Fresh N Lean vs. Factor 2023: Factor For the Win

Both Fresh N Lean and Factor offer prepared meals you simply heat and eat. Both services cater to fitness-conscious eaters, and both offer meals that are both nutritious and tasty. But which is right for you?

I’ve examined both meal delivery services closely. I’ve scanned ingredient lists, studied shipping costs, checked delivery areas, and compared menus to see which comes out on top. It was a close match, and both services are worthy competitors.

Ultimately, Factor comes out on top. It offers more meal choices to dieters and will be the best choice for most busy people who are looking for healthy meals. But serious athletes and people with gluten sensitivities may find that Fresh N Lean is a better fit. Read on and find out which one best suits your needs.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Factor

Fresh N Lean has more items on its menus, but Factor gives you a wider selection. Factor lets you mix and match across meal plans, giving you 35+ choices each week. Fresh N Lean’s 100+ selections are split across 7 plans, each of which offers 11-20 choices per week. You must choose a meal plan with Fresh N Lean and can’t mix and match.

Factor offers American classics along with Italian, Indian, Mexican, and other international cuisines. You can also order breakfast, mains, desserts, sides, snacks, and beverages, including a nice selection of high-protein smoothies.

Fresh N Lean’s meals lean more toward American favorites, with an occasional nod to Mexican or Italian food. Fresh N Lean also provides breakfast, main entrees, snacks, veg sides, and protein add-ons.

Both delivery services rotate their menus on a weekly basis so things might change over time. But as a general rule, you can expect a good variety of meals, no matter your flavor preferences.

Neither Factor nor Fresh N Lean are particularly good choices for feeding families. Both provide single-serving prepared meals, and Fresh N Lean provides dedicated menus geared toward athletic individuals. Hungry households will do better with one of the companies on our list of the best family meal delivery services.

Meal Customization

Winner: Fresh N Lean

Fresh N Lean wins this round because it has better filters to avoid problem ingredients. Neither Fresh N Lean nor Factor lets you swap or leave out ingredients in their prepared meals. But Fresh N Lean’s filters let you avoid meals that contain many common allergens.

Fresh N Lean gives you the option of omitting up to 3 ingredients per meal plan from a choice of over 20 ingredients. This list includes allergens like soy, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, sesame, and shellfish, as well as other items like bell peppers, red meat, quinoa, mushrooms, turkey, and cilantro.

Factor suggests that you examine the ingredient list for each meal to determine if it contains something you don’t want or can’t eat. Factor also prepares and packs all its meals in 1 location, which means there’s a cross-contamination risk. Those with serious sensitivities will do better by checking out our best allergy-friendly meal delivery services.

Factor offers 5 plans, but you’re free to choose from any item on the menu. Factor’s colorful tags make it easy to spot entrees that suit your needs. In addition to its general Chef’s Choice plan, you can also find Factor dishes for the following diets:

• Keto
• Protein Plus
• Calorie Smart
• Vegan & Veggie

Fresh N Lean offers 8 meal plans, but unlike Factor, it only lets you order from your chosen plan.

• Protein+
• Keto
• Paleo
• Standard Vegan
• Whole30 Approved
• Low Carb Vegan
• Mediterranean Diet
• Bulk

Fresh N Lean has a gluten-free kitchen, so all of its meals are gluten-free. There are 3 fully dairy-free menus – Vegan, Vegan Low-Carb, and Paleo. Fresh N Lean also uses locally sourced organically grown produce as well as grass-fed beef, antibiotic-free chicken, and wild-caught fish and seafood.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: Factor

Factor offers a mobile app for extra convenience, but Fresh N Lean doesn’t. Otherwise, this was a very close round.

Each service delivers boxes that come in insulating layers to keep your meals fresh until you get home to store them. Each Factor meal should be put into the fridge immediately and lasts for about 7 days. Fresh N Lean’s meals stay fresh in the fridge for about 7 to 10 days, but they can be kept fresh for up to 8 weeks in the freezer.

Both send neatly labeled meals with nutritional information provided. Each meal is organized inside the box and comes very professionally packaged. Fresh N Lean labels its nutritional information on the backside of the box, and Factor provides its nutritional info on the bottom of each meal.

After placing your 1st Factor order, the subscription feature will be activated. Each week, orders are automatically processed immediately after the weekly cutoff which is 11:59 pm CT on Wednesdays for delivery the following week. You also have the option to skip up to 2 weeks in advance or turn off the subscription feature.

Any changes you need to make to your order can be done before the weekly cutoff time. The minimum order for Factor is 6 meals per week. But you can select up to 18 each week, which saves you even more money. More on that below in the Pricing section.

Factor delivers between 8 am to 8 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The exact delivery date will depend on your zip code. Factor delivers to the continental United States only.

Factor’s packaging is mostly recyclable, and there’s a dedicated section in Factor’s FAQ with more details. The cardboard box is fully recyclable, and the meal containers are made with BPA-free recyclable plastic but make sure to wash them before reusing or recycling them. The gel packs are non-toxic and reusable. You must first drain the liquid into the trash, not the sink or toilet. There are various types of insulation used. The PET and cotton insulation should be placed in the trash but the laminated insulation is curbside recyclable.

Fresh N Lean also has a subscription-based model that renews every week. Any changes to your order or subscription cancellations need to be done by Saturday, before 12 pm PST for the following week’s delivery. Fresh N Lean’s minimum weekly order is for 5 meals.

Fresh N Lean delivers to all states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Your Fresh N Lean box will arrive every Friday, with a guaranteed at-the-latest delivery day of Saturday. Fresh N Lean can deliver on Wednesdays and Thursdays too, but this will cost extra.

All of Fresh N Lean’s packaging is recyclable. This includes the boxes, insulating layers, meal containers, and the plastic seals covering the meal containers.

Meal Prep

Winner: Tie

There’s no clear winner when it comes to meal prep. Both Factor and Fresh N Lean offer a diverse array of heat-and-eat meals. This is a short section because both services send you meals that are ready to eat in a short time.

Both services deliver meals that you can heat in your oven or microwave. It’ll take about 15-20 minutes to heat these meals in a conventional oven. Depending on the wattage, your Factor or Fresh N Lean meals will take between 2-4 minutes in your microwave.

Customer Support

Winner: Factor

Factor offers longer customer support hours and a free dietitian consultation, but both services offer excellent customer support and service.

It was really easy to contact Factor’s support team using live chat.  Once I initiated the chat, it took less than 30 seconds to connect with a very helpful representative who answered my questions in minutes.

Factor’s live chat is available 24/7. Phone support is available at 888-573-5727 from 6 am to 11 pm EST on weekdays and 7 am to 7 pm weekends.

You also get a free 20-minute consultation with a dietitian with your Factor subscription. If you’re trying to lose weight or get into shape, or if you just want to eat healthier, a dietitian can provide pointers on how you can achieve your goals.

The Fresh N Lean live chat support team got back to me almost instantly. I was able to receive pre-sales support for a number of questions I had before getting started. Factor offers longer coverage, but Fresh N Lean’s support team is top-notch during regular business hours.

Fresh N Lean offers support between 7 am to 5 pm PST 7 days a week (for the phone line only), and from 9 am to 5 pm PST using the live chat feature.

Pricing

Winner: Factor

Factor wins this round even though Fresh N Lean has a lower starting price. In almost all cases, you’ll spend a few pennies less with Factor than with Fresh N Lean. The weekly price difference between the 2 is small but enough to give Factor the win by a nose.

Factor meals range between $6.19 and $13.49 per serving. Factor’s minimum order is 6 single-serving meals and its maximum is 18 meals. There are no price differences between the meal plans.

Fresh N Lean meals start at $7.53 up to $15.99 per serving. Fresh N Lean’s minimum order is 5 single-serving meals and its maximum is 21 meals (3 meals per day). The Vegan plans are the cheapest, while the Keto and Paleo plans are the most expensive.

Fresh N Lean’s add-ons range from about $3 to $30. Simple snacks are cheaper, and a protein add-on can cost significantly more. Factor’s add-ons range from $11 to $50, and Factor charges $10.99 for shipping while Fresh N Lean shipping is free.

Fresh N Lean vs Factor — Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Factor

For those seeking nutritious, pre-made meals, Factor stands out. It offers a broad spectrum of choices in its weekly menu, covering vegan, vegetarian, keto, and low-calorie options.

For athletes or people with severe allergies, Fresh N Lean might be the perfect choice. Its limited menus could benefit those who need to keep track of their macronutrients and avoid any unwanted temptations. Plus, Fresh N Lean is a great choice for anyone who needs gluten-free meals or has serious dairy allergies.

You can also look at our comparison of the Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services. It has detailed reviews of all the most popular services.

FAQ

How much does Factor cost per month?

Factor’s prices depend on how many meals you order per week. For example, if you go with the maximum number of meals available, you can spend $6.19 per serving. After you decide how many meals you’ll order every week, you can get a rough estimate of how much you might spend each month.

Are Fresh N Lean meals organic?

Fresh N Lean uses organic produce, grass-fed beef, wild-caught seafood, and antibiotic-free chicken. If eating organic is important for you, you can rest assured that your Fresh N Lean meal is free of pesticides and preservatives.

Is Factor good for weight loss?

Factor’s Calorie Smart menu consists of meals of 550 calories or less. If you’re trying to lose weight on the keto diet, Factor also has a very good keto menu. But if you’re signing up for a meal delivery service to lose a few pounds, you might want to check out our list of the best weight loss meal delivery services.