Blue Apron vs Purple Carrot (2026): Meal Kits for All vs Vegan Kits

Name: Purple Carrot
Brand: Purple Carrot

Which would you order?

One tap, no signup. Be the first.

Which is better, Blue Apron or Purple Carrot?

Blue Apron vs Purple Carrot for 2026. Blue Apron suits omnivores with more recipes and wine, Purple Carrot is fully vegan. MealFan tested both services for its 2026 comparison.

Both services compared hands on by MealFan in 2026

Reviewed by Eric Sornoso

Current prices: October 20, 2026

These official-source checks replace the earlier price claims identified above. Older calculations and offers remain available as dated records. Amounts are in USD, before tax and optional upgrades. A starting price or menu example is not a guaranteed box total.

Blue Apron: Current meal-kit menu $7.49 to $14.99 per serving; individual prepared meals $8.99 to $14.99. $11.49 per delivery without Blue Apron+. Optional Blue Apron+ costs $9.99 per month and includes delivery; membership is not included in our nonmember totals.. Prepared range excludes family-size trays. Kit prices include salads and light meals; dishes differ. No universal six-serving box quote. Current support lists $11.49 shipping; the older $9.99 blog figure is superseded. Checked October 20, 2026. Official source Official source

Category	Blue Apron	Purple Carrot
Overall Score	7.2/10	7.6/10
Price per Serving	Current meal-kit menu $7.49 to $14.99 per serving; individual prepared meals $8.99 to $14.99 · October 20 check.	Meal kits $13.25 to $14.25 per serving; ready-to-eat meals $13 to $18 · See the stated plan basis.
Plant-Based Only	No	Yes (100%)
Cook Time	30-50 min	25-45 min
Recipes per Week	20+	8-10
Wine Add-On	Yes	No
Shipping	$11.49 per delivery without Blue Apron+. Optional Blue Apron+ costs $9.99 per month and includes delivery; membership is not included in our nonmember totals. Checked October 20.	$12 below $120; free from $120; some ZIPs add $15 · See the stated plan basis.

Plan	Blue Apron	Purple Carrot
2 people, 2 meals/wk	~$52/wk + $9.99 ship	~$46/wk + $9.99 ship
2 people, 4 meals/wk	~$89/wk + $9.99 ship	~$78/wk + $9.99 ship
Shipping	$11.49 per delivery without Blue Apron+. Optional Blue Apron+ costs $9.99 per month and includes delivery; membership is not included in our nonmember totals. Checked October 20.	$12 below $120; free from $120; some ZIPs add $15 · See the stated plan basis.

Blue Apron vs Purple Carrot: The Short Version

Purple Carrot wins this one, 7.6 to 7.2 in my scoring, and the deciding question is diet. It is 100% plant based with no exceptions, so if your household eats vegan it is designed specifically for you. Blue Apron is the better pick if your household eats meat, since it offers far more menu variety, and with the two services comparable on price and cook time the diet decision drives almost everything else.

Blue Apron offers 20+ recipes per week across standard, vegetarian, wellness, and WW-approved menus. The variety is broad enough that most households find choices they are excited about each week. The recipes lean toward technique-forward cooking with longer cook times (30-50 minutes) and restaurant-style results.

Purple Carrot offers 8-10 plant-based recipes per week. The smaller menu is a function of the specialized focus, every recipe is designed around vegetables, legumes, grains, and plant proteins. The recipes are creative and often impressive, but the weekly selection is genuinely narrower than Blue Apron's. Long-term subscribers occasionally report menu fatigue.

Price Comparison

October 20 price check: Blue Apron: Current meal-kit menu $7.49 to $14.99 per serving; individual prepared meals $8.99 to $14.99. $11.49 per delivery without Blue Apron+. Optional Blue Apron+ costs $9.99 per month and includes delivery; membership is not included in our nonmember totals..

The Wine Add-On

Blue Apron's optional wine subscription adds 6 sommelier-curated bottles paired to the week's recipes for a monthly fee. For wine-drinking households who want a guided discovery experience with dinner, this is a genuine differentiator. Purple Carrot has no equivalent add-on.

Bottom Line

If your household eats vegan, Purple Carrot wins. If you eat meat or want more menu variety, Blue Apron wins. Both are high-quality services at comparable prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue Apron or Purple Carrot better?

Is Purple Carrot completely vegan and Blue Apron isn't?

Yes. Every Purple Carrot recipe is 100% plant-based with no animal products. Blue Apron is primarily omnivore with vegetarian options that include dairy and eggs. Fully vegan households should choose Purple Carrot to avoid label-checking each week.

Does Blue Apron have more recipes than Purple Carrot?

Yes. Blue Apron offers 20+ recipes per week across multiple menus (standard, vegetarian, WW). Purple Carrot offers 8-10 plant-based recipes per week. The narrower menu is a trade-off for Purple Carrot's specialized vegan focus.

Cancel Guide Links

Browse Meals from Each Service

Browse All Meals on MealFan

Looking for Alternatives?

Browse meal delivery by category

Meal delivery by diet: keto, low carb, vegan, paleo, gluten free, dairy free and more.
Meal delivery by health condition: diabetes, heart, kidney, low sodium and more.
Meal delivery by lifestyle and goal: weight loss, high protein, budget, no cook and more.

See the actual meals

Browse Blue Apron meals | Browse Purple Carrot meals | All 6,000+ meals

Historical price records

These earlier observations are retained for comparison and context. They are not current prices or current savings claims.

Earlier price record (not a current quote)

$10-$13

Earlier comparison record

$9-$12

Earlier price record (not a current quote)

$9.99/box

Earlier comparison record

$9.99/box

Earlier price record (not a current quote)

$9.99/box

Earlier comparison record

$9.99/box

Earlier price passage (not a current quote)

Purple Carrot is slightly cheaper per serving: $9-$12 vs Blue Apron's $10-$13. Both charge $9.99 shipping per box. For a couple ordering four meals per week, Purple Carrot saves roughly $8-$12 per week. The price gap is real but not dramatic, both services position themselves as premium offerings.

Earlier price passage (not a current quote)

It depends entirely on diet. Purple Carrot (7.6/10) is better for vegan households, 100% plant-based, slightly cheaper at $9-$12/serving. Blue Apron (7.2/10) is better for omnivore households, broader menu with 20+ recipes/week, wine pairings available. Both are premium services at similar price points.