HelloFresh Review 2024: Tried and Tested

This article explores how HelloFresh works, its menus, prices, and more. It also looks into what our editors thought about the service when they tested it.

What is HelloFresh?

HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service. HelloFresh boxescontain pre-portioned fresh ingredients and step-by-step recipes for people to cook at home.

The service offers plans for people who:

• eat meat
• follow a vegetarian or pescatarian diet
• are counting calories
• want quick meals
• want meals suitable for families

HelloFresh labels all its meals with nutritional information. The company also claims its service helps individuals save money and reduce food waste.

HelloFresh reviews and reputation

HelloFresh has a mixed reputation online. At the time of publishing, there were over 55,555 reviews on Trustpilot with an average customer rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.

Customers leaving positive comments write that they enjoy learning how to cook new meals, that the food is easy to prepare, and that it tastes good. People also mention that it helps them reduce food waste and saves them time.

However, HelloFresh complaintson Trustpilot mention lost or wrong orders, missing ingredients, and ingredients that were not fresh. Some people found the service too expensive and the portions too small. Many customers had problems with customer service and unexpected charges.

On the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site, HelloFresh has an A+ grade but no accreditation. There are over 2,000 complaints live from the last 3 years. The average review rating from over 800 reviews is 1.08 out of 5 stars.

Customers write that they received damaged boxes, had unexpected charges, and had difficulty in pausing or canceling their subscriptions. However, some people found it useful for cooking meals for one, saying that it reduced food waste.

Meet our HelloFresh testers

Two Medical News Today contributors, Ari Howard and Veronica Zambon tested HelloFresh.

Howard received her box for free, while Zambon purchased hers with her own money and chose the vegetarian option. Howard tried the service in the United States, while Zambon tried it in the United Kingdom.

Ari Howard

• Role: Healthline editor
• Dietary needs and preferences: balanced and wholesome
• Meal-time preferences: quick, flavorful, easy

I have subscribed to a meal kit with a roommate before. The main priority for me was a meal kit that offered cuisine variety, quick weeknight options, and balanced dishes full of vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. I am not a picky eater so I love meal kits that allow me to try new dishes and flavors, but it’s important to me that they are healthy and wholesome options.

Veronica Zambon

• Role: Medical News Today editor
• Dietary needs and preferences: low calorie, low sugar, and vegetarian options
• Meal-time preferences: plenty of variety, flavor, and texture

I have PCOS, which means I need to be careful of how much sugar I consume in my meals. This, alongside weight loss through diet and exercise, means I need to be careful of what I eat! After researching and talking to nutritionists and personal trainers, I’ve gained the knowledge of which meal plans are best for my specific needs and requirements.

How to get started

People can sign up for HelloFresh online.

Customers then choose a meal plan according to their dietary needs and preferences. They can select two to six meals weekly, serving two or four people.

Individuals can select from a rotating menu of over 20 meal kits weekly and choose the same meal kit multiple times a week.

“I found choosing my meals and delivery date very easy and flexible. It is easy to cancel or skip a week for meals.”

— Ari Howard, Healthline editor

“Unlike some meal services, HelloFresh does have a good variety of veggie food. I found that there were several that piqued my interest.”

— Veronica Zambon, Medical News Today editor

When does HelloFresh deliver?

HelloFresh delivers Wednesday through Friday. Customers in certain locations can get delivery on the weekend and Mondays and Thursdays. People can allocate their desired delivery date or change this before midnight on their chosen delivery day.

Deliveries can arrive between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Customers receive a tracking number for each box.

HelloFresh delivers anywhere in the mainland United States. It does not ship orders to Alaska or Hawaii.

HelloFresh boxes feature insulated liners and cooling technology to keep the contents fresh and cool for up to 48 hours after delivery.

“There were clear instructions for recycling. However, there were a lot of small packages within the meal kit.”

— Ari Howard, Healthline editor

“The instructions were very simple to follow, often only having up to 6 steps.”

— Veronica Zambon, Medical News Today editor

HelloFresh menus

People can personalize their menu plan according to the following preferences:

• Meat and veggies: Includes meals with meat, fish, and vegetables.
• Veggie: Comprises vegetarian-friendly meals.
• Family-friendly: Includes meals suitable for children.
• Calorie smart: Each meal in this plan is around 650 calories.
• Quick and easy: Features meals with minimal preparation and cooking time.
• Pescatarian: Consists of seafood and plant-based meals, but no meat.
• High protein: A selection of protein-packed meals.
• Pork-free: A selection of pork-free dishes.

Each plan offers a choice of over 100 weekly recipes from chefs and nutrition specialists.

Some recipes are also free from gluten, dairy, and nuts. However, HelloFresh does not offer vegan plans. There are also no paleo or keto plans with this service.

The following is an example of recipes with their preparation and cooking times:

• Chicken in creamy peppercorn sauce: Chicken breasts, carrots, potatoes, creme fraiche, red wine vinegar, and garlic. Ready in 40 minutes.
• Warm roasted tomato and lentil salad with eggplant and croutons: Eggplant, ciabatta, lentils, Greek-style salad cheese, baby plum tomatoes, baby leaf mix, Greek-style natural yogurt, and garlic. Ready in 20 minutes.
• Beef mince and potato keema with mango chutney and naan bread: Beef mince, plain naan, curry powder mix, mango chutney, potato, korma curry paste, tomato puree, and baby spinach. Ready in 35 minutes.
• Asian-style sweet chili pork koftas with spiced wedges and smacked cucumber salad: Pork mince, cucumber, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, lime, breadcrumbs, and potatoes. Ready in 35 minutes.
• Sweet chili cauli and chickpea red Thai-style curry with jasmine rice and coriander: Cauliflower florets, lime, jasmine rice, red Thai-style paste, coconut milk, chickpeas, coriander, and sweet chili sauce. Ready in 20 minutes.
• Bulgogi king prawn noodles with pak choi and carrot ribbons: Egg noodle nests, garlic, carrot, bulgogi sauce, pak choi, lime, and king prawns. Ready in 20 minutes.
• Thai-style peanut chicken stir-fry with green beans and rice: Jasmine rice, garlic, yellow Thai-style paste, peanut butter, green beans, diced chicken thigh, and ketjap manis. Ready in 25 minutes.
• Butter chicken baked naan with rocket salad: Garlic, chicken stock, plain naan, wild rocket, diced chicken breast, tomato puree, creme fraiche, and tomatoes. Ready in 20 minutes.

On average, the meals take 40 minutes to prepare and cook.

“Everything arrived in good condition and the ingredients were flavorful (although the amount of fresh produce in my meals was limited). My food was not organic or grass-fed.”

— Ari Howard, Healthline editor

“I especially liked the add-on options. My favorite was the Beetroot, Walnut, and Feta salad add-on – it was perfect for the late summer weather, and I still regularly have it for lunch over a year later! However, I wish that there had been more variety in terms of meal preparation. Most of the veggie meals require an oven, and I am more of a hob person (gas is cheaper to use in the U.K. than electricity, and I have a gas hob and electric oven.)”

— Veronica Zambon, Medical News Today editor

Meal selection and filtering

HelloCustom is a relatively new menu feature allowing people to customize their meal kit by swapping, adding, upgrading, or changing certain ingredients in each recipe. This feature is available with every plan, allowing people to tailor their meals to their specific tastes and dietary needs.

HelloFresh providesvarious plan options that enable customers to tailor their menu experience to their unique preferences. Certain meals have labels that indicate their taste profile and convenience. For example, “Gourmet Plus” to highlight the meal is a premium recipe. They may also feature an “Easy Prep” label on quick-to-prepare meals.

“I tried the lemony spaghetti with Brussels sprouts, zucchini and sun-dried tomato risotto, and hot honey glazed garlic chicken.

“The meals were easy to make. It was not necessary, but sometimes I would add in an extra lemon or additional spices. I also wish I had added in more vegetables to my meals to make them healthier.”

— Ari Howard, Healthline editor

How much does HelloFresh cost?

The price of HelloFresh subscriptions depends on the meal plan and the delivery frequency a person chooses.

The table below shows how much HelloFresh chargesbased on multiple recipes and serving combinations.

The total cost for all the above options includes the standard $10 shipping fee.

HelloFresh also offers weekly special meals at an additional cost, so if a person selects one of the meals from the following list, they may have varying additional charges:

• Gourmet
• Gourmet Plus
• Surf and Turf
• Taste Tours
• Craft Burger

HelloFresh accepts all major credit cards and electronic payments, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.

Cancelations and refunds

HelloFresh lets people skip a week or cancel at no extra cost at their discretion. Customers can do this on their online accounts. HelloFresh also provides cancelation information on the frequently asked questions page.

The company recommends users make any changes to their account or orders, such as updating card details or canceling orders, at least 5 days before the next scheduled delivery. This is because orders will begin processing after this period.

Who will HelloFresh suit?

HelloFresh may suit people who wish to cook a variety of meals but have limited time or resources to plan recipes and buy ingredients.

A meal delivery kit provides convenience and variety while allowing individuals to take charge of meal preparation and cooking.

Individuals with families who wish to involve children or others in cooking may also benefit from HelloFresh, as it is a good way to learn cooking skills and gain confidence in preparing different meals.

However, HelloFresh may not suit those on a strict budget, as the cost per serving size is potentially greater than buying ingredients and cooking from scratch. HelloFresh serving sizes are also unlikely to provide leftovers, which can save people money.

HelloFresh is also unsuitable for a wide range of dietary specializations. For example, it does not cater to people following a vegan diet, with very particular tastes, or with several food allergies or intolerances.

Can HelloFresh benefit health?

Using HelloFresh means cooking from scratch using fresh ingredients and no processed foods. Processed foods are often higher in sugar and fat and can lack the nutrients that fresh foods retain.

A 2024 analysis of research showed that eating processed food can negatively affect a person’s cardiac, metabolic, and mental health. According to 2019 research, unprocessed or minimally processed foods have associations with a lower risk of chronic disease.

Weight loss

People trying to lose weight may benefit from HelloFresh. Its low calorie meal plan has dietitian-approved meals containing about 650 calories. Health experts advise that individuals reduce their calorie and fat intake to lose weight. With this in mind, a person can choose low calorie and low fat meals in their weekly HelloFresh delivery.

Learn about the best ways to lose weight.

Considerations for special diets

HelloFresh does not offer specific options for people following vegan or gluten-free diets or those adhering to keto, paleo, or low sugar diets.

A person with diabetes may find the low carbohydrate options helpful in planning their carbohydrate intake. However, HelloFresh does not offer tailored meal plans for those with diabetes.

Learn more about a low carbohydrate diet for diabetes.

While the service provides nutritional information for individuals to choose suitable meals, people cannot swap out ingredients they need to avoid.

Is HelloFresh worth it?

Ordering HelloFresh boxesmay be worth it for people looking to save time sourcing ingredients and preparing meals. Others may find it helps them explore new dishes while reducing food waste.

HelloFresh providesa range of varied meals that include options for different dietary preferences. People who are new to cooking may also find the kitchen and cooking skills they pick up from following HelloFresh recipes make it worth it.

However, the service does not cater to paleo, keto, and other specific diets, and it may be unsuitable for people working with smaller budgets.

HelloFresh vs. competitors

Below, we look at how HelloFresh compares with its competitors.

Frequently asked questions about HelloFresh