive reviews for quality. Knowing you can depend on their meal kit meals to feature high-quality ingredients is a huge benefit you don’t get with some other fresh meal kits.
Ingredients Winner
With both Home Chef and HelloFresh having overall positive reviews for quality, the trophy in this category goes to Hello Fresh for their farm-sourced produce and commitment to ethically, sustainably sourced proteins. Home Chef could improve in this category by being more transparent in where there ingredients are sourced from.
Taste & Sample Meals
Home Chef
- Chimichurri Steak Flatbread
- Cuban Avocado Black Bean Quinoa Bowl
- Sweet Chili Pork Lettuce Wrap with Crispy Rice Noodles
Hello Fresh
- Zucchini Pomodoro Penne Bake
- Bulgogi Chicken Tacos
- Harissa Sweet Potato Pockets
If there’s a category in the Hello Fresh Vs Home Chef battle where the competitors run neck and neck, it’s this one. Overall, customer reviews have great things to say about both meal delivery services. It’s even harder to choose a winner because everyone has a different idea of what tastes good.
In addition to the main menu items that we’re focusing on, both Home Chef and HelloFresh also offer add-on items you can enjoy with your meals or separately. Things like garlic bread, mini cheesecakes, breakfast egg bites, smoothies, and cookies are some of the add-on items offered. Adding additional items to your meal kits will increase the cost, but it can also help make it fit better for your lifestyle and family.
If there’s a spot where one company has an advantage, it would be that Home Chef asks for a few dietary/taste preferences as part of the signup process. Expect questions along the lines of if you lean heavily carnivore, vegetarian, or somewhere between, and if there are any foods you want to avoid.
These questions make it more likely you’ll be directed towards meals with ingredients and flavors you’ll enjoy. While it’s nice to be pointed towards meals you’re more likely to enjoy, it can also limit how much you’re exposed to unfamiliar flavors. There’s no doubt that Home Chef plays it a bit safe in terms of flavors and ingredients in their meal kits.
That method of playing it safe does help their meal kit services appeal more to picky eaters, but it can feel boring after multiple weekly deliveries. A lot of the Home Chef recipes don’t feel like anything “special” or “unique,” especially if you cook a lot already. Their menu selections will leave you wanting more if you’re expecting bold, exciting flavors.
Hello Fresh does a fantastic job of including more menu options and some unique flavor profiles. A few of their customers have left reviews stating they’ve tried (and loved) new foods because of the options this company offers. For my family, having the ability to try those new foods and flavors without committing to purchasing an entire bottle of spices or sauces is a game changer.
Hello Fresh also includes many different types of world cuisines on their menus – 18 different categories at last count. Their meals include flavorful bonuses like Turkish spice blends and bulgogi sauce. If you have kids, try using those global flavors as an opportunity to learn about other cultures at meal time!
Taste Winner
You’re not going to go wrong with either, but Hello Fresh wins this category. Their variety means even picky eaters are more likely to find something they enjoy, and the sauces and spice blends win a thumbs up from reviewers. Hello Fresh meal kits can not only improve your confidence and skills in the kitchen, but also introduce exciting new flavors to your taste buds.
Pricing
Home Chef
RECIPES | 2 PEOPLE (Price Per Serving) | 4 PEOPLE (Price Per Serving) | 6 PEOPLE (Price Per Serving) |
2 | $11.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
3 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
4 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
5 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
6 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
Hello Fresh
MEALS PER WEEK | PRICE PER SERVING | PRICE PER SERVING | PRICE PER SERVING |
2 | $11.49 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
3 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
4 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
5 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
6 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
For most people, price is a major factor in choosing a meal delivery service. You want the best quality and service for the most reasonable price. Both Hello Fresh and Home Chef are middle of the road from a price standpoint. They’re neither the most costly or economical options out there.
Hello Fresh’s meals range from $7.49-$8.99 per meal. The price variance is completely dependent on the number of portions you’re ordering and not the meals themselves. It’s important to note that Hello Fresh charges a flat rate shipping charge of $7.99 to each delivery.
Home Chef has a much larger range on their pricing, with the most expensive meals costing about twice as much as the most economical options. The claim is that prices are based on the plan chosen, with the average cost being somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.
The cost of shipping isn’t transparent when looking at Home Chef’s website. They say the cost of shipping will be determined and shown after you place your order. These factors combined can make it difficult to know ahead of time what you’re spending when choosing Home Chef.
Pricing Winner
The price range of Hello Fresh is less than the average cost of Home Chef. While shipping isn’t free, it is reasonable and has a flat rate, so there are no surprises when it’s time to checkout. Hello Fresh is better overall for families who have to carefully fit meal delivery services into their budget.
Packaging & Recycling
Home Chef
Hello Fresh
Both companies do a decent job of utilizing recyclable materials as much as possible. The difference is in how much packaging each company feels it’s necessary to use to preserve and safely delivery meal kits to your door.
Home Chef uses almost exclusively recyclable materials. The main complaint is that there’s simply too much of it. For example, the plastic pouches are recyclable but there are too many of them used in each delivery. They pack items with reusable ice packs, and the only non-recyclable items are the liners.
Hello Fresh is equally committed to using recyclable materials, and they tend to use less than Home Chef. The only non-recyclable components are their BPA-free winter liners made from plastic and mylar.
One concern with Hello Fresh is their gel pack. The outside of the pack is recyclable and the inside gel is water-soluble. The issue is that the gel is not pipe friendly, so you have to be extra careful when dissolving and disposing of the gel. Because of this, some customers might opt to just throw the entire pack away, creating unnecessary waste.
Packaging Winner
While Hello Fresh uses less packaging overall, their non-recyclable winter liners and troublesome gel pack contents put Home Chef ahead in this category. Hello Fresh could improve by making their products easier for customers to recycle, but there don’t seem to be any changes to plan their packaging in the near future.
Customer Service
Home Chef
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Hello Fresh
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Both Home Chef and HelloFresh are similar on many customer service points, including their policies regarding switching plans, cancellations, customization, and refunds.
The Hello Fresh customer support team is one of the best in the meal delivery service industry. Customers leave rave reviews about positive experiences when they have issues with their subscriptions.
Personally, I’ve had a box reshipped for free after it was marked delivered, and I reached out to tell them I hadn’t received it. I’ve also been given a refund after forgetting to skip a week before the deadline ended and account credit when a box arrived with a missing protein for one of the meals.
One inconvenient detail of Home Chef is that you have to provide both an email and a zip code before being able to go further into their website. This is less than convenient, if not irritating when you’re “just looking.” While the customer service team is still friendly, they aren’t as accommodating as the team from Hello Fresh.
Customer Service Winner
With these two companies operating so similarly from a customer service standpoint, it really is the small details that matter. The fact that you need to provide contact before putting together an order with Home Chef has turned away more than a few potential customers. Because of this, Hello Fresh wins for customer service.
Winner
Hello Fresh
Who wins the battle of Hello Fresh Vs Home Chef? These two companies are similar on enough levels that it’s difficult to choose a standout winner. That said, considering the categories covered here, Hello Fresh rises to the top and wins the trophy.
Hello Fresh has incredible customer service, variety, and quality in all of their meal kits. There’s a reason this is one of the most well-known meal kits! Hello Fresh is a good fit for people who are new to meal kits and those who have ordered from other companies before, which is part of what makes them unique. Most companies only have a menu or delivery service that appeals to one type of customer, while Hello Fresh appeals to just about everyone!
Both meal delivery companies have great things to offer, and the winner here might not be the best option for you. Still not sure which to choose?
Choose Hello Fresh if you:
- Like having more variety to choose from
- Enjoy world cuisines and trying new flavors
- Enjoy the freedom of browsing and putting together an order with an immediate commitment
- Locally sourced produce and ethically and/or sustainably sourced proteins are important
- Price is important and you don’t want any surprise charges
Choose Home Chef if you:
- Like classic flavors and traditional style meals
- Appreciate being able to easily access nutritional information before you order
- Don’t want to be overburdened with meal choices that don’t fit your taste preferences
- Aren’t confined to a strict budget for meal delivery