When your day is packed with meetings, travel, and checking off your to-do list, your calendar doesn’t leave much room for chopping vegetables. On the days when “dinner” usually means takeout in front of your laptop, having the right prepared meals isn’t just convenient, it’s a performance strategy.
In this Factor meal review, we tasted and evaluated their service to see how well they fit into a high-pressure schedule: what it does well, where it might fall short, and how to decide if it deserves a spot in your weekly routine.
Factor
| Fortune score | 4/5 |
at Factor
- Our thoughts: We’re fans of the seasonings, sauces, and butters that complement their meals
- Who it’s for: Busy professionals who want high protein, portion-controlled meals without shopping, cooking, or tracking every ingredient
- What makes it different: Frequent menu expansion and globally inspired recipes help keep the lineup from feeling repetitive
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 designed to be nutritionally balanced and are created by chefs alongside registered dietitians, with options targeting goals like high protein, calorie control, low carb, or GLP‑1–friendly eating. Deliveries typically arrive on set days (often between Saturday and Wednesday depending on ZIP code), and meals generally stay fresh for about seven days in the refrigerator.
Factor Specs
Our Experience with Factor
Taylor tested Factor and shared his feedback with us. When signing up the service, he responded to their questions about his health and macro goals. “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 said.
Delivery went very smoothly—the box came promptly and was packed properly. According to Taylor, there was ample ice in the box, ensuring his meals stayed cold. He didn’t even have to worry about them sitting on his porch for an hour or two before he returned home.
Overall, he found preparation of the meals very easy. “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,” he said.
What We Liked
Taste and seasoning
Taylor thought the meals he tried were very flavorful, especially considering they were prepared meals. “They were all well-seasoned, and the meals weren’t soupy as I’ve experienced with some other meal delivery options,” he said. “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
In general, our team appreciated the variety Factor offers with their meal options. They have a rotating menu and there’s plenty of protein variety, which was a big priority for our tester.
“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 tester, Luke, liked Factor for the ease of preparation. As a busy professional, he spends most of his days in meetings or coding on his computer, leaving little time for cooking. But the quick and seamless prep process made Factor incredibly appealing.
“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 rated his ordering experience as a 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 said. “Sometimes with meal delivery they will lock you in a price but then up-charge you for meals like steak and I think it be more helpful and transparent to see that pricing before paying. Overall, it is easy to cancel, skip, and navigate their website.
Portion size
The portion size was on the small side for Luke, who rated it a 3 out of 5. “As a larger guy, these meals were on the smaller side in terms of portion size,” he said. “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
Overall, Taylor thought the meals tasted pretty good. In terms of ingredient quality, Taylor thought it lacked a bit in this category. “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 said.
Who It’s For & Who It’s Not For
Comparing to Other Meal Delivery Services
Frequently asked questions
What is the downside to Factor meals?
Some potential downsides to Factor meals are that the per-meal costs are higher than cooking at home (though this cost is often worth it for very busy folks!), and the meals are not easily customized, which makes them less ideal for families, larger appetites, or households with multiple dietary needs.
Is a Factor subscription worth it?
After testing out Factor, we think a subscription is worth it, especially for folks who value convenience and consistent nutrition more than the absolute lowest food cost, such as busy professionals, folks who dine solo, or athletes trying to hit protein and calorie targets without cooking.
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.
