Hungryroot vs. Purple Carrot 2026: My Winner Is?

These services both offer plant-based meal options, but they cater to different needs. Purple Carrot offers fully plant-based recipes that inspire you with fresh ingredients and exciting recipes. Hungryroot is all about simplicity and flexibility. This makes it ideal for anyone seeking quick, no-fuss meals without compromising on quality.

After testing both services, I can confidently say that Purple Carrot just takes the edge, especially if you're committed to a plant-based diet. While Hungryroot has its merits, especially with its grocery items and easy-to-follow recipes, Purple Carrot offers a more immersive, plant-forward experience. 

Purple Carrot is a great choice for embracing a healthy, plant-based lifestyle. Keep reading to learn more about how these services compare in terms of pricing, meal variety, convenience, and more.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety: Hungryroot Offers a Huge Range of Options

When it comes to menu variety, Hungryroot is hard to beat. Its menu includes over 100+ combinations, created from an extensive selection of grocery items. You can explore dishes across categories. 

Hungryroot’s categories include: 

• Main + sides

• Bowls

• Kid’s meals

• Tacos

• Pastas

• Pizzas

• Family Meals

• Wraps

The detailed filters let you refine options by protein, cook time, spiciness, nutrition, or diet preferences. Your personal likes and dislikes, selected during the onboarding questionnaire, also shape the menu. This highlights your favorite cuisines while pushing unwanted items further down the list. 

In contrast, Purple Carrot’s menu is much more compact and focused. This makes it much easier to navigate. Each week, you’ll find 16 meal kits, 16 prepared meals, 4 breakfast kits, and 4 lunch kits, neatly organized by meal type. 

While the selection is smaller, the structure helps to simplify your decision-making. Like Hungryroot, Purple Carrot recommends dishes based on your preferences, but you have full control to edit these and choose exactly what meals you want.

Ultimately, Hungryroot is perfect if you enjoy exploring endless possibilities and customizing your weekly selections. Purple Carrot is best if you appreciate a curated menu with clear categories and a more streamlined process. 

Cuisine Variety: Both Offer Global Flavors With Different Approaches

Hungryroot features an impressive array of cuisines. These include Indian, Mediterranean, Thai, Korean, and Japanese, among others. However, the meals aren’t particularly authentic, often simplifying traditional dishes into quick-to-prepare recipes. 

For example, its Paneer Tikka Masala uses just 4 ingredients, including a premade sauce and cauliflower rice. This makes it easy to assemble, but it’s far from a rich, authentic Indian experience. While Hungryroot’s focus is on saving time and money, it might not fully satisfy you if you want a genuine taste of global cuisines.

Purple Carrot offers a more balanced representation of international cuisines like American, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Middle Eastern, and Indian. With 2-4 meals from most cuisines each week, the menu provides variety while remaining vegan-friendly. 

Even American dishes, like burgers, feature creative twists such as patties made from beets or carrots. While there’s a slightly higher number of American-inspired meals, the emphasis on plant-based ingredients keeps the menu innovative and exciting for exploring global vegan cuisine.

Different Diets: Hungryroot Caters to a Wider Range of Diets

Purple Carrot is 100% vegan with purely plant-based meals. Hungryroot caters to a huge range of diets. You can find vegan foods as well as more niche diets like keto, kosher, low-FODMAP, and pescatarian.

Purple Carrot’s menu is designed with diverse dietary preferences and health goals in mind. Each dish is labeled with small green icons indicating specific dietary benefits. For example, High Protein, High Fiber, and Sodium Smart. Many meals carry multiple tags, offering even more tailored options.

Grocery Items: Much More Choice With Hungryroot

Hungryroot’s menu functions much like a well-stocked grocery store. It offers a huge range of grocery products that can be mixed and matched to create meals. Each “meal” consists of a combination of 4–6 grocery items. Plus, you can freely add extra goodies to any order, making it feel more like a service of endless add-ons. 

Purple Carrot also offers a Grocery section, though its scope is more focused. The selection includes a variety of vegan snacks, desserts, beverages, and pantry staples, all clearly priced. However, unlike Hungryroot, Purple Carrot doesn’t have the same add-on flexibility or customizable upgrades.

Sample Meals: Great Meals From Both, but Purple Carrot Has the Edge

Hungryroot Meals

Hungryroot’s menu is massive. There are over 100+ meal combinations created from its extensive range of grocery items. While this might seem overwhelming at first, its filters allow you to search by preferences such as protein, cook time, diet, spiciness, and more. You can pick your meals, swap individual ingredients, and mix and match across the menu.

Here are some of the dishes I cooked from Hungryroot (pictured left to right):

• Lemony Italian Sausage & Broccoli Pasta: This was simple but satisfying. It needed more prep than Hungryroot's other recipes since there were no pre-prepped shortcuts. Roasting the broccoli instead of sautéing it (as instructed) added extra depth of flavor.
• Crispy Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad: With just 4 ingredients, this salad felt underwhelming. The dry, crumbly chicken nuggets were the biggest letdown, making the dish hard to enjoy.
• Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: I really enjoyed the addition of roasted garlic and crème fraîche. While intended as a side, these mashed potatoes were surprisingly impressive and complemented a homemade fried chicken dinner beautifully.

Purple Carrot offers a well-organized and flexible menu. While you can choose all your own meals, it also suggests dishes based on your preferences if you don’t make a selection. You can mix and match freely across all meal types and serving sizes.

I enjoyed these dishes from Purple Carrot. Here’s what I thought about them (pictured left to right):

• Roasted Broccoli Flatbreads: This was my favorite Purple Carrot dish. The creamy cashew cheese and tart sumac were a flavor revelation, perfectly complementing the roasted broccoli and fresh arugula.
• Red Lentil Soup: This hearty soup had all the cozy warmth of a mild curry, with a rich, simple base that let the toppings shine. The crispy parsnip ribbons stole the show. While peeling and frying the parsnip took some effort, the result was really tasty.
• Pesto Portobello Tortellini: The tortellini, filled with earthy portobello mushrooms, paired beautifully with the creamy pesto sauce. The pasta reheated well and maintained a great texture. However, the broccoli side dish fell flat compared to the main dish's quality.

Meal Customization: Hungryroot Wins With Unmatched Flexibility 

Hungryroot stands out as the clear winner for meal customization. It has a really adaptable menu tailored to individual preferences. During sign-up, a detailed questionnaire allows you to set dietary preferences, exclude specific ingredients, and select your favorite cuisines. 

Most recipes in your order can be customized: you can omit, swap, or upgrade ingredients. Swaps are clearly marked, with costs adjusted based on your choices. For instance, you might replace chicken nuggets with mahi-mahi fillets for an additional charge or opt for a smaller package of chicken at a lower price. 

While there are limits – such as specific ingredient swaps not being available for certain recipes – you can remove ingredients and source alternatives from the grocery section. Allergens are also clearly marked on every item, and the ability to exclude any ingredient makes Hungryroot highly accommodating to dietary restrictions.

Purple Carrot has far fewer customization options. You can’t substitute the ingredients in any meals, and if you do want to remove something from a meal kit, this needs to be done after unboxing. While allergens like soy and nuts are clearly labeled, and gluten-free options are available, Purple Carrot doesn't allow exclusions beyond selecting meals that fit your needs. 

However, the menus are vegan by default, catering to a niche audience with dietary restrictions built into the recipes. Both the full ingredient list and nutritional information are easily accessible for each dish, making it simple to choose meals aligned with your preferences.

Ingredient Quality & Nutrition: Purple Carrot Takes the Lead 

Purple Carrot wins the ingredient quality and nutritional transparency round. It particularly suits those seeking fresher, more minimally processed options. Here’s how they compare:

Ingredient Sourcing & Quality

Hungryroot’s ingredients lean heavily on convenience. Much of its produce is pre-processed and sealed in plastic packaging. While this speeds up meal preparation, it may not appeal to those concerned with ecological sustainability or freshness. Organic items are available occasionally but aren’t a major focus. 

While Hungryroot ensures its products are free from preservatives and additives, its sourcing details, especially for meat, are limited. For example, the only notable mention is its Atlantic salmon, which meets 4-star Best Aquaculture Practices certification.

Purple Carrot is dedicated to a plant-based approach, prioritizing organic and non-GMO ingredients whenever possible. While not everything is certified organic, most non-produce items, such as vegan cheeses, tofu, and yogurt, carry organic labels. 

Its fruits and vegetables are fresh and free from artificial hormones, antibiotics, or unnecessary processing. Each ingredient feels thoughtfully chosen to align with its focus on healthy, sustainable eating.

Nutritional Transparency

Nutritional details for Hungryroot meals are accessible through its menus. However, as its recipes allow for ingredient swaps or adjustments, you need to recalculate nutritional facts for modified meals. While it offers wholesome ingredients free from artificial additives, this added layer of effort may not appeal to those looking for a seamless meal-planning experience.

Purple Carrot provides easily accessible nutritional information on its recipe pages and packaging. This gives you the data to make informed choices. This includes calorie counts, macronutrient breakdowns, and ingredient lists, making it straightforward to track dietary goals.

Focus on Sustainability

Hungryroot prioritizes convenience with pre-packaged items. Its heavy use of plastic and limited organic options may deter eco-conscious customers. In contrast, Purple Carrot’s emphasis on plant-based eating, organic ingredients where possible, and minimally processed foods make it a more sustainable choice for environmentally friendly meal options.

Ordering & Delivery: Purple Carrot Wins for Ease of Signup 

Purple Carrot edges out Hungryroot in the ordering and delivery experience. This is thanks to its simple, straightforward sign-up process and predictable delivery schedules. 

Ease of Subscription: Purple Carrot Is Super Streamlined

Signing up with Purple Carrot is quick and user-friendly. The service provides multiple account creation options, including email, Google, and Apple, and allows payment via Google Pay or PayPal for expedited checkout. Unlike Hungryroot, you can see menus, pricing, and plans before entering an email address.

Hungryroot’s sign-up process is intensive. You have to complete a lengthy questionnaire before accessing plans or pricing. While this personalization has potential, it feels over-engineered if you’re looking for quick meal solutions.

Delivery Options & Order Tracking 

Purple Carrot schedules deliveries based on your region. They typically arrive Monday through Saturday, with orders taking 5-10 days after sign-up. Hungryroot offers more flexibility, allowing you to choose from 4 delivery days per week, with first deliveries available as soon as 4 days after sign-up.

Hungryroot offers straightforward tracking, but I got fewer notifications. Purple Carrot provides reliable tracking via its website and app, although I was given a broad delivery window of 8 am to 10 pm.

Unboxing: Both Could Cut Down on Excessive Plastic

When it comes to unboxing, Hungryroot and Purple Carrot are neck and neck. Both services deliver clean, well-organized boxes with fresh ingredients and minimal fuss, though each has its strengths and weaknesses.

What’s Inside the Box?

Hungryroot keeps things simple. Inside, the contents were neat, with no surprises, leakage, or free gifts. Ingredients included a mix of Hungryroot-branded items (like jasmine rice and pesto) and popular store brands such as Organic Valley. However, recipe cards were sparse, printed on the back of the packing slip rather than provided as standalone guides.

Purple Carrot, on the other hand, greets you with a recipe booklet on top of the neatly packed, recyclable insulation. The contents were well-organized, with small items like sauces separated by recipe. Most items were Purple Carrot’s brand, though they occasionally include products from vegan partners like Actual Veggies.

Organization & Storage Are Clear

Both services make it clear where ingredients should be stored. Hungryroot’s prepackaged items are fridge-friendly, while Purple Carrot suggests transferring everything directly to the fridge upon unboxing. Purple Carrot’s prepared meal labels include best-by dates, storage, and heating instructions.

Both Fall Short in Eco-Friendliness

Hungryroot uses recyclable cardboard and eco-friendly, drain-safe ice packs. However, its use of plastic is frustratingly excessive. For instance, individually wrapped potatoes designed for microwave cooking add unnecessary waste. 

Purple Carrot opts for eco-conscious choices like paper-based ClimaCell insulation. However, like Hungryroot, I felt the plastic could be reduced. Also, its Glacier Ice packs are problematic. They’re not drain-safe, recyclable, or easy to dispose of, which is inconvenient for urban customers. 

Both Deliver Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients

Hungryroot’s produce, such as lettuce and baby broccoli, arrived vibrant and crisp. Purple Carrot’s produce comes in clear bags, making it easy to quickly check freshness. Both companies delivered chilled items that were cool, and frozen items remained solid upon arrival.

Meal Prep: Both Services Shine in Different Ways

When it comes to meal prep, Hungryroot and Purple Carrot cater to distinct needs. That makes this category a tie. Whether you prefer effortless convenience or hands-on cooking with detailed recipes, both services offer valuable options to suit your lifestyle.

Ease of Prep or Hands-on Recipes?

Hungryroot prioritizes simplicity with its streamlined recipes. While ingredients aren’t pre-grouped by recipe, the limited items needed for each dish make it easy to grab what you need. This minimalistic approach is great for confident cooks who like to improvise. But it may be less appealing to beginners who prefer step-by-step guidance.

Purple Carrot, on the other hand, is all about the hands-on experience. Ingredients are grouped by recipe for easy organization, but you’ll spend more time chopping and prepping since nothing is pre-cut or pre-portioned. It’s perfect if you enjoy diving into a more detailed cooking process.

Prepared Meals for Busy Days

Both services offer prepared meals for those seeking maximum convenience. Hungryroot includes a selection of ready-to-eat meals in its grocery section, providing simple heat-and-eat options alongside its meal kits. 

Purple Carrot offers prepared meals that are plant-based and nutritious. These are ready to microwave or freeze for later use. Both excel in this area, catering to busy schedules with minimal effort.

Check Cooking Times & Recipes

Hungryroot is pretty accurate with its time estimates. However, adding a few extra minutes for prep and cleaning may be realistic. Purple Carrot’s time estimates don’t include prep time. This means a 30-minute recipe might take around 45 minutes unless you’re a speedy chopper.

Hungryroot keeps its recipes simple and straightforward, but the lack of depth or visual aids might challenge those new to cooking. Purple Carrot excels in this area with its detailed, organized recipe booklets. These are packed with helpful tips and preparation techniques.

My Overall Cooking Experience

Hungryroot is ideal for quick, no-fuss meals, offering simplicity that suits confident cooks but may challenge beginners. Purple Carrot provides a more immersive, plant-based experience, with vibrant dishes that reward the extra effort. Both services excel in different ways, catering to varied priorities.

Customer Support: Purple Carrot Sets the Gold Standard

Purple Carrot takes the lead thanks to its efficient live chat system. It has responsive agents and an intuitive approach to handling customer queries. While Hungryroot provides decent support, Purple Carrot's user-friendly tools, helpful agents, and reliable communication channels take it to the next level.

Both services make their customer support sections easy to find. But Purple Carrot edges ahead with a chat icon prominently displayed on every page. Hungryroot requires navigating to the Help Center to locate its contact options, which is less direct.

FAQ Sections & Email Support

Both offer detailed FAQ sections that are up-to-date and searchable. Purple Carrot’s FAQ covers niche topics like ingredient substitutions and recycling, making it particularly useful for plant-based cooking. 

Both services provide email support, but the experience differs. Hungryroot uses a contact form and responds promptly. Purple Carrot also offers email support but integrates it seamlessly with its live chat. You’ll get a log of your chat conversation via email for follow-up.

Purple Carrot’s Chatbot Has More Functionality 

Purple Carrot excels in live chat functionality. Its chatbot efficiently collects basic information before quickly connecting you to a real person, avoiding frustrating delays. 

By contrast, Hungryroot’s chatbot handles simple queries adequately. Also, it doesn't connect you to a human agent directly. You’ll need to use the contact form instead.

Staff Responsiveness

Purple Carrot’s support team shines with friendly and thorough responses. Agents consistently addressed my complex ingredient and recipe queries without hesitation. This gave me a really positive impression.

Pricing: Purple Carrot’s Pricing Is More Straightforward 

Purple Carrot’s transparent pricing structure makes it the winner in this category. Unlike Hungryroot’s points-based system, Purple Carrot charges per meal, allowing you to easily calculate costs. 

Meal kits with Purple Carrot start at $11 per serving, while prepared meals cost $13 each. Shipping is free for orders over $100, with a $10 fee for smaller orders, making it simple to understand your total costs upfront. If you don’t meet the free shipping threshold, you can easily add a few grocery items to your order. 

Hungryroot uses a points-based system. This determines how many meals and groceries you can include in your box. For example, after applying a discount, I paid around $96 for 6 dinners, each with 2 servings. Without the discount, the total cost would have been over $130. 

While this system offers flexibility, it can be challenging to estimate your total cost until checkout. Shipping costs are more straightforward: orders over $70 ship for free, while smaller orders incur a $6.99 delivery fee.

Both services offer discounts for new customers. Refund policies also differ slightly; Purple Carrot doesn’t offer an explicit guarantee but has a responsive customer support team to address any issues, while Hungryroot features a “Happiness Guarantee,” allowing first-time customers to request a refund within 7 days if unsatisfied.

Hungryroot vs. Purple Carrot – Pros & Cons

Hungryroot

Pros

• Combines meal kits and groceries for flexibility

• Quick, no-fuss meal options

• Free shipping on orders over $70

Cons

• Points system complicates costs

• Recipes too basic for experienced cooks

• Limited help from chatbot support

Purple Carrot

Pros

• Detailed recipes for culinary exploration

• Transparent pricing structure

• Offers Jumpstart Program for beginners

Cons

• Requires more prep and effort

• Shipping fee for smaller orders

• Meal kit time estimates can be optimistic

Hungryroot vs. Purple Carrot – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Purple Carrot

After testing out both services, Purple Carrot wins. This is thanks to its clear pricing, creative meals, and plant-based focus. Its range of meal kits and ready-to-eat options cater to those looking for variety while supporting a healthy, plant-based lifestyle.

Purple Carrot stands out with its emphasis on culinary exploration. Its detailed recipe booklets help you expand your cooking skills, making it a great option for those wanting to try new ingredients. The Jumpstart Program is also an easy way to begin a plant-based diet with convenient, ready-to-eat meals.

Hungryroot, on the other hand, is ideal for those seeking quick meals and grocery flexibility. The points system offers customization but can make pricing less predictable. It’s great for those who value convenience but may not be the best choice for those who want more detailed cooking experiences.

If you’re looking for convenience, Hungryroot is a great choice. But if you prefer a richer cooking experience with a focus on plant-based meals, Purple Carrot is the better option. For more plant-forward choices, check out our guide on the best meal delivery services for vegetarians.

Ultimately, this comparison was pretty close. I can definitely see the pros and cons of each service. Your choice depends on whether you prefer culinary adventure or simplicity. However, if you're following a vegan diet, Purple Carrot is a no-brainer with its fully plant-based meals and fresh, nutritious ingredients.

FAQ

Is Purple Carrot worth it?

Yes, Purple Carrot is worth it overall. It offers a well-rounded meal delivery service with plant-based options, variety, and transparent pricing. Its culinary focus and quality ingredients make it a great choice for those seeking healthy, creative meals.

Are Hungryroot and Purple Carrot organic?

Neither service is fully organic, but both prioritize high-quality, fresh ingredients. Purple Carrot focuses on using non-GMO and organic produce where possible. Hungryroot also sources ingredients carefully, and you can search for organic ingredients using the filter.

Which is cheaper, Hungryroot or Purple Carrot?

It's difficult to compare the pricing directly, but Purple Carrot offers a simplified pricing structure with meal kits starting at around $11 per serving. In contrast, Hungryroot uses a points system, which can make pricing more complex, but after discounts, it averages around $8–$12 per serving.

Do Hungryroot and Purple Carrot have prepared meals?

Yes, both services offer prepared meals. Purple Carrot has a solid selection of Ready to Eat meals, while Hungryroot provides quick, ready-to-heat options in addition to its meal kits. This makes meal prep on busy nights a breeze.