Meal kits promise convenience, variety, and healthier eating, but if you’ve ever felt stuck with soggy fries or menus that don’t fit your diet, you’re not alone. HelloFresh is popular, but it isn’t always the best fit for everyone. I tested five alternatives to determine which services truly deliver for individuals with special diets, tight schedules, or varying budgets.
In this guide, you will learn:
- The five best HelloFresh alternatives for different dietary needs.
- Key strengths, weaknesses, and sample meals from each service.
- How do these services compare directly with HelloFresh?
- Which option is best for your budget, lifestyle, or nutrition goals?
The 5 HelloFresh alternatives worth testing
- Purple Carrot —Best for Plant-Based Cooking
- Splendid Spoon — Best for Plant-Based & On-the-Go
- Green Chef — Best for Organic & Specialty Diets
- Sunbasket — Best for Variety & Health-Conscious Eaters
- Factor — Best for Ready-to-Eat Convenience
Quick-glance: test results overview
| Rank | Service | Description | Pros and cons | Best For | Price Range |
| 1 | Purple Carrot | Plant-based meal kits with bold flavors | Pros: Vegan-friendly Cons: Higher prep time | Plant-based cooks | ~$11–13.25 (per serving) |
| 2 | Splendid Spoon | Plant-based bowls, smoothies, soups | Pros: Vegan-friendly Cons: Limited variety | Plant-based eaters | ~$9.99–13.49 (per meal) |
| 3 | Green Chef | Certified organic with keto, paleo, vegan plans | Pros: Organic produceCons: Pricier | Specialty diets | ~$11.99–13.49 (per serving) |
| 4 | Sunbasket | Wide menu, health-focused meals with extras | Pros: Big varietyCons: Delivery fees | Variety seekers | ~$9.99–16 (per serving; premium up to ~$31.99 |
| 5 | Factor | Chef-prepared, fully cooked meals | Pros: Ready to eatCons: Higher cost | Busy professionals | ~$11–15 (per serving, depending on plan) |
How I chose
Here’s how I ran my little meal kit experiment:
- Testing period: 3 months (January–March 2025). Long enough to spot patterns, not just first impressions.
- Meal orders: 4–6 meals from each service, covering vegan, keto, and gluten-free options.
- Criteria I scored:
- Taste (if it’s bland, it’s out)
- Ingredient quality (freshness, texture, sourcing)
- Variety (how repetitive or adventurous the menus were)
- Ease of preparation (actual kitchen stress test)
- Packaging (eco-friendly vs. landfill guilt)
- Price (per serving and overall value)
- Customer service (how they handled questions or hiccups)
- Extra step: Photo documentation of each unboxing and meal.
- Taste panel: My family, who gave me unfiltered feedback, sometimes harsher than Yelp.
The 5 HelloFresh alternatives I tested
After three months of taste tests, photo evidence, and more family debates than I expected over “who gets the last bite,” I finally narrowed things down. Each service had its unique offering. Some nailed convenience, others focused on flavor, and a few tried to do it all. Here’s how the five HelloFresh alternatives stacked up in real life:
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is the only major meal kit service that’s 100% plant-based, with no hybrid plans or hiding vegetables behind protein. That clarity makes a difference. It leans into global, inventive vegan cuisine that goes beyond tofu stir-fry. I learned new techniques, from making cashew sauces to mastering spice layering. Nutritionally, it scored high in taste, ingredient freshness, and ease of preparation during testing by Healthline. Overall, a solid 4 out of 5 in their breakdown.
Vegan Options
Purple Carrot lives up to its promise here. I saw 20 weekly dinner options, plus rotating lunches and breakfasts. The flavors felt fresh and well-balanced. We had “very good” or “good” in Consumer Reports’ taste test of a weekly plan. The produce and sauces consistently tasted vibrant; it’s one of the few kits where the veggie content doesn’t feel like filler.
Keto Performance
Keto wasn’t in the cards. Purple Carrot centers around carbs. There are no keto swaps, no low-carb variants. If you’re counting net carbs, this isn’t your kit.
Gluten-Free Options
You can filter for gluten-free/non-GF meals, and many of the dishes fit naturally. That said, there’s no dedicated GF facility, so it’s better suited to gluten-sensitive eaters—not those with celiac.
Price Breakdown
- $11.00–$13.25 per serving
- Meal plans: 2 or 4 servings, 3–4 dinners per week
- Shipping: often waived if your order hits a certain threshold
What I Loved
- Recipes pushed my flavor boundaries in surprisingly manageable ways.
- Ingredient quality was consistently high. The produce stayed fresh.
- Ratings like Consumer Reports’ “very good” on taste and ease backed what I was tasting.
What could be better
- Delivery and customer service can be hit or miss. I saw reviews citing unexpected charges and confusion, leading to skipped orders.
- Packaging leans plastic-heavy. It’s frustrating if you’re leaning eco-conscious.
Sample Meals I Tried
- Cacio e Pepe (dinner): Rich cashew cream made this pasta indulgent without animal products.
- Creamy Coconut Curry Udon (lunch): Aroma-forward, silky, with noodles that held their bite.
- Black Bean Chilaquiles (breakfast): Crunchy and spicy, making breakfast feel like lunch.
Best For
If you’re vegan, or at least vegetable-curious, and want meals that feel inventive rather than checklisted, Purple Carrot is my go-to recommendation.
Splendid Spoon
Splendid Spoon leans fully into convenience. There’s no cooking or chopping. They offer ready-made breakfasts and lunches delivered at your door. That clarity alone is refreshing. Every offering is 100% plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of artificial sweeteners. It feels designed for people who want healthy, ready-to-eat food without having to stir a pot. You choose from smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodles, and dishes, and your box arrives frozen and ready in minutes.
Vegan Options
Everything they offer is vegan by design, with 50+ menu options each week across categories like smoothies, bowls, noodles, and soups. Healthline notes the meals stay flavorful even though they’re convenient, and delivery is impressively consistent across the U.S.
Keto Performance
No keto ambitions here. Everything trades on convenience, not macro balancing. If low-carb or keto is your focus, Splendid Spoon isn’t built for it.
Gluten-Free Options
All offerings are gluten-free, which is rare and useful. You don’t need to filter anything because every soup, smoothie, or bowl is automatically safe from that standpoint. Still, there’s no dedicated GF facility, which means it may not be entirely celiac-safe, but it’s solid for anyone less sensitive.
Price Breakdown
- Per-meal cost ranges from $9.00 to $13.49, depending on meal type and box size.
- Plans: 7 to 21 meals per week—more meals equals lower per-serving cost, sometimes going down to around $9.
- Shipping: Typically $12.99, but waived on orders above 10 meals.
What I Loved
- The “grab-and-go” freshness is unmatched—no kitchen time.
- Eco-friendly packaging emerged strong. There’s dry ice, recyclable boxes, and durable containers.
- Wide variety of vegan/gluten-free options across meal types keeps boredom at bay.
What Could Be Better
- Pricey, especially for smoothies. PCMag flagged smoothies as the most expensive part
- Mixed customer reviews on service. Some praise tasty meals; others report shipping issues or poor support
Sample Meals I Tried
- Kimchi Fried Quinoa (dish): Tangy, a little spicy, and filling.
- Coconut Curry Rice (dish): Cozy, coconut-rich, and comforting.
- Tomato Quinoa Chili Soup (soup): Savory, warm, and healthy—perfect cold-day fuel.
Best For
Anyone who wants ready-to-eat, plant-based, gluten-free meals for busy mornings or lunches, especially if cooking isn’t your jam and you value variety more than macro control.
Green Chef
Green Chef is very deliberate about its dietary focus. Unlike HelloFresh’s grab-bag of choices, Green Chef offers distinct plans for vegan, keto, gluten-free, and yes, even paleo and protein-packed. All while using USDA-certified organic ingredients and clean-label standards.
Vegan Options
Under the Plant-Based/Vegan plan, I picked from over 80 weekly recipes and got as many as four dinners per week for 2–6 people. Ingredients were pre-measured; recipes straightforward. The produce felt vibrant, and dishes felt thoughtful, not just salads, but globally inspired meals.
Keto Performance
Green Chef doesn’t shy away from keto. Their Keto plan delivers up to 10 low-carb meals weekly, all organic, with macros in line with keto ratios. I tried their Roasted Fennel-Cumin Shrimp with cauliflower rice, and even labeled keto skeptics around me nodded appreciatively.
Gluten-Free Options
Gluten-free is a fully certified plan. They offer 20+ new GF meals per week with dedicated kitting operations that meet strict safety standards. I made Grilled Chicken with Herb Tahini Cauliflower Tabbouleh. It was well-balanced, rich, and gluten-safe.
Price Breakdown
- Typical cost: $11.99–$13.49 per serving, with family plans dropping nearer to $10.99.
- Vegan plan can start around $10.49 in larger boxes.
- Premium meals (e.g., elevated proteins) tack on $7–$10 more per serving.
- Shipping: flat $9.99–$10.99 per box, regardless of plan.
What I Loved
- Clear dietary lanes, including vegan, keto, and they are all backed by organic sourcing and thoughtful execution.
- The gluten-free setup offers real peace of mind. They are not just filtering, but certified practices.
- Strong variety week to week, there’s room to explore without repeating.
What Could Be Better
- Price leans toward premium, especially with smaller boxes or premium proteins.
- Plastic and packaging still pile up. Its sustainable claim runs into reality at the recycling bin.
Sample Meals I Tried
- Maple Cauliflower Power Bowl (vegan): Rainbow quinoa, kale, cranberries, pecans, and green-goddess dressing—bright, balanced, nourishing.
- Roasted Fennel-Cumin Shrimp with cauliflower rice (keto): Textured, fragrant, held up when I mindfully counted carbs.
- Grilled Chicken with Herb Tahini & Cauliflower Tabbouleh (gluten-free): Balanced Middle Eastern flavors, plus that tahini always feels like a luxury.
Best For
Green Chef is for people who mean it about their dietary goals whether that’s vegan clarity, keto macros, or clean gluten-free and don’t mind paying a bit more for quality, variety, and peace of mind.
Sunbasket
Sunbasket felt like a nod toward actual living. They have organic produce, clean ingredients, and a conscience for sustainability. It wasn’t just meal kits, it was an invitation to eat better with less guilt. Sunbasket leans heavily on quality. About 99% of their produce is organic, and they consistently use antibiotic- and hormone-free meat, pasture-raised lamb, and sustainably sourced or wild-caught seafood. Their packaging is thoughtful too, mostly recyclable or compostable, even recycled denim insulation for the cold packs. It feels like a meal kit doing the work without the heavy environmental aftermath.
Vegan Options
Yes, they offer vegan meals, but not a ton. The options are limited to just three or four meals each week, so if you’re vegan and picky, this might feel tight. That said, the options that are there often hit the mark on creativity and flavor.
Keto Performance
Sunbasket doesn’t ignore carb-conscious eaters. Their “Carb-Conscious” plan keeps things under “35g net carbs & at least 10g protein per serving” and includes keto-friendly recipes that still feel full-flavored.
Gluten-Free Options
Gluten-free filters are solid: plenty of recipes across various plans like gluten-free, Mediterranean, or paleo. But Sunbasket doesn’t claim to be celiac-safe. They process everything in the same facility, so cross-contamination remains a risk. If you’re gluten-intolerant but not celiac, it’s probably workable. Otherwise, handle it with care.
Price Breakdown
- Meal kits: $10.99–$12.99 per serving, depending on plan size and servings.
- Ready-to-heat “Fresh & Ready” meals: $9.99–$15 each.
- Shipping: around $7.99–$9.99, often waived on first order or with high minimums.
What I Loved
- Ingredient integrity: The organic produce and sustainably sourced proteins gave me confidence in what I ate.
- Thoughtful packaging: Almost everything is recyclable or compostable, and a clear recycling guide.
- Flexibility: Mixing meal kits with Fresh & Ready options fits weeks when I could cook and others when I couldn’t.
What Could Be Better
- Vegan choices felt too scarce, especially for someone who doesn’t want to rotate the same three dishes.
- Some users flagged ingredient substitutions, like organic items swapped for conventional, and it irked them to pay a premium for organic.
Sample Meals I Tried
- Five-spice Tofu stirfry with flat rice noodles, tomatoes, and bok choy: Bright, colorful, and made my fork happy.
- Latin chicken stew with white beans, green olives, and pumpkin seeds: Zesty and comforting with good depth.
- Thai coconut curry chicken soup: Flavor-forward and unexpected.
Best For
If you’re leaning into healthier eating, organic, sustainable, and still crave variety, Sunbasket fits. Just pace expectations if you’re strictly vegan or need celiac-safe assurances.
Factor
Factor stands out as fully “heat-and-eat.” Their meals are dietitian-designed and unsparingly convenient. You choose from weekly menus that tag options like Keto, Vegan & Veggie, Calorie-Smart, Protein-Plus, and more. All fresh, not frozen, and ready in minutes. It also comes with access to a registered dietitian for a free consult. The service operates nationwide (except in Alaska/Hawaii), and prides itself on responsibly sourced ingredients, thoughtful protein sourcing, and the absence of preservatives.
Vegan options
Yes, there’s a Vegan & Veggie category. But it’s modest. In testing, I noticed most weeks offered just a handful of meat-free meals. Good for occasional plant-based days, less so if that’s your baseline.
Keto performance
Keto gets sincere focus. Meals tagged Keto are generally under 15 g net carbs and packed with good protein and quality fats. It felt tailor-made when I was counting carbs or dodging rice.
Gluten-Free options
There’s no dedicated gluten-free plan. Some meals are naturally GF, but everything’s made in a shared facility, so cross-contamination risk exists. Not ideal for celiac, but workable otherwise.
Price breakdown
- Per serving ranges depending on weekly volume: 6 meals = ~$13.49, scaling down to ~$10.99 when ordering 18 meals.
- Shipping is a flat $10.99–$11 per delivery across most plans.
- Add-ons, like breakfast, snacks, and smoothies, cost extra.
What I loved
- Zero prep, and meals still delivered real food flavors. There was no soggy microwaved mush.
- Dietitian-approved menus with clear macro frameworks felt smart, not punishing.
- The fresh-not-frozen format meant meals tasted noticeably fresher than most ready-to-heat kits.
What could be better
- Packaging creates a lot to recycle. Stacks of plastic and coolant packs that feel unsustainable.
- Customer service hiccups pop up. Refunds, late deliveries, and missing meals aren’t rare.
Sample meals I tried
- Sweet potato grits & sage chicken: Comforting, cheesy, and surprisingly cozy.
- Cheesy Bacon Pork Tenderloin: Pork cooked just right; garlic butter made everything better.
- Golden corn and shrimp risotto: Light on carbs, satisfying, and kept me on track.
Best For
Factor is the best when you want fully prepared, dietitian-backed meals that fit keto, protein, or calorie goals, even if it’s a bit heavy on single-serve plastic. Ideal for solo diners or busy couples who need convenience without compromise.
What these services do better than HelloFresh
- Purple Carrot: truly plant-based meals
- Factor: keto done right, with meals actually keeping carbs low.
- Sunbasket: organic produce and responsibly sourced proteins that HelloFresh can’t promise
- Splendid Spoon: ready-to-drink smoothies and soups
- Green Chef: handles multiple specialty diets in one plan
- Organic focus (Sunbasket)
- Dietitian-backed menus (Factor)
- Functional meals and smoothies (Splendid Spoon)
- Options to mix meal kits with ready-to-eat (Sunbasket, Factor)
- More wellness-focused add-ons beyond just dinner
Where HelloFresh still wins
- Price advantage: consistently cheaper per serving, especially for families
- Massive variety: 40+ weekly recipes, wider than any competitor
- Family-friendly factor: meals are approachable, balanced, and picky-eater safe
- Mainstream appeal: Fewer diet box, more everyday dinners, which suits most households
Final takeaways
- Green Chef is the best choice for organic and diet-specific eaters.
- Purple Carrot is the go-to for learning and enjoying plant-based cooking.
- Factor and Splendid Spoon excel at convenience for busy or plant-based lifestyles.
Wrapping up
After three months of testing, I learned there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to meal delivery. Depending on your diet and lifestyle, one of these alternatives may serve you better, whether it’s the organic focus of Green Chef, the plant-based depth of Purple Carrot, or the ready-to-eat ease of Factor.
For me, swapping between them based on the season and my needs made the most sense. Sometimes I wanted to cook, while at other times I just wanted food waiting in the fridge. Either way, knowing there are real, tested options beyond HelloFresh made me feel less confined by meal kits and more in control of what ends up on my plate.
Explore these services, compare pricing, and pick the one that makes mealtime simpler and healthier for you.
