Blue Apron vs. Marley Spoon 2023: Who Wins?

Choosing between 2 top-tier meal delivery services can be a challenge. Blue Apron and Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon have both established themselves as leaders in the industry, each offering distinct culinary experiences to customers across the US.

Blue Apron is known for its straightforward yet delectable family-friendly dishes. On the other hand, with the influence of Martha Stewart, Marley Spoon boasts an expansive range of daring and diverse recipes, setting it apart in its own unique way.

Marley Spoon emerges as the winner of my comparison. I thoroughly evaluated all the important factors like cost, quality, variety, and delivery logistics. I love Marley Spoon’s impressive menu variety. Keep reading to find out who won each category. 

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Marley Spoon

Marley Spoon takes the win here with its vast menu of over 100 dishes. With perhaps the most extensive selection I've seen, it stands out in the meal delivery landscape. In contrast, while Blue Apron advertises 70+ options, many are extras or customized dishes, and the Signature menu typically features 16+ main dishes.

Marley Spoon offers a wide variety of cuisines. You can find classic American fare like the Steakhouse Turkey Burger & Oven Chips to Internationally inspired dishes like the Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowl and the Provençal Sausage Ragout.

Blue Apron offers a variety of dishes under distinct categories. You can select from 5 primary categories: Signature, Vegetarian, Wellness, Signature for Four, and Add-Ons. These categories have some overlapping dishes, meaning you might see the same meal listed under different sections. 

Most of Blue Apron's meals blend classic American recipes with a gourmet twist. The menu is enriched by global flavors like Italian pasta or Asian stir-fries. I like the look of the Calabrian Beef & Gnocchi and the Hoisin Pork Belly & Miso Ramen. 

Marley Spoon's dishes take inspiration directly from Martha Stewart. Catering to diverse palates, it provides numerous options for those eager to try something new and equally abundant choices for those with more conservative tastes, picky eaters, and family-friendly options.

Both Blue Apron and Marley Spoon prioritize dinner recipes. Blue Apron expands its offering with an online market of extras. While you can find a marketplace in Marley Spoon, the details remain hidden until after you register.

Both services have prepared meals for busy nights and Premium gourmet dishes. These are available at an added cost. Marley Spoon also offers Protein Variety Packs, spices, desserts, and ready-made bundles, though availability varies by state.

Sample Meals

Blue Apron’s menu is a breeze to search. Its more limited selection means it’s quick to browse suitable dishes. I like that you can also filter the menu to see the vegetarian or healthier recipes at a glance. 

• Best low-calorie dish: Seared Chicken & Lemon Labneh

• Best fast-prep dish: 

• Best family-friendly dish:

• Best veggie dish: Tofu & Vegetable Lo Mein

Marley Spoons' menu is huge, but it’s easy to find meals to suit your needs. Every recipe is either meat, fish, or veggie. I love the handy recipe tags that help you narrow your menu choices by dietary needs such as Low-Calorie, Kid Friendly, and even Climatarian. 

• Best low-calorie dish: Chicken Meatball & Cannellini Bean Stew

• Best fast-prep dish: Fast! Mac & Cheese Carbonara

• Best family-friendly dish: Loaded Beef Nacho Pizza

• Best veggie dish: Butternut Squash Ravioli Marinara

Meal Customization

Winner: It’s a tie!

In terms of meal customization, this round is a tie. Marley Spoon offers extensive menu customization options. Marley Spoon allows you to alter sides, proteins, and add-ons for each meal. If you prefer gluten-free pasta or plant-based proteins, such changes are possible. Additionally, dishes with customizable elements feature a Customizable icon.

Marley Spoon's filtering options are limited. While it boasts a vast menu, there's no straightforward method for filtering by diet or allergens. You'll often resort to manual searches using keyboard shortcuts. However, its taste profile feature does filter out unwanted ingredients when you sign-up.

Blue Apron has a structured plan system. You can choose from five plans, guiding Blue Apron in suggesting dishes. Despite your plan choice, you retain access to the entire menu. Customizing recipes requires clicking on them, as there's no upfront indication of customization.

Allergen information is crucial for both services. Marley Spoon meals risk allergen cross-contamination, posing a concern for those with severe allergies. Meanwhile, Blue Apron packs all dishes in a facility handling common allergens, necessitating careful individual recipe checks.

Ingredient Quality and Nutrition

Winner: Blue Apron

Blue Apron excels in ingredient quality and detailed nutrition. Blue Apron stands out with its commitment to humane animal welfare standards and collaboration with sustainable farmers. It also prides itself on offering USDA-certified ingredients.

Unfortunately, Marley Spoon only provides very basic nutritional details. Its recipes list calories, fat, protein, and carbs. In comparison, Blue Apron provides a link on each recipe that delves into comprehensive nutritional data with much more information.

Blue Apron also focuses on sustainable seafood. It's partnered with The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, ensuring the seafood you receive is sustainable. You can head to The Ocean Disclosure Project website to find out the origin, method of production, and sustainability of all its seafood.

Marley Spoon offers high-quality ingredients. It sources meats mainly from the US, but also provides grass-fed beef from Australia. Organic enthusiasts will appreciate some ingredients sourced organically from local suppliers.

I am pleased that all Marley Spoon chicken is antibiotic-free. This assures you that the chicken you consume is devoid of antibiotics.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: Marley Spoon

Blue Apron and Marley Spoon differ in their shipping schedules. Blue Apron delivers to locations throughout the US up to 6 days a week. In contrast, Marley Spoon ships to most American cities from Monday to Friday. To know your specific delivery days, just enter your zip code.

Both services display menus in advance and have mobile apps. You can preview menus for the next 3 weeks with both companies, allowing you to modify your order ahead of time. Their respective apps simplify this process further. Regardless of your choice, the minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people per week.

Packaging disposal instructions are provided by both companies. Both Marley Spoon and Blue Apron have dedicated sections on their websites guiding you on how to responsibly discard the meal kit packaging. Most of the packaging from these services is recyclable, but may use certain plastics that might not be recyclable curbside.

Blue Apron uses more plastic in its packaging. Over 85% of Blue Apron's packaging is recyclable, but it tends to use more plastic compared to Marley Spoon.

Marley Spoon emphasizes sustainability in its packaging and offerings. Its boxes derive from paper sourced from sustainably managed forests. The bottles and containers are made of #1 recyclable plastic, while its bags are #4, so check in your area what you can recycle. 

I appreciate that Marley Spoon promotes its Climatarian recipes. These spotlight dishes with lower emissions. Plus it boasts a 100% carbon-neutral status. Upon receiving your order, you'll find the recipes clearly labeled, ready for storage in the fridge.

Meal Prep

Winner: Marley Spoon

Marley Spoon holds the edge in meal preparation. Both Blue Apron and Marley Spoon deliver meal kits that are neatly packaged with portioned ingredients and detailed recipe cards for guidance.

Marley Spoon's website offers an extra level of preparation detail. It provides a list of necessary cooking utensils and additional ingredients from your pantry. This becomes invaluable since some recipes might need ingredients you don't always have on hand.

Blue Apron's instructions may be challenging for cooking novices. Some directions might appear vague if you're less familiar with cooking techniques. For instance, you might question if your ground beef is correctly browned or if your water has the right salt level.

Marley Spoon recipes blend variety with ease of preparation. The meals, despite their gourmet appeal, are often straightforward to make. Each dish is labeled on a spectrum from Easy to Difficult, indicating the required skill level.

Both services average a 30-minute meal preparation time. They both offer prepared meals too for when time is short. Blue Apron dishes range between 20 to 50 minutes, while Marley Spoon meals typically fall between 20 to 40 minutes.

Display of cooking time varies between the 2 services. Blue Apron clearly showcases the expected prep time on the menu helping to simplify your choice. In contrast, Marley Spoon specifically highlights dishes ready in under 30 minutes and its One-Pot Meals. For detailed prep times on other dishes, you must view each recipe individually.

Customer Support

Winner: Marley Spoon

Marley Spoon takes the lead in customer service due to its better availability. Marley Spoon boasts a 24/7 chatbot for instant assistance. Besides phone and email support, it also stands out with its user-friendly live chatbot available round the clock. It's even reachable via Facebook chat.

The Marley Spoon phone service operates from Monday to Saturday starting at 9 am EST. All of my interactions with Marley Spoon's agents were really friendly. They were approachable and answered all my questions comprehensively.

Blue Apron provides phone support from Monday to Friday. It also offers an online form and email support at contact@blueapron.com. My email inquiry received a detailed response the next day.

Blue Apron’s live chat service is not available 24/7. You can contact between 8 am to 10 pm CST on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm CST on Saturdays. However, using Blue Apron's live chat felt like a lengthy process. I wasn’t connected instantly, and had to wait in a queue. I definitely prefer Marley Spoon's streamlined process.

Cancelation policies differ between the 2 services. For Marley Spoon, you can cancel up to 6 or 7 days before your next scheduled delivery, varying by region. First-time orders require contacting customer service for cancellation, but subsequent orders can be canceled online in your account. 

Canceling Blue Apron requires going to your Plan Settings page. It also asks for feedback through a survey upon cancellation. 

Pricing

Winner: Blue Apron

The cost per serving decreases as you order more recipes weekly. This is typical of many meal delivery services. Blue Apron offers its most economical rate at $7.99 per serving for its largest plan, which includes 5 meals weekly for a family of 4.

Marley Spoon's pricing begins at $8.69 per serving. This rate applies for the largest order size of 6 meals per week for 4 people. It's important to note that there's an additional $11.99 shipping fee to pay with your order.

Blue Apron maintains a consistent shipping charge. Shipping fees are $10.99 for every box, a flat rate that doesn't change with bigger orders. Also, its add-ons are available starting at $5.99.

Blue Apron vs. Marley Spoon – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Marley Spoon

Each service has its own strengths. While Marley Spoon boasts an extensive menu catering to diverse diets, Blue Apron shines with its comprehensive nutritional details. However, it's essential to weigh these strengths based on what matters most to you.

Both Blue Apron and Marley Spoon offer delightful meals at a reasonable price point. Choosing between them hinges on specific needs and personal preferences.

Price can be a deciding factor. Blue Apron might edge out in terms of affordability for some plans. But it's crucial to consider the value offered by each service beyond just the price.

Exploration is key in the meal delivery world. If you're curious about other services, our comprehensive list of the Best Meal Delivery Services awaits. Diving deeper might introduce you to a service that perfectly aligns with your requirements.

While both have merits, Marley Spoon takes the crown in this comparison. Your preference will ultimately depend on individual needs and priorities, so it's worth giving each a trial to determine the best fit.

FAQ

Which is better, Marley Spoon or Blue Apron? 

Marley Spoon is generally recommended over Blue Apron. But Blue Apron certainly has its merits. Marley Spoon often stands out for its diverse menu options and the flexibility it offers in customizing recipes. On the other hand, Blue Apron is a worthy contender for those who are looking for quality on a budget.

What makes Marley Spoon different?

Marley Spoon offers a wider menu variety and customizable recipes. This means you have more choices each week and can tailor recipes to fit your preferences or dietary needs.

Is Blue Apron worth it? 

Blue Apron is more affordable per serving than Marley Spoon. If you're budget-conscious, this could be a compelling reason to choose Blue Apron. The cost-saving doesn't compromise the quality of the ingredients or the taste of the meals.