We tried this healthy meal delivery service for a week to see what all the rave Factor reviews were about—and we're impressed.
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Home food delivery services used to be pretty much the same. Now, there are tons of options to choose from that boast creative, chef-inspired meals or healthful, gluten-free options among dozens of other dishes. Whether you’re looking for a meal delivery service for families or something that takes health into close consideration, you can’t beat the convenience of a ready-made meal service. Just pop it into the microwave or oven for fast, filling food that tastes home-cooked.
When we heard about Factor, we knew we had to try it. Fresh, non-frozen meals that put chef-created dinners on the table in less than 10 minutes? Count us in! After a week of testing for this Factor review, here’s what we thought of these near-instant dishes. Hint: These nutrient-rich meals beat the drive-through any day.
Factor
Factor shops, preps, cooks and delivers fresh meals to your door—just heat and eat!
What is Factor?
Factor isn’t your average meal delivery service a la Home Chef or HelloFresh. Instead of shipping ingredients and a recipe card, each delivery consists of fresh meals made and conceptualized by real chefs. And, unlike a service like Tovala, Factor’s heat-and-eat meals require no prep. Each meal arrives chilled (never frozen) and ready for your refrigerator. Just reheat the meal and enjoy—that’s it!
Factor focuses on healthful dishes that suit a variety of dietary lifestyles, including keto and plant-based. This sets them apart from similar services and makes them ideal for those who want a healthy lifestyle but don’t have the time to meal prep.
Our Factor Review
Product testing manager Annamarie Higley enjoyed a week of meals for the purposes of this Factor review. Overall, she was impressed not just by the speed of each meal but also by the delicious flavors and quality ingredients. She tried five filling recipes: Loaded Bacon and Spinach Shredded Chicken, Indian-Style Butter Chicken, Stroganoff-Style Beef Burger, Nonna’s Sunday Beef Bolognese and a Vegetarian Tamale Bowl.
While we experienced a few ordering issues right off the bat, they were nothing a quick call to customer service couldn’t solve. Annamarie was not able to adjust her initial delivery date as soon as she signed up, forcing her to receive the box a few weeks later than expected. It seemed like that first order was locked in, even if she fully deactivated her account.
However, when she called customer service, the rep was super easy to reach and accommodating. She was able to quickly shift the delivery back two weeks, and the updates were reflected instantaneously in the account.
Menu
While the menu boasts over 35 rotating meals each week, Annamarie notes that there is definitely a “formula” for the meals. This means they’re not as exciting as, say, CookUnity’s offerings. The meals remind her of an average “healthy” meal, containing a cut of meat, vegetables and grains. While unsurprising given Factor’s focus on healthy food, the lack of menu creativity is worth noting.
However, when it comes to add-ons, prepare for tons of choices. These include:
- Breakfast bundles (e.g., pancakes, scrambles, egg bites)
- Cold-pressed juices
- Protein shakes
- Desserts (e.g., cheesecake, macaroons)
- Keto cookies
- Plain proteins
- Snacks (e.g., wellness shots, nuts, PB bites)
- Frozen foods (e.g., empanadas, smoothies)
- Protein powder
- Basic sides
- No-heat lunches
These are offered in bundles to you after you’ve made all your main meal selections.
Filters and Dietary Options
Factor offers two rows of filters.
Up top, you can sort by All Meals, Top Rated, New, Stay Balanced, Fuel Your Fitness, Fiber Support and Global Flavors.
Beneath it, filter by Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Keto, Carb Conscious and Vegan & Veggie.
There are lots of specialty diets represented, making this a good plant-based or keto meal delivery kit option. Recipes are then individually labeled with buttons that coincide with most of the aforementioned filters. Spicy recipes and surcharged recipes are flagged, with each recipe’s calories and carbs listed.
Website and App
Our experience with the website wasn’t great. First, it’s “gamified,” which is kind of gimmicky—something we didn’t expect from a HelloFresh brand. It feels a little duplicitous, intentionally overwhelming and confusing. Annamarie notes that meals were automatically added to her cart. She’d choose one, and the cart would show that there were five meals in there, the other four of which she never clicked. She recommends double-checking the cart prior to checkout.
That said, the app is much more user-friendly. Some of the displays are a bit busy, but it doesn’t feel quite as confusing or distracting as the website. There’s pretty standard functionality, like editing and adding to orders in the “Deliveries” tab or rating and reviewing recipes in the “Cookbook” tab.
There’s also a bit of a social aspect, allowing subscribers to invite people in the “Feed Friends” tab or unlock and track rewards in the “Achievements” tab. Additionally, the “Settings” tab is for changing profile information.
A word of caution: Be sure to review the meal options before you click the “get order” button. Otherwise, you’ll be prompted to enter payment information before you select your meals. The simple workaround? Just tap the Weekly Menu tab on the home page to review what’s cookin’ that week.
Delivery
Meals arrive in a compact, branded box. It has a thick layer of fluffy, paper-sided insulation and two large ice packs that sandwich the stack of meals. The meals come in cardboard sleeves and plastic trays with plastic sleeves—not great for those trying to limit their plastic waste.
One thing to note is that you can’t track deliveries through the Factor website. Instead, subscribers get automated texts from the courier, Veho. (Depending on your location, your courier might be different.) Additionally, while Annamarie indicated on her account that she wanted her box left at her back door, they did not do this.
Loaded Bacon & Spinach Shredded Chicken
Annamarie particularly enjoyed her Loaded Bacon & Spinach Shredded Chicken, which can be prepped in the microwave or the oven, depending on preference. It takes only two minutes to cook in the microwave or around 11 minutes for oven prep.
“The bacon on top was thick and high-quality, and it got pretty crispy (that’s why I opted for oven prep!),” she says. “It also served as a nice textural contrast. The ranch was super yummy—not sure if it’s made in-house, but it’s certainly better than store-bought ranch—and it added another layer of dilly flavor. I’ll gladly eat this whole pile o’ food.”
Vegetarian Tamale Bowl
Additionally, Annamarie even enjoyed the recipes reheated in the microwave. “I opted to microwave this one,” she says of her Vegetarian Tamale Bowl. “My only complaint is that they tell you not to take the plastic film off until the very end of cooking, yet it’s hard to tell if the food is warmed through fully without taking it off. So, say, if I were to temp it, then put the food back in the microwave, the film would be off for that last portion of microwaving.”
“This has quite a bit of spice to it, to the point that some people might not be able to eat this,” she notes. “The corn ‘mash’—that’s what I would call it—does a nice job of offsetting the heat, though, because it has that subtle sweetness to it. The beans make this feel pretty filling despite the lack of meat, though I’m not the biggest fan of kidney beans. Overall, this has absolutely no shortage of flavor and could definitely pass as homemade.”
Pros:
- Dietitian-designed, healthful meals
- Strong meal and add-on variety
- Optional nutrition coaching program
- Hearty portions
- Good customer service
Cons:
- Doesn’t deliver to Alaska and Hawaii
- Poorly designed website
- Small menu
- Poor delivery tracking
Product Comparison: Factor vs. CookUnity
Factor often gets compared to CookUnity, another chef-prepared meal kit delivery service that caters to various dietary preferences, like keto, plant-based and gluten-free.
We tested CookUnity and found that it beats Factor hands down in terms of variety, offering more than 300 rotating meals. But you won’t get any of the add-on snacks, sides and smoothies that you can get with your Factor subscription. Another thing we love about CookUnity is that the meals look and taste like much like dishes you’d get at a restaurant. There were no complaints coming from our taste buds, but if you’re in the market for healthier options, you’ll more likely to find them with Factor.
As for the customer experience, we appreciated that CookUnity offered flexible delivery with easy tracking. We found that the website and app were easy to navigate, despite an onslaught of information that comes with the vast meal offerings. Still, we found it easy to add and edit orders, which is something we couldn’t do without a call to a (friendly) customer service associate at Factor.
To get our full reaction, read our CookUnity review.
Final Verdict: Is Factor worth it?
Factor impressed us with its speedy meal prep time, delicious flavors and quality ingredients. While Annamarie experienced a few issues with adjusting her initial delivery date, customer service was easy to reach and accommodating. There is definitely a “formula” for Factor meals that may not be as exciting as other meal kit services, like Marley Spoon. Still, it’s a time-saving option for anyone looking to prioritize healthy eating.
Where To Buy Factor
Factor
Factor meals are dietitian-designed and ready to eat in minutes.
Interested in trying this ready-to-eat meal service after reading our Factor review? You can sign up on Factor’s website. Subscriptions start at around $90 per week, although the final price depends on the number of meals chosen and any add-ons. New customers can usually nab a nice discount on their first few orders. In January 2026, new customers get 50% off the first box and 20% off the next four, plus one free breakfast item per box for an entire year. Subscriptions are flexible—you can pause or even cancel at any time.
Whether you’re looking to switch up your diet to healthier alternatives or you’re simply seeking a service that provides two-minute meals, Factor truly has the “it” factor.
What to Look for When Ordering Premade Meal Kits
When it comes to premade meal kits, there are three primary factors people should focus on, according to registered dietitian Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD. “First, look at your health goals or concerns and let that be the leading factor,” she says.
“For example, you may be looking for premade meal kits that are focused on general healthy eating, or you may want kits that fit into your low-carb lifestyle, or maybe you need one that accommodates food allergies/sensitivities,” Sauceda says. “Then, you want to consider the flavor factor and pricing.”
If you want to know whether you’d like the type of food provided by a food delivery service, Sauceda recommends looking at a brand’s sample menus. While it’s great if the premade meal kit aligns with your health goals, that really doesn’t matter if the food isn’t going to be eaten and enjoyed.
Pricing is also important, as some meal kit delivery services offer flexibility with how often you make purchases and schedule deliveries. “Maybe you need meal kits that you can pause on your subscription, or maybe you don’t want a subscription at all,” Sauceda adds. Factor conveniently lets you skip a week of meals should you be out of town or have other meal plans.
FAQ
How much is Factor?
Factor meal kit deliveries cost as little as $90 (6 meals per week) or as much as $450 (36 meals per week). These prices will also increase depending on any add-ons you select (such as pancakes, shakes and other snacks). These prices do not reflect any discounts you’ll get as a new subscriber.
How do you cancel Factor?
Click on “Settings” in the drop-down under the account name. Then, scroll to the bottom of the “Plan Settings” tab, where there’s a button that says “Deactivate My Plan.” There’s a pop-up that allows you to change your box size instead, where you get the option to click “No Thanks.” Finally, that takes you to the cancellation questionnaire. Click “Deactivate Now.” From there, you can opt to provide further feedback. Canceling sends a confirmation email.
It’s slightly different if you’re in the app. In your account, click “Settings” in the bottom right corner, then “Personal Information.” Next, click “Delete Account,” then “Continue to Deactivate.”
To skip a week of meals, go to the menu for the corresponding week. The skip button is at the top, positioned prominently next to the “Edit Meals” button.
Can you freeze Factor meals?
Factor meals can be frozen, but this affects the cooking time. Some ingredients, especially creamy sauces, may not freeze well.
Is Factor owned by HelloFresh?
Yes, HelloFresh bought Factor in November 2020. It was originally called Factor75 and was rebranded as Factor.
Why You Should Trust Us
We back all meal delivery service reviews, including this Factor review, by testing from different Taste of Home team members with varying degrees of cooking expertise. Our testers’ needs, wants and budgets reflect those of the average shopper. We aren’t new to testing this product category, either. In addition to over a dozen meal kits, our team has reviewed meat and chicken delivery services like ButcherBox, Snake River Farms and Good Chop. Our testing extends to grocery services, like Misfits Market and Thrive Market, too.
Product Tester and editor Annamarie Higley oversees Taste of Home’s Product Testing Team and daily operations in our testing lab. She and her team assess online trends, search traffic and audience engagement to determine which items warrant testing firsthand in our dedicated office space or our homes. This includes everything from kitchen appliances to beauty products to power tools. Knowing we sourced and tested these products in real life, readers can feel confident in our recommendations.
Additional reporting was contributed by Melissa Lee, Content Updates Editor.
