Is Blue Apron a Good Deal?
The original meal kit — chef-designed recipes with premium ingredients
$8–11/serving
Quick Verdict: Is Blue Apron Worth It?
Wait — Deal Score: 5.5/10
| Price | $8–11/serving |
| Free Tier | No |
| Best For | You're a food enthusiast who enjoys cooking elaborate meals and values premium ingredients |
| Skip If | You want value — HelloFresh offers more variety at the same price, EveryPlate costs half |
✓ Pros
- Higher-quality ingredients than HelloFresh and EveryPlate
- More adventurous recipes — great for learning to cook
- Wine pairing add-on option
✗ Cons
- Same price as HelloFresh but fewer recipe options
- Company has been struggling financially — future uncertain
- EveryPlate offers similar experience for half the price
Our Analysis
Blue Apron has reinvented itself in 2026, moving away from its rigid subscription model to offer à la carte ordering for the first time. This is a significant shift for the company that essentially created the meal kit category. Pricing ranges from $8–$14 per serving depending on plan size, with a $9.99 shipping fee per box. The optional Blue Apron+ membership at $9.99/month adds free shipping and Tastemade+ streaming content — a decent bundle if you order regularly.
The food quality has always been Blue Apron's strength, and that hasn't changed. Recipes tend to be more ambitious than competitors like HelloFresh or EveryPlate, incorporating restaurant-level techniques and premium ingredients. Reddit sentiment reflects this — users praise the culinary education aspect but note that prep times often exceed the stated estimates by 15–20 minutes. The à la carte pivot has been well-received on forums, with many former subscribers saying they'd return now that the commitment pressure is gone.
The challenge is value. At $10–$14 per serving for a 2-person plan, Blue Apron is one of the pricier options in the meal kit space. A family of four eating two Blue Apron meals per week will spend around $320/month. For that price, the recipes need to consistently deliver — and reviews suggest they usually do, though not every week is a hit. If you treat it as a cooking hobby rather than a grocery replacement, the value equation makes more sense.
Cost Breakdown
Premium pricing justified by recipe complexity and ingredient quality — treat it as a cooking experience, not a grocery replacement.
What Real Users Report
The new à la carte model is exactly what they wanted. they order when they see recipes they like instead of scrambling to skip every week.
Best meal kit for actually learning to cook. The techniques transfer to your regular cooking, which is worth something.
Quality is great but the price per serving is hard to justify when EveryPlate exists at half the cost.
Worth it if
You're a food enthusiast who enjoys cooking elaborate meals and values premium ingredients
Skip if
You want value — HelloFresh offers more variety at the same price, EveryPlate costs half
