I Just Received My 68th Box of Factor Meals—Here’s Why I’ve Stayed Loyal for Over 3 Years

As someone who isn’t fond of cooking, I’ve turned to meal delivery services for the past six years to make sure I get nutritious, balanced dinners each day. I’ve been a dedicated Factor subscriber since 2021, and there’s no plan to stop enjoying these microwavable meals anytime soon.

The thing that first drew me to Factor was the quick prep times, individual portions, and variety on the menu. As a single woman living alone, I’m not keen on spending time chopping, sautéing, or searing—so the fact that all you need to prepare a Factor meal is a microwave was a huge selling point. Nearly four years in, I can confidently say the subscription has been worth every cent, and I’ve been able to tailor it perfectly to suit my routine.

Factor’s simplicity and convenience are undoubtedly two of its greatest advantages, but it’s the delicious meals that keep me coming back. The dishes are not only flavorful and perfectly portioned, but they’re also rich in protein and fiber, ensuring you stay satisfied.

Out of the 68 boxes I’ve ordered, I can’t recall ever needing to add extra food or seasoning to a Factor meal. The quality has only improved over the years! If you're looking to streamline your meal prep or eat healthier in the near future, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Factor a try.

Available Nationwide: 48 states (contiguous U.S.) | Meals per box: 4-36 | Pre-cooked meals? Yes | Delivery: Fresh | Dietary customization options: low calorie, keto, high protein, low carb, GLP-1 balance, high fiber, vegetarian, vegan, non-spicy, pork-free, dairy-free, and flexitarian

How to Sign Up for Factor: Step-by-Step

Creating a Factor account at factor75.com took me under 10 minutes. First, you select your dietary preferences, which are organized into categories like keto, carb-conscious, and flexitarian. Since I’m always looking to get more protein and eat healthier, I choose the protein-plus and calorie-smart options. After that, you decide how many meals you want delivered each week.

For your first delivery, you can choose from six, eight, 10, 12, 14, or 18 meals, but you’re not locked into this amount. I can adjust my plan every week and order as few as four meals or as many as 36, based on what I need.

Once your plan and payment details are set, the fun begins: selecting your meals. You’ll be shown dishes that align with your dietary preferences, though you can browse all available meals at any time.

I usually have 40 meal options to choose from each week, and I can select multiples of my favorites. After picking your entrees, you can add extra items like breakfast options, shakes, juices, and smoothies. The final step is choosing your delivery date, which is usually a week after placing your order.

Factor Menu: Choose from More Than 30 Delicious Meal Options

This meal delivery service provides a wide selection of fresh entrees each week, with rotating options to keep the menu exciting. You can filter meals by dietary preferences and access detailed ingredient and nutritional information for each dish.

The categories with the most variety are protein plus and keto, while dairy-free and vegetarian/vegan options are more limited, with only around four choices in each. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend Factor to those who follow a plant-based diet—there simply aren’t enough options available.

Beyond ready-to-eat meals, the subscription service offers an expanding list of add-ons, which has grown significantly since I first joined. The breakfast options alone are impressive: pancakes, skillets, egg bites, and overnight oats are regularly available.

Factor is also well-known for its protein and keto shakes (I’ve tried them and they’re fantastic), as well as its signature juices and smoothies (apple kale wheatgrass and strawberry banana are my top picks). I haven’t tried many of the desserts yet, but there’s a vanilla raspberry cheesecake I’m definitely eyeing.

The Factor Meals and Add-Ons I Ordered This Week:

• Green Chile Chicken
• Meatballs & BBQ Sauce
• Fiesta Salmon
• Chicken Alfredo Pasta
• Tex-Mex Beef Bowl
• Smoky Gouda Chicken
• Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (add-on)

Factor Delivery and Packaging: Keeps Meals Fresh and Cold

Factor delivers from Saturday to Wednesday, though your delivery window may vary depending on your zip code. Meals come in an insulated cardboard box that stays cool with gel packs.

Once, I had to wait eight hours to refrigerate my meals after they were delivered, but the plastic containers the entrees come in were still cold when I unpacked them. The meals remain fresh in the fridge for up to seven days.

I’d say that 90% of the time, my order arrives correctly. Occasionally, my delivery is delayed by a day, which can be frustrating, but Factor usually makes up for it in some way. About half of the packing materials are recyclable; I recycle the cardboard box and food containers/sleeves, but discard the insulation and gel packs as the company advises.

Cooking Factor Meals: Ready to Eat in Under 5 Minutes

What I love most about Factor meals is the minimal prep time. Most meals need just two minutes in the microwave and another two minutes to cool down, meaning they’re ready to eat in under five minutes.

One of the reasons I dislike cooking is the time it takes. Preparing a meal can easily take an hour, but it’s often devoured in just 15 minutes. I’d say Factor saves me between three-and-a-half to seven hours each week, which makes the subscription a great value.

If you’re hesitant about microwaving meals, you can also heat Factor dishes in the oven. Just keep in mind that these meals are fresh, not frozen, so they’re different from traditional TV dinners. I’ve never had to reheat a meal because it wasn’t warm enough. While my microwave doesn’t always heat evenly, I’m generally satisfied with the meal temperatures when I follow the cooking instructions.

Factor Ingredients and Sourcing: Fresh and Top Quality

Before adding a Factor meal to your order, you can easily access its nutritional breakdown and a detailed list of ingredients, including a section on potential allergens. To learn more about where the company sources its ingredients, I visited Factor’s website.

After a quick search, it wasn't entirely clear where the ingredients are sourced from, though Factor does share its five-step approval process. This includes screening ingredient categories, assessing purpose and effect, researching nutritional and health impacts, ensuring safety and efficacy, and finally evaluating consumer feedback. The company claims to have banned over 160 ingredients that don’t meet its standards.

If you're ever concerned about the nutrients you're consuming, Factor subscribers can book a free 20-minute consultation with one of the company’s dietitians. While I’ve never used this service, it’s reassuring to know that I can get personalized guidance at no additional cost if my diet or fitness goals evolve throughout the year.

Factor Meals Flavor and Quality: Restaurant-Worthy

From my very first box, I could tell Factor was different from other microwave meals. Rather than reheating freezer-burned food, you’re warming up fresh ingredients that have never been frozen, which means the flavors remain intact.

At first, I was concerned that the meat in my Factor meals would be tough, but I’ve found it to be easy to cut and typically served with a sauce that enhances the dish. The vegetables are perfectly seasoned—I’ve never needed to reach for salt or pepper—and they stay fresh and crisp after heating, which is a major win for me as wilting veggies are a pet peeve.

There have definitely been some meals I didn’t enjoy—one example being the Meatballs & BBQ Sauce from my most recent box, a newer recipe from Factor—but it’s more about my personal taste preferences than any issue with the quality of the food.

Three meals I look forward to seeing on the menu are the Smoky Gouda Chicken, paired with roasted red potatoes and parmesan green beans, the Chicken Alfredo Pasta with garlicky broccoli, and the Loaded Bacon Shredded Chicken (I guess I’m a bit of a chicken fan). These are dishes you could easily pay $20 for at a restaurant, and they’re hearty enough to fill you up. Honestly, just thinking about them makes my mouth water!

Factor Customer Service: Helpful for the Most Part

If you run into any issues with your Factor order, reaching out to the customer service team is a breeze. While there’s a 24-hour chat feature, I prefer to call the help line directly to talk to a live person.

I’ve only had to contact customer service when a meal was missing from my box or when I forgot to skip a delivery while out of town. Missing meals—an issue that’s only happened five or six times across 68 boxes—has always been resolved with a reimbursement. My experience with canceling scheduled deliveries has been more mixed, though.

In the three and a half years I’ve been using Factor, I’ve only forgotten to skip a delivery a handful of times. On two occasions, the customer service rep canceled the delivery without any trouble. But the other times, I had more difficulty—one rep actually gave me a lecture for forgetting, which felt a bit harsh.

This happened after I’d been a loyal customer for three years, so I found the lack of understanding frustrating. They did eventually reimburse me for the box after I explained the situation. Overall, though, my experiences with Factor’s customer service have been positive, with just a few bumps along the way.

Factor Meals: My Take

All in all, I’ve been incredibly satisfied with my Factor subscription, which is why I’ve kept it for over three years! As someone who really dislikes cooking, I no longer have to stress about getting enough protein and nutrients since each meal is designed with those needs in mind.

I find the weekly menus offer enough variety to keep the meals from feeling repetitive. Plus, it’s easy to skip a week if I get bored of the dishes or have travel plans. What really stands out is that the meals are not only healthy but also come with generous portions, which is something I’ve struggled to find in other meal kits that leave you hungry.

I would highly recommend Factor to anyone looking to save time on meal prep. It makes it way easier to head to the gym or run errands after work, knowing I don’t have to spend half an hour or more making dinner.

It’s also perfect for people living alone who want to reduce food waste. However, if you're thinking about signing up for weight loss, it’s best to consult with your doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist before diving in.

Factor vs. HelloFresh

Before I chose Factor as my go-to meal subscription, I gave HelloFresh a try. Since both services are owned by the same company, I thought I’d compare them briefly. But it’s tough to do a fair comparison since Factor offers ready-made meals while HelloFresh requires cooking.

HelloFresh is better suited for families because it lets you customize portions for two, four, or six people, though you can only order up to six meals per week.

From my own experience, I wasn’t a fan of HelloFresh for a few reasons (aside from my dislike of cooking). Nearly every box had missing ingredients, the produce spoiled too quickly, and the recipes started to feel repetitive. It’s been over four years since I last used HelloFresh, so the service might have improved by now—and I should mention my sister still subscribes, so it really depends on your personal needs and lifestyle.

Who Are Factor Meals Good For?

• People who dislike cooking or have too much going on to prepare meals
• Individuals or couples looking to eat healthier
• Those following keto, low-carb, or high-protein diets

Who Isn’t It Good For?

• Those who prefer to cook their own meals
• Large families
• Vegans and vegetarians

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by me, Allison Cacich, the editorial director at Mytour. I have over three and a half years of experience with Factor, having ordered 68 boxes in total. As someone who dislikes cooking, I’ve tried many meal delivery services over the years. I’m always on the lookout for products and subscriptions that simplify my life, especially with a busy work schedule and a demanding (but lovable) dog.