Dinnerly vs. EveryPlate Comparison

Highlights

Pricing

In a saturated sea of “premium” meal kit delivery services with premium price tags to match, Dinnerly and EveryPlate stand out as high quality, affordable alternatives. Both services start as low as $4.99 per serving, making them two of the least expensive options on the market today. And while both are decidedly more streamlined than their higher-priced peers, with fewer frills and less gourmet cuisine, they never compromise on quality to keep costs down. Dinnerly keeps prices low by using digital recipe cards as opposed to paper (although you can request to receive printed cards if you prefer them), fewer ingredients per dish, simple packaging and minimal marketing efforts. EveryPlate’s cost-conscious packaging and pared down recipe selection enable them to pass savings on to their customers without impacting the quality of their offerings.

Shipping Fees

Both EveryPlate and Dinnerly charge a fixed fee for shipping. EveryPlate is slightly less expensive, charging $9.99 per order, while Dinnerly charges $11.99.

Discounts and Promotions

Both services frequently offer generous discounts for new customers, which make their already low prices even lower. For example, at the time of this review, EveryPlate is offering a discount that brings its pricing as low as $1.49 per serving, and Dinnerly is running a promotion that brings the per serving price down to $2.99.

Dinnerly Meal Options vs. EveryPlate’s

Both Dinnerly and EveryPlate are subsidiaries of larger companies—Dinnerly is owned by Martha Stewart’s meal kit delivery service, Martha & Marley Spoon, and EveryPlate was founded by the same company that owns HelloFresh. Both are deliberately pared down versions of their parent/sister companies, offering simpler, more affordable plans and classic comfort food recipes with fewer ingredients and steps. Most meals are ready in about 30 minutes, and are designed for regular people who’d rather get tasty, filling meals on the table fast than become culinary connoisseurs.

Meal Plans & Recipe Types

EveryPlate offers a variety of meal plans, including Meat and Veggie, Quick and Easy (ready in 30 minutes or less), Vegetarian, Nutrish & Delish (around 650 calories or less), Family Friendly (great for picky eaters) and a Premium plan (fancier meals that are great for date night). Dinnerly’s offerings are similar—you can choose Family Friendly, Vegetarian, Vegan, Fast, Healthy and Reduced-Carb recipes.

While both Dinnerly and EveryPlate offer a variety of simple, hearty, comfort food meals, when it comes to overall menu selection, Dinnerly takes the cake: Customers choose from more than 100 recipes every week plus a variety of pantry items that can be added to your order for an extra fee; EveryPlate’s weekly rotation includes close to 30 recipes, plus a variety of add-ons like proteins, soups, salad and sandwich kits.

Options for Those with Special Dietary Needs

One of the ways that Dinnerly and EveryPlate keep costs down is by sticking to basic menus and plans—outside of vegetarian and lower calorie meals, neither offers many options for those following special diets. However, Dinnerly does have some vegan, low carb, keto-friendly and nutrient-heavy dishes on the menu, which gives it a slight edge over EveryPlate.

Neither service is particularly accommodating for those with food allergies. But with both Dinnerly and EveryPlate, all ingredients and allergens are clearly listed—so with a little legwork, even those with food allergies may be able to build their own plans. Dinnerly goes one step further and also indicates which meals do not contain any added gluten or dairy, a fact that those with minor allergies will likely appreciate. However, given that there is always a risk of cross-contamination, if you have a severe food allergy you’d be advised to skip both of these services.

Recipe Complexity

Both Dinnerly and EveryPlate hang their hats on simple, straightforward recipes that are easy to follow, even for the most inexperienced chefs. The meals can be prepared in a short amount of time—most take around 30 minutes or less, with just a few simple steps (an average of five steps for Dinnerly and six for EveryPlate), making them a great match for people with busy schedules or limited cooking skills.

Extras

Both companies offer an impressive selection of add-ons that can be tacked on to your existing weekly order. EveryPlate offers extra proteins like chicken breasts, ground beef, shrimp and salmon, plus packaged salad kits, soups and sandwich kits, and more. Dinnerly customers have access to the Dinnerly Market, which includes a large selection of pantry items, fresh produce, drinks and more, as well as premium meal kits—all for an additional cost. Dinnerly also occasionally sells seasonal specials like desserts and brunch foods around holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day.

Convenience and Flexibility

Flexibility is a pillar of both the Dinnerly and EveryPlate brands. Both offer flexible subscription plans, allowing customers to choose the number of meals and servings they’d like to receive, and providing the option to skip, pause or cancel anytime. This ensures that customers can adjust their meal plans to align with their schedules or changes in dietary preferences penalty-free.

Delivery Options

Both Dinnerly and EveryPlate deliver to most of the contiguous U.S. states via reliable shipping partners. Since delivery varies depending on your location, you’ll want to utilize the zip code checkers on both brands’ websites to confirm that they service your area.

Packaging and Preparations

Dinnerly and EveryPlate’s focus on preserving food freshness, reducing costs and minimizing waste means that they’ve put a lot of thought into their packaging. With both companies, ingredients are shipped in specially designed insulated boxes with cooling packs to ensure optimal freshness in transit and to keep them cold if you aren’t home upon their arrival.

Both companies prioritize sustainability, using recyclable materials and minimizing excess waste. Dinnerly uses a little more packaging than EveryPlate in order to keep ingredients separate, which some customers feel is unnecessary. On the flip side, some EveryPlate customers don’t like that the ingredients are not well separated, leading to what some describe as a disorganized unboxing experience.

Customer Support

Both the Dinnerly and EveryPlate websites are home to robust help centers, with answers to customers’ frequently asked questions plus details about the plans, recipes, pricing, shipping and more. The companies also offer live chat functions with a virtual assistant and, for those who prefer to speak with a real person, well attended customer service lines.

Return Policy

Both companies prioritize customer satisfaction and offer a few support channels through which customers can report concerns or issues. Whether you’re a Dinnerly or an EveryPlate customer, if you’re not satisfied with a meal or the service for any reason, you can contact their customer support teams to request a refund or credit. Whether you receive one is up to the company’s sole discretion.

Our Verdict

Dinnerly and EveryPlate are two of the most affordable meal kit delivery services on the market today. Both take the hassle out of home cooking by sending simple, delicious, comfort food recipes and high quality, fresh ingredients directly to customers’ doors. There are countless similarities between these two services. However, Dinnerly’s larger selection of recipes and add-ons gives it a slight edge for anyone who prefers greater mealtime variety, or who has minor food allergies or dietary restrictions. However, if budget is your top priority, you may prefer EveryPlate, which has slightly lower shipping fees and a lower maximum cost per serving.