Blue Apron vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon 2023
Finding a healthy solution for your daily meals, one that doesn’t cost a lot and allows you to eat at home sounds like a dream, but it isn’t. Our team of food lovers is about to present you with two such solutions in this Blue Apron vs Marley Spoon comparison. Meal kit delivery services such as Blue Apron and Marley Spoon offer a complete solution for your weekly meals. These companies can take the burden of grocery shopping and cooking off your shoulder. Each week, they deliver meal kits that contain different recipes and all the ingredients already portioned. All you have to do is follow the instructions to cook and enjoy them. Discover these services in the following Blue Apron vs Marley Spoon comparison.

A few words about Blue Apron from our experts
Blue Apron is a US-based prepared meal delivery service that provides healthy meals sourced from local farmers. This popular subscription serves 2-5 people with their solo/couple and family plans. Their meal options include vegetarian, meat, and weight-watchers-approved recipes. Enjoy fresh, sustainable restaurant-like meals that are GMO-free. You can expect affordable prices, which can go as low as $7.49 per serving.
A few words about Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon from our experts
Martha & Marley Spoon is an affordable meal kit delivery service that offers nutritious, tasty, and easy-to-prepare meal options at reasonable prices. Their prices are as low as $6.99, with options for vegetarian meals. Martha & Marley Spoon delivers pre-portioned ingredients and easy recipes right at the customer’s doorsteps. You can also add coffee, protein, or desserts to your orders.
Offered Meals Plans & Pricing
Plan name
Standard 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal $7.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$10.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 people and 3 servings 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.49 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
- Vegetarian 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
- Vegetarian 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal $7.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 2 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.49 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 3 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 3 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.49 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.49 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingBlue Apron’s offering includes 4 plans. While none of them cater to a specific diet, they cover a variety of different needs. The Signature plan includes meals that contain various protein sources including different types of meat and fish, as well as a multitude of veggies. The vegetarian menu speaks for itself, and the Wellness plan focuses on balanced and nutritious rich meals. The price per serving is $9.99 if you order 2 recipes per week and $8.99 if you order 3. If you order 4 recipes per week, you only pay $7.49 per serving. The company also offers a good selection of wines from renowned winemakers for $10 per bottle.
Marley Spoon offers the possibility to order between 2 and 6 meals per week. The menu is available on the website up to 4 weeks in advance. The 2-person boxes can feed 2 adults while the 4-person boxes are suitable for 4 adults. Two meals per week for 2 people cost $11.99 per portion. Two meals per week for 4 people cost $9.99 per portion. For 6 meals per week, for 2, you need to pay $9.49 per portion and the same number of meals for 4 persons costs $8.49 per portion. There are more than 29 weekly recipes from 5 different categories: Vegetarian & Vegan, Family-Friendly, Health & Diet, Meat & Fish, or Under 30 Minutes. The last category is perfect for busy professionals who want to make sure cooking plus eating time takes around 40 minutes tops.
Both services offer affordable pricing plans, especially for families, however, Blue Apron is slightly more affordable.
Meal Types & Cook Time
Meal Variety
Meal Variety
Prep & Cook Time
Prep & Cook Time
Dietary Preferences
Dietary Preferences
Wellness
Weight Watchers
Vegetarian
Balance
Almond Free
Kids Meal
Vegetarian
Vegan
Low Carb
Low Calorie
Healthy Eating
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Quality of ingredients
Quality of ingredients
This Blue Apron vs Marley Spoon battle is going to be a tight one as both companies focus on natural, high-quality ingredients. Blue apron gets its ingredients from different local farms and guarantees that the meat they’re using is hormone-free. They also offer organic products, as often as possible.
In terms of dietary preferences, although the company doesn’t focus on specific diets such as paleo or keto, many of their meals are WW-approved and ideal for weight loss. Their recipes are low carb and low fat. They even cater to people with diabetes, as well as those who are looking for gluten-free meals.
Marley Spoon vouches for the quality of the ingredients they use. They partner with local ranches and farms and carefully pick their ingredients to make sure they are fresh, and the meat is hormone-free. The company works with their in-house nutritionist to offer healthy, diversified recipes. They are not catering to specific diets, but each recipe offers comprehensive instructions on the meal’s content so you can understand if it fits your dietary needs or contains any allergens (which are listed in a separate section in each recipe). A short overview of each meal’s nutritional breakdown is also available. Marley Spoon’s meals can satisfy the exigencies of vegetarians, vegans, people who eat a regular omnivore diet, or those who prefer Mediterranean cuisine. There are around 30 recipes you can choose from every week.
Packaging & Ordering Process
Packaging
Packaging
-
Plastic
-
Foil / Cotton Liners
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Ice Packs
-
100% Recyclable Package
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Sustainable Forestry Initiative
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Plastic
-
Foil / Cotton Liners
-
Ice Packs
-
100% Recyclable Package
-
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Ordering Process
Ordering Process
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Fast Delivery
-
In-App ordering
-
Fast Delivery
-
In-App ordering
After you’ve created a subscription on Blue Apron’s website, you can easily place an order either from your PC or mobile. You can skip and cancel deliveries at any time without any commitment. The recipes are accompanied by comprehensive instructions and nutritional information so you can rest assured you know what you order. The company pays great attention to the materials they use for their packaging, most of which is recyclable.
Marley Spoon is also a subscription-based service. You can skip orders up until 5 days before the scheduled delivery. This company also uses eco-friendly packaging. Most of their packaging can be recycled and they generally tend to use less packaging material than their competitors.
Both services are similar, however, we chose Marley Spoon in this round because their packaging contains less plastic compared to Blue Apron that uses many vacuum-sealed ingredients.
Customer Support & Shipping
Customer Support
Customer Support
-
Email
-
Telephone
-
Live chat
-
In-App
-
Email
-
Telephone
-
Live chat
-
In-App
Shipping
Shipping
-
48 US states - not available in Alaska or Hawaii
-
$7.99 or free with some subscriptions
-
All 50 states
-
$8.99
You can reach out to Blue Apron either by phone or email. The company also features a comprehensive help center where you can find out more about their delivery service, meal plans, and ingredients. Based on the positive reviews the company enjoys online and our own opinion, the support service is prompt and reliable. The company ships throughout the continental US and the shipping fee is $9.99.
Marley Spoon delivers to most of the contiguous US. After you select a meal plan and you enter your zip code, you will see whether they can deliver meals to your area. All their orders are scheduled to be delivered within a specific delivery window. You will see it once you sign up. Usually, deliveries arrive on the same day of the week. From your account, you can check the available time slots in your area. Marley Spoon offers a comprehensive help center, as well as the possibility to contact them through a web form or by email. There is a standard shipping cost of $8.99.
In this Blue Apron vs Marley Spoon, Blue Apron wins as it delivers to more areas.
Sample Meals
Most Ordered Meal
Most Ordered Meal
Crispy Skin Trout Fillets with Creamy Chowder-Style Potatoes & Pancetta
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Inspired by one of our favorite seasonal ingredients and go-to comfort foods—corn chowder—this dish features smoky-spiced trout served over a rich base of corn, potatoes, and pancetta tossed with cream, whole grain dijon, and savory broth.

In Your Box
- 2 Skin-On Steelhead Trout Fillets
- 3 Diced Pancetta
- 2 ears Of Corn
- 3⁄4 Golden Potatoes
- 1 Poblano Pepper
- 1 Lemon
- 2 stalks Celery
- 1 bunch Chives
- 1⁄4 Cream
- 17⁄50 Chicken Bone Broth
- 17⁄50 Crispy Onions
- 1⁄2 Sweety Drop Peppers
- 1⁄4 Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
- 1 Smoky Spice Blend Smoked Paprika
- Sweet Paprika, Ground Yellow Mustard
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 1190 Calories
- 68g Fat
- 68g Protein
- 76g Carbs
Crispy Skin Trout Fillets with Creamy Chowder-Style Potatoes & Pancetta
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Prep & Cook Time: 35-40 min
-
Difficulty Level:
Easy
Mongolian Beef & Broccoli with Rice Noodles and
- Prep & Cook Time 20-30 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Stir-frying is the best cooking method for quickly infusing meat and veggies with deep caramelized flavors. Here, grass-fed ground beef gets flashed in a hot skillet with aromatics before adding crisp broccoli florets and a savory-sweet hoisin sauce into the mix. Tender rice noodles soak up the sauce, while cashews on top provide a delightful crunch. This quick-to-make meal is the perfect combination of flavors and textures.

In Your Box
- 5 pad Thai noodles
- 10 pkg grass-fed ground beef
- 2 1⁄2 toasted sesame oil
- 1 4⁄5 hoisin sauce
- 1⁄4 fresh cilantro
- 1 roasted cashews
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 fresh ginger
- 1⁄2 broccoli
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 990kcal Calories
- 53.0g Fat
- 38.0g Proteins
- 96.0g Carbs
Mongolian Beef & Broccoli with Rice Noodles and
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Prep & Cook Time: 20-30 min
-
Difficulty Level:
Easy
More Meals
More Meals
Shawarma-Spiced Vegetable and Couscous Bowls with Arugula & Roasted Lemon Yogurt
- Prep & Cook Time 25-30 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
For these hearty bowls, herby salsa verde-dressed couscous is mixed with sweet raisins and peppery arugula, then topped with a duo of shawarma-roasted carrots and kohlrabi—a versatile vegetable with a mild flavor and texture similar to cabbage. We’re bringing it all together with a drizzle of bright lemon yogurt and the rich yolk from soft-boiled eggs.

In Your Box
- 2 Pasture-Raised Eggs
- 1⁄2 Yellow Couscous
- 1 Kohlrabi
- 2 Arugula
- 6 Carrots
- 1 Lemon
- 1 1⁄2 Golden Raisins
- 2 Roasted Sunflower Seeds
- 1⁄2 Salsa Verde
- 1⁄2 Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
- 1 Shawarma Spice Blend (Ground
- Coriander, Cumin Seeds, Garlic Powder
- Smoked Sweet Paprika & Ground Turmeric
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 600 Calories
- 28g Fat
- 26g Protein
- 70g Carbs
Shawarma-Spiced Vegetable and Couscous Bowls with Arugula & Roasted Lemon Yogurt
Read more about the dishOven-Fried Pulled Pork Flautas with Taco Sauce & Cheddar
- Prep & Cook Time 30-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Flautas are a traditional Mexican dish consisting of rolled-up tortillas filled with meat, cheese, or veggies. They are then fried until crunchy. Here, we fill flour tortillas with pulled pork and cheddar, and then oven-fry them to get that satisfying crunch in each bite. The flautas are served with tomatoey-taco spiced dipping sauce, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

In Your Box
- 2 sour cream
- 1⁄4 fresh cilantro
- 1 tomato sauce
- 1⁄4 taco seasoning
- 2 shredded cheddar-jack blend
- 6 flour tortillas
- 1⁄2 pkg pulled pork
- garlic
- 1 poblano pepper
- 1 medium red onion
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 740kcal Calories
- 39.0g Fat
- 41.0g Proteins
- 63.0g Carbs
Oven-Fried Pulled Pork Flautas with Taco Sauce & Cheddar
Read more about the dishTeriyaki Tilapia with Vegetables and Garlic-Ginger Rice
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
For our take on the Japanese favorite, we’re combining soy glaze and mirin (or sweet rice wine) to spoon over tilapia as it sears in the pan, resulting in the irresistibly savory-sweet flavor for which the sauce is prized. We’re serving it alongside aromatic rice and stir-fried bok choy and carrots, then giving it all a little kick of heat with a garnish of furikake.

In Your Box
- 2 Tilapia Fillets
- 1⁄2 Long Grain White Rice
- 6 Carrots
- 10 Baby Bok Choy
- 2 Garlic
- 1 Ginger
- 2 Soy Glaze
- 1 Sesame Oil
- 1 Rice Vinegar
- 1 Mirin (Salted Cooking Wine)
- 1 Furikake
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 540 Calories
- 9g Fat
- 38g Protein
- 73g Carbs
Teriyaki Tilapia with Vegetables and Garlic-Ginger Rice
Read more about the dishTofu Bibimbap with Sesame Spinach and Pickled Carrots
- Prep & Cook Time 30-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Bibimbap is a Korean classic that features various flavorful ingredients served atop a bowl of warm rice. For our protein-rich version, we top fluffy jasmine rice with broiled marinated tofu, garlicky sautéed baby spinach, and tangy, quick-pickled carrots. A sprinkle of sesame seeds and a drizzle of Sriracha tie the dish together.

In Your Box
- 2 Sriracha
- 1⁄4 toasted sesame seeds
- 5 baby spinach
- 1 scallions
- 1 carrot
- 5 jasmine rice
- 2 1⁄2 tamari soy sauce
- garlic
- 14 extra-firm tofu
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 700kcal Calories
- 30.0g Fat
- 34.0g Proteins
- 77.0g Carbs
Tofu Bibimbap with Sesame Spinach and Pickled Carrots
Read more about the dishBlue Apron offers tasty recipes. Some of them are gourmet-style and a bit more complex in terms of preparation taking nearly 50 minutes. However, the result makes the effort worth it.
Marley Spoon offers straightforward, carefree meals you can easily cook according to the provided instructions. The ingredients are natural and tasty, and the result is as good as you might expect after looking at the photos that accompany each recipe.
If you’re a starter, you might appreciate Marley Spoon’s recipe as those that are labeled as easy are truly fast and simple. However, we prefer Blue Apron’s fancier meals to Marley Spoon’s classic options.
Overall Winner: Blue Apron !
Blue Apron grabs the title for being one of the best meal kit delivery services in the US. Their 2-4 recipes per week come for solo and families. Well-known for the term ‘weight watchers’ as they deliver diet-conscious foods. Their affordable prices, around $7.49 per serving, come with free shipping for orders of 3 or more meals per week. They ensure GMO-free meals with restaurant-like quality. Their vegetarian and meat-based meal plans are suitable for every customer. Anyone with a busy lifestyle can rely on Blue Apron!
