Marley Spoon vs EveryPlate – Meal Kit Delivery Services Explained
Subscribing to a meal kit delivery like Marley Spoon and EveryPlate is no easy feat. Lucky for you, this article has everything you could possibly need to know about both meal kit delivery services that are convenient in every way.
After vetting their best features and most popular meal kits, you can save time and effort with a more simple and efficient solution to meal planning and grocery shopping. In addition to helping you cook faster, Marley Spoon and EveryPlate offer an interesting and delicious variety of recipes.
You can rely on Marley Spoon and EveryPlate as time-saving solutions for a busy and active lifestyle. Marley Spoon provides you with higher-quality ingredients, while EveryPlate is a more economical choice with simple recipes.
Healthy Eating and Meal Kit Delivery Services
You don’t have to take giant leaps in order to eat healthier. Eating healthy consists of simple but effective steps like cutting out unhealthy and fatty foods, consuming a balance of calories and carbs, and increasing the consumption of protein and other essential nutrients.
For most people, eating healthier means consuming more whole foods and eliminating processed foods. Processed foods are stripped of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and contain high amounts of sodium and preservatives which help increase flavor and shelf life.
A whole-food diet, on the other hand, causes less inflammation and lowers blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and other important health markers. The least processed foods you can find in your grocery store are healthy to eat because they contain more healthy calories, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Cultivating a healthy relationship with food helps in various ways for both mental and physical health. This is where meal kit delivery services like Marley Spoon and EveryPlate thrive because they encourage the consumption of whole foods with GMO- and preservative-free ingredients.
Meal kits can be a great choice for someone with health and diet restrictions such as gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, low-fat, low-carb, and low-calorie diets. It’s also a good choice for vegetarians who want to eat more high-protein and low-carb meals on a regular basis.
All the ingredients in a meal kit are proportioned to fit the serving size you select. It allows further customization of the meals because it encourages portion control.
Portion control has many perks, leading to weight loss, lower cholesterol, better heart health, etc. Subscribing to a meal kit delivery service is one way of practicing food portioning in a mindful and efficient manner.
Most people are inclined to take more food on their plate than is necessary. So, if you want to stop overindulging in your meals, a meal kit is perfect for you.
This section also discusses the convenience factor of meal kit delivery services, how they save your time and effort in the kitchen and simplify meal prepping, and how you don’t have to do grocery shopping once you’ve subscribed to a meal kit. It makes meal planning and grocery shopping more efficient and productive so you can focus your time elsewhere.
Besides pantry items like salt, pepper, oil, and basic cooking equipment, you don’t require anything else.
Why Pick Marley Spoon?
Marley Spoon has many perks that make it a better competitor than EveryPlate. They offer high-quality ingredients from sustainable local suppliers and sources. Marley Spoon also prioritizes organic and seasonal produce and pairs them in a variety of ways to ensure no dull flavors or repetitions.
Another reason for Marley Spoon is flexibility in meal and taste preference. They have over 100 different meal kit recipes including low-carb, low-calorie, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other dietary preferences. You can choose any number of servings you want and adjust your meal plan based on your weekly needs.
Why Pick EveryPlate?
EveryPlate is a great competitor to Marley Spoon in terms of affordability and family-friendliness. EveryPlate has one of the most affordable prices, starting at $4.99 per serving, which makes it a perfect choice for people on a tight budget.
EveryPlate’s meal kits come with conventional ingredients that are simple and easy to make. Though the variety of meals is limited, EveryPlate focuses on familiar and home-inspired meals that take less time and effort in the kitchen. You don’t have to spend longer than 30 minutes preparing a single meal.
You must also choose EveryPlate if you want kid- and family-friendly meals. They have incredible meal options that appeal to picky eaters, making it a solid choice for someone with families.
Key Differences Between Marley Spoon and EveryPlate
1. Meal Preferences
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon features 4 different menus on their main menu page.
The first menu is the previous week’s menu, showing all the recipes that were put up before. You can see the nutritional info about each of the recipes. The menu is also proof that Marley Spoon never repeats their meal kit recipes.
The second menu is the current week’s menu, highlighting all the 100+ recipes that you can choose from for the week. It contains a wide variety of meals to pick from starting with lunch and dinner recipes and some salads and side dishes.
Meanwhile, the last 2 menus are the upcoming weeks’ menus. These are great if you want to compare what recipes you want to choose or if you’re curious about how Marley Spoon picks meals that are suitable for everyone.
Variety-wise, Marley Spoon offers a lot more diet types for different health considerations. The menu offers over a hundred different meal recipes, ranging from low calorie, low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, one-pot meals, vegan, optional spice, special, spicy, seafood, meat, and vegetarian.
Other dietary labels focus on the type of protein a recipe uses such as meat, poultry, seafood, plant-based, fish, and vegetarian. Convenient labels like one-pot meals and under 30 minutes help you find quick and easy recipes faster.
If you’re on a specialized diet plan like gluten-free, low carb, low calorie, or dairy-free, Marley Spoon offers a wide range of meal kit recipes that you can select without running out of options.
The one feature that Marley Spoon doesn’t offer (but EveryPlate does) is the option to select or upgrade proteins. Marley Spoon’s menu does offer a select number of salads, side dishes, desserts, and plant-based alternatives to meat in the menu.
But if you want to double up on proteins like ordering an extra serving of chicken, meat, turkey, or a portion of veggies, Marley Spoon is not the right fit for you.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate offers a total of 3 different menus on their main menu. You can dip in and out of all the menus if you want to compare and browse recipes.
The menus include the current week’s menu and 2 upcoming weeks’ menus. You can view all the nutrition facts about the recipes without signing up.
The number of recipes on the EveryPlate menu is a lot less than what Marley Spoon has to offer. EveryPlate features 25 meal kit recipes, ranging from a limited set of dietary categories such as Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Family Friendly, and Nutrish& Delish.
They offer other convenient tags such as Quick & Easy, Customer Fav, and Easy Cleanup meals that reduce your cooking time. With the help of these labels, you can browse all their lunch and dinner recipes with a separate menu for Add-Ons like salads, proteins, pantry items, side dishes, soups, and healthy desserts.
The Add-Ons cost less than the meal kits. Some of them cost as little as $1 per item depending on what you pick. The Add-Ons make it easier to swap proteins in a meal when you want something more specific like chicken breasts, turkey, and green beans instead of meat.
It’s faster to comb through EveryPlate’s recipes because, compared to Marley Spoon, they don’t offer that many recipes. So, it’s less confusing to select meals when what you want is something nutritious and flavorful.
All the information about the estimated cooking time, nutrition information, and ingredients are mentioned, making it faster for you to choose meals for yourself or your entire family.
2. Price
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon has slightly more expensive meals with premium and high-quality ingredients. They do not specifically use organic ingredients, but they do practice sustainable practices by sourcing all their ingredients from local and eco-friendly producers.
The ingredients are carefully selected and used for a wide variety of recipes, which is probably why their meals are more on the premium side costing between $8.69 and $12.99 per serving.
The price varies depending on the number of meals you order each time. Plus, an $11.99 shipping fee is applied during checkout, which you can’t get rid of.
Marley Spoon lets you pick your meals between 2 and 4 servings per meal.
| 2-person meal plan | 4-person meal plan | |
| 2 meals | $12.99 per serving | $10.49 per serving |
| 3 meals | $10.99 per serving | $9.49 per serving |
| 4 meals | $10.49 per serving | $8.99 per serving |
| 5 meals | $9.99 per serving | $8.99 per serving |
| 6 meals | $9.49 per serving | $8.49 per serving |
The cheapest meal plan with Marley Spoon starts from $8.49 per serving for 24 meals and $8.99 per serving for 16–20 meals in total. The shipping fee is charged on all orders, regardless of how many meals you add.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate is known as the most cost-effective and economical meal kit company for a reason. It is very affordable as the meal plans start at $7.49 per serving for 6 meals totaling down to $4.99 per serving for 24 meals. Shipping is $9.99 extra on all orders.
Just like Marley Spoon, EveryPlate lets you choose your meals in 2 or 4 servings per meal kit. This makes it an ideal pick for singles, couples, and families.
| 2-person meal plan | 4-person meal plan | |
| 3 meals per week | $7.49 per serving | $5.99 per serving |
| 4 meals per week | $6.99 per serving | $5.49 per serving |
| 5 meals per week | $6.49 per serving | $4.99 per serving |
| 6 meals per week | $5.99 per serving | $4.99 per serving |
EveryPlate focuses on budget-friendly meals by using simple ingredients. This is how the meal company keeps its per-serving costs low.
Another reason why EveryPlate is an affordable meal delivery service is that they purchase their ingredients in bulk, which enables them to cut down costs even more.
Do not distrust EveryPlate on account of their inexpensive prices because they are a very efficient and budget-friendly meal delivery service. They minimize the use of packaging but make effective use of ice packs and insulation to keep the meal kits fresh during transit.
3. Diet-Friendliness
Marley Spoon
If you’re looking for a meal kit delivery service that caters to your dietary needs apart from taste, Marley Spoon offers a little something for everyone.
Vegetarians can find more than enough recipes that are meat-free and healthy. The number of vegan options is limited due to the use of dairy in many of the plant-based recipes. But there are many tasty and flavorful vegan options available.
Marley Spoon also offers something to those on a low-carb and low-calorie diet. Each week, they offer more than 4 low-calorie recipes that contain less than 650 calories per serving. Low-carb selections are included too.
Unlike EveryPlate, Marley Spoon has some recipes labeled dairy-free and gluten-free, but it’s worth mentioning that these recipes do not use dairy or gluten ingredients and that the meal kits are processed in the same kitchen facility as dairy and gluten. So, the risk of cross-contamination does apply if you’re on a strict gluten- or dairy-free diet or have a severe allergy to these ingredients.
In that case, look for a certified gluten- or dairy-free meal kit company as Marley Spoon may not be the best fit for you.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate’s diet-friendliness and meal variety are limited compared with Marley Spoon. They offer more pocket-friendly meal recipes, so if that’s what you’re aiming for, EveryPlate is the perfect option for you.
If you’re a vegetarian, EveryPlate offers around 4–5 delicious vegetarian recipes every week. They do not cater to more specialized diets like vegan, keto, paleo, or Mediterranean. There aren’t any low-carb or low-calorie meal options either.
EveryPlate uses standard-quality ingredients without GMOs, preservatives, and artificial fillers. Their meals do not use organic ingredients, which some people may find disappointing. But you can read about the recipe’s ingredients list, nutrition info, and allergy information.
However, it’s important to note that besides mentioning the potential allergens of each meal, EveryPlate does not cater to restrictive diets like gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free.
Overall, EveryPlate ranks as an affordable and reliable meal kit delivery company for quick and flavorful meals that are home-inspired and basic to cook.
4. Meal Selection Process
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon, with its extensive menu, gives you tons of exciting and delicious recipes to pick from. Their meal selection process is faster and more efficient too, letting you pick from a variety of diet and taste preferences.
Here’s how to go about placing an order with them:
- Browse the menu: Unlike many meal kit delivery services, with Marley Spoon, you can browse their current week’s menu to see if you are attracted to their recipes. You can read about the nutrition and ingredients of each recipe in seconds if you’re looking for a health-focused meal kit plan.
- Create an account: To place your first order, you have to first go to Marley Spoon’s website and create your account. Just add your email address and set a new password.
- Pick your plan: Once you have set up an account, the next thing would be to select the recipes that fit your needs. Marley Spoon provides tons of great meal kit recipes. Their meal plans are structured according to a 2- and a 4-person plan. You can order anywhere between 2 and 6 meals per week.
- Choose your recipes: Once you know how many meals you want per week, you can select the recipes. You can also add recipes to the upcoming week. Marley Spoon allows you to skip weeks as you like without paying extra.
- Customizing: On Marley Spoon’s menu, there are several side dishes and add-ons like desserts. After selecting all your recipes, you can adjust the serving size and select add-ons effectively.
- Place your order: You get another chance to review your order before you pay. Your delivery address and payment information are required. Based on the delivery location, you can see the delivery days. Once you place an order, the meal box will be delivered right to your doorstep.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate has a pretty straightforward and easy-to-understand meal selection process from the get-go.
Here’s what your first order with them would look like:
- Browse recipes: You can take a look at all of their recipes before signing up. Nutrition facts, ingredients, estimated cooking time, and allergy information are accessible without any fuss.
- Make an account: Add your email address and new password to make an account right away.
- Choose your meal plan: EveryPlate lets you select meals based on the number of servings and meals per week. You can pick your meals for 2 and 4 people and between 3 and 6 meal recipes per week.
- Choose meal recipes: EveryPlate offers a variety of delicious recipes that are vegetarian, meat-based, and healthy. They have 25 different meal kit recipes with Add-Ons like a la carte proteins, salads, soup, side dishes, and healthy snacks. Pick what you like, and you can adjust the serving size in the next step.
- Make order adjustments: If you’d like to add more meals or increase the serving size of some of the meal kit recipes, you can easily do that after choosing the meal recipes. Skipping a week, swapping ingredients, and adding more proteins to your diet are easy and quick to do.
- Place an order: After all your selections have been confirmed, review your order and place it after adding your delivery address and payment information. EveryPlate never charges you for skipping a week or customizing an order. The meal box will arrive at your doorstep once a week. The delivery day depends on your location.
5. Meal Planning and Prepping
Marley Spoon
Though the cooking time of Marley Spoon’s recipes depends on the specific type of dish you’re making, overall, it varies between 25 and 45 minutes.
Contrary to the way Marley Spoon advertises their meals, some of the recipes take longer than expected to prep and cook.
Rest assured, every recipe has its own detailed cooking instructions, including the estimated cooking time, which you will find on their app. You still have to plan your meal accordingly.
In the cooking instructions, you will also find information on the cooking equipment you have to use as well as the necessary ingredients. Marley Spoon does not always deliver pantry essentials like salt, pepper, olive oil, butter, etc., so make sure your kitchen is stocked as a precaution.
It’s worth mentioning that some recipes take longer to cook, especially for beginners, so plan your meals accordingly. The estimated cooking time of each recipe on Marley Spoon’s menu should help you do that.
Some recipes, however, follow the 6-step cooking process to simplify prep time. All the ingredients in the meal kits are premeasured. They even send their own branded sauce packets, seasonings, and other pre-prepped ingredients.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate is an efficient and time-saving meal kit delivery service. They offer meals that are easier to prepare and cook than Marley Spoon.
The meal preparation process is the same as EveryPlate provides an accurate estimated cooking time and cooking steps for each recipe. Follow the steps exactly, with the help of pictures, so that you can accelerate your prep time and reduce it to anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes. Some meat-based dishes may take longer, which adds to the cooking time, not the prep time.
EveryPlate also offers special options to choose from like side dishes, salad, pantry ingredient bundles, and proteins like chicken breast, chicken strips, turkey, and green beans – all these are precooked and packaged.
The cooking instructions explain the kind of cooking equipment you need and any other helpful tips. The cooking equipment required, however, is very basic. EveryPlate minimizes the use of packaging to ensure all your ingredients are delivered in containers divided into different recipes.
You can store the meal kits once they arrive in a refrigerator and take one out as and when you like.
One of the best things about opting for EveryPlate is that their recipes are pretty familiar as they are home-inspired. All the ingredients are premeasured, and even the most intricate recipe on the menu, like meatloaf, takes only 30 minutes to prepare. No fancy cooking equipment or advanced cooking skills are necessary.
You can download EveryPlate’s mobile app to keep a track of all the recipes. Overall, EveryPlate has faster prep and cooking time than Marley Spoon with easy and fun steps.
6. Packaging
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon’s packaging is eco-friendly and authentic. Their packaging and way of handling the meal kits contribute to a positive impact on the environment.
You must have noticed that some of the meals offered by Marley Spoon come with a climate-friendly label called “Climatarian.” These recipes are prepared most sustainably, opting for greener choices for all the ingredients.
It’s thoroughly impressive how committed Marley Spoon is toward sustainable packaging. Not only can you recycle the large cardboard box all the meals come in, but you can also recycle smaller items like the box liner, ice packs, paper bags, and ingredient packaging.
All the packaging materials are labeled with numbers from 1 to 4 that demonstrate the right way of recycling. Some of the plastics are eligible for curbside pickup, some for throwing away in a recycling bin, and some for dropping off at a local recycling center.
On average, the majority of the packaging materials provided by Marley Spoon in their weekly meal box will be recyclable.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate uses fewer packaging materials to save costs such as a single cardboard box and smaller plastic items for ingredients. The boxes are packed with cooler boxes and ice packs that are also curbside-recyclable.
Overall, EveryPlate is a reliable and convenient choice for its sturdy packaging.
7. Vegetarian or Plant-Based – Which Is Better?
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon offers over 30 different vegetarian recipes with 5 vegan recipes on the menu. Some of them are plant-based options such as the plant-based burger, plant-based lettuce wrap, plant-based quesadillas, and plant-based tacos.
A meatless meal now can be enjoyed in so many different flavors and pairings. You can either be on a complete vegetarian diet or mix and match between meat and vegetarian recipes – you’ll never run out of options.
The recipes themselves are easy and quick to follow. Not a lot of prep or chopping is necessary. All the ingredients are preportioned, which makes prep easier. Some of their ingredients are sourced from local farms. That means seasonal produce is a major part of Marley Spoon’s diet.
EveryPlate
In comparison to Marley Spoon, EveryPlate offers a limited variety of vegetarian meals. Out of 25 recipes, only 6 are vegetarian. EveryPlate does not serve vegan or organic options.
If you’re on a vegetarian diet, you may find enough recipes to keep you satisfied for an entire week. EveryPlate changes its menu every week, so there should not be any repetitions.
But for a plant-based diet, EveryPlate is not the right choice. They offer a selection of basic and quick recipes that are easy to cook and taste delicious, but for a plant-based diet plan, you won’t find EveryPlate as your ideal pick.
EveryPlate vegetarian menu features hearty grain bowls, pasta dishes, quesadillas, sandwiches, and plant-based curries. Some of these recipes take less than 30 minutes to cook with minimal prep work required.
8. High-Protein Recipes That Are Drool-Worthy
Marley Spoon
- Vegetarian
Calories – 710 kcal
Protein – 33g
Fat – 29g
Carbohydrate – 79g
- Crispy Spinach Curry RollsCalories – 860 kcal
Protein – 30g
Fat – 56g
Carbohydrate – 96g
- Meat
Calories – 960 kcal
Protein – 50g
Fat – 46g
Carbohydrate – 89g
Calories – 750 kcal
Protein – 48g
Fat – 43g
Carbohydrate – 49g
- Seafood
Calories – 550 kcal
Protein – 32g
Fat – 37g
Carbohydrate – 27g
EveryPlate
- Vegetarian
Calories – 920 kcal
Protein – 25g
Fat – 49g
Carbohydrate – 105g
Calories – 580 kcal
Protein – 20g
Fat – 24g
Carbohydrate – 75g
- Meat
Calories – 760 kcal
Protein – 60g
Fat – 29g
Carbohydrate – 63g
Calories – 900 kcal
Protein – 41g
Fat – 43g
Carbohydrate – 89g
- Seafood
Calories – 1050 kcal
Protein – 40g
Fat – 54g
Carbohydrate – 103g
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where Do Marley Spoon and EveryPlate Deliver?
Marley Spoon delivers to most of the areas in the continental United States. They have 3 different fulfillment centers for timely and consistent deliveries: New Jersey, Texas, and California.
Adjusting the delivery time and day depends on where your location is. But they give you options every time you place an order. After you’ve selected the meal plan and added meals, you will be taken directly to the delivery page where you have to add your zip code and address. All the delivery slots will be available to you.
You can even add your zip code before signing up to check if Marley Spoon delivers to you or not. They let you know immediately all the delivery slots that are available right after you enter your zip code.
EveryPlate caters to a more limited area in the United States than Marley Spoon. They do deliver to the majority of areas of the United States. You can check the availability of your delivery area by adding your zip code.
How Often Do Marley Spoon and EveryPlate Deliver?
Both Marley Spoon and EveryPlate offer weekly deliveries. You can skip a delivery week at your convenience without paying any extra charges.
Marley Spoon lets you customize your order and skip weeks easily. Make sure you make all the changes before the order is in progress. You will be able to see the cutoff time next to the order details.
EveryPlate lets you skip up to 4 weeks in advance, and you can make adjustments to all your upcoming orders until 5 days before the delivery is scheduled.
Are Marley Spoon and EveryPlate Meals Allergy-Friendly?
With regard to allergy and nutrition information, Marley Spoon and EveryPlate let you know about the common allergy-causing foods present in their meal kit recipes.
However, people suffering from severe allergies would be disappointed to know that both meal kit delivery services process all ingredients, non-allergens and allergens, in the same kitchen facility. So, the risk of cross-contamination may be high for people who have serious health concerns and allergies to gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, fish, etc.
It’s easier to identify which meals contain allergens on Marley Spoon’s menu because they’ve made their meal kits highly customizable and diet-friendly.
EveryPlate’s, on the other hand, offers allergy information without the diet categories such as gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.
You can also contact customer support for Marley Spoon and EveryPlate if you want your specific questions answered about allergies, cross-contamination, and other dietary restrictions. Both services come with a helpful FAQs section with the most popular queries and solutions for your every doubt.
How Long Will the Meal Kits Stay Fresh After Delivery?
You can store the meal kits for up to 7 days as long as they are properly stored and refrigerated as per the instructions on the recipe card. Both Marley Spoon and EveryPlate’s meals stay fresh for up to a week, including the fresh produce that the meal kit might consist of.
During transit, they make use of ice packs and cold insulation to ensure that the meal kits stay fresh. As soon as you receive your meal kit, make sure to unpack it and store the ingredients as per the recipe’s instructions.
EveryPlate’s meal kits come with a use-by date for every individual ingredient, which makes unpacking and storage faster and more efficient. If you are still worried about the food quality and freshness, make sure to cook the meal as soon as possible after storing it.
Marley Spoon Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Convenient meal kits with premeasured ingredients.
- They offer a wide range of meal kits for varied tastes and diets.
- Caters to different dietary needs like gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
- High-quality and locally sourced ingredients without GMOs and preservatives.
- You can easily skip weeks, adjust the order, and add more meals before delivery.
Cons:
- The cost of meal kits is slightly more expensive than grocery shopping.
- They use more packaging materials than usual.
- The meal kits take longer than estimated to cook.
EveryPlate Pros and Cons
Pros:
- One of the best affordable meal kit delivery services.
- Balanced meal options with add-ons like proteins, salads, soup, and snacks.
- Easy-to-follow and beginner-friendly recipes.
- The cooking time is under 30 minutes.
- The recipes are designed in a family-friendly and home-inspired manner.
- You can skip a delivery week up to 5 weeks in advance.
- No extra charges for the customization of orders before delivery.
Cons:
- Little to no meal customization based on diet.
- The quality of ingredients is conventional with no organic produce.
- Not the best eco-friendly and sustainable packaging.
Final Verdict
After evaluating the ingredient quality, menu, packaging, delivery, and meal plans of Marley Spoon and EveryPlate, it can be said that both are reliable meal kit companies. Marley Spoon and EveryPlate offer meal kits that give you premeasured ingredients. The recipes are backed by nutrition and recreate restaurant-quality meals at home.
With Marley Spoon, you can enjoy a wider variety of meals, including vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb, low-calorie, dairy-free, and family-friendly options. EveryPlate, on the other hand, focuses on delivering affordable meal kits that are incredibly simple to cook for people on a budget.
Eric is the founder of Mealfan.