10 Best Blue Apron Alternatives 2023: Lots of Great Choices

Blue Apron regularly scores highly on our list of the best meal delivery services, but it’s not ideal for everyone. You may have specialized dietary needs that Blue Apron doesn’t cover, or maybe you just found that Blue Apron’s menu wasn’t right for you. 

Whatever your reasons, there are lots of other meal delivery services to choose from. But with so many services on the market, finding the right fit can be overwhelming. To help you out, I have compiled a list of the best Blue Apron alternatives. 

My top choice is Factor because its fully prepared meals are faster than Blue Apron’s meal kits yet use equally high-quality ingredients. Every company on this list has something to offer, so read on to find a meal delivery service that better suits your needs.

The Best Blue Apron Alternatives Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Blue Apron Alternative for Convenience

Factor is a great choice for people seeking a convenient, healthy meal delivery service. While Blue Apron offers a small selection of prepared meals, Factor gives you dozens of fresh heat-and-eat meals every week. A few minutes in the microwave, and you have a tasty and nutritious dinner on the table.

Unlike the frozen meals at your grocery store, Factor uses fresh ingredients and no preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors. All meals are designed by nutritionists and prepared by chefs to be balanced, healthy, and delicious. Our expert reviewer found that Factor is a great choice for busy individuals who still want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Factor works with a carefully chosen group of organic farms that adhere to sustainable farming techniques. It also purchases most of its ingredients domestically, with a few exceptions. Its salmon comes from Canada, some meat originates from Australia, and select produce comes from Central and South America. 

Factor’s seafood is sourced sustainably. Salmon, like in the Baja Salmon pictured above, has a BAP certification signifying compliance with The Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices. All shrimp you find in Factor meals is wild-caught as well.

Factor offers a diverse menu of over 35 weekly options for different dietary preferences and restrictions. These include low-calorie, low-carb, high-protein, and other diets.

The meals are single-serving, which may not be ideal if you have a household to feed. However, the menu covers a range of cuisines, including Italian, Latin American-influenced, French-inspired, and Mediterranean-style meals, so it can be a good option for couples or small families with a range of tastes and diets.

 Factor offers 5 plans, but you’re always free to choose anything on the menu:

• Chef’s Choice – meals that aren’t part of a specific diet

• Keto – high-fat, low-carb dishes

• Calorie Smart – around 550 cal or less per serving

• Vegan & Veggie – plant-based and meat-free recipes

• Protein Plus – 30 g of protein or more per serving

In addition to the wide selection of lunches and dinners, Factor also offers extras like breakfasts, smoothies, snacks, and sides. You can supplement your meal plan with additional protein and meat add-ons like chicken, salmon, filet mignon, and shrimp.

The minimum factor order is 6 meals, while the maximum is 18 meals. Factor prices start at $6.19 per single-serving meal. The price per serving is higher on smaller orders.

2. Green Chef – Best for Certified Organic Meal Kits

HelloFresh is a great choice if you enjoy Blue Apron but want a bit more variety. Like Blue Apron, HelloFresh uses fresh, responsibly sourced high-quality ingredients from local producers.

HelloFresh offers more plans than Blue Apron. And no matter what plan you sign up for, you are always free to order any item on the menu. 

You can choose any of the following plans:

• Meat & Veggies – traditional meat-based recipes

• Veggie – meat-free selections

• Family Friendly – kid-approved meals

• Fit & Wholesome – low-calorie and balanced nutrients

• Pescatarian – seafood-based dishes 

• Quick & Easy – prep and cleanup shortcuts

Every week’s menu offers 30+ new recipes and crowd-favorite classics. The variety includes everything from Easy Prep dishes to higher-end Premium Picks. If you found Blue Apron’s meal kits too demanding, HelloFresh’s recipes are much more user-friendly.

The HelloCustom feature lets you swap out sides or proteins on some recipes, which also makes the menu much larger. You can top your veggie kale salad dish with steak or chicken, for example, or swap the potato side with an extra helping of broccoli with your schnitzel dish.

HelloFresh has a varied range of flavors and cuisines to suit different tastes. From Vietnamese Shrimp Skewers to the Mexicali Black Bean Soup, there's something for everyone. There are also lots of family-friendly favorites your kids will love, like Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese.

The Zingy Gouda Burgers pictured above come with a side of roasted potato wedges, making for a delicious and satisfying meal. Whether you're a foodie looking to experiment with new flavors or a busy parent seeking quick and easy meals the whole family will enjoy, HelloFresh has you covered.

You’ll find 10+ veggie recipes each week, plus calorie- and carb-smart options. If you want to learn more about each plan, check out our full-length HelloFresh review to see which option best suits your needs.

While HelloFresh doesn’t cater to most niche diets like keto, there are a few vegan meals. You can also modify the recipes as you cook them, but a more diet-friendly service like Green Chef will be a better fit for those with more specialized needs.

The minimum HelloFresh order is 2 recipes for 2 people per week, with a maximum order of 6 recipes for 4 people. That’s higher than Blue Apron’s maximum of 4 recipes! Prices start at $3.32 per serving.

4. Home Chef – Best Selection of Customizable Meal Kits on the Market 

Home Chef lets your swap, upgrade, or double up on protein for most meals. This “Customize It” feature is much more expansive than Blue Apron’s customizations and is particularly helpful for families with picky eaters, as it lets you modify meals to better suit your preferences. 

You can order a range of meal options for different dietary preferences, including vegetarian, calorie-conscious, and carb-conscious options. Additionally, Home Chef provides several add-ons, such as meal bundles, proteins, and desserts.

Culinary Collection kits are great for special occasions. For a few dollars more per serving, you get prime ingredients and more sophisticated recipes. The Fried Mahi-Mahi and Pickle Remoulade pictured above is a Culinary Collection meal that’s perfect for date night.

Cooking times range from 15 minutes to 50 minutes, with tags like Express or Fast & Fresh to mark the fastest. These speedy meals provide shortcuts like pre-prepped veggies or microwave-ready proteins. Check out Fresh and Easy for a list of Home Chef’s fastest recipes.

Each Home Chef meal kit comes with step-by-step recipe instructions, making it easy for culinary beginners to prepare tasty meals. Our expert reviewer is not an expert chef, but they had no problem cooking Home Chef’s recipes.

Home Chef filters let you avoid meals containing allergens like beef, pork, and tree nuts. But since all Home Chef products are prepared and packed in a single location, there is a risk of cross-contamination. Those with serious sensitivities should look instead at our list of the best allergy-friendly meal delivery services.

Home Chef offers up to 6 meals per week for 6 people. That works out to a maximum of 36 servings, making it a great option for large households. Compare this to Blue Apron’s much smaller maximum order of 4 meals for 4 people. 

Your minimum Home Chef order is 2 meals of 2 servings each, with a maximum of 6 meals for 6. Prices start at $7.99 per serving.

5. Fresh and Easy – Home Chef’s Fastest Meal Kits 

Fresh and Easy is a dedicated line of Home Chef’s quick-prep meals. While subscribers have access to Home Chef's comprehensive menu and add-ons, this plan is ideal for those seeking streamlined options with speedy recipes and minimal cleanup.

Fresh and Easy meals come with shortcuts to save time. This includes things like pre-chopped veggies and pre-seasoned proteins. Oven- and Grill-Ready meals come with recyclable, oven-safe trays or grill-safe bags. Our expert reviewer was impressed with the huge range of easy prep meals.

Fresh and Easy offers the following meal types:

• Fast & Fresh – use the microwave to heat components

• Oven-Ready – ready to stick in the oven

• Express Meal Kits – ready in less than 30 minutes

• Salads – pre-prepped veggies and dressings

• Extras – soups, ready-to-bake bread, and more

Look for “Plus” versions of all these meal types, which include premium ingredients. These meals include premium ingredients like steak and salmon. They come with a varying upcharge, but they’re a great way to class up a weeknight.

As part of Home Chef, Fresh and Easy also has the Customize It feature. You can order a double portion of the sliced pork in the Chinese-Style Pork Wraps pictured above or replace it with shrimp or steak strips instead. 

Fresh and Easy has few options for niche diets like vegan or keto. Vegetarians have about 6 weekly recipes with Fresh and Easy, but you can check out our list of the best vegetarian meal delivery services for more plant-powered services. 

For those not on a specialized diet, Fresh and Easy is among the most convenient meal kit delivery services available. Its meals start at $7.99 per serving. You can order 2 recipes for 2 people per week up to 6 recipes that feed 6.

6. BistroMD – Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Service

BistroMD sends convenient low-calorie single-serving prepared meals that can be heated in the microwave within minutes. The menu offers low-calorie, single-serving portions of classic comfort food like meatloaf along with more upscale options like the Barramundi Seabass with Sweet Coconut Pineapple Sauce pictured above. 

The weekly menu can be customized to exclude meals that you don’t like. Although there are some vegetarian and seafood options available, BistroMD's menu is primarily designed for omnivores. Your BistroMD plan covers lunch and dinner, with breakfast optional but recommended. This approach ensures you keep to your restricted calorie diet. 

BistroMD offers programs tailored to different dietary requirements and lifestyles, with a particular focus on individuals with medical or health conditions. In addition to signature meal plans designed for both men and women, the company provides specialized programs, such as diabetes, menopause, and heart-healthy plans.

BistroMD offers nutritionally-balanced meals with less than 450 calories per serving. (The Sweet Coconut Barramundi has just 330). The menu is curated by expert chefs, but this service prioritizes health over flavor.

The women's plan averages 1,200 daily calories, while the men's plan averages 1,400. All plans include access to a dietitian who can help customers achieve their goals. Our expert reviewer found BistroMD to be reliable for those seeking significant weight loss.

BistroMD also recommends Essential and Tasty Snacks (EATS) to prevent cravings. EATS include protein shakes and diet bars as well as desserts like cheesecake. You get 2 daily EATS on the women’s plan, while the men's plan recommends 3.

The minimum BistroMD plan includes 10 meals (5 lunches and 5 dinners per week), and the maximum plan includes 3 meals every day of the week (21 meals). The cost per serving starts from $8.24.

7. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service

Purple Carrot offers 100% plant-based meals and is the only fully-vegan service on my list. Its menu has a range of recipes, including classic favorites with a plant-based twist. The Mac n’ Cheese pictured above uses vegan cheddar and panko crumbs for a delicious, dairy-free dinner.

You can choose from a selection of meal kits and prepared meals every week, including "Less Prep" options that require only 25 minutes of prep and cooking time. In addition, Purple Carrot's Plantry has plant-based breakfast and lunch items, pantry staples, and vegan desserts. 

Purple Carrot's prepared meals are designed for convenience and are ready in 5 minutes or less. If you have trouble finding vegan options near your workplace, simply pop a Purple Carrot prepared meal in your office microwave and you have an easy plant-based lunch. 

You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy Purple Carrot meals. Our omnivorous reviewer tested Purple Carrot's plant-based meals and was entirely satisfied with the taste and quality.

Menu labels let you sort meals based on further dietary preferences, such as high-protein, low-calorie, soy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. Most non-produce items (like nut milk, beans, tofu, and tempeh) are organic and Purple Carrot prioritizes using organic, GMO-free fruits and vegetables in its meal kits. 

Unfortunately, Purple Carrot only shows the current week's menu. Its menus are consistent and feature a good variety of vegan food each week. I’d prefer it, though, if we could see meals a few weeks in advance like with HelloFresh.

Purple Carrot meal kits start at $8.50 per serving, with a minimum weekly order of 3 recipes for 2 people and a maximum order of 4 meals of 4 servings. The single-serving prepared meals cost a flat $13 each and come in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 per week.

8. Dinnerly – Our Most Affordable Meal Delivery Service

Dinnerly is the most affordable meal delivery service on our list, and it offers great value for the price. Unlike some budget meal delivery services with few menu selections, Dinnerly provides over 100 items to choose from each week. Our reviewer even noted that Dinnerly's menu offers more choices than many higher-priced companies.

The menu features many family-friendly versions of American classics, with plenty of easy-prep options, making it ideal for families with young children. The No Chop! One-Pot Tomato Ravioli with Basil Pesto pictured above is ready in 20-30 minutes. As the name suggests, there’s no chopping: you just prepare the sauce, assemble, bake, and eat.

Dinnerly uses top-quality ingredients like antibiotic-free chicken and vegetables sourced from family-run farms. Although it doesn't cater to keto or other specialized diets, the menu includes vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as extras like ready-to-bake desserts and prepared meals.

Tags make the extensive menu much easier to navigate, with options like Dairy-Free, One-Pot Meals, Under 30 Minutes, Kid-Friendly, and more. Dinnerly’s Ingredient Hub allows you to check every item on the menu for allergens, which is great for people with food sensitivities.

Dinnerly helps keep prices low by limiting its paper and plastic use. While many meal delivery services wrap each ingredient in wasteful plastic, Dinnerly bundles things together in a single box. Sorting ingredients out is a bit of an inconvenience, but it’s easier on your wallet and much better for the environment. 

Dinnerly also cuts costs by not including recipe cards in your shipment. You'll need to use the app or website while cooking unless you want to print the recipes yourself. The recipes are easy to follow, but they don’t include photographs for each step like HelloFresh does.

Dinnerly prices start at just $2.12 per serving. You can subscribe to receive 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals every week serving either 2 or 4 people. You need to subscribe to the largest possible plan to get the best deal.

9. Nutrisystem – Great for Short-Term Weight Loss Dieting

Nutrisystem is great for those wanting a structured short-term low-calorie meal plan. Its weight loss program is designed and supervised by a team of dietitians and nutritionists who ensure that your low-calorie diet contains all the vitamins and minerals you need. And its 6-meal daily plan helps you avoid the temptation to binge.

The portion sizes may leave your stomach rumbling occasionally, but Nutrisystem keeps you eating at multiple times a day. This minimizes those moments when you’re craving food and staring at the clock until your next meal time. When I reviewed Nutrisystem, I noted that its 6-meal plan made it much easier to stick to a diet. 

Nutrisystem offers a variety of plans that cater to different dietary needs and goals. It focuses on providing high fiber and protein meals that help you feel full and decrease your overall calorie intake. The pre-portioned meals are designed to create a calorie deficit that leads to your body burning fat to make up the difference.

You get breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as shakes and other replacements each day. The small portions keep your calorie intake low: roughly 1,200 daily calories for women and 1,500 for men. For example, the Stuffed Chicken Breast pictured above has just 180 calories.  

NuMi, Nutrisystem’s app, serves as a digital diet coach that logs your meals and exercise, encourages you to stay hydrated, and more. NuMi lets you monitor both Nutrisystem and non-Nutrisystem meals and provides you with informative articles, useful tips, and tasty recipes.

Nutrisystem’s restricted-calorie menu is intended for fast short-term weight loss, and you will need to transition to a more balanced diet after you have achieved your weight loss goals. Nutrisystem also provides a lot of processed meals that are tasty for diet food, but which won’t win any culinary awards. 

This service has a huge number of plan options, but pricing generally starts at $8.54 per day plus shipping. The smallest plan includes enough meals to eat 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

10. Eat Clean to Go – Clean Meals for Fitness-Conscious Eaters

Eat Clean to Go provides prepared oven- and microwave-ready single-serving meals that are perfect for single individuals, couples, and smaller families. There is no prep or cooking required, and all produce is organically-grown so you don’t have to worry about synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Our expert reviewer found Eat Clean to Go an easy and convenient way to ensure you get the nutrients you need. 

You get 4 diet plans to choose from: Traditional, Keto, Paleo, and Plant-Based. The first 3 plans offer antibiotic-free proteins like chicken breast, pulled pork, grass-fed ground beef, shrimp, and steak. Plant-Based meals feature vegetarian proteins like beans, chickpeas, vegan Chik’n strips, and Beyond Sausage.

Eat Clean to Go meals feature a good selection of different cuisines, with Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Caribbean recipes featured alongside classic American recipes. Each dish is relatively basic, with a focus on clean proteins, fresh vegetables, and low sodium levels.

If you’re a picky eater or an athlete in training, this simple approach may be great for you. But if you are looking for a variety of healthy meals, I would advise checking out Factor, as it has a better selection of diet-friendly recipes. 

Eat Clean’s keto meals are low in carbs and high in fat. High-protein almond flour takes the place of wheat, while cheese and other dairy products keep your body in ketosis. The Paleo plan provides you meals free of grain or dairy products. The General Tso Chicken pictured above is from Eat Clean’s Traditional menu, with just 359 calories, 29 g protein and 49 g carbs. 

Unlike many other meal delivery services, you cannot mix and match between plans. Since each plan only has 10-14 meals, Eat Clean to Go actually has a pretty limited selection.

You can order a minimum of 6 prepared meals from Eat Clean each month, with a maximum order of 14. Prices start at $8.60 per serving.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Blue Apron Alternatives

When you are looking for a new delivery service, here are some things to keep in mind. 

• Consider your schedule: Check the cooking and prep times for each meal and assess whether they fit your schedule. If you enjoy cooking, go for services that offer fresh ingredients and recipe cards. If you’re short on time, a prepared meal delivery service like Factor might be a better option.  

• Check for dietary options: Look for meal delivery services that offer menus tailored to your needs. For example, Purple Carrot is a better choice for a vegan diet than a more generalized service with few plant-based options. 

• Evaluate the cost: Compare the cost per serving of each service and factor in additional costs such as shipping fees. Choose a service that is affordable and provides value for money. Dinnerly is a budget-friendly option that doesn't compromise on quality.

• Assess the flexibility: Choose a meal delivery service that offers easy cancellation policies and options to skip weeks, change orders, and adjust subscriptions. If a service doesn't meet your expectations, don't hesitate to consult our list of the best meal delivery services.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Blue Apron and HelloFresh?

HelloFresh has a larger menu and more family-friendly recipes. Blue Apron has a wider selection in its marketplace and also offers wine delivery.  Both are excellent meal delivery services with long track records of culinary excellence.

Does Blue Apron have prepared meals?

Blue Apron has a small selection of prepared meal bundles in its market. If you’re interested in a weekly menu that offers a broad selection of prepared meals, you should check out Factor instead.  

Is Blue Apron good for losing weight?

Blue Apron has a partnership with WW that lets you track Points. It also has suggestions to reduce calories in its meal kits. If you’re looking for a more dedicated weight loss delivery service, however, I recommend BistroMD.

Best Blue Apron Alternatives in 2023 — Final Score