Freshly vs. EveryPlate 2024: DIY or Prepared Meals?

If you want to eat healthily, consider subscribing to a meal delivery service. When it comes to comparing Freshly vs EveryPlate, the differences are bigger than the similarities.

Freshly offers healthy, prepared meals designed for busy singles on the go while EveryPlate has some of the most affordable meal kits on the market, designed for feeding the whole family, including kids and picky eaters.

EveryPlate is one of the best-priced services available but Freshly swept almost all the other categories. With a better menu range, ultra-fast prep, allergen-safe meals, and top-notch customer service – Freshly was my winner. Short on time? Check out the table below for a quick overview!

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Freshly

Both Freshly and EveryPlate offer classic American fare like the Golden Oven-Fried Chicken and Mash from Freshly and the Garlic Rosemary Chicken from EveryPlate. You can also choose from quite a few internationally inspired dishes like curries and stir-fries from both services.

You’ll also have the option to buy extra proteins like chicken and beef from Freshly and EveryPlate, which are perfect for keeping in the freezer for a rainy day. The only major difference between the companies in terms of menu variety is that Freshly lets you pick from its catalog of 50+ meals, while EveryPlate has a weekly menu of only 14-17 options.

Meal Customization

Winner: Freshly

Freshly’s kitchens are certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group, and it's likely the best option for those with allergies and intolerances, with meals being prepared in a facility that’s both gluten- and peanut-free. Meals containing gluten are prepared in a different kitchen. 

Freshly offers meals that cater to gluten-free, low calorie, dairy-free, and plant-based diets. You’ll easily see whether a meal is suitable for your specific needs when you click on a meal image on the menu.

With EveryPlate, your options here will be a lot more limited as it doesn’t cover any special diets. However, the VeggiePlate plan offers plant-forward meals, including a decent number of vegetarian-friendly meals.

Unlike Freshly, EveryPlate doesn’t cater to specific allergies. Allergens are listed on the ingredient lists, but there are no allergen-free kitchens.

Since EveryPlate sends meal kits rather than prepared meals, you’ll also be able to swap or change ingredients to match your own tastes, which gives you pretty much endless options.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: EveryPlate wins with easy-to-modify orders!

Both Freshly and EveryPlate use recyclable packaging and deliver 7 days a week. However, the exact delivery days available to you will vary by zip code.

EveryPlate offered delivery on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 8 AM and 8 PM for my zip code in a medium-sized city. You’ll also get a live tracking link once your order ships. The box is designed to keep your ingredients fresh for 48 hours before refrigeration. If you want to change or cancel your order, you’ll need to do it at least 5 days before the delivery date. It’s easy to modify your order within your EveryPlate account online.

Freshly offered delivery on Wednesday-Friday as well as Sunday in my area. It has the advantage of convenient weekend delivery where you can plan on being home. You can also manage and change your deliveries through the Freshly app.

Skipping orders is a bit more complicated with Freshly, though. You’ll have to make any changes at least 3 weeks in advance. Cancellation, however, is pretty straightforward and you can do it with a few clicks in your account online or in the app.

Meal Prep

Winner: Freshly

Freshly offers prepared meals, so all you have to do is heat and then eat. The actual prep only takes 3 minutes or less in a microwave oven, which is why it won this category.

EveryPlate is a meal kit delivery company, so prep will take a bit more time. Ingredients don’t arrive pre-chopped, so you’ll be doing all of the prep and cooking yourself. However, you’ll be saving time and money since you’ll be doing less grocery shopping and only receiving the amount you need of each ingredient, which means less waste.

Customer Support

Winner: Freshly

Both EveryPlate and Freshly have excellent customer service, and they both have 24/7 contact options. However, Freshly squeezed in a win here thanks to its large range of contact options.

Freshly has 24/7 online chat through Facebook messenger, as well as a 24-hour phone line where you can text or call. Its website also has an extensive FAQ page and support center that can answer most questions.

EveryPlate has similar options, but not quite as many of them. It offers a 24-hour online chat, as well as a phone line that’s available from 6 am to 11 pm Monday through Friday EST.

Pricing

Winner: EveryPlate

Meals from Freshly start at $6.90 per serving, but that price is only for the biggest plan, which gets you 12 meals a week. That’s a maximum of $119.87 per week once you add the maximum shipping cost of $11.99. Shipping costs for Freshly are calculated by your zip code and the size of your order. Usually, the cost will range from $5.99 to $11.99.

For the smallest plan (4 meals a week), you’re looking at $53.15 per week including the minimum shipping cost of $5.99. With Freshly, you can choose anywhere between 4 and 12 meals a week, and the price per serving will go down the more you order.

Shipping is calculated according to your zip code, but Freshly ships from Arizona, New Jersey, or Maryland. So, the closer you are to one of those locations, the lower your shipping costs will be.

EveryPlate’s meals, on the other hand, start at only $4.99 per serving. For the smallest plan of 3 meals a week serving 2 people, the price per serving is a little higher at $7.49. The minimum cost will be around $54.93 per week once you add the $9.99 shipping fee.

For the largest plan, you’ll get 5 meals a week, each with 6 servings. It will cost you $4.99 per serving or $159.69 per week including shipping.

Features Comparison: Freshly vs. EveryPlate 

And The Winner Is: Freshly 

When comparing Freshly and EveryPlate, Freshly clearly comes out on top with a better menu variety, food choices, delivery schedule, and easier meal prep.

However, if you aren’t a picky eater and want an ultra-affordable meal kit service, then EveryPlate is a great option.

Want even more great meal delivery service options? Head over to our list of the best meal delivery services of 2024 for a complete ranking. 

FAQ

Are Freshly Meals Gluten Free?

Most of Freshly’s meals are certified gluten-free and are made in gluten-free kitchens, as certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group. When I researched Freshly’s menu, I found the company does offer some meals that contain gluten, but they’re made in separate kitchens.

Are Freshly Meals Frozen 

Freshly meals are delivered in a chilled box, which keeps them refrigerated on their journey to your door. If you want to, you can store them in the freezer yourself, just keep in mind that they’ll need a few extra minutes in the microwave.

Which is Healthier, Freshly or EveryPlate

EveryPlate and Freshly are equally healthy. They both aim to bring fresh, tasty, and healthy meals straight to your door. The differences will be down to personal taste, lifestyle, and dietary needs – which I outlined in my comparison of the two.