HelloFresh is the largest meal kit service in Australia — but it's not the right choice for everyone. Some people leave because of price, others want more recipe variety, others find themselves never cooking the kits before the deadline, or simply want to try something different. This guide covers every scenario and matches you to the right alternative.
Why people switch from HelloFresh
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Price
HelloFresh starts from $8.75/serving. With 4 people, 3 meals a week, that's $100+ weekly. Alternatives like EveryPlate cut this roughly in half.
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Recipe variety
HelloFresh offers ~25 new recipes per week — solid, but Marley Spoon has a rotating catalogue of 300+ recipes that makes the same meal less likely to repeat.
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Time to cook
HelloFresh meals take 25–45 minutes. If life gets busy and kits pile up, a heat-and-eat prepared meal service (My Muscle Chef, Macros) removes the cooking entirely.
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Flexibility
HelloFresh requires ordering for 2+ people. If you're cooking for one, a prepared meal service with no person minimum gives more control over quantity and waste.
1. EveryPlate — Best cheap HelloFresh alternative
Best budget swap
EveryPlate
Same parent company as HelloFresh · 2,600+ reviews
Cheapest meal kit in AU
Same group as HelloFresh
20+ recipes/week
2–5 people · 2–5 meals
Why HelloFresh users switch to EveryPlate
- Roughly half the price per serving of HelloFresh
- Same format — meal kit, fresh ingredients, you cook
- 4.3/5 score — actually rated higher than HelloFresh
- Easy to trial — same delivery logistics, familiar ordering experience
What you give up vs HelloFresh
- Fewer recipes per week than HelloFresh
- Less variety in dietary filters (fewer premium/gourmet options)
- Simpler packaging — fewer extras and side options
💡 Switching tip
EveryPlate and HelloFresh are owned by the same parent company (HelloFresh Group). Pausing your HelloFresh subscription and starting EveryPlate is straightforward — and new customer welcome offers often make the first few weeks even cheaper than the regular price.
2. Marley Spoon — Best for recipe variety
Best recipe variety
Marley Spoon
All Australian states · ~1,200 reviews
300+ recipe catalogue
Martha Stewart branded
Family plan up to 4 people
Similar price to HelloFresh
Why recipe lovers switch
- Largest recipe catalogue of any Australian meal kit service
- More sophisticated recipes — higher cooking skill ceiling
- Customers consistently rate meal taste above HelloFresh
- Family plan with good portion sizes
Why to be cautious
- 3.0/5 ProductReview score — delivery and customer service complaints
- Not recommended if reliability is a priority
- Cancellation issues flagged by some customers
3. Dinnerly — Budget alternative with simple recipes
Budget option
Dinnerly
Major Australian cities · ~900 reviews
Budget pricing
5-ingredient recipes
Quick cooking ~25 min
2–4 people
Good fit for
- Households that want budget meal kits without much recipe research
- Quick weeknight cooking — typically 5 ingredients, 25 min
- Families who find HelloFresh recipes too complex or time-consuming
Not ideal if
- You want variety beyond the basics
- Gourmet or adventurous cooking is the goal
- Recipe instruction cards are important — Dinnerly uses digital-only
4. My Muscle Chef — Best when you want to skip the cooking entirely
Best no-cook alternative
My Muscle Chef
Major Australian cities · 2,400+ reviews
No cooking required
Delivered frozen — stock up
50+ meal options
High protein focus
Right switch if you leave HelloFresh because
- Kits pile up in the fridge before you cook them
- Cooking 30–45 min after a long day feels like too much
- You travel or have unpredictable schedules (frozen = flexible)
- Fitness goals require tracking protein — all macros labelled per meal
Worth knowing
- You lose the cooking experience entirely
- Higher cost per meal than HelloFresh
- Less variety of cuisines — sports nutrition brand angle
How to choose the right HelloFresh alternative
Match your reason for switching
Price
Switch to EveryPlate — roughly half the cost, same meal kit format, actually rated slightly higher. Easiest switch.
Variety
Try Marley Spoon for a larger recipe catalogue, but be aware of the 3.0/5 score and manage your expectations on delivery reliability.
No time
Switch to My Muscle Chef (or Macros) — heat and eat, 2 min microwave. No cooking, no wasted kits in the fridge.
Budget + simple
Try Dinnerly — budget pricing, 5-ingredient recipes, 25 min cooking. Fast weeknight meals without HelloFresh pricing.
Solo cooking
HelloFresh requires 2-person minimum. Switch to My Muscle Chef or Macros — order 1 meal at a time, no person minimum, no waste.
Full comparison vs HelloFresh
| Service | From | Type | Score | Cook time | Best switch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloFresh | $8.75/srv | Meal kit | 4.1 / 5 | 25–45 min | Reference |
| EveryPlate | $4.44/srv | Meal kit | 4.3 / 5 | 25–40 min | Price |
| Dinnerly | $4.49/srv | Meal kit | 4.0 / 5 | ~25 min | Budget + speed |
| Marley Spoon | ~$9/srv | Meal kit | 3.0 / 5 ⚠ | 30–50 min | Recipe variety* |
| My Muscle Chef | ~$12/meal | Prepared | 4.2 / 5 | 2 min microwave | No cooking |
| Macros | $9.65/meal | Prepared | 4.0 / 5 | 2 min microwave | Macro tracking |
* Marley Spoon has better recipes but lower service reliability — see review
Compare all meal kit services side by side
Prices, scores and delivery areas in one table.
View all meal kits →Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to HelloFresh in Australia?
The best HelloFresh alternative depends on why you're switching. For lower prices, EveryPlate starts from $4.44/serving — about half the HelloFresh price. For higher quality ingredients and more sophisticated recipes, Marley Spoon is the closest match at a similar price point. For variety and flexibility without the cooking, My Muscle Chef (prepared meals, heat and eat) is a strong alternative.
Is EveryPlate cheaper than HelloFresh in Australia?
Yes. EveryPlate starts from $4.44 per serving in Australia, compared to HelloFresh at $8.75–$12+ per serving. Both services are owned by the same parent company (HelloFresh Group). EveryPlate offers fewer recipes per week and simpler packaging, but the food quality is similar for most customers.
What is the best HelloFresh alternative for family cooking?
Marley Spoon is the best HelloFresh alternative for families — it offers a dedicated family plan with up to 4 people and 4 meals, larger portion sizes, and a large recipe catalogue. Prices are comparable to HelloFresh but the recipe variety is often rated higher by families who want more interesting meals.
Is Marley Spoon better than HelloFresh?
It depends on your priorities. Marley Spoon has more recipe variety (300+ in the catalogue) and many customers rate the taste higher, but its ProductReview score (3.0/5) is lower than HelloFresh (4.1/5) due to customer service and delivery issues. HelloFresh has better operational reliability; Marley Spoon has better recipe quality. Many users who switch find the meals better but occasionally encounter logistics issues.
Do HelloFresh and EveryPlate use the same food?
They are owned by the same company (HelloFresh Group) and share some supply chain infrastructure, but they are separate services with different recipe catalogues, different menu sizes, and different packaging. EveryPlate is positioned as the budget entry point; HelloFresh as the mid-range mainstream service. The ingredient quality is broadly similar, with HelloFresh offering some premium options that EveryPlate does not.