Fresh Prep vs HelloFresh: Comparing Canada’s Top Meal Kits

Here’s how Fresh Prep and HelloFresh stack up so you can quickly and easily compare the details that matter most to your lifestyle.

Feb 2, 2026 • Fresh Tips • meal kits

Busy weeknights shouldn’t mean compromising on taste, freshness, or your values. That’s where meal kits come in. They take the stress out of grocery shopping and meal prep, helping you enjoy home-cooked dinners even on your busiest days.

Canadians are increasingly turning to meal kits not just for convenience, but for nutritious, flavourful home-cooked meals that support local producers and reduce food waste. Two popular services, Fresh Prep and HelloFresh, are helping families across the country put satisfying meals on the table with convenience and ease. Both bring fresh ingredients and chef-created recipes right to your door, but they do it in slightly different ways.

This guide breaks down how Fresh Prep and HelloFresh Canada compare on pricing, ingredients, menu variety, sustainability, and ease of prep, giving you all the information you need to choose the meal kit that best fits your lifestyle.

Fresh Prep vs. HelloFresh at a Glance

Both Fresh Prep and HelloFresh offer convenient, chef-created meals, but their approaches to sourcing, packaging, and meal prep vary. Here’s how the two stack up so you can quickly and easily compare the details that matter most to your lifestyle.

Quick Comparison Table

While both services offer meal kits that make home cooking easier, Fresh Prep stands out with locally sourced, pre-portioned ingredients, reusable Zero Waste Kits, and a menu that adapts to your schedule.

Explore our Zero Waste Kit to see how Fresh Prep helps reduce packaging waste.

Price and Plans

Budgeting for weekly meals doesn’t have to be stressful. Understanding what you’ll pay and how flexible the service really is can make the decision more straightforward and ensure you’re getting the most value for your time and money.

Cost Comparison

With Fresh Prep, you know exactly what you’re paying for each week. Our per-serving cost ranges from $10.50 to $15.00, depending on your plan and the number of servings you choose. You can skip weeks, pause, or change your plan anytime, with no hidden fees and no surprises.

HelloFresh offers a wide variety of plans across Canada, with prices ranging from $9.99 to $12.99 per serving. While they may seem cheaper at first glance, how much your food actually costs depends on the number of people. 4-person meal kits generally cost $9.99 to $11.49 per serving while 2-person kits are on the higher end at $12.49 to $12.99 per serving. Their broad national coverage and flexible menu options make them a convenient choice for households of different sizes.

Browse Fresh Prep’s menu and find meals that fit your week.

Subscription Flexibility

Both Fresh Prep and HelloFresh let you skip weeks, pause your subscription, or cancel with ease. Fresh Prep emphasizes transparent pricing and user-friendly plan management. You can select meals, adjust servings, or swap recipes in just a few clicks, making meal kits flexible enough for any schedule.

Ingredients, Taste and Menu Variety

When comparing meal kits, ingredients, taste, and menu variety are often the biggest factors Canadians consider. The sections below break down how each service approaches ingredients and menu planning so you can decide which aligns best with your cooking preferences.

Ingredient Quality and Freshness

Fresh Prep partners with local farmers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, sourcing ingredients as close to home as possible. Many of our meals arrive with fresh, pre-chopped vegetables and proteins locally raised or sourced to maintain quality and flavour. This makes it easy to enjoy fresh, wholesome meals without extra prep work.

HelloFresh also delivers pre-portioned meals with step-by-step recipe cards, and has a national supply chain to provide consistency and convenience across Canada. While ingredients are fresh and meals are chef-created, some items may travel longer distances than Fresh Prep’s local sourcing allows (including ingredients imported from outside Canada). 

Explore how Fresh Prep sources ingredients

Recipe Variety and Difficulty

Fresh Prep supplies a smaller but carefully curated menu. Our chef-crafted meals are designed for speed and simplicity, with pre-portioned ingredients. The menu includes ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat options so you can match your cooking style to your schedule. 

Our flexible menu also lets you choose the foods that fit your eating style and dietary needs. We clearly share our recipes if you want to prioritize nutrients like protein or fibre. We also offer two vegan options every single week and the option to swap out proteins, or even add more. Our culinary team always focuses on taste to help Canadians whether they’re on a wellness journey, want deliciously healthy meals, or simply want to explore their culinary curiosity.

Fresh Prep Market offers more than 150 items weekly, from grocery staples and fresh produce to breakfasts and salads, making it a one-stop shop for your entire week. We work with and support local companies in the regions we serve to give you high-quality Market products that support your community.

HelloFresh offers a wide variety of weekly recipes, including family-friendly meals, vegetarian and pescatarian options, quick-cook recipes, and calorie-smart dishes. This variety is ideal for households with diverse dietary preferences or those who enjoy trying new cuisines. 

HelloFresh also offers add-ons to your meals, but is more limited at 100+ weekly options for sides, snacks and proteins.

Sustainability and Packaging

Canadian households increasingly value sustainability when planning their meals. 77% say reducing household food waste is important, and many prioritize reusable or environmentally friendly kitchen products. 

In this section, we’ll compare how Fresh Prep and HelloFresh approach packaging, sourcing, and overall eco-conscious practices to help you make a greener choice.

Packaging Comparison

Fresh Prep’s reusable Zero Waste Kit is a standout feature. Meals arrive in an insulated cooler bag with reusable containers, which you return with your next delivery. This approach helps reduce food and packaging waste, making meal prep more eco-conscious. In fact, we diverted over 22,851 kg of single-use plastic waste from landfills in 2025 alone!

HelloFresh uses mostly recyclable boxes and bags. While they aim to reduce waste where possible, the packaging is single-use and doesn’t include reusable components. 

Carbon Footprint and Sourcing

Fresh Prep prioritizes Canadian and local raw materials, production facilities, and business ownership, ensuring ingredients travel shorter distances and arrive fresher. Our local sourcing supports communities, enhances freshness, and complements our B-Corp commitments.

Fresh Prep’s Strategic Sourcing Director, Malkin Singleton, shared that “We strive to exceed our customers’ high expectations for ethical and local sourcing, including transparency throughout our supply chain.” This includes maximizing seasonal windows to integrate local produce, tracking and analyzing the country of origin of all ingredients, and continually seeking more sustainable local solutions.

On the other hand, HelloFresh relies on a larger national and global supply chain. This allows for consistent menu variety and availability across Canada, but typically involves longer transportation distances for ingredients. 

Convenience and Prep Experience

Quick prep, minimal chopping, and ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat meals help you reclaim your evenings. Here’s how Fresh Prep and HelloFresh compare in how you bring the meal to life in your own kitchen.

Delivery Areas and Flexibility

Fresh Prep delivers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, including major cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal. We are always adding more cities across Canada to our delivery area. For those in a Fresh Prep delivery area, the service offers fast, easy meal prep without sacrificing quality of freshness.

HelloFresh delivers across almost all of Canada, making it a reliable choice if you live outside Fresh Prep’s service areas.  Their broad coverage ensures access to weekly meal kits for a wide range of households, regardless of location.

Prep Time and Ease of Use

Fresh Prep’s meals take less than 30 minutes to prepare. Ingredients arrive pre-chopped and pre-portioned, saving time and minimizing cleanup. Meals come in ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat formats, letting you adapt to your schedule without stress.

Fresh Prep Market also offers more than 150 pantry items weekly, including breakfasts and salads, giving you more fresh, easy options beyond the core meals in your subscription, so you don’t even have to go to the grocery store.

HelloFresh also provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards, but some meals require more chopping and prep time. Fresh Prep focuses on convenience and efficiency so that you can enjoy home-cooked meals even on your busiest nights.

Customer Support and Experience

Good customer support can make all the difference when using a meal kit service. Here, we compare how Fresh Prep and HelloFresh handle customer care, subscription management, and online ordering to ensure a smooth experience.

Customer Service and Reliability

Fresh Prep offers local, hands-on customer service to help Canadians get the most out of their weekly meals. Their personal, community-focused approach includes support staff familiar with regular customers, responsive help for meal or delivery questions, and ongoing tips and updates delivered via email, chat, and social channels. 

HelloFresh offers several customer support channels, including phone, chat, and a contact form. Additionally, their help centre provides FAQs and self-service tools for common issues. 

App and Website Experience

Both services make meal selection and subscription management easy online. Fresh Prep focuses on simplicity through its website, offering transparent pricing, meal previews, and straightforward ways to adjust your plan.

HelloFresh provides both a website and a mobile app, giving customers flexible access to a large, frequently updated menu. While this variety is helpful for exploring different meals, HelloFresh’s platform does not specifically highlight locally sourced ingredients or reusable packaging.

Why Fresh Prep is the Smart Choice for Canadians

Fresh Prep is a proudly Canadian company designed for busy individuals who want fresh, delicious, and zero-waste meals. Our chef-crafted recipes use locally sourced, pre-portioned ingredients—including ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat options—to support your everyday wellness goals without adding stress or extra decisions to your day. 

While HelloFresh provides wide coverage and variety, Fresh Prep is the better choice for anyone who values freshness, sustainability, local sourcing, and speed. Every meal is crafted to make your weeknight easier and more enjoyable, while supporting Canadian farmers and reducing waste. With Fresh Prep, home cooking is fresh, simple, and satisfying every night of the week.

Sign up for Fresh Prep and start your fresh, convenient, home-cooking journey today!