Trifecta vs. Factor 2024: My Taste-Test Insights

I’ve personally tested both Trifecta and Factor to find out which is best. They’re both services that cater to health-conscious eaters with nutritious, prepared meals. While both brands target gym-goers, athletes, and those following specific diets, there are some notable differences between them. 

I’ve tested everything about both services. From the menus and prices to meal variety, customer support, delivery options, and taste – perhaps the most important factor! My comparison offers key insights to help you decide which service best suits your needs. 

In the end, while both services offer plenty of value, Factor is my favorite service. Factor has a more varied and exciting menu with flavor-packed meals, although Trifecta may be best for athletes. Keep reading to find out which service is the best fit for your lifestyle.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety: Factor Has a Bigger Variety of Entrees

I gave this round to Factor thanks to its more varied selection of entrees, but Trifecta scores a few points for its flexible Meal Prep menu. Both services offer prepared meals that are designed to be balanced and nutrient-dense, but Factor’s meals are likely to be enjoyed by a wider range of people – not just those counting macros – unlike Trifecta. 

Menu Size: There’s More Choice With Factor

From my experience, Factor offers significantly more variety than Trifecta. Trifecta introduces only about 2 new dishes each week, so if you stick to a specific diet plan, you’ll find yourself repeating meals often. Factor, on the other hand, rotates its menu weekly, keeping things interesting while still bringing back customer favorites.

Trifecta does have a Meal Prep menu where you can shop à la carte for pre-cooked proteins, carbs, and veggies to build your own meals. Options like grilled chicken breasts, quinoa, and sweet potatoes give you some flexibility, but it’s not as extensive as Factor’s add-ons. 

Factor’s extras give you more options to customize your week. You’ll find egg bites, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, soups, desserts, and protein supplements. These extras also change weekly, so there’s always something new to try. If variety and flexibility matter to you, Factor is the clear winner here.

Factor Offers Greater Cuisine Variety Than Trifecta

Factor easily outshines Trifecta when it comes to flavor and variety. Trifecta’s meals are simpler, designed for those who prioritize fuel and macro-balanced eating. When I tested them both, I felt that Factor appealed to a broader audience with its creative use of sauces, seasonings, and more complex flavor combinations.

Factor’s menu spans a wide range of cuisines. You’ll find American classics like grilled steak and roasted chicken alongside globally inspired options such as Indian Butter Barramundi and Caribbean Spiced Tofu. While not entirely authentic, these dishes bring exciting and diverse flavors to its health-conscious menu.

In contrast, Trifecta keeps things consistent with clean, nutrient-focused meals. Its options include American staples like burgers and some international flavors, like Panang Chicken Curry, but the focus remains on simplicity. For variety and adventurous dishes, Factor stands out, while Trifecta works better for those seeking routine and clean eating.

Both Only Offer Single Serving Prepared Meals

Both Trifecta and Factor’s meals are single-serving. Only offering single-serving prepared meals does make them less suitable for families or larger households. If you're looking for meal delivery options that cater to multiple servings or provide family-sized portions, it’s worth exploring our recommendations for the best meal deliveries for families.

However, if someone in your household has specific dietary needs, both services could work. You’ll find dishes suitable for keto, plant-based, GLP-1 diets, and more. I think it’s great to see so many options available, making it easier for individuals with unique dietary goals to find meals that suit their needs.

Sample Meals: Factor Beats Trifecta on Taste

Trifecta’s Meals

Trifecta’s menu offers 10-12 dishes each week on each of the dietary plans. There’s some overlap across plans (e.g., Korean Chicken appears under both "Clean" and "Paleo" menus with slight recipe variations). The menu is divided by diet, but you can mix and match meals from different plans. You can either choose your own meals or opt for an a la carte selection.

Here are some of the dishes I tried from Trifecta (pictured above, left to right):

• Brisket Burrito with Guacamole: This was my favorite dish from Trifecta, combining tender brisket and crisp, fresh peppers for a premium feel. Cooking it in a skillet added a golden, crispy tortilla that elevated it beyond a standard burrito. The guacamole was a flavorful bonus that rounded out the meal perfectly.

• Mustard Sauce Chicken Breast: A solid, well-executed meal, featuring tender, juicy chicken that stood out compared to other chicken-based dishes. While the microwaved broccoli and cauliflower may not suit everyone, they were perfectly cooked for those who enjoy simple, straightforward vegetables.

• High Protein Buffalo Chicken Pasta: This had its ups and downs, with tender, juicy chicken and the haricot vert beans (upgraded green beans) as highlights. However, the gluten-free pasta didn’t quite deliver the texture I expected, despite my attempt to crisp it up on the stovetop. The flavors were decent, but needed a boost with extra condiments.

Factor’s Meals

Factor's menu is organized around your selected diet preferences. You’re not restricted to a single menu. I like that you can mix and match meals, and I appreciate that you can easily view top-rated dishes and explore new options each week. Your order automatically populates based on your preferences, but you have the flexibility to customize it by selecting your own meals.

Here are the tastiest options from my most recent order (pictured above, left to right):

• Black Pepper & Sage Pork Chop: This dish delivered gourmet flavors at a standard price. The thick, juicy chop retained its grill-kissed authenticity after reheating, and the creamy Brussels sprouts base was a delicious way to include vegetables. The broccoli side wasn’t the best due to clumpy cheese sauce, but it worked well with the pork. Even as the week’s final meal, it remained fresh and satisfying, highlighting Trifecta’s quality.

• Mexican-Style Beef & Refried Beans: This dish delivered on flavor and aroma, capturing the essence of Tex-Mex comfort food. Though the presentation was underwhelming, the dish excelled in reheating and paired beautifully with a tortilla or tortilla chips for added texture. It’s a versatile meal that works well as-is or elevated into a hearty burrito.

• Dijon Cream Chicken Thighs: This benefited from oven cooking, which added a nice crispiness to the dish. The sautéed mushrooms were really tasty and not slimy (which could happen if cooked in the microwave). However, a larger chicken portion with less cabbage might have balanced the dish out better.

Meal Customization: Factor Lets You Mix & Match Meals

Factor wins this round because you can mix and match meals from any category. You’re not tied to 1 plan, so it’s easy to try different options each week. Trifecta only lets you stick to a single plan, which is fine for specific diets but less flexible. 

Trifecta’s Plans Are Specialized but Don’t Offer Flexibility

Trifecta offers a Meal Prep menu and 5 different meal plans: 

• Clean: Meals made with balanced, whole-food ingredients.

• Paleo (Whole30-Approved): High-protein, low-calorie dishes that fit a paleo lifestyle.

• Keto: Meals emphasizing healthy fats and proteins while keeping carbs minimal.

• Plant-Based: A variety of dishes featuring plant-based protein sources.

• GLP-1 Friendly: Nutritious, calorie-conscious options for those following GLP-1 protocols. 

Each week, Trifecta sends you meals based on the plan you signed up for. You can pick your own meals or select “Chef Selected” if you want Trifecta’s chefs to choose for you.

You can choose to exclude 1 ingredient each week from a limited list that includes shellfish, tree nuts, mushrooms, beef, and more, but since the meals are prepared, Trifecta can’t replace these ingredients with another – you’ll simply be sent another dish instead. Of course, this can limit your options and you may find yourself repeating dishes more often.

You can also order from the Signature menu. This is a static menu of dishes including Chicken Tenders, White Rice & Mixed Vegetables and Salmon, Sweet Potato & Mixed Vegetables. There’s also a Breakfast menu with 12+ options including Pesto Breakfast Scramble, Enchilada Steak & Egg Bites, and more. 

All Trifecta meals are gluten-free and peanut-free, and you’ll find plenty of dairy-free and soy-free options, too.

Factor’s Plans Are Health-Focused & Flexible

Factor’s plans work differently in that there are 8 main categories to choose from, but you can always order from the wider menu. 

When you sign up, you can choose from:

• Chef’s Choice: A mix of meals designed to suit a wide range of lifestyles.

• Keto: Low-carb meals with 15 g of net carbs or less per serving.

• Calorie-Smart: Meals capped at 550 calories or less per serving.

• Vegan & Veggie: Plant-based, meat-free dishes.

• Flexitarian: Balanced meals for those who enjoy a flexible diet.

• Protein Plus: Meals with 30 g or more of protein per serving.

• Fiber-Filled: Options containing at least 6 g of fiber per meal.

• GLP-1 Balance: Meals crafted to complement a GLP-1 diet.

In essence, Factor caters to many of the same specialized diets as Trifecta but offers more flexibility, allowing you to mix and match plant-based options with those that contain animal protein, for example.

Ingredient Quality & Nutrition: Both Are Great Options

Both companies feature ready-made meals and focus on delivering high-quality nutrition. The main difference is that Factor takes a more general approach, while Trifecta is focused on creating specialized menus for specific diets.

Factor uses high-quality ingredients from suppliers with strong animal welfare and sustainable practices. While not organic, the meals are designed by dietitians and never frozen. From preparation to delivery, Factor ensures your food stays chilled and fresh.

Trifecta works with local family-run suppliers with sustainable practices. Therefore, all your meals are cooked using the best quality ingredients available. Trifecta’s main concern is to make sure each meal contains high-quality, nutrient-dense foods.

The meats are humanely raised, and the seafood is non-GMO and antibiotic-free. Also, the beef is non-GMO, antibiotic-free, and grass-fed (which was scientifically proven to be healthier for your heart). Trifecta also uses organic ingredients whenever possible, but it is not an organic-certified service.

Both Factor and Trifecta provide detailed nutritional information, including calorie counts and macros, making it easy to track your intake. When I tested the services, I was pleased to find clear nutrition labels on the meal packs, which is great for staying on top of your diet.

Factor’s menu displays nutrition facts for each meal online, ranging from 350 to 900 calories (around 600 calories per meal on average). With single-serving, ready-made dishes, tracking calories and macros is straightforward.

Trifecta focuses on portion-controlled meals between 350 and 500 calories. While its online menu shows nutrition ranges by meal plan, each meal pack includes its own detailed label with macros, sodium, and sugar content to help you stick to your goals.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing: Trifecta Has More Flexible Options

Trifecta wins this round overall thanks to its wider delivery area. Trifecta offers bi-weekly, tri-weekly, and monthly deliveries in addition to weekly shipments, making it the more flexible option.

Ordering: Both Make Signing Up an Easy Process

Factor’s website is well-designed and familiar, which makes it easy to navigate. This is because it shares a layout with other HelloFresh brands. Signing up was simple, but I hit a snag with a promotional deal for wellness shots. 

Despite contacting customer service, I received conflicting information and eventually gave up. For most users, this likely won’t be an issue, but it was frustrating. Overall, the process was smooth, with clear pricing and an easy-to-navigate meal selection page after payment.

Trifecta’s process was similarly easy but had its quirks. My first order was processed and then unexpectedly refunded on the same day, forcing me to reorder for the following week. Customer service couldn’t explain what went wrong, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker. 

While Trifecta’s interface felt less intuitive, I appreciated that you can exclude 1 ingredient during signup and see clear pricing throughout the process.

Delivery: Trifecta Delivers to All 50 States

Both services perform well, but Trifecta has a few advantages. It delivers to all 50 states and offers flexible delivery options every 1 to 4 weeks. Factor, however, only ships to 48 states and provides weekly delivery.

Trifecta delivers on Fridays or Saturdays, which may be more convenient for many customers. Factor offers delivery Monday through Wednesday, with days varying by zip code. Trifecta’s consistent schedule gives it an edge in this area.

Both services delivered on time, but Trifecta was more reliable in terms of delivery days. Tracking was easy with Trifecta, though I couldn’t track directly on the website. Factor, while flexible, had a long delivery window (8 am to 9 pm) and no tracking updates.

My Unboxing Experience: Both Good, but I Was Impressed by Trifecta

Trifecta’s delivery stood out with its clean, bright orange box and minimal, eco-friendly packaging. Everything was well-organized, with recyclable materials like the box, insulation, and even the ice pack, which is drain-safe and plant-friendly. The meals arrived chilled and in great condition, with no surprises or issues.

Factor’s box was also neat, but it came with more promotional materials, which felt unnecessary. The packaging included non-recyclable ice packs and foil insulation, making it less eco-friendly than Trifecta. While the meals stayed cool, Trifecta’s approach to sustainable packaging gives it the edge here.

Both Trifecta and Factor’s meals are delivered fresh and should be stored in the refrigerator as soon as you open your box. Generally, the meals will last around 7 days in the fridge – though this will be specified on each dish – or you can store in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

Any changes to your Factor order must be made by 11.59pm CT on the Wednesday before your delivery is due to arrive. Trifecta’s cutoff date to place an order, make changes, or skip an order is the Friday before your next expected delivery date.

Meal Prep: Both Offer Fully Prepared Meals

Both Factor and Trifecta deliver prepared meals that are cooked before they even reach your door. All you need to do is heat them up in a microwave or oven. So when it comes to meal prep, there isn’t much to compare. 

Both services provide detailed heating instructions on each meal for both microwave and conventional ovens, though Trifecta also includes instructions for stove-tops and air fryers and will include these in order of recommendation for the tastiest results.

Customer Support: Trifecta Offers Heaps of Smart Tools

Trifecta’s customer service is reliable and efficient, making it the clear winner in this round. While both services offer live chat, phone support, and FAQs, Trifecta provides prompt responses from real agents and detailed information across its platforms. Both services are easy to cancel too, with clear instructions and no hassles.

My Trifecta Experience: Lots of Support & Tools

Trifecta’s support options are easy to locate. There’s a live chat box on every page and a phone number and email address listed at the bottom. The FAQ section, while slightly hidden, offered thorough and up-to-date answers to common queries, including recycling instructions and dietary information. 

The live chat connected me to a real person, though availability was inconsistent during business hours. When I couldn’t connect via chat, my message was forwarded to email, and I received a helpful response within the hour. The phone support hours are the same business hours as live chat (8 am–5 pm PT).

Trifecta excels with its tailored programs, dietary guidance, and active community forums. Designed with fitness enthusiasts and athletes in mind, the service offers a range of smart tools that make it easier to reach your health and wellness goals.

My Factor Experience: A Mixed Impression

Factor’s customer service left me with mixed impressions. While the “Contact Us” section and FAQ were relatively informative, the chatbot wasn’t great. It only provides canned responses based on keywords. To reach a real agent, I had to repeatedly type “representative” into the chat – a frustrating process.

One significant issue I encountered was confusion over a promotional deal. Factor offered free wellness shots, but I couldn’t add them to my order. One customer service agent assured me they’d fix the problem, but nothing changed. 

When I followed up, another agent told me I wasn’t eligible because I wasn’t a new customer, even though this was my first order. This kind of conflicting information has cropped up with other HelloFresh-owned brands, so while it might not affect most users, it was a headache for me.

Factor does shine with its free 20-minute consultation with an in-house dietitian, available when you sign up. This can help you select meals tailored to your goals, and you can also purchase extended coaching packages for more ongoing support.

Pricing: Factor Is the More Budget-Friendly Option

Factor costs less than Trifecta. This is not entirely surprising since most meal delivery services that focus on niche markets typically charge premium prices – but Trifecta’s prices are higher than most. 

Trifecta’s Prices

Trifecta’s set meal plans start from $104.93 per week when you select the Plant Based plan. All the others cost £110.99 per week, likely due to the more expensive animal proteins included, when you order the minimum 7 entrees a week. This works out at over $15 per meal. 

If you order from the Meal Prep menu, prices range from $9.99 to $24.99. Signature and Breakfast meals start at $10.99 per week. This makes it pretty costly if you are relying on Trifecta to create your own menu. 

Factor’s Prices

Factor’s prices vary depending on how many single-serving meals you need each week. The larger the order, the lower the cost per meal. For example, its best-value box gives you 18 meals for just $103.41 on your first order if you use our link. This makes the cost per serving really reasonable.

All your meals will cost the same based on the plan you select. Remember that you’ll pay more for Add-Ons and Premium dishes. Shipping costs $10.99 per delivery which is only slightly higher than Trifecta’s which is $9.99 per delivery. 

Trifecta vs. Factor — Pros & Cons

Trifecta

Pros

• Delivers to all 50 states

• Caters to niche diets

• Range of health-focused tools

Cons

• High costs per serving

• High shipping costs to Alaska/Hawaii

• No plan flexibility

Factor

Pros

• Flexible plan options

• Free dietitian consultations

• Flavorful meals

Cons

• Weekly shipping fee

• Basic and unhelpful chatbot

• Confusing customer support

Trifecta vs. Factor — Quick Overview

And the Winner Is: Factor

If you're looking for healthy, ready-to-eat meals, Factor is the better choice. It caters to a range of diets and tastes and you can mix and match across the plans, which means it's really flexible. In my opinion, the menu will suit most people who follow a mainstream diet and the meals passed my taste test.

However, if you're a devoted athlete or a fitness fan, Trifecta could be a good choice. Not only does it cater to specific health diets that suit athletic lifestyles, but it also includes a macro tracking app and an online community for support and tips. It's designed to meet the needs of those aiming for maximum results and top performance.

Prepared meals often cost more for the convenience — however, I think Factor is really good value for what you get. Factor works out cheaper than Trifecta, although if you follow one of Trifecta's specific diets, it may be worth spending the extra money.  

If you're not convinced that either of these are the right service for you, you can head over to our ranking of the best meal delivery services of the year where we've listed the top services we've tried and tested. 

FAQ

Where does Trifecta deliver?

Trifecta delivers to all 50 US states. Shipping across the 48 contiguous states costs $9.99 per week, but if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, you’ll pay a hefty $49.99 shipping fee due to additional travel costs.  

Can you cancel Trifecta?

Trifecta is easy to cancel, and its plans require no commitment. Any changes to your order should be made by Friday the week before your next delivery is scheduled, otherwise they won’t have time to go into effect. Our blog post on how to cancel Trifecta will walk you through the process.

Can Factor meals be frozen?

Factor recommends you store its meals in the fridge, where they’ll last for up to a week. However, you can also freeze them for up to 2 months – just remember to thaw in the fridge before cooking. Always check the individual labels on the packaging for storage and cooking instructions.