In this detailed article, we will be checking out the different characteristics which are present in Freshly, as well as those which are present in Blue Apron. We will then compare the features of these two platforms side by side. While Freshly delivers healthy prepared meals to customers, Blue Apron delivers nutritious meal kits.
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these three may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
Freshly vs Blue Apron
In the following table, we will be showing you the main features which are present in Freshly as well as those which are present in Blue Apron. Using the information presented below, you will be able to learn which platform is the best choice for you and your family’s needs.
| Feature | Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii |
| Price range | $8.49 to $11.49 per week | $50 to $180 per week for two |
| Price per plate | $8.49 per plate minimum | $4.99 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy | Easy,Intermediate,Expert |
| Avg. cooking time | 3 minutes of heating | 25 – 35 mins per meal |
| Avg. calorie count | 400-500 calories per serving | 500-700 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Nutritional information | Recipe cards,Mobile app,Blog,Nutritional facts |
| Recipes supported | Gluten-free,Dairy-free,Plant-based,Carb-smart,Calorie-conscious | Beef,Fish,Lamb,Pork,Poultry,Shellfish, Vegetarian,Carb-conscious |
| No. of choices | 12 per week | 12 per week |
| Introductory deal | $100 off on first four orders | $110 off on first box with free shipping |
| Avg. shelf life | 5-7 days,Longer while frozen | 3-5 days for meat,1-2 days for seafood |
Types of Plans: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Freshly | Blue Apron |
| 4-5 meals per week $11.79 per portion + shipping | 2-serving Signature 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week,2 or 3 or 4 choices per week |
| 6-7 meals per week $9.99 per portion + shipping | 4-serving Signature 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per week,7 choices per week |
| 8-9 meals per week $9.49 per portion + shipping | Vegetarian Plan for 2 3 vegetarian recipes every week |
| 10-11 meals per week $9.29 per portion + shipping | Meal Prep 8 servings of ready-to-go meals with 2 types of protein per week |
| 12 meals per week $9.99 per portion + shipping |
When it comes to the types of plans in these two platforms, both of them offer a large number of choices for their customers. In Freshly, the customer can choose among various sized meal boxes containing many recipes. The great advantage about using Freshly is that none of the meals need to be cooked and only need a little heating.
Blue Apron also has a number of plans for customers to choose from. The plans in Blue Apron cover standard meal kits which need to be prepared in about 30-35 minutes. Furthermore, there are even vegetarian options for customers to opt. The recipes also differ in their difficulty levels to cater to the needs of customers.
Winner: Freshly wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Ingredient type | Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Produce | US-based vendors | Family-run farms |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Free from fillers, chemical additives and even preservatives | Hormone-free,Subtherapeutic antibiotic-free meat and poultry,Sustainable seafood |
| Other ingredients | None | Seasonings,Sauces,Spice Blends |
The ingredients in Freshly meals are sourced smartly and therefore are very fresh and healthy. This meal delivery service uses only US-based vendors and therefore more of seasonal goods are used here. The meat in Freshly is free from fillers and even chemical additives. The meals come seasoned and spiced for the customer to enjoy immediately.
Blue Apron sources its ingredients very wisely to bring only the best to its customers. This meal kit delivery service has partnered with a number of local vendors in the US who use only safe and sustainable farming methods. While the ingredients in both these platforms are fresh, one letdown is that none of these services offer organic ingredients all the time.
Winner: Freshly and Blue Apron win the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Proteins,Sides | Dessert,Appetizers,Sides,Extra meals |
Freshly allows its customers to create add-ons for their meal boxes so that they get more out of their meal. However, the choices of add-ons in Freshly are pretty limited. The add-ons in this meal delivery service include healthy servings of proteins such as chicken breasts and even lean beef, along with tasty sides.
Blue Apron also offers a number of add-ons for customers to choose from. The customer can even add more meals to their kits in the form of add-ons. Other add-ons in this meal kit delivery service include appetizers and sides. Furthermore, those who are craving something sweet can go for anyone of the many dessert options here.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal kit: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Meal box,Denim insulation,Non-toxic ice packs | Plastic cups, trays and lids,Metal cans,Glass bottles,Cardboard box,Molded fiber,Recipe cards,Ice packs,Produce bags |
| Fully recyclable | Mostly recyclable |
Since eco-friendliness and sustainability are responsibilities which need to be incorporated into the work processes of every business today, both Freshly and Blue Apron take the recyclability of their packaging very seriously. In Freshly, the customer can easily recycle the meal box, the insulation as well as the ice packs curbside.
Blue Apron also uses very recyclable products. Most of these can be recycled curbside or even reused at home for other purposes. For instance, the ice packs can be reused for any outdoor activities, while the glass bottles can be used to store dishes and liquids like milk. The recipe cards can also be saved and reused for recreating dishes in the future.
Winner: Freshly wins the Packaging of Meal kit segment.
Customer Support: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Feature | Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Freshly allows its customers to reach out for help and assistance through a number of ways. The best and easiest way to reach out for help is through the live chat feature which is present on all days of the week. Email support as well as phone support is present throughout the year, barring a few public holidays.
Blue Apron’s customer support is a little old-school. This meal kit delivery service does not have a live chat feature. Instead, it only has email support and phone support. This can be a letdown for those who prefer typing or talking and want real-time responses to whatever issue they may be facing.
Winner: Freshly wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Sample | Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Sample 1 | Name: Steak Peppercorn with Sauteed Carrots & French Green BeansCalorie count: 500Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Wonton Noodle Stir-FryPreparation time: 25 minsSpice level: MediumNo. of calories: 560 calories |
| Sample 2 | Name: Sausage Baked Penne with Sauteed Zucchini & SpinachCalorie count: 470Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Chipotle Chicken ChiliPreparation time: 45 minsSpice level: MediumNo. of calories: 640 calories |
| Sample 3 | Name: Protein-Packed Chicken Parm with Mozzarella & Garlicky BroccoliCalorie count: 410Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Seared Cod & Olive TapenadePreparation time: 40 minsSpice level: MildNo. of calories: 680 calories |
When it comes to the variety of meals presented in the menu, Freshly definitely does not disappoint. The best part about each of these meals is that they come fully prepared and therefore no cooking is required from the customer’s side. However, the meals do not allow much room for customization, which can be a letdown here.
Blue Apron also offers plenty of variety in the recipes. The recipes not only cover convenient home-style cooking, but even elaborate preparations. The customer is also free to tease or tame down the recipes on heat levels and spice levels to suit the needs and preferences of their palate a bit more.
Winner: Blue Apron wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Freshly vs Blue Apron
| Platform | Freshly | Blue Apron |
| Google Play Store | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Apple App Store | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| TWP Rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
Final Verdict: Freshly wins the crown in this showdown due to its ease of use and variety of choices.
Freshly is the go-to meal delivery service for thousands of users due to the fact that all the meals are carefully prepared to bring taste along with the right balance of nutrients. Since the meals are fully prepared, the customer only needs to heat them for a bit. There are also options to suit different palates and different dietary requirements as well.
Blue Apron delivers not only prepared meals, but mainly meal kits through which the customer can whip some amazing dishes from the comfort of their own kitchens. Blue Apron is preferred by many home chefs who are eager to learn new cooking techniques and skills, due to the emphasis that this platform gives to instruction of cooking.
When it comes to comparing Freshly and Blue Apron, Freshly is certainly the winner. While the recipes and nutritional facts of both these platforms may be a little similar, Freshly meals do not need any cooking since they come fully prepared. And thus, Freshly becomes the solution for busy people who do not have time to cook.
Methodology
To bring you the best reviews of each and every meal delivery service, we spoke to testers and real life users, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, carried out primary research on social media platforms and checked out the user reviews of these platforms on various social media sites. We have also used the reviews presented by current users of these services on their respective 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 extensively from what our external reviewers said then we will update this post so you get both points of views and can decide which service provider is more suited to your needs based on the information above.
The main types of criteria which we have used in order to assess and evaluate these meal delivery services is the simplicity of the recipes, the variety of meals in the service, the inclusiveness of diets and cuisines and even the supporting material.
In addition to these, we have also highly taken into regard the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging of these services. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer services of these platforms.
Frequently asked questions: “Freshly vs Blue Apron”
How long do Freshly meals last?
Freshly meals last for five days to seven days. These meals are fully prepared and arrive at the customer’s doorstep in a chilled state. These meals can be stored in the refrigerator for the number of days which is mentioned on the packaging. For meals which contain items like seafood which need to be eaten fresh, Freshly has a special tag to instruct the user.
Do Freshly meals need to be microwaved?
Yes, Freshly meals need to be microwaved. The tray can be simply placed in the microwave and heated on high for about three minutes. As an alternative, the food can be even heated in a conventional oven. Some users even heat the meals on the stovetop.
Is Blue Apron good for weight loss?
No, Blue Apron is not good for weight loss. While this meal kit delivery service does have low-calorie recipes and low-carb recipes for those who are trying to reduce their daily intake, weight loss depends on many factors like physical exercise and lifestyle. And therefore, weight loss isn’t always guaranteed here.
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Citations
Charlotte brooke
Hi, I am Charlotte, I love cooking and in my previous life, I was a chef. I bring some of my experience to the recipes on this hub and answer your food questions.