Not everyone has the time and energy to be in the kitchen. Busy with work, it’s so much easier to just order in. The same hectic life means food and ingredients end up being spoiled inside the fridge. Hungryroot and Daily Harvest hope to change this lifestyle. Both established in 2015, the two companies cater to a demographic looking for fast, great-tasting, healthy, and nutritious meals. While they sound like the same service, their approach to changing the way we eat couldn’t be more different. Below, we compare the two to see what they offer to consumers.
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Hungryroot vs Daily Harvest Comparison Chart
| Model | Hungryroot | Daily Harvest |
 |  | |
| Price | Sign up here | Sign up here |
| Services | Groceries, meal kits | Meal kits |
| Packaging | Recyclable boxes containing packed ingredients | Frozen and placed in an insulated container with ice bags |
| Shipping | $6.99 for orders less than $70; free for orders above $70 | Free |
| Vegan Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Cancel Anytime | Yes | Yes |
| Founder | Ben McKean | Rachel Drori |
| Year Established | 2015 | 2015 |
How They Work
Hungryroot offers online grocery and meal kit services. On the other hand, Daily Harvest focuses on plant-based meals delivered frozen.
Hungryroot was founded by Ben McKean in 2015. In the same year, Rachel Drori also established Daily Harvest. Both companies have a simple aim — for people to eat healthier. Both reassure their sources are also 100% non-GMO. While Hungryroot and Daily Harvest share a common goal, they differ in their approach.
In the case of Hungryroot, eating healthy is closely related to food waste. To solve this problem, the company generates a curated list of groceries based on their own chef-crafted recipes. This is based on a customer’s preferences generated by a questionnaire during sign-up. Unlike other meal kit services, the packaged goods are delivered similar to how you’ll find them in the supermarket.
With this, you can follow the suggested recipes, ensuring all ingredients are utilized. However, some of the items are standalone grocery staples. Others are as good as ready-to-eat meals. Even the ingredients dedicated to making Hungryroot recipes can be incorporated outside of them.
On the other hand, Daily Harvest more or less follows the template of traditional meal services. What makes it different is that they focus on subscribers getting more fruits and vegetables. As such, their meals and ingredients are plant-based. Some popular options include smoothies, soups, and harvest bowls. Most meals require you to simply heat and blend the ingredients.
Daily Harvest delivers your purchases frozen. This, says the company, ensures the nutrients in the items are preserved.
Meals and Menu
Because of its approach to eating healthy, Hungryroot offers a more extensive catalog of food items and recipes than Daily Harvest’s snacks and meals.
Hungryroot
When you sign up for Hungryroot, you’ll need to answer a quiz. This survey looks into your dietary requirements and food preferences. It also asks the number of items you want per week for the different meals of the day. Based on what you input, Hungryroot will do the groceries for you. From there, you’ll typically get a box containing meal kits or standalone grocery staples.
Given their approach to healthy meals, it’s no surprise that Hungryroot boasts over 3,000 recipes. As a result, their catalog covers hundreds of ingredients. The company shares the nutritional content of both ingredients and recipes. Their online grocery also encompasses several categories, much like your regular grocery. Hungryroot products cover everything from condiments and sauces to protein and salad bowls.
Protein options include beef, poultry, pork, and fresh fish. Plant-based proteins like tofu are also available. Users can filter groceries to the latest additions as well as organic products. You can also narrow down searches based on dietary needs. For this option, Hungryroot has offerings for those following vegan, dairy-free, and even pescatarian diets.
Similar filters apply to Hungryroot’s recipes. However, you can also pick meals depending on their calorie content. Hungryroot’s website is intuitive enough to show the grocery ingredients you need to follow the recipe. It also shows prep time and serving size.
Daily Harvest
Stocking up on Daily Harvest’s products is much simpler. Unlike Hungryroot, the service doesn’t survey you about your food preferences. Instead, you’re asked about the box size you prefer. The size corresponds to the number of items you can add. A medium-sized box, for instance, allows you to add 12 products.
These products are spread across 11 categories. Users can choose from smoothies, flatbreads, bowls, bites, and plant-based milk, among others. If you find it hard to choose, you can check out their best-sellers first. Some of the most popular items include Acai + Cherry smoothie and Sweet Potato + Wild Rice Hash bowls.
While these aren’t meals per se, several options are quite filling. For example, the Forager Bowls uses superfoods like berries and flax seeds. There are also interesting items that combine cracked oats with cremini mushrooms. Of course, all these menu items include the nutritional profile and instructions for preparation.
Packaging and Delivery
Both Hungryroot and Daily Harvest use recyclable materials for packaging and delivery.
Hungryroot is firmly committed to sustainability. The company delivers your orders in large, recyclable boxes. To keep items fresh, the company adds ice packs, too. Hungryroot typically uses Enviro Ice, an eco-friendly ice pack that can be drained to your sink or recycled as plant food. On other occasions, packages may come with Earthwise ice packs, which are just as reusable.
To prevent meals from going bad, Daily Harvest freezes your orders. They’re also delivered in recyclable cardboard boxes with dry ice. Daily Harvest is particular about packaging. Looking at their website, you’ll find details about the containers, liners, and even sleeves used. These are categorized based on material — plastic, paper, or aluminum. The majority of the packaging items are curbside recyclable. Some, like plastic seals of flatbread wraps, can be sent to local drop-off centers or bins.
Plans and Pricing
Hungryroot plans are based on food profile, servings, and a menu item’s credit value. Meanwhile, Daily Harvest plans are based on the box size and actual cost of items.
Hungryroot’s pricing varies depending on your customized plan. Based on your food profile and preferred number of servings, you get a curated list of groceries and recipes. The items included in your grocery each have a credit value. If you remove an item from your cart, you get back those credits to spend on something else. Some food items like meat typically have a higher credit value.
You can also swap all the items in the recommended grocery list. If the replacement items exceed the original credit value, you’ll be charged on file for the total amount. Meanwhile, the minimum servings per week are six. You can add more in increments of two. A six-serving order typically costs $60. However, the cost per serving lowers the more you order. Orders over $70 are also entitled to free shipping.
Daily Harvest’s plans are more straightforward. Pricing depends on the box size and the menu items you fill it with. Boxes are available in small (9 items), medium (14 items), and large (24 items). Order cost is simply the total amount of the items you’ve added. Upon checkout, you can choose weekly or monthly for order frequency.
The cheapest meal items from Daily Harvest are the Forager Bowls, which cost $6.79 per item. On the other hand, Smoothies cost $8.79 each, while Harvest Bowls are priced at $9.79 per item. For a large 24-item box, expect to spend more than $120 for Forager Bowls alone. Medium boxes get a $10 discount, while large boxes enjoy $25 off. Shipping is always free.
Verdict
If you want a grocery-style subscription with varied menu items, go for Hungryoot. For more plant-based meals, Daily Harvest is a cheaper and better option.
For busy men and women, eating healthy requires time and effort. Fortunately, companies like Hungryroot and Daily Harvest make nutritious meals more readily available. Although their goal is the same, Hungryroot and Daily Harvest’s approach are quite different. Choosing one over the other will depend on your food preferences and health goals.
Hungryroot offers a grocery-style subscription with curated food items and recipes. Orders are packaged like those in the supermarket, and you’re more involved in meal planning. The company also offers a more varied menu, including sauces, condiments, and protein. If you prefer building your meals based on natural and organic ingredients, Hungryroot is for you. However, pricing is not definite, with order cost depending on a credit value system.
On the other hand, Daily Harvest looks to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Menu items are plant-based and are delivered frozen to preserve nutrients. Preparing Daily Harvest meals is also simpler, most of which require blending or heating. Placing an order with Daily Harvest is also easier since pricing depends on actual item cost. This makes their service ideal for those who want to conveniently supplement their diet with healthier options.
FAQs
Yes. Your first box from Daily Harvest is $35 off.
Customers can cancel their subscription with Daily Harvest anytime. They can also skip or pause orders if they like.
Yes. Hungryroot menu items will show whether it’s vegan, nut-free, or soy-free, among others.
Hungryroot changes its grocery selection week after week. Menu items also depend on availability and seasonality.