Green Chef vs. HelloFresh 2024: A Close Call

Looking for a meal delivery service that meets your needs can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I compared 2 of the most popular brands on the market – Green Chef vs. HelloFresh – both of which do an excellent job catering to very different needs. 

Green Chef offers healthy meal kits for a range of dietary preferences, and they all contain organic ingredients. HelloFresh, on the other hand, has a larger and more varied menu of family-friendly recipes. HelloFresh is also much more affordable than Green Chef.

I compared all the most important factors of both these services. I looked at the menu size, meal prep, customization options, pricing, delivery, and more. Each service has its strengths, so the right choice ultimately depends on your personal needs and wants.

After thorough deliberation, I had to place Green Chef on top. It may be a bit pricier, but it’s a great choice if you care about eating healthy and nourishing foods. Both services are unique, though, so make sure to read my comparison for the full rundown!

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Green Chef

When it comes to menu variety and ingredients, Green Chef wins by a narrow margin. Both services have impressive menus and cater to specific dietary needs, but I find Green Chef’s offer to be more culinary diverse. Also, the focus on organic ingredients tipped the balance in its favor.

Green Chef features more international recipes and caters to a wider range of diets. HelloFresh does have a larger overall menu, with 100+ meal kits and market items, but over half of its recipes are inspired by American cuisine. The other half is mostly crowd-pleasing meals.

Green Chef doesn't offer as many menu options (45+ each week), but it manages to stand out in other ways. First, Green Chef is the first CCOF-certified organic meal kit company on the market.

Its nutritionist-curated recipes include organic produce and premium proteins. Green Chef also caters to various dietary preferences, such as plant-based diets, gluten-free preferences, calorie-smart meals, keto-friendly dishes, and high-protein alternatives.

Most of Green Chef's recipes are designed for adult tastes, which is why it’s common to find kits for restaurant-worthy meals like Lemon-Basil Pork Salad or Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

You’ll find plenty of international recipes inspired by Italian, Middle Eastern, and other cuisines. Of course, American food is not absent from the party – recipes like Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin and Monterey Jack Smothered Chicken are available each week.

HelloFresh also caters to diverse dietary needs and preferences. The company offers meal kits for vegetarians, pescatarians, calorie-smart eaters, protein-conscious individuals, carb-conscious individuals, and vegans (about 4 dishes each week).

HelloFresh's menu has some diverse influences, but it’s not as adventurous as Green Chef’s. Most of the meal kits on the menu are inspired by American classics that are sure to please children and adults alike. 

Each meal is nutritionally balanced by incorporating vegetables, proteins, and starches. You can have Fried Chicken BLT Sandwiches for an easy weeknight meal, or you can spoil yourself with a premium dish like Truffle Risotto for a special weekend dinner.

Both companies have several lunch and brunch options to add more variety to your weekly order. Also, both HelloFresh and Green Chef offer add-ons. HelloFresh has a robust Marketplace that is well-stocked with an array of proteins, smoothies, desserts, and more. 

Green Chef’s add-on menu features breakfasts, desserts, and other extras. While it’s not as extensive as HelloFresh's Marketplace selection, it still provides opportunities to spice up your meals or cater to specific cravings. Also, many of the add-ons fit specific dietary needs, which acts as an extension of the core menu.

Green Chef and HelloFresh have different approaches to ingredient sourcing and quality. Green Chef focuses on sourcing organic fresh produce and eggs whenever possible. It also offers organic beef, chicken, and wild-caught seafood options.

HelloFresh sources local produce and humanely-raised meats, but it doesn’t emphasize organic ingredients like Green Chef. Instead, HelloFresh is more focused on finding a balance between quality and price for its ingredients.

Both companies work with trusted suppliers, so you can expect seasonal and farm-sourced ingredients. Both services also adhere to strict food safety guidelines and are committed to delivering top-notch ingredients to their customers.

Meal Customization

Winner: Green Chef

Both Green Chef and HelloFresh offer meal kits and options for different dietary needs. However, Green Chef wins this category due to its focus on specialized diets. Also, all the ingredients are packed separately, so it’s easy to adjust your meals before cooking.

Green Chef offers 8 meal plans that cater to demanding diets such as Keto, Plant-Based, and Gluten Free. All the kits are prepared in the same facility, so there is a risk of cross-contamination. Each recipe offers a full list of ingredients and common allergen information, so make sure to read the ingredients carefully.

As an added bonus, Green Chef offers a free 20-minute nutrition coaching session to all its subscribers. So if you don’t know which meals are best for you, or you have nutrition-related questions, you can reach out to Green Chef’s team of registered dietitians.

HelloFresh stands out due to its HelloCustom feature that lets you add a personal touch to the meals. Each week you can change, swap, or upgrade over 12 sides and proteins. So if you don’t like your chicken with broccoli, you can change the side dish with potatoes. You can also change the chicken with shrimp or steak if the option is available. 

While I like the idea of being able to personalize my meals, I found HelloCustom a bit limiting. You can only choose between 2 options (chicken or steak, broccoli or potatoes), and the feature is only available on a few recipes each week.

It’s also worth noting that HelloFresh may not be the best choice for vegans. The company offers 6 meal plans, but there are few vegan options. Typically, you’ll find about 4 vegan meal kits per week, which is a bit limiting. Also, those with specific allergies or on a gluten-free diet might find their options limited as well.

Both companies use tags and labels to help you browse the menu and identify the right recipes. HelloFresh uses tags like Protein Smart, Calorie Smart, Vegan, Veggie, and more to mark recipes that fit specific dietary needs. You’ll also see tags like Easy Cleanup, Quick, or Easy Prep. These show you low-prep recipes that take under 30 minutes to cook.

HelloFresh also uses labels to identify specific categories of meals. For instance, popular meals are marked with Hall of Fame, top-quality recipes are labeled Premium Picks, while low-prep meals bear labels like 10-Min Lunch or Fast & Fresh.

Green Chef does a similar thing – it uses tags to mark dietary preferences and labels to indicate categories. The tags are located at the bottom of each recipe and help you find specific diets (like Gluten-Free, Mediterranean, Keto, or Plant Based) or other preferences (like Adventurous Eats, Quick & Easy, or Gut & Brain).

While both companies offer some level of customization, I think Green Chef is a bit better. While you can’t personalize any of the meal kits, there are more diet-specific kits, and you have a wider variety of options.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: It’s a tie

Both Green Chef and HelloFresh make the ordering process straightforward. All you need to do is choose a plan, create an account, provide your information, select your meals, and place your first order. 

Once you have an account, it's easy to make changes. You can edit current orders, pause or cancel your subscription, or even switch meal plans if you'd like. And don't worry if you change your mind about your order – both companies allow you to make modifications. Just make sure to respect the cut-off date, which is 11:59 pm PST, 5 days before your scheduled delivery.

HelloFresh has a slightly lower minimum of 2 meals for 2 people per week. But most customers go for the popular option of 3 meals for 2 people per week. Also, with HelloFresh, you can order up to 6 meals per week, while Green Chef stops at 4.

Both Green Chef and HelloFresh deliver to all the states in the continental US. HelloFresh also delivers to select zip codes in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska. However, these deliveries come with an additional shipping fee of $49.99, so you may want to think twice before placing an order.

You can choose a preferred delivery day with both companies, and you’ll receive a confirmation email once your meals are on their way. The email includes additional information regarding your order and the tracking number so you can keep an eye on your delicious package. 

Now, let's say something unexpected comes up, and you need to reschedule your delivery. If you're within the cut-off date (remember it's 11:59 pm PST 5 days prior), both companies make it easy for you to reschedule through your online account. However, if you miss that window of opportunity, reaching out to customer service is your best bet.

These services have nearly identical packaging practices, which makes sense considering they have the same parent company. Both services also package each meal separately for convenient storage. Everything is clearly labeled and color-coded.

I’m pleased to say both services have very eco-friendly packaging. They use sustainable materials like 100% post-consumer recycled paper and curbside-recyclable insulation. The only plastic is to individually wrap certain ingredients for freshness.

Once you open the box and unpack the ingredients, it's important to know how to handle and store them. Both companies recommend that you store all ingredients in the fridge and cook and consume within 5 days of delivery. Seafood is the exception, as it should be cooked and consumed within 2 or 3 days of delivery. Do not refreeze any of the ingredients!

Meal Prep

Winner: It’s a tie

Both companies offer convenient solutions that make cooking an enjoyable and hassle-free experience. Since Green Chef and HelloFresh are owned by the same company, the meal prep process is pretty similar. There are just a few small differences. 

With Green Chef, you'll find some of the ingredients have been pre-prepped. This includes chef-curated sauces, dressings, and spice blends. You still have to do some prep work, such as dice, chop, peel, or grate certain ingredients, but you don’t have to be a chef to master those.

Each meal includes a well-designed recipe card with detailed step-by-step instructions. The card also includes tips on timing and pictures of how the food should look with each step. Additionally, Green Chef provides helpful chef tips to make things easier for beginners.

Most Green Chef meal kits take around 25-30 minutes to prepare and cook. There are also a few more complex recipes, but these won't take longer than 45 minutes. For when you’re in a hurry, Green Chef offers a range of low-prep lunches and brunches that can be ready in just 10-20 minutes.

HelloFresh follows a similar approach by providing meal kits with pre-measured ingredients. HelloFresh also sometimes adds ready-made sauces and marinades to your box, so you don't have to worry about making them from scratch.

Most HelloFresh meal kits require around 30-35 minutes for both preparation and cooking. The recipes are designed to be beginner-friendly and come with well-designed recipe cards. HelloFresh also offers a selection of 10- and 15-minute lunches as well as low-prep kits that can be transformed into a tasty meal in less than 25 minutes.

Customer Support

Winner: It’s a tie

Both Green Chef and HelloFresh have efficient customer assistance programs. Also, both companies have well-detailed searchable FAQ sections on their websites and are active on social media. But if you really need to get in touch with a human representative, each company offers several channels.

Green Chef offers phone support and a 24/7 virtual assistant named Olive. The phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 11 pm EST, and Saturday to Sunday, 7 am to 7 pm EST. Olive can provide a wide range of information on menu options and account administration and can put you in touch with a human representative Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm EST. 

Similarly, HelloFresh provides multiple avenues for customer support. It’s also worth noting that its FAQ section is a bit more advanced as it provides shortcuts for various actions related to administering your account. This way, if you don’t know how to update your payment method, you just click the Update payment details button, and it will take you to the right page.

If you prefer speaking with a representative directly, HelloFresh offers phone support as well. On the other hand, you can also report an issue using the available online form. HelloFresh also has a virtual assistant called Brie, which is quite similar to Green Chef's Olive and can offer quick responses and guidance. 

Lastly, Green Chef and HelloFresh have dedicated mobile apps that you can download and use on your phone. The apps are quite convenient for managing your account, browsing menus, and placing orders. They also serve as an additional avenue for accessing customer support and ensuring a seamless experience.

Pricing

Winner: HelloFresh

HelloFresh is the most affordable kit. With prices starting at $3.32 per serving, HelloFresh offers a more cost-effective option for those looking to enjoy delicious meal kits without breaking the bank.

In both cases, the price per serving changes depending on the plan and the number of servings per week. For instance, HelloFresh’s most popular plan (3 meals for 2 people per week) comes at $9.99 per serving. Plus, you have to add $10.99 for deliveries within the continental US and an extra fee of $49.99 for deliveries in Alaska and Hawaii.

Green Chef prices start at $9.99 per serving for the maximum order (4 meals for 6 people per week). The cost per serving can go as high as $13.49 for couples, which is a bit steep. Shipping incurs a flat fee of $10.99 per box, regardless of your location.

Keep in mind that both companies offer individually priced Add-ons. Therefore, the final cost may vary depending on what you choose to include with your order. Also, both companies provide premium meal options each week that come with an upcharge. Green Chef has its Chef Select meals, while HelloFresh offers Premium Picks.

Ultimately, when deciding between Green Chef and HelloFresh, carefully consider your preferences, dietary needs, and budget. Both services offer flexibility in their plans, allowing you to choose the option that works best for you. With either choice, you'll receive high-quality ingredients and enjoy the convenience of having delicious meals delivered to your doorstep.

Green Chef vs. HelloFresh – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Green Chef

Green Chef stands out due to its emphasis on organic and gourmet offerings. In a closely contested race, Green Chef's commitment to using organic produce and clean proteins sets it apart as a top choice for those seeking high-quality, sustainable ingredients and a more sophisticated menu.

HelloFresh has its unique selling points. Though Green Chef excels in certain areas, HelloFresh shines with a broader range of menu options and emphasizes family-friendly meal kits. HelloFresh may be the perfect fit for your specific needs.

I think that both services have their distinct strengths. Green Chef and HelloFresh both deliver outstanding meal kit services, each with their own special characteristics.

Your choice depends on personal and dietary preferences. Whether it's Green Chef or HelloFresh, the ultimate choice hinges on your individual tastes and nutritional needs.

Select the service that meets your culinary aspirations. With both offering stellar options, pick the one that best aligns with your food objectives.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Green Chef or HelloFresh?

HelloFresh is the more affordable option in this case, with prices starting at $8.99 per serving. On the other hand, Green Chef sets itself apart by offering a wider range of culinary diversity and focusing on organic ingredients, which may be worth the additional cost for those seeking a more refined dining experience.

Which offers better options for specialized diets, Green Chef or HelloFresh?

Green Chef offers a wider range of options for specialized diets compared to HelloFresh. The company caters to dietary needs such as gluten-free, keto-friendly, and plant-based and offers specific meal plans designed for these requirements.  

What is the main difference between Green Chef and HelloFresh?

Additionally, HelloFresh tends to be more affordable compared to Green Chef. Both companies have their own strengths and cater to different preferences.