Ever stood in your kitchen at 6pm wondering what to cook for dinner… again? You’re not alone. That’s where meal kits like HelloFresh and Dinnerly come in, and I’ve cooked hundreds of meals from both to help you decide which deserves a spot in your weekly routine. These two giants of the Australian meal kit scene couldn’t be more different in their approach – one premium, one budget-focused – yet both deliver fresh ingredients to thousands of Aussie homes each week.
After years of testing both services (HelloFresh since their 2012 Australian launch and Dinnerly since their 2017 arrival), I’ve developed a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses. The answer comes down to one question: “Which one is better for me?“
This comparison aims to answer that question, helping you work out which meal kit service is right for you.
I’ll provide a brief summary of each service here, however you can also read my full reviews of HelloFresh and Dinnerly.
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Comparing Dinnerly and HelloFresh
We’ve built this handy interactive comparison tool where you can see all the key facts and features of each service to compare them directly. Feel free to review the information here, or read on for our full comparison between Dinnerly and HelloFresh.
HelloFresh vs Dinnerly : Offering
Let’s start by summarising the offerings from both HelloFresh and Dinnerly to understand their similarities and differences.
HelloFresh Offering
Service Options – With HelloFresh, you can choose box sizes that feed 2, 4, or 6 people. You’ll be able to select between 2 to 5 meals each week.
Meal Variety – HelloFresh offers 38 different unique meals each week, with a minimum of 6 plant-based options. The menu includes premium ‘Gourmet’ dishes featuring specialty ingredients, partially prepared ‘Fast & Fancy’ meals, and international ‘Taste Tours’ options. You can preview upcoming meals for the next month on their online menu.
Meal Customisation – HelloFresh provides customization options on selected weekly meals. Available modifications include protein swaps, extra ingredients, and portion adjustments. For example, you might be able to swap meat for plant-based alternatives or add extra cheese to eligible dishes.
Delivery Options – HelloFresh delivers to major metropolitan and regional areas across Australia. Delivery schedules vary by location, with service available throughout the week. All meal selections must be finalized 4 to 6 days before the scheduled delivery date.
Additional Extras – HelloFresh offers more than standard meal kits, meaning that your weekly deliveries can be supplemented with fresh sides, fruit boxes, soups, and various snacks. Ready-to-heat YouFoodz meals are also available as add-ons to any order.
Dinnerly Offering
Service Options – Dinnerly offers a 2 or 4 person box across 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals per week, the same as their parent company Marley Spoon.
Meal Variety – Each week, Dinnerly provides a rotating list of 100+ recipes, with around 20 of these being vegetarian and approximately 20 labeled as “no added gluten.” Each dish has between 6-7 ingredients that arrive with your delivery. Dinnerly makes their menu available 4 weeks ahead, so you can see what meals will be available on their website.
Meal Customisation – Dinnerly offers customisation on selected meals, often limited to switching out a specific ingredient. The most common customisation elements include doubling the quantity of an ingredient, switching between meat and plant-based ingredients, or switching to low-calorie alternatives. During my testing, I found these options available on roughly 20% of weekly meals.
Delivery Options – Dinnerly delivers to all Australian states. Dates and times available will depend on your location, but your delivery slot and meal selections must be finalised at least 7 days before your delivery is due. This longer lead time requires more advance planning compared to some competitors.
Additional Extras – Dinnerly offers a marketplace that includes snacks, drinks, side dishes, lunches, and desserts. The ‘ready meals’ come from ChefGood’s range. Dinnerly’s menu also includes ‘Saver’ meals that reduce the cost of your subscription by $1.00 to $1.50 per portion. There are typically 5 of these budget options each week, though they often require more pantry staples from your kitchen.
HelloFresh vs Dinnerly Comparison
There are several key differences to call out between these two services:
HelloFresh vs Dinnerly : The Food
Understanding what arrives in your box is just the beginning. What really matters is how those ingredients transform into your dinner. After trying dozens of meals from both services, I can tell you that food quality and taste vary between HelloFresh and Dinnerly in important ways.
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to flavor, so I’ll walk you through my firsthand experiences to help you decide which meal kit you might prefer.
HelloFresh Meals
Ingredients and Packaging – HelloFresh delivers ingredients in separate paper bags for each recipe, color-coded to match the corresponding recipe cards. Some ingredients come partially prepared, such as grated cheese, which lets you start cooking immediately after selecting your meal. The fresh ingredients and meats are packaged in a separate cool bag to maintain freshness.
Recipe Experience – The recipe cards are exceptionally clear and easy to follow. In my experience cooking over 50 HelloFresh meals, I’ve never been confused by what the recipe was asking me to do. The large format cards provide ample space for detailed instructions and helpful tips, making even more complex techniques approachable for average home cooks.
Flavor and Satisfaction – All the dishes I’ve received have been very impressive without exception. Using simple cooking techniques, I’ve been able to create meals that I would have been happy to eat at a restaurant. Dishes like Thai-Style Sweet Chilli Chicken, Mexican Pork Tacos, and Seared Salmon with Mint Pearl Couscous have been particular standouts. Meals typically take less than 60 minutes to prepare, making them practical for weeknight cooking. Portion sizes are quite generous, often leaving me with enough for lunch the following day.
You can see how my cooking attempts compared to HelloFresh’s advertising in my ‘Expectations vs Reality’ blog post.
Dinnerly Meals
Ingredients and Packaging – Dinnerly delivers ingredients loose in the box, with meats and dairy products coming in a separate cool bag with ice packs. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the consistent quality of ingredients across dozens of boxes since 2020. The vegetables arrive fresh and crisp, while the meat portions (often free-range chicken) have been consistently good quality. The main drawback is having to sort through all the ingredients to find what you need for each recipe.
Recipe Experience – Since Dinnerly doesn’t provide physical recipe cards, you need to access instructions through their app or website. The digital recipes are generally straightforward with 5-6 steps, aiming to have you cooking for about 30 minutes. However, I’ve encountered some clarity issues with portion scaling (especially confusing when cooking for 2 vs 4 people) and occasionally problematic timing in the step ordering. After cooking so many Dinnerly meals, I’ve found myself relying more on basic cooking intuition rather than following the instructions precisely.
Flavor and Satisfaction – Dinnerly consistently delivers on flavor through clever use of spice blends and sauce combinations. The dishes tend to be simpler and more familiar so think risottos, stir-fries, and pasta dishes. Portion sizes can vary significantly between meals, with some dishes being quite generous while others barely fill you up. Most meals come together in 20-30 minutes, which is perfect for busy weeknights. My overall impression is that Dinnerly creates satisfying, homestyle meals that feel like something you’d cook yourself.
After cooking hundreds of meals from both services over several years, I’ve developed a clear sense of their different approaches to home cooking. HelloFresh focuses on creating impressive, restaurant-quality dishes with diverse flavors and techniques that introduce you to new meal ideas. Their detailed recipe cards and pre-organized ingredients make the cooking process nearly foolproof, even when tackling more complex dishes. The trade-off for this premium experience is the higher price point.
Dinnerly takes a fundamentally different approach, prioritizing simplicity and value over variety. Their streamlined recipes with fewer ingredients mean faster cooking times and lower costs, making weeknight dinners manageable even with a busy schedule. While you won’t find the same flavor complexity or presentation as HelloFresh, Dinnerly consistently delivers satisfying, homestyle meals that get the job done without fuss. The digital-only recipes and loose ingredients require more organization from you, but the significant cost savings make these compromises worthwhile for many households, especially families cooking on a budget.
HelloFresh normally offer a stronger initial discount offer for new customers (and existing customers who haven’t used the service recently) which you can access by using our discount link.
Dinnerly’s offer is usually less than HelloFresh. However, considering the already low price for Dinnerly I find that it still makes your first box absolutely unbeatable value. Their best discount is obtainable through our exclusive discount link.
HelloFresh vs Dinnerly : The Cost
When comparing these two popular meal kit services, pricing is where we see the most dramatic difference. It doesn’t take an expert to see that Dinnerly delivers significant savings compared to HelloFresh, making it the clear budget-friendly option.
Total price of a weekly meal kit compared
| People | Meals | HelloFresh | Dinnerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | $70.00 | $53.94 |
| 2 | 4 | $90.00 | $67.92 |
| 2 | 5 | $105.00 | $79.90 |
| 4 | 3 | $125.00 | $89.88 |
| 4 | 4 | $150.00 | $111.84 |
| 4 | 5 | $165.00 | $135.80 |
Dinnerly comes in at a significantly lower cost than HelloFresh across all box sizes. On average, Dinnerly is approximately 24% cheaper than HelloFresh, representing substantial savings that add up quickly over time.
For a family of four ordering 5 meals weekly, choosing Dinnerly instead of HelloFresh would save around $1,500 annually. That’s an amount that’s hard to ignore.
Cost per portion comparison
Dinnerly maintains a consistent price advantage across all box sizes, with the gap widening for family-sized boxes.
Delivery costs
| Service | Delivery Fee |
|---|---|
| HelloFresh | $11.99 per Delivery |
| Dinnerly | $9.99 per Delivery |
Dinnerly’s delivery fee is $2 lower than HelloFresh, though it’s worth noting that both may charge additional fees for delivery to remote areas. A charge that can be as much as $20 in some cases. I recommend checking delivery costs for your specific location before placing your first order.
Value assessment
When considering overall value:
- HelloFresh Strengths: More premium ingredients, more complex recipes, physical recipe cards, and ingredients separated by meal in color-coded bags.
- Dinnerly Strengths: Drastically lower base prices, “Saver” meal options that further reduce costs, and simpler recipes requiring less cooking time.
- Hidden Costs to Consider: Dinnerly requires more pantry staples than HelloFresh, so you’ll need to factor in having ingredients like garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce on hand. However, the cost of these items spread across multiple meals is minimal compared to the overall price difference.
For a complete analysis of meal kit costs across all Australian providers, check out my comprehensive cost comparison.
So which do I buy?! HelloFresh vs Dinnerly
After testing both services extensively over several years and cooking hundreds of meal kit recipes from each, I’ve figured out which service works best for different households.
Choose HelloFresh if you:
- Want more sophisticated flavors – HelloFresh recipes consistently deliver more complex and restaurant-quality dishes. Their detailed recipe cards and pre-measured ingredients help you create meals with impressive depth of flavor.
- Are cooking for a larger family – With box options for up to 6 people, HelloFresh accommodates bigger households better than Dinnerly’s maximum 4-person box.
- Prefer convenience over savings – The color-coded meal bags, physical recipe cards, and inclusion of most ingredients make the cooking process more streamlined and user-friendly.
- Appreciate visual presentation – HelloFresh recipes often result in more visually impressive meals that look great on the dinner table.
Choose Dinnerly if you:
- Prioritize budget over everything else – With savings of up to 25% compared to HelloFresh, Dinnerly is undeniably the more economical option, potentially saving you $1,500+ annually.
- Want quicker weeknight meals – The simplified recipes with fewer ingredients mean most Dinnerly meals come together in 30 minutes or less, compared to HelloFresh’s 40-60 minute average.
- Have basic cooking skills – If you’re comfortable working with minimal instructions and making adjustments as needed, Dinnerly’s streamlined approach will work well for you.
- Don’t mind digital recipes – If you’re comfortable using a phone or tablet in the kitchen rather than physical recipe cards, Dinnerly’s digital-only approach won’t be an issue.
My personal recommendation
For most households, the decision comes down to a simple question: how much do you value premium ingredients and detailed recipes versus cost savings? In my experience, Dinnerly provides about 90% of the quality for roughly 75% of the price.
If you’re cooking on a tight budget, have a good set of pantry staples, and don’t mind simpler meals, Dinnerly offers unbeatable value. However, if you’re looking to expand your cooking skills or create more impressive meals without much effort, HelloFresh’s premium experience justifies the higher price tag.
If you’re interested in Dinnerly, you can read my full Dinnerly review or check out what their current ‘new customer’ offer is.
If HelloFresh sounds like a better fit, check out my complete HelloFresh review or take advantage of our exclusive discount with HelloFresh.
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