When your schedule is full of appointments, journeys, and task completion, your planner offers little space for food preparation. On occasions when “dinner” typically signifies ordering in while working on your computer, possessing the right prepared meals is not merely practical, it's a method for boosting productivity.
TL;DR
- Factor Meals offers dietitian-designed, ready-to-heat meals delivered fresh, ideal for busy schedules.
- Meals are seasoned well, offer variety, and are easy to prepare in three minutes.
- Potential drawbacks include higher cost, limited customization, and some meals being high in sodium.
- Factor suits busy professionals and those prioritizing specific diets, but not budget-conscious individuals or families wanting shared portions.
This Factor meal assessment involved sampling and appraising their offerings to gauge their suitability for a demanding timetable: examining its strengths, potential weaknesses, and how to determine if it warrants inclusion in your regular meal plan.
Factor
| Coins2Day score | 4/5 |
at Factor
- Our thoughts: We’re fans of the seasonings, sauces, and butters that complement their meals
- Target audience: Swamped executives seeking protein-rich, pre-portioned dishes that eliminate the need for grocery runs, meal preparation, or meticulous calorie counting.
- The frequent broadening of the menu and the inclusion of recipes influenced by international cuisines contribute to preventing the selection from becoming monotonous.
Pros
- Meals are heated up in the microwave in three minutes
- Strong macro options for weight loss and other health goals
- Large, frequently rotating menu
Cons
- More expensive than other prepared meal options
- Limited ingredient customization
- Some meals may be high in sodium
What is Factor?
Factor is a weekly meal delivery service that sends chilled, never-frozen, ready-to-eat meals in insulated boxes to your door. You choose how many single-serve meals you want per week from a large rotating menu, and you can manage everything (skip, pause, swap meals) via the website or app before a weekly cutoff.
Factor meals are formulated for nutritional completeness, developed collaboratively by culinary experts and credentialed dietitians, offering selections tailored to specific objectives such as elevated protein intake, weight management, reduced carbohydrate consumption, or GLP‑1 compatible diets. Shipments usually reach customers on designated days (frequently from Saturday through Wednesday, contingent on the recipient's ZIP code), and the prepared dishes typically maintain their freshness for approximately a week when stored in the fridge.
Factor Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Price (per meal) | From approximately $10.99 to $13.49 per meal, with the cost per meal decreasing as your weekly order quantity increases; larger subscription packages result in a lower per-meal expense. |
| Intro offers | Common promotions for first-time buyers include substantial price reductions on initial shipments or credit equivalent to half price; particular offers differ. |
| Plan size | You can select 6–18 meals per week at sign‑up. |
| Key features | Ready-to-eat meals, fully prepared; kept fresh, never frozen; a menu that changes weekly, featuring over 100 choices and extras; management through an app; consultation with registered dietitians. |
| Supported diets | Choices for ketogenic, reduced-carbohydrate, calorie-aware, protein-rich, plant-based and vegan, adaptable, and Mediterranean-inspired/celiac-safe meals. |
| Meal types | Individual meal portions alongside morning meals, midday meals, evening meals, and market additions such as blended drinks, fruit juices, light bites, sweet treats, and milkshakes. |
| Freshness & storage | The food items are dispatched cool with frozen gel packs and are intended to be stored in a refrigerator, typically remaining good for approximately a week, with expiration dates clearly indicated. |
| Shipping | Delivery is available to most of the continental United States; a flat shipping charge of approximately $10.99 per box is typically applied in addition to the cost of the meals. |
| Add‑ons & extras | Optional protein beverages, fruit drinks, light meals, sweets, and dietary aids such as protein powders or greens/electrolyte blends in select regions. |
| Price (per meal) | |
|---|---|
| Details | From approximately $10.99 to $13.49 per meal, with the cost per meal decreasing as your weekly order quantity increases; larger subscription packages result in a lower per-meal expense. |
| Intro offers | |
| Details | Common promotions for first-time buyers include substantial price reductions on initial shipments or credit equivalent to half price; particular offers differ. |
| Plan size | |
| Details | You can select 6–18 meals per week at sign‑up. |
| Key features | |
| Details | Ready-to-eat meals, fully prepared; kept fresh, never frozen; a menu that changes weekly, featuring over 100 choices and extras; management through an app; consultation with registered dietitians. |
| Supported diets | |
| Details | Choices for ketogenic, reduced-carbohydrate, calorie-aware, protein-rich, plant-based and vegan, adaptable, and Mediterranean-inspired/celiac-safe meals. |
| Meal types | |
| Details | Individual meal portions alongside morning meals, midday meals, evening meals, and market additions such as blended drinks, fruit juices, light bites, sweet treats, and milkshakes. |
| Freshness & storage | |
| Details | The food items are dispatched cool with frozen gel packs and are intended to be stored in a refrigerator, typically remaining good for approximately a week, with expiration dates clearly indicated. |
| Shipping | |
| Details | Delivery is available to most of the continental United States; a flat shipping charge of approximately $10.99 per box is typically applied in addition to the cost of the meals. |
| Add‑ons & extras | |
| Details | Optional protein beverages, fruit drinks, light meals, sweets, and dietary aids such as protein powders or greens/electrolyte blends in select regions. |
Our Experience with Factor
Taylor tried Factor and conveyed his thoughts to us. During the sign-up process for the service, he answered their inquiries regarding his well-being and macronutrient objectives. “The questions weren’t as detailed as I would think would be necessary to fully customize a plan, but the brand was able to provide options like high protein, keto, paleo, and more,” he stated.
The delivery process was quite seamless; the package arrived on schedule and was adequately secured. Taylor mentioned that the container held a sufficient amount of ice, which kept his food items chilled. He wasn't concerned about them being left on his doorstep for a couple of hours prior to his arrival back home.
He discovered that preparing the meals was quite straightforward, according to him. “The meal had very detailed instructions to heat up the food. I felt like the time was not accurate for the microwave option and leaned more towards cooking times for frozen meals. However, their directions state to keep them refrigerated so the cook time was a bit of overkill and made my meals too hot. Other than that, they did a great job of providing extra details, like to place the meat on the outer portion of the wheel in the microwave, so that it gets more heat,”
What We Liked
Taste and seasoning
Taylor found the dishes he sampled to be quite tasty, particularly given they were pre-made meals, he commented. “They were all well-seasoned, and the meals weren’t soupy as I’ve experienced with some other meal delivery options,” “Some of the meals also had a sauce or butter added, which was great for extra flavor. While I enjoy a meat, carb, and veggie meal option, sometimes you need a little extra seasoning or sauce to make it really tasty–and Factor did a great job of that.”
Meal variety
Our team generally found the meal selections provided by Factor to be quite diverse. They feature a changing menu and offer a substantial range of protein choices, a key consideration for our evaluator.
“Sometimes with meal delivery, you can feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over again, but I didn’t feel that way at all with Factor,” Taylor said. “There were a good variety of flavor profiles and the meals matched my desired macros and health goals.”
Ease of preparation
Our second evaluator, Luke, found Factor to be convenient for meal assembly. As a professional with a demanding schedule, he dedicates most of his hours to conferences or computer programming, affording minimal opportunity for food preparation. However, the swift and uncomplicated setup procedure made Factor exceptionally attractive.
“Not only is this easy to prepare but you don’t need any additional dishes,” he said, giving the prep a 5 out of 5 score. “During busy days, my dishes can definitely pile up, so any way I can minimize that issue is a bonus.”
What We Would Change
Ordering process and site visibility
Taylor gave his ordering experience a score of 4 out of 5. “I don’t like that I can’t select my meals before putting in my payment and locking in. You can see the menu on the first page, but I would’ve preferred to see the individual pricing before making a commitment,” he commented. “Occasionally with food delivery services, they might fix a price but then add extra charges for premium meals like steak, and I believe it would be more beneficial and clear to view that pricing prior to payment. Generally speaking, their website is simple to use for canceling, skipping, and navigating.
Portion size
Luke found the serving size to be rather modest, assigning it a score of 3 out of 5. “As a larger guy, these meals were on the smaller side in terms of portion size,” he commented. “I felt like I could easily eat two in one sitting. That said, adding a protein shake or an extra carb to the meal can help bridge that gap.”
Ingredient quality
Taylor found the meals to be quite palatable overall. However, he felt the ingredient quality was somewhat lacking. “The meat seemed to be better cuts and of quality, however, the vegetables were your typical frozen variety. This didn’t impact the taste for me, necessarily, but I could tell they were not garden fresh,” he commented.
Target Audience & Those Unsuited
| Factor is a good fit for… | Factor is not a good fit for… |
|---|---|
| -Busy professionals who want healthy-ish meals without grocery shopping or cooking. | -People on a tight food budget who need to keep per‑meal costs as low as possible. |
| Individuals prioritizing high protein, calorie-aware, keto/low-carb, or macro-focused diets with little exertion. | -Families or households wanting to share larger, family‑style portions from one pan or dish. |
| -People who dislike cooking, hate doing dishes, or don’t have easy access to a full kitchen. | -Home cooks who enjoy planning, cooking, and experimenting with recipes. |
| -Those who often order takeout and want a nutritionally upgraded alternative. | Individuals facing numerous intricate dietary limitations, such as multiple allergies or highly stringent requirements for gluten-free or medically-necessitated eating plans, who require a significant number of ingredient swaps. |
| -Gym‑goers or athletes who want grab‑and‑heat meals that help hit protein and calorie targets. | -People who are very sensitive to sodium or prefer extremely simple, minimally seasoned food. |
| -Folks okay with paying more per meal in exchange for time saved and reduced decision fatigue. | -Anyone who needs highly customizable portions, flavors, or ingredients for each meal. |
| -Busy professionals who want healthy-ish meals without grocery shopping or cooking. | |
|---|---|
| Factor is not a good fit for… | -People on a tight food budget who need to keep per‑meal costs as low as possible. |
| Individuals prioritizing high protein, calorie-aware, keto/low-carb, or macro-focused diets with little exertion. | |
| Factor is not a good fit for… | -Families or households wanting to share larger, family‑style portions from one pan or dish. |
| -People who dislike cooking, hate doing dishes, or don’t have easy access to a full kitchen. | |
| Factor is not a good fit for… | -Home cooks who enjoy planning, cooking, and experimenting with recipes. |
| -Those who often order takeout and want a nutritionally upgraded alternative. | |
| Factor is not a good fit for… | Individuals facing numerous intricate dietary limitations, such as multiple allergies or highly stringent requirements for gluten-free or medically-necessitated eating plans, who require a significant number of ingredient swaps. |
| -Gym‑goers or athletes who want grab‑and‑heat meals that help hit protein and calorie targets. | |
| Factor is not a good fit for… | -People who are very sensitive to sodium or prefer extremely simple, minimally seasoned food. |
| -Folks okay with paying more per meal in exchange for time saved and reduced decision fatigue. | |
| Factor is not a good fit for… | -Anyone who needs highly customizable portions, flavors, or ingredients for each meal. |
A Look at Alternative Meal Kit Providers
| Category | Factor | HelloFresh | Home Chef |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal types | Fully prepared, single‑serve, heat‑and‑eat meals. | Meal kits with pre‑portioned ingredients and recipes; some quick‑prep options. | Meal kits plus some oven‑ready and fast‑prep options. |
| Typical price per serving | Roughly $10.99–13.49 depending on number of meals per week. | About $9.99–12.49 per serving. | Typical meals typically begin near $9.99 for each portion; a few high-end selections are priced higher, and specific promotions or reduced sizes might be less expensive. |
| Shipping | Usually a flat fee around low‑teens per box (varies by offer and location). | Flat shipping fee around $10.99 per box in many areas. | Common flat shipping about $10.99 per box; may differ by plan or location. |
| Subscription options | 6–18 single‑serve meals per week; flexible weekly skip/pause and menu swaps. | 2–6 meals per week for 2–6 people (4–36 servings); multiple plan preferences. | 2–6 meals per week for 2, 4, or 6 people (up to 36 servings), with adjustable recipes and add‑ons. |
| Key features | Prepared quickly; requires no heating; emphasizes protein and dietary needs; menus created by chefs and nutritionists. | A wide selection of dishes, menus suitable for families, ingredients that reflect the season, and instructions that guide users in developing their culinary abilities. | Extensive personalization choices, a blend of satisfying and health-conscious meal ideas, dishes ready for the oven, and meals prepared in just 15 minutes. |
| Supported diets / tags | High‑protein, calorie‑smart, keto/low‑carb, vegetarian, vegan, some gluten‑friendly options. | Carnes y verduras, opciones vegetarianas, apto para familias, saludable y nutritivo, rápido y sencillo, pescetariano; algunas alternativas con mayor contenido proteico. | Choices for those mindful of calories, carbohydrates, and seeking elevated protein, including some keto or plant-based meals, featuring broad protein substitution possibilities. |
| Prep time | About 2–5 minutes to heat; no chopping or cooking | Around 20–45 minutes per recipe, depending on dish. | Roughly 15–45 minutes depending on whether you choose meal kits, express, or oven‑ready recipes. |
| Best for | Individuals prioritizing ease, working professionals, or those adhering to particular macronutrient or dietary regimens seeking to avoid meal preparation. | Individuals who find pleasure in preparing meals and seek to streamline their meal preparation and grocery acquisition processes, all while maintaining a moderate expenditure per serving. | Home cooks who appreciate personalized choices and a blend of traditional, hearty dishes alongside healthier alternatives, all offered at affordable rates. |
| Meal types | |
|---|---|
| Factor | Fully prepared, single‑serve, heat‑and‑eat meals. |
| HelloFresh | Meal kits with pre‑portioned ingredients and recipes; some quick‑prep options. |
| Home Chef | Meal kits plus some oven‑ready and fast‑prep options. |
| Typical price per serving | |
| Factor | Roughly $10.99–13.49 depending on number of meals per week. |
| HelloFresh | About $9.99–12.49 per serving. |
| Home Chef | Typical meals typically begin near $9.99 for each portion; a few high-end selections are priced higher, and specific promotions or reduced sizes might be less expensive. |
| Shipping | |
| Factor | Usually a flat fee around low‑teens per box (varies by offer and location). |
| HelloFresh | Flat shipping fee around $10.99 per box in many areas. |
| Home Chef | Common flat shipping about $10.99 per box; may differ by plan or location. |
| Subscription options | |
| Factor | 6–18 single‑serve meals per week; flexible weekly skip/pause and menu swaps. |
| HelloFresh | 2–6 meals per week for 2–6 people (4–36 servings); multiple plan preferences. |
| Home Chef | 2–6 meals per week for 2, 4, or 6 people (up to 36 servings), with adjustable recipes and add‑ons. |
| Key features | |
| Factor | Prepared quickly; requires no heating; emphasizes protein and dietary needs; menus created by chefs and nutritionists. |
| HelloFresh | A wide selection of dishes, menus suitable for families, ingredients that reflect the season, and instructions that guide users in developing their culinary abilities. |
| Home Chef | Extensive personalization choices, a blend of satisfying and health-conscious meal ideas, dishes ready for the oven, and meals prepared in just 15 minutes. |
| Supported diets / tags | |
| Factor | High‑protein, calorie‑smart, keto/low‑carb, vegetarian, vegan, some gluten‑friendly options. |
| HelloFresh | Carnes y verduras, opciones vegetarianas, apto para familias, saludable y nutritivo, rápido y sencillo, pescetariano; algunas alternativas con mayor contenido proteico. |
| Home Chef | Choices for those mindful of calories, carbohydrates, and seeking elevated protein, including some keto or plant-based meals, featuring broad protein substitution possibilities. |
| Prep time | |
| Factor | About 2–5 minutes to heat; no chopping or cooking |
| HelloFresh | Around 20–45 minutes per recipe, depending on dish. |
| Home Chef | Roughly 15–45 minutes depending on whether you choose meal kits, express, or oven‑ready recipes. |
| Best for | |
| Factor | Individuals prioritizing ease, working professionals, or those adhering to particular macronutrient or dietary regimens seeking to avoid meal preparation. |
| HelloFresh | Individuals who find pleasure in preparing meals and seek to streamline their meal preparation and grocery acquisition processes, all while maintaining a moderate expenditure per serving. |
| Home Chef | Home cooks who appreciate personalized choices and a blend of traditional, hearty dishes alongside healthier alternatives, all offered at affordable rates. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the downside to Factor meals?
Factor meals present certain drawbacks, including a greater expense per serving compared to preparing food yourself (although this price is frequently justified for extremely occupied individuals!), and the limited adaptability of the dishes, rendering them less suitable for families, larger eaters, or homes with diverse dietary requirements.
Is a Factor subscription worth it?
Following our evaluation of Factor, we've concluded that a subscription offers good value, particularly for individuals prioritizing ease and dependable nutritional intake over the cheapest possible food prices. This includes individuals with demanding schedules, folks who dine solo, or athletes aiming to meet specific protein and calorie goals without the need for meal preparation.
Is Factor really good for you?
Factor meals are generally nutritionally solid for a ready‑to‑eat option, emphasizing whole foods, lean proteins, vegetables, and decent fiber, especially in their “Calorie Smart,” high‑protein, and low‑carb options. However, nutrition varies by dish: some meals are higher in sodium, added fats, or calories, so be sure to choose options that match your health goals, and talk with your doctor before starting a new way of eating.