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Hello Fresh Review

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Meal Delivery Company Reviews

Hello Fresh Review 3.5 Star Rating

Hello Fresh

3.5 Star Rating
  • Meal kit service
  • 6 menu options: Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick and Easy, Pescatarian
  • Hero discount of 50% on first box and 10% on all subsequent boxes for one year
  • "A" rated by the BBB
  • In business since 2011

HelloFresh may very well be the most popular meal kit worldwide, with a whopping 1 billion meals delivered last year alone. It started in Germany in 2011, expanded to a few other countries in 2012, and hit the US in 2013 - acquiring several other services along the way (like EveryPlate, Factor, and Green Chef, who you will also find in our reviews).

Provide your email and mobile number if you want a discount

As you shop on the HelloFresh site, you might get a "reveal your deal" offer. Ours gave us 16 free meals across 7 boxes and free shipping on our first delivery, but we had to enter not only our email address but our phone number. Not our favorite marketing strategy, but no one said we had to provide our actual email and number... The promo was automatically updated at the top of the site, and there was a helpful scroll bar that showed us exactly how much each of the seven boxes would cost.

Excellent variety in recipe choices

Before you get too far into the ordering process, you should take a look at the menus posted to the site. We really like that HelloFresh lets customers see not only the current week's options but also more than a month in advance: no nasty surprises here. The variety is awesome: more than 50 recipes to choose from, across six different menu categories. These categories include:

  • Meat & Veggies
  • Veggie
  • Family Friendly
  • Fit & Wholesome
  • Quick and Easy
  • Pescatarian

Each recipe shows upfront how long it will take to make (usually 10-40 minutes), if it's spicy, and if it's a "Hall of Fame" recipe that was so popular they've brought it back across several weeks of menus.

Some recipes are premium - with a surcharge per serving

When you get to the stage of selecting your actual meals, watch out for "Premium Picks" . These recipes come with a per-serving surcharge because they are "top of the line recipes with the highest quality ingredients" . Sometimes these may be labeled as Taste of Summer (or another seasonal tagline), Cookout Collection, or Date Night.

No filters for unwanted ingredients (like allergens)

Another factor to keep in mind is that it's up to you to avoid any allergens. HelloFresh doesn't let you indicate any ingredients to filter out of your selected meals (shellfish or peanuts), so you'll need to go through each recipe and make sure not to choose any that might be problematic.

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Most meals are about $8/serving

As you configure your HelloFresh boxes, you can indicate which recipes you'd like to see first in your list, from those menu categories we mentioned - but you're never limited to just those options and will always see the full list of available meals for any given week. You'll also select how many meals you'd like each week (from 2-6) and whether you want meals for two or four people. It's not always clear how much you're paying per serving, especially when you've got a discount applied, but expect that most meals work out to around $8/person.

"A" from the BBB - but 850+ complaints

With HelloFresh being one of the original meal kit delivery services, you might be curious how they measure up reputation-wise. As far as the Better Business Bureau goes, this company gets an "A" rating. We thought that was surprising, given that there were 400+ complaints filed there in the last year and a total of nearly 900 over the most recent three-year period. All of those issues received a response, but there's no way to tell the specifics because it's always a canned "We have reached out directly to the customer" message on the BBB complaints.

Numerous five-star reviews, but declining in recent months?

On a more positive note, almost 25,000 customers give HelloFresh a perfect five-star score, and over 85% of subscribers would describe the service as "great" or even "excellent" . We noticed that the more recent reviews tended to be negative, though, leaving us wondering if there's been a decline in service lately - similar to the trend of the BBB complaints. People often said that the first box was fine, but later deliveries started to have missing ingredients, veggies frozen solid, no recipes included, and other issues that led to disappointment.

Not really keeping up with the competition

We've dropped HelloFresh's rating by a half-star since our last review. The fact of the matter is, the meal delivery marketplace is full of competition, and more recent subscriber feedback gives the impression that maybe this service isn't quite holding up to the pressure of its rivals. In fact, HelloFresh even has a sister service (that you'll find under EveryPlate in our review) with a better track record - and much lower prices. You may want to give a different meal kit a go before committing to HelloFresh.

Which Meal Delivery Company is the Best?

Isn't it amazing how many ways we have to make our lives easier, from Instacart grocery deliveries to DoorDash dinners from our favorite restaurants? Meal delivery services fall in the middle of that spectrum: you save the time and hassle of planning a menu and buying the ingredients, while not spending tons of money on weekly (or nightly) take-out meals and the corresponding gratuities. These services include heat-and-eat meals that arrive either fresh or frozen, as well as kits that come with all the ingredients necessary to make a gourmet-style meal right at home.

You may have noticed that meal delivery recipe choices are abundant. From classic, hearty favorites like chicken parm and burgers to exotic dishes from around the world, there's something for everyone. Vegan? No problem. Following a special diet for health or medical reasons, like keto or diabetic-friendly? You've got possibilities!

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Meal Delivery Company FAQ

With meal delivery, it is most common to have lunches and dinners delivered to your door. However, some companies give you the full spread of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day of the week! Different companies specialize in specific diets whether it be plant-based, gluten-free, vegetarian, or just an overall balanced diet. Some are reheat-and-eat, while others come with all the ingredients and instructions needed to create your meal from scratch.
The idea of a meal delivery service is to have a variety of meals pre-planned for the week that arrive together. Most companies have a minimum order requirement, so you'll need to at least get around 4 meals per week. You can skip weeks or plan weeks in advance, whatever works best in your schedule! Buying one meal at a time here and there isn't the point of a meal delivery service; however, you could order just a few meals and space them out during the week so that you don't use them all consecutively.
On average, you'll find that meal delivery services range from about $7 to $12 per serving. Depending on how many members are in your family and how many meals you select each week, you can calculate your total cost. You can expect to pay about $20 per week for the delivery of the meals on top of that. Overall, meal delivery is a great deal when you consider skipping a trip to the grocery store and having flavorful, healthy meals ready for you every day!
Having meals delivered to your home is one of the best ways to stick to a healthy diet! If you're trying to cut out sugar, gluten, fats, dairy, or any other type of food, you can choose the meal delivery service that will make it easy for you to have nutritious food on-hand for all your meals. If you are wanting to try a plant-based diet, but you aren't sure where to start, meal delivery companies do all the work for you. It also helps you avoid grabbing unnecessary junk foods off the shelf when you're browsing at the grocery store!
There are many reasons meal delivery is a fantastic option for individuals and families. Having your food planned ahead of time saves you the stress of having to figure out what to eat all day. It also helps you avoid going out to eat as often because you have a ready-to-go meal as soon as you're hungry. Having a variety of new meals is a great way to get introduced to new recipes and foods, and to make sure you are getting the nutrients your body needs from a well-balanced diet.
You get to choose what you want in your meal delivery from a variety of options each week. Companies know that not everyone likes the same foods and some families have kids (or adults!) who are picky eaters, so each week you'll get to see new menu items and select the ones you want to try. Sometimes you'll be able to choose these a few weeks in advance, so you won't have to go through the menus too frequently.
All of the meals you receive come in a nicely-packaged box that keeps food fresh, even if it is left outside for a few hours. You'll find dry ice containers and vacuum-sealed food and/or ingredients to preserve the meals while they are in transit. Most companies let you track your deliveries, so you know right when your food will arrive.
Yes! If you're headed out of town for a week or two and don't want your meals delivered, you can do that. If you're wanting to stop altogether or readjust your delivery schedule, it's no problem at all. Make sure you read the policies and details for subscription adjustments when you sign up with a meal delivery service.
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Continued from above...

Many of these services are subscription-based: you choose the types of meals you prefer (or pick specific entrees), how many servings in each one, and how many meals you'd like in a week, and your deliveries will come like clockwork unless you pause your membership, skip a shipment, or cancel altogether. If that's not your preference, there are some meal delivery companies that let you place your orders whenever you like, with no ongoing commitment.

With almost every meal delivery service, you'll get big discounts on your first order (and sometimes several ones thereafter) - you could pay less than $2 per meal at the start. Just be aware that the regular pricing is higher, typically ranging from $6 to $20 per serving; you'll pay more for premium options with higher-quality proteins and ingredients (maybe for a special occasion?).

It's easy to get overwhelmed as you try to figure out which service to pick. Want some help? Here are a few factors to guide your decision:

  • Preferred Meal Type. Do you want a meal kit or something that comes prepared and ready to heat (or reheat, if it is delivered frozen)? If you'd like a mixture of both, a few meal delivery services give you that flexibility.
  • Menu Options. What types of recipes can you choose from? Does the variety fit what you and your household will actually eat? Will the menu accommodate your dietary needs, food sensitivities, or other preferences?
  • Flexibility. How easy is it to start and stop your deliveries? Can you customize your meals by swapping one protein for another, changing the side dish, or adding extras like smoothies or coffee? What if you want just one or two meals one week and six the next?
  • Value. What will you get for what you spend? Is it worth the money compared to how you usually shop and eat? What discounts are available, to make your first try more affordable?
  • Reputation. Meal delivery companies are popping up all the time. What do other customers say about their experience? Have the deliveries arrived in good condition? And if not, how has the service handled the problem?

To help you simplify your life with regular meal deliveries, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular services available today. We're confident that this will make it a breeze to choose the one that's right for you. Bon appetit!

Compare Meal Delivery Companies

Select any 2 Meal Delivery Companies to compare them head to head

best-meal-delivery-services
  • Sunbasket
  • Top Chef Meals
  • EveryPlate
  • Dinnerly
  • Gobble
  • Fresh N Lean
  • Home Chef
  • Hello Fresh
  • Freshly
  • Magic Kitchen
  • Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
  • Factor
  • Personal Chef To Go
  • Blue Apron
  • Diet To Go
  • Bistro MD
  • Green Chef
Sunbasket vs Top Chef Meals Sunbasket vs EveryPlate Sunbasket vs Dinnerly Sunbasket vs Gobble Sunbasket vs Fresh N Lean Sunbasket vs Home Chef Sunbasket vs Hello Fresh Sunbasket vs Freshly Sunbasket vs Magic Kitchen Sunbasket vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Sunbasket vs Factor Sunbasket vs Personal Chef To Go Sunbasket vs Blue Apron Sunbasket vs Diet To Go Sunbasket vs Bistro MD Sunbasket vs Green Chef Top Chef Meals vs EveryPlate Top Chef Meals vs Dinnerly Top Chef Meals vs Gobble Top Chef Meals vs Fresh N Lean Top Chef Meals vs Home Chef Top Chef Meals vs Hello Fresh Top Chef Meals vs Freshly Top Chef Meals vs Magic Kitchen Top Chef Meals vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Top Chef Meals vs Factor Top Chef Meals vs Personal Chef To Go Top Chef Meals vs Blue Apron Top Chef Meals vs Diet To Go Top Chef Meals vs Bistro MD Top Chef Meals vs Green Chef EveryPlate vs Dinnerly EveryPlate vs Gobble EveryPlate vs Fresh N Lean EveryPlate vs Home Chef EveryPlate vs Hello Fresh EveryPlate vs Freshly EveryPlate vs Magic Kitchen EveryPlate vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon EveryPlate vs Factor EveryPlate vs Personal Chef To Go EveryPlate vs Blue Apron EveryPlate vs Diet To Go EveryPlate vs Bistro MD EveryPlate vs Green Chef Dinnerly vs Gobble Dinnerly vs Fresh N Lean Dinnerly vs Home Chef Dinnerly vs Hello Fresh Dinnerly vs Freshly Dinnerly vs Magic Kitchen Dinnerly vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Dinnerly vs Factor Dinnerly vs Personal Chef To Go Dinnerly vs Blue Apron Dinnerly vs Diet To Go Dinnerly vs Bistro MD Dinnerly vs Green Chef Gobble vs Fresh N Lean Gobble vs Home Chef Gobble vs Hello Fresh Gobble vs Freshly Gobble vs Magic Kitchen Gobble vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Gobble vs Factor Gobble vs Personal Chef To Go Gobble vs Blue Apron Gobble vs Diet To Go Gobble vs Bistro MD Gobble vs Green Chef Fresh N Lean vs Home Chef Fresh N Lean vs Hello Fresh Fresh N Lean vs Freshly Fresh N Lean vs Magic Kitchen Fresh N Lean vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Fresh N Lean vs Factor Fresh N Lean vs Personal Chef To Go Fresh N Lean vs Blue Apron Fresh N Lean vs Diet To Go Fresh N Lean vs Bistro MD Fresh N Lean vs Green Chef Home Chef vs Hello Fresh Home Chef vs Freshly Home Chef vs Magic Kitchen Home Chef vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Home Chef vs Factor Home Chef vs Personal Chef To Go Home Chef vs Blue Apron Home Chef vs Diet To Go Home Chef vs Bistro MD Home Chef vs Green Chef Hello Fresh vs Freshly Hello Fresh vs Magic Kitchen Hello Fresh vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Hello Fresh vs Factor Hello Fresh vs Personal Chef To Go Hello Fresh vs Blue Apron Hello Fresh vs Diet To Go Hello Fresh vs Bistro MD Hello Fresh vs Green Chef Freshly vs Magic Kitchen Freshly vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Freshly vs Factor Freshly vs Personal Chef To Go Freshly vs Blue Apron Freshly vs Diet To Go Freshly vs Bistro MD Freshly vs Green Chef Magic Kitchen vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Magic Kitchen vs Factor Magic Kitchen vs Personal Chef To Go Magic Kitchen vs Blue Apron Magic Kitchen vs Diet To Go Magic Kitchen vs Bistro MD Magic Kitchen vs Green Chef Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Factor Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Personal Chef To Go Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Diet To Go Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Bistro MD Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Green Chef Factor vs Personal Chef To Go Factor vs Blue Apron Factor vs Diet To Go Factor vs Bistro MD Factor vs Green Chef Personal Chef To Go vs Blue Apron Personal Chef To Go vs Diet To Go Personal Chef To Go vs Bistro MD Personal Chef To Go vs Green Chef Blue Apron vs Diet To Go Blue Apron vs Bistro MD Blue Apron vs Green Chef Diet To Go vs Bistro MD Diet To Go vs Green Chef Bistro MD vs Green Chef
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