As a vegan, sometimes I find myself feeling stressed out just thinking about what to prepare for my next meal. To avoid this, most people resort to subscribing to meal delivery services that provide a wide range of food selections for their weekly consumption.
In this review, the most debated Sun Basket vs Blue Apron hot topic would be demystified. Which of the two meal box services is better? Let’s find out.
Blue Apron vs Sun Basket - What’s The Main Difference?
The main difference between the Blue Apron and Sun Basket is their extra feature. Blue Apron provides a wine service option, which the Sun Basket meal kit delivery service doesn’t offer. On the other hand, Sun Basket has a breakfast option. You can even substitute two breakfast meal boxes for one dinner.
Sun Basket also offers recipe booklets, while Blue Apron provides cards containing step-by-step photos and instructions. Sun Basket’s recipe booklets contain the recipes for all the meals per week, including those you didn’t even order. Meanwhile, Blue Apron only sends out recipe cards containing the specific meals per week that you had ordered
Sun Basket
PROS
- Has breakfast plan options
- Provides recipe booklets
- Earth-friendly
- Easy to switch meals
- Provides grocery store items
CONS
- Lacks visual instructions
- With shipping fee
Blue Apron
PROS
- Fresh ingredients
- Has a wine club
- Adheres to animal welfare standards
- Uses recyclable packaging
- Allows mix-and-match between menu items
CONS
- Limited customization options
- Messy to make
How to Order
The ordering process for both meal kit companies/subscription services is almost on par. You will need to create a profile, so you must sign up and provide your necessary details. Once you’re done, you can easily choose your meals from their menu.
I have to admit that Blue Apron’s sign-up process is somewhat speedy. It only took me about four clicks to sign up for an account. On the other hand, Sun Basket’s filtering feature is also impressive. It made ordering easier since I can filter my food preferences. In this regard, I can safely claim that Sun Basket’s innovative filtering feature earned a point in this category.
Popular Meal Options
Based on some data we have gathered, both delivery companies have an impressive track record regarding their meal options. Blue Apron offers a safer and more standard approach in its menu options. They offer all-time classics that most people could recognize across the globe. All in all, they have about six meal options to choose from.
On the contrary, Sun Basket meal delivery service uses a different approach. They have 18 different meals for their Classic Meal Pack. They also cater to diverse and exotic recipes that Blue Apron doesn’t offer. Their meals offer unique spices, sauces, and flavors.
Sun Basket & Blue Apron Ease of Preparation
When I tried Blue Apron, I think most of their meals are true to their claims regarding their ease of preparation. However, some of their meals took me longer to prepare than what they originally advertised when done at home.
On the contrary, Sun Basket meals are equally easy to prepare, too. The company claims that their recipes only take at least 30 minutes. When I prepared one hearty meal at home, it really did take me less than 30 minutes to prepare the ingredients. Anyone with basic kitchen knowledge can follow their instructions, too. In this category, I decided to give both meal kit delivery companies one point each.
Signing Up & Cancelling Orders
In creating an account, I found Sun Basket more user-friendly. The moment I entered Sun Basket’s website, I was already reminded that there’s no commitment, and I could skip or cancel anytime I want. It’s easier to select the meal plans with Sun Basket since Blue Apron requires you to put your billing and credit card information before seeing the actual menu.
In terms of canceling your subscription, Sun Basket gets another point for having a live chatbox. Both meal kit services provide an easy cancellation process. However, I prefer how Sun Basket gave me that warm feeling to be even served with an actual person to talk to.
Sun Basket & Blue Apron Flexibility
Customizable
Based on some data we have gathered, both meal services offer options for customization. However, Sun Basket is easier to customize since it allows switching of some meal plans. They also offer something that other delivery companies don’t have, like the wine option and grocery shopping for Blue Apron and the breakfast option for Sun Basket.
Gifts
Blue Apron and Sun Basket may or may not offer gift cards, promotional gift card credits, and vouchers from time to time. They don’t offer gifts upon sign-up or any gifts when you have ordered a certain number.
Refunds
Blue Apron only offers full or partial refunds to their clients who are not satisfied with the food that they have ordered. On the contrary, Sun Basket offers a full refund, which I think is a better offer.
Free Trial
Unlike other delivery companies, both don’t offer free trials. Although they do offer some, it doesn’t always come with free trials at some point, especially for promotional purposes.
Customer Support
They are both easy to contact through email or via phone call. However, I especially liked how Sun Basket offers a live chat box for people who opt to cancel their orders.
Related Posts:
Blue Apron & Sun Basket Recipe Variety
Sun Basket meal delivery service offers various recipes of high nutritional value. It has 18 recipes per week that clients could choose from. It’s easier to find a recipe that would suit your dietary preferences, like food allergies. They have vegan meal kits, Paleo and Mediterranean.
On the contrary, Blue Apron offers a more traditional set of recipes along with a twist per week. The company uses a different approach in turning traditional recipes into something unusual. They offer a diverse array of recipes and ingredients that Sun Basket doesn’t always have. In this category, Blue Apron recipes take the point.
Nutritional Value & Quality
Blue Apron aims to build a better food system. So, it’s not surprising to know that they only use organic products that include hormone-free meats, gluten-free, and non-GMO vegetables for their meals. All of their meats contain no added hormones or steroids. Their vegetables are always fresh and organic.
On the other hand, Sun Basket aims for the same thing. The company focuses on its core values: clean eating, tasty meals, and sustainability. They even have a recommendation from the Sea Watch, an advisory list for seafood. Since both delivery companies offer highly nutritious foods and gluten-free ingredients, I decided to give this category another tie.
“The future is about a plant-based diet.” – Gordon Ramsay, British Chef, Restaurateur, Television Personality, and Writer
Shipping & Packaging
Both companies offer eco-friendly packaging in delivering their meal kits per week. They use insulated boxes that are also eco-friendly. All of their ingredients arrive fresh because of their reusable ice packs to reduce food waste.
Blue Apron has a list of all the areas they deliver to. You won’t be able to see the list unless you sign in to your account and try to create and order. Meanwhile, SunBasket delivers to almost everywhere in the US except some parts of New Mexico, Montana, Hawaii, and Alaska. Sun Basket also charges a shipping fee/cost of less than $10. In contrast, Blue Apron doesn’t charge any when you order three Signature 2 Servings or two Signature 4 Servings plans.
Blue Apron & Sun Basket - What’s the Plan & Pricing?
When it comes to pricing, Blue Apron meals are a little cheaper per meal. It offers two plans: the two-person and four-person “family plan. It offers almost more than a dollar cheaper per meal than Sun Basket.
For their two-person meal boxes, Blue Apron meal service only charges a little over $50, while SunBasket offers more than $20 more per meal plan, including the shipping cost. The difference between their four-person meal plans prices per serving is higher, too. Blue Apron’s family meal plan will only cost you a little less than $100, while Sun Basket plans cost almost $140.
What Customers Say
Based on my research, customers find Blue Apron meals an excellent choice because of their affordability per serving. Most people also like how the company offers wine. According to some reviews, their recipe/menu cards are also extraordinary.
On the other hand, SunBasket meals maybe a little more expensive than Blue Apron per serving but customers like the quality and freshness of their ingredients. And according to reviews, it even offers a weight loss program with essential health information guides. They also like how easy it is to sign up and cancel their subscriptions in SunBasket.
Blue Apron or Sun Basket? We Prefer...
Based on our experiences, my team and I prefer the Sun Basket because it has an innovative filtering feature that we find to be helpful in navigating their website. Their meals are also excitingly tasty and exotic, which we rarely see from other meal kit delivery companies.
Sun Basket’s live chat box is also a huge plus, as it made us feel an essential client for being offered to talk to a real person. For many customers, online chat software is more convenient and less stressful than speaking on the phone to a stranger. [1] Their ingredients are also easy to prepare and are organically fresh.
We Recommend
Sun Basket
- Has innovative filtering feature
- Exotic recipes
- Has live chatbox
- Easy to prepare meal kits
About Author
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Did you make this recipe? Leave a reply below!