Marley Spoon vs. Sunbasket 2023: Which Comes Out on Top?

When it comes to Marley Spoon vs. Sunbasket, there’s a lot to unpack. They are 2 of the biggest names in the industry right now, so knowing which comes out on top isn’t as simple as it seems. Fortunately, I’ve made it my mission to help you discover the truth. I’ll reveal the secrets of both of these companies in this comprehensive review.

I’ve conducted detailed research into both of these meal delivery services. I wanted to see which offered the best product and service overall. I’ve compared pricing, menu variety, prep times (and clean-up!), customization options, customer service, and more.

Though close, the winner is Marley Spoon. It’s less expensive overall and has a larger number of meals per week. It has ever-expanding customization options, better customer support compared to Sunbasket, and the menu is getting bigger all the time.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Marley Spoon

When it comes to menu variety, it’s not even close. In terms of the number of meal choices per week, Marley Spoon clearly comes out on top. It offers over 100 weekly options, including meal kits and prepared meals, whereas Sunbasket only offers around 30 or so options.

Sunbasket customers can choose from around 20 meal kits and 10 prepared meals every week. Options include microwave-ready and grill-ready meals. 

If you’re not keen on cooking, Marley Spoon might not be the ideal choice. It does offer around 2 to 3 prepared meals per week, but these are more like sides than full meals. If you were wanting a large menu of much faster prepared meals, I’d look at Factor instead.

However, I do like that Marley Spoon’s menu is mostly made up of fast meals. About half the menu is made up of meal kits that take less than 30 minutes, and one-third is made up of one-pot meals. Sunbasket has some recipes marked Speedy, which take around 20 minutes to prepare. Other recipes can take up to 45 minutes.

When it comes to the variety of cuisines, it’s a pretty close call. Both meal delivery services have plenty of options, including standard American fare, Italian, and Mediterranean dishes, which is great if you want to experiment with new flavors and liven up your weekly menu.

Both offer add-ons and extras such as desserts. On the surface, it appears that the selection from Sunbasket is better than Marley Spoon. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that many of the categories only have a couple of options, and the majority of the add-ons are actually protein packs.

Marley Spoon’s extras are limited to desserts and meat/protein add-ons, but you do get more choices. Each category of extras features a number of different options you can choose from each week.

A great feature shared by both Sunbasket and Marley Spoon is the kid-friendly meal options on offer. Sunbasket’s Family Menu is designed with healthy, kid-friendly recipes in mind. Marley Spoon offers kid-friendly recipes such as the Cheesy Spinach Pie with Crunchy Filo Topping and family boxes designed to feed 2 adults and 2 young children.

Meal Customization

Winner: Sunbasket

There’s a clear winner when it comes to meal customization, and that’s Sunbasket. Unlike Marley Spoon, Sunbasket offers lots of protein substitutions, like switching out chicken or beef for lamb and a variety of fish.

Marley Spoon also lets you customize your meals – you just can’t see the options before signing up. You can mix and match sides, proteins, and extra items depending on the meal, and the customization varies for each dish.

For instance, you can replace jasmine rice with pre-cooked rice, or even add a dessert to your order. You also have the choice to replace regular proteins with organic, or even wild-caught or plant-based options. It's all about making the meal suit your taste and dietary needs.

You can specify any allergies/dislikes during the Sunbasket signup process. It also offers gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free options.

It’s important to note, however, that all recipes are prepared in a facility that handles allergens. Even these options may not be suitable for those with severe allergies or intolerances like celiac disease.

Both menus cater to specific dietary preferences, but, once again, Sunbasket offers more variety. Marley Spoon’s website provides tags like carb-conscious, low-calorie, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian to help you identify which menu options suit your dietary needs. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to filter the menu using these tags, which I found a bit frustrating.

Sunbasket offers 10 meal plans to choose from. Each meal plan is dedicated to a specific dietary need such as pescatarian or paleo. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that you can filter the menu using really easy-to-use Sort dinners option (which is a big help). You’re unlikely to find any keto or paleo-friendly meals on the Marley Spoon menu.

If customization is a priority for you then Sunbasket is a great option. You can specify your dietary needs during the sign-up process and filter for allergens. There’s also a good range of substitution options too.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: It’s a tie

Marley Spoon and Sunbasket are quite equally matched in this category. Both services have a minimum order of 2 meal kits for 2 people per week (Sunbasket also has the option of 4 single-serving prepared meals per week).

Marley Spoon has a greater maximum order of 6 meals for 4 people. That’s more than Sunbasket’s 5 meals for 4 people.

Both Marley Spoon and Sunbasket come with pretty good delivery options that include flexible days. Marley Spoon offers delivery 7 days per week, but Sunbasket only delivers from Sunday to Thursday. Not the end of the world – but having those extra few delivery days could be convenient.

With Sunbasket, it’s easy to make changes to your weekly meals and deliveries or skip a week. Just navigate to My Menu in your account and click on Schedule. Note that all changes must be made by Noon PST (or 3 PM EST) on the Wednesday before your next delivery.

You can edit your orders with Marley Spoon by logging into your account, navigating to Orders, and selecting Edit recipes.

Marley Spoon customers can reschedule a delivery day for 1 specific order (provided the order isn’t already in progress), or change their preferred delivery day for all future deliveries. This can be done in a few clicks by navigating to the Edit Delivery Slot in your online account.

Once your box arrives, you’ll have everything you need inside. Sunbasket boxes are filled with either prepared meals that are ready to pop in the microwave or meal kits comprising fresh organic produce, proteins, and sauces. Boxes arrive cold-packed at your doorstep with easy-to-follow cooking or heating instructions.

Marley Spoon recipes come with all the key ingredients pre-packaged in the right quantities. However, you may need some extra pantry staples on hand like vinegar, oil, butter, milk, flour, eggs, salt, and pepper.

Both Sunbasket and Marley Spoon boxes are recyclable in any curbside paper recycling bin. Inside each box are additional types of packaging, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that both Marley Spoon and Sunbasket have ensured that these too can be recycled according to regional guidelines.

Marley Spoon’s horizontal box dividers are SFI certified. Its ice packs, liners, paper bags, and individual ingredient packaging are all recyclable as well. 

Sunbasket’s paper and denim insulation, ice packs, trays, containers, and films, can all be recycled either curbside or at nearby drop-off locations.

Both companies give extensive recycling information on their respective websites, so it’s easy to recycle responsibly. I really enjoyed that both Marley Spoon and Sunbasket suggested ideas for reusing their packaging as well as recycling options.

Meal Prep

Winner: Marley Spoon

In terms of meal prep, Marley Spoon comes out on top for convenience and flexibility. It offers a variety of fast meal kits and one-pot options for those nights you just don’t want to spend lots of time cooking.

Its meal kits also come with pre-portioned ingredients sorted for easy storage. All meals can be prepped in 6 simple steps, accompanied by precise instructions and helpful photos to guide you along the way.

Marley Spoon recommends eating its meals in a set order, so they’re eaten when most fresh. It suggests consuming seafood-containing meals 1-2 days after delivery, followed by ground meat and chicken meals within 2-3 days, and the remaining meat and veggie meals within 3-5 days following delivery.

Sunbasket offers prepared meals and meal kits – but options are more limited compared to Marley Spoon. Overall, the sheer number of options makes Marley Spoon the clear winner.

Sunbasket’s prepared meals arrive fresh, not frozen, and are easy to heat in as little as 4 minutes. Some meals can also be frozen so that you can eat them at a later date. All the information is on the individual meals, so you know which ones can be frozen.

Like Marley Spoon, it also recommends the order in which you should consume the meals. For example, it’s suggested that meal kits with fresh seafood should be consumed first, followed by Fresh & Ready meals.

Sunbasket also recommends eating Pre-Prepped Meal Kits before Classic Meal Kits. All Fresh & Ready meals come individually packaged in oven-safe trays, so you don’t even need to use your own.

Customer Support

Winner: Marley Spoon

Both Marley Spoon and Sunbasket offer support via several channels. Both offer live chat, phone support, and the option to reach out via online forms. Sunbasket also offers texting. And, both offer customers a comprehensive set of FAQ.

Though, I must say that I was really impressed by Marley Spoon’s live chat support. The agent connected with me super quickly and answered my question thoroughly. 

On the other hand, Sunbasket’s live chat support agent never connected with me. I waited for well over 10 minutes, at which point I gave up. This was a disappointing experience in a day and age where agents connect virtually instantaneously.

Pricing

Winner: Marley Spoon

On average, Marley Spoon’s meals are less expensive than Sunbasket's. Marley Spoon’s meals start at $2.99 per serving, whereas Sunbasket’s lowest-priced offering comes in at $4.27 per serving.

With both services, pricing will vary depending on the plans and add-ons you opt for. For example, Marley Spoon’s most expensive plan is a 4-serving family plan with 6 recipes per week, which costs $220.55 ($9.19 per serving) plus the standard $11.99 shipping charge applied to all deliveries. Any add-ons and snacks can be added to your box for an additional fee.

In comparison, Sunbasket’s biggest plan is based on a 4-serving, 5-recipe plan. The cost depends on the individual meals chosen. The prices generally range from $11.49 to $17.99 per serving, but those marked Chef’s Table could be as much as $25.99 per serving. There’s a $9.99 shipping cost to be added as well. Not only is the number of servings lower, but the cost is higher per serving.

Marley Spoon vs. Sunbasket – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Marley Spoon

Marley Spoon is the overall winner. In my comparison, while both services have their merits, Marley Spoon edges out due to its vast menu. The range of choices ensures you won't run out of culinary adventures anytime soon.

Its meal kits prioritize convenience. With a plethora of fast meal kits and one-pot meals, Marley Spoon simplifies the cooking process. If you're pressed for time, these options can be particularly handy.

There are plenty of extras and add-ons at Marley Spoon. It offers a broad range of sides, snacks, and desserts to complement your main courses. While Sunbasket does provide additional options, they don't quite match the range that Marley Spoon brings to the table.

Marley Spoon is gentler on your wallet. On average, its pricing is more competitive than Sunbasket's. This might make a difference if budget considerations play a pivotal role in your decision-making process.

Customer support at Marley Spoon is commendable. Whether you have queries about your order or need assistance beforehand, its robust customer service, including a responsive live chat, is there to guide you. This contrasts with Sunbasket’s live chat, which doesn’t match up to Marley Spoon’s.

FAQ

Do Marley Spoon and Sunbasket offer the same types of meals?

Yes, both offer meal kits and prepared meals, but the number of prepared meals at Sunbasket is higher. If you’re looking for microwave and oven-ready meals as well as meal kits, then Sunbasket is a better choice. Marley Spoon has a much bigger selection of meal kits.

Do Marley Spoon and Sunbasket cost the same? 

It’s important to note, however, that prices at Marley Spoon will vary depending on the plan you choose, the number of people you want to feed, and any additional add-ons you add to your order. At Sunbasket, the price seems to depend more on the individual meals chosen.

Is Marley Spoon good for weight loss?  

That said, Marley Spoon is as good or bad as any other food for weight loss. However, it may actually help you since portions are already planned out for you, making it harder to overeat.