Purple Carrot Review: Is This Plant-Based Meal Delivery Service Right for You?

Our experience testing Purple Carrot 

Score: 8.4 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• High-scoring taste
• First-rate customer experience and near-perfect delivery
• Very good portion sizing

Cons

• One tester found recipe instructions confusing 
• Meal customization is limited

Features

• Type: Meal kit and prepared meals
• Plan options: Two, three or six meals per week — meal kit plan includes two or four servings per meal, and ready-to-eat plan includes one serving per meal
• Vegetarian/vegan friendly: Yes
• Other diets available: Chef’s choice, gluten-free, high fiber, high protein and under 600 calories

Key takeaways from our testing

Flavorful meals with balanced portions. During our evaluation, tester Sharon assessed two Purple Carrot meal kit recipes: Chipotle black bean tacos and Thai noodle soup. She gave them both very good scores for taste, and she said her Thai noodle soup smelled “fabulous.” Another plus? Both meals included two servings, and she said the portions were satisfying. “The portion size of three tacos was large and sufficient for me,” she explained. In the end, she gave this service a near-perfect score for portion size.

Easy-to-use website and impressive delivery. Our lab testers said Purple Carrot is easy to use because the website was simple to navigate and the site’s FAQ page was “extensive and had all the details I needed to get started.” A smooth cancellation process can make a service more desirable since you may not feel like you’re locked into an inflexible agreement. One thing to know: The cutoff to cancel before your next box ships is the Tuesday one week before your scheduled delivery. Another plus? Lab testers said they also had positive experiences with the delivery and secure packaging of meals, with Sharon also explaining that the separate bags for meal kit ingredients made it easier to organize her dinner prep.

Unclear directions and a lack of customization. During testing, Sharon reported the Chipotle black bean tacos were easy to make, but the recipe instructions for the Thai noodle soup weren’t detailed enough. For example, the recipe card said to start by sauteing the mushrooms, but the ingredients list said to start by chopping the mushrooms. She said she almost sauteed the mushrooms whole before reading the note about chopping them first. She also noted a discrepancy in the soup’s estimated cook time: The meal kit packaging estimated 15 total minutes to prepare, but the recipe card noted sauteing the mushrooms should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Another knock? This service does not allow modifications to individual recipes. You can’t swap a protein, remove an ingredient or add extra of something you prefer. For older adults who have specific ingredient preferences — or those who prefer more control over their meals — that lack of customization could be a dealbreaker.

How we tested and reviewed meal delivery services

To identify the strengths and weaknesses of popular meal delivery services, we recruited testers ages 50 and older — including members from AARP’s The Ethel community — to test these services and share unbiased feedback. Our lab team and testers then ordered and cooked their meals in their homes or in our AARP Smart Picks test kitchen and shared their thoughts on key factors such as food quality, portion size, taste, customization options and ease of preparation. 

In addition, we paid close attention to the delivery process, including the number of delivery updates each service provided and the quality of the packaging. We also reviewed the cancellation process for each service to determine how long it takes and whether any challenges might arise before a subscription is paused or canceled. 

For more details, you can see our meal delivery service testing methodology page.

How much does Purple Carrot cost?

Purple Carrot usually costs between $13 and $18 per dinner serving before any modifications or add-ons. Specifically, its meal kits typically range from a starting price of $13.25 to $14.25 per dinner serving, while its prepared meals range from $13 to $18. As noted, these prices are on the higher side when compared to other meal delivery services we’ve tested. 

In addition, like other meal delivery services, shipping carries an additional cost. If you decide to order from this company, shipping costs would be an additional $12 per box, or $15 per box in select ZIP codes. However, orders totaling $120 or more receive free shipping. 

You can see a breakdown of general pricing in the chart below. 

Who is Purple Carrot best for?

You have a variety of options for meal delivery services, so you may wonder if this one is a match for you. 

In general, Purple Carrot may be a strong fit for older adults who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet or those who want to add more plant-based meals to their routine. The service’s animal-free menu makes it unique, and the variety of recipes addresses a challenge of plant-based cooking: running out of ideas.

If you’re wondering whether Purple Carrot is the right meal delivery service for your lifestyle, you may want to consider the following questions.

Are you following a plant-based diet — or do you want to eat more plant-based meals?

Purple Carrot could be a good fit for older adults who are following a plant-based diet. It also may appeal to those who are simply interested in eating more of these meals, since the company says its food contains no animal products.

Purple Carrot’s wide range of flavors also may be a fit for older adults who are curious about incorporating more plant-forward meals into their diets. Past meal options have included BBQ pulled jackfruit sandwiches, spicy quesabirria tacos (made with mushrooms) and cherry tomato gazpacho. When exploring the weekly menus, our lab tester, who doesn’t follow a plant-based diet, said, “I had no idea you could do so much without meat.” So, if you’ve been on a vegan, vegetarian or plant-based diet, but you’re experiencing decision fatigue with meal planning, Purple Carrot also may help introduce you to new recipes.

If you’re newer to this way of eating, Melissa Williams, an associate teaching professor of health sciences and human performance at the University of Tampa in Florida, has a few tips. "When choosing plant-based meal selections each week, look for meals you will enjoy eating,” she says, also suggesting that you look for those that have “a rainbow of different colors” and include a source of protein and fiber.

Are you interested in learning new cooking techniques?

If you are, Purple Carrot may work for you. During our evaluation, tester Sharon gave this offering above-average scores for taste and the overall cooking experience. She said the meals were flavorful and satisfying, and they helped introduce her to new foods and cooking techniques, like creating a curry sauce for her Thai noodle soup or pickling cabbage for her chipotle black bean tacos. She also said she appreciated that the recipe cards included tips on how to use fewer dishes while cooking — a practical consideration for older adults cooking solo or for two. The weekly menu rotation, which is standard for meal delivery services, also may allow subscribers to look forward to what's coming rather than defaulting to the same meals week after week.

That said, Sharon found the actual cook times for the two meal kits she tested ran longer than the recipe cards suggested, so allowing for additional time for that prep may be helpful.

Do you want to customize your meals?

If you prefer to customize your meals, Purple Carrot may not be a good fit. While this service does offer filtered plan options — such as for gluten-free, high-fiber or high-protein meals — ingredient-level customization is not available. That means subscribers are not allowed to swap proteins, remove ingredients or adjust portions. In contrast, HelloFresh does allow you to switch out proteins and sides — and some changes come at no extra cost, while others carry an additional fee.

In general, Dawn Menning, a registered dietitian in Costa Mesa, California, recommends that anyone with special dietary needs should look closely at “whether the meal delivery service offers options that accommodate allergies, dietary restrictions or personal food preferences” before committing to a subscription.

For older adults with food allergies or strong ingredient preferences, this service’s lack of customization may be a dealbreaker.

FAQs

Is Purple Carrot all vegan meals?

Yes, all of Purple Carrot's plant-based meal kits and prepared options also are vegan, which means they are entirely free of any animal products. This detail can make this service an especially nice choice for older adults who follow a vegan diet but also want the convenience of a meal delivery service. 

How much can you save with Purple Carrot?

If you sign up for Purple Carrot, the company regularly offers discounts that may knock down the cost of your first few boxes. For instance, while ordering, our lab tester noted a $25 discount on her first box. That discount was a part of a larger promotion that offered between $100 to $125 off your first 4 to 5 boxes. The company’s sales and discounts may vary based on factors like the time of year, other flash sales or specifics related to your order.

Is Purple Carrot or Green Chef better? 

While both Purple Carrot and Green Chef offer plant-based meal kits and prepared meals, Purple Carrot may be the stronger option for older adults who want flavorful recipes that do not include animal products. Meanwhile, since Green Chef focuses more on organic food and offers some meals with meat, it may be a better fit for older adults who want both plant and meat options. If you’re wondering how their flavors compared in our testing, Purple Carrot earned an above-average rating for taste while Green Chef earned a perfect score on that measure — edging out Purple Carrot by one point. Ultimately, the best choice for you can depend on what you're looking for in a meal kit service.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.