I Tried HelloFresh, Factor, Green Chef, and EveryPlate — Here’s How They Compare

Factor was the only service I tried that genuinely required no cooking, which puts it in a different category from the other three. Factor offers the ultimate time-saving proposition: fresh meals that you don’t even have to thaw — just microwave. In about five minutes, you’ll have a balanced meal. Each one costs about $11 to $14, depending on how many you order.

During testing, I tried three meals: the Garlic Herb Filet Mignon and Shrimp, the Max Shredded Chicken Taco Bowl, and the Lemon Butter Steelhead Trout. I also tried the Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites, protein shakes, and various pressed juices and smoothies.

I’ll admit to some initial skepticism prior to testing; I often find the texture of microwaved meals unappealing, and while you could presumably remove them from their containers and heat them in an oven, that isn’t the recommended method (plus the meal would lose some of its convenience if cooked that way). However, while some unavoidable textural issues were present, overall I was impressed by how far we’ve come from ye olde TV dinners of yore.

I went all in with my first meal, the Lemon Butter Steelhead Trout. It was honestly a dish I had to brace myself for, because ... microwaved fish? While I still wouldn’t recommend doing this in an office, for obvious reasons, I was pleasantly surprised: The trout itself was firm, neither too moist nor too dry, and it flaked easily under my fork. The orzo and side vegetables were a bit watery for my taste, but otherwise this dish held up well beyond my expectations.

My favorite of the three was the Max Shredded Chicken Taco Bowl, which had a nice heat and an appealing mix of textures. As for the Garlic Herb Filet Mignon and Shrimp, the filet mignon had a nicely grilled flavor, and the shrimp was firm. The portions also felt appropriate for one person, while being fairly hearty; although I wouldn’t anticipate having leftovers, I also never felt unsatisfied afterward. Overall, the proteins really knocked it out of the park, and after a week of preparing meals from the other kits (and the subsequent cleanup), the Factor meals felt like a break, especially after a particularly busy day.

Nutritionally, my meals varied, but a few themes emerged: They were high in protein (the lowest contained 37 grams), relatively high in sodium with 900 to 1,200 milligrams per serving (for reference, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that you consume no more than 2,300 milligrams per day), and still included a decent portion of vegetables. Plus, the nutrition information is all right on the cardboard sleeve that encases the meal, making it easy to review at a glance.

One of my colleagues, editor Ally Hirschlag, also tried this service a few months ago and had a similar experience with her Factor meals, saying that she found the selection “quite healthy and well-balanced.”

An unexpected favorite for me was the ready-to-drink protein shakes that are offered as add-ons to your order. They are vegan and lack that sawdusty flavor profile I often associate with pea protein powder. They’re also quite tasty, average around 200 calories, and contain an average of 18 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per serving. These shakes were, quite frankly, the only way I had time for breakfast on some particularly hectic mornings.

EveryPlate ends up on almost every “best budget” list for meal delivery services, and that’s particularly appealing when you’re multiplying the cost per serving across an entire family. Its affordability is a standout feature, with some meal plans hovering around $6 per serving. The service emphasizes filling ingredients and simple recipes, which I found to be true of the meals I sampled, which included Saucy Garlic and Ponzu Banh Mi Beef, Pepper Jack-Stuffed Pub Burgers, and Cheesy Charred Corn Tacos.

Rather than separating food items based on type, as some meal delivery services do, EveryPlate sends all the ingredients together in one box, which requires some sorting — and probably some muttering about where the heck you put that spice packet, because you could swear it was on the counter.

Still, don’t let the relative simplicity of the recipes make you think they’ll be boring; I found that you can add a decent amount of heat to these dishes if you wish, and EveryPlate does a good job of adding a little something interesting to otherwise standard dishes. For example, the tacos require you to char the corn, adding a nice depth of flavor, while the potato wedges that accompany the burgers can be generously topped with a fry seasoning blend.

The servings were hearty (in fact, the banh mi dish boasted 25 percent bigger helpings, as a “family favorite”), though I found the calorie counts to be a bit higher than those of the other three services, and if you want nutrition information beyond calories, you have to go to the website — it’s not printed on the included recipe cards. Most of the meals contained between 3 and 5 grams of fiber, and 860 and 960 calories per serving.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Sydney Greene also tried this service and observed that the meals generally included a protein, a carbohydrate, and a vegetable, but she wished that there were more vegetables included in the recipes.

I agree with Greene’s assessment about the vegetables, though I should point out that EveryPlate does not position itself as a low-calorie or diet-specific service. Compared with HelloFresh and especially Green Chef, I found the meals to be less produce-forward, but they were also the ones I’d be most confident serving to the picky eaters in my family. This service is a solid choice for families, but if you’re prioritizing fiber, whole grains, or lots of vegetables, you’ll need to research the menu or supplement the service’s offerings yourself.

Of the three meal kits I tried, Green Chef was the one that most consistently put vegetables front and center. The service leans heavily on spices and fresh herbs to add interest to its dishes, plus premade sauces to save you time. The meals, which included Chicken With Lemon Crema, Chili-Ginger Tilapia (Salmon) With Orange Sauce, and Mediterranean Wild Gulf Shrimp Bowls, were also the most filling I tried; my husband and I inevitably had leftovers. The shrimp bowls, in particular, had a very filling combo of grains and vegetables like radishes that held up well when saved for lunch the next day.

One mix-up: I found that the tilapia was not included in the box I received. Instead, I got salmon fillets. Not a problem; I used that in place of the tilapia for the chili-ginger dish, and it turned out great. In fact, I prefer salmon (I find tilapia to be a bit blah), so this mix-up ended up working in my favor. It also shows how adaptable these recipes can be.

Tori Martinet, a registered dietitian, also tested this service, saying, “I loved the protein content overall, the inclusion of vegetables, and the fiber that comes with it.” However, she caveated this by adding, “I do think I’d recommend folks read the nutrition and not take for granted where they think the health factor will land compared to where it really does.”

The meals cost about $11 to $14 per serving, depending on plan size. While calorie and allergen information was clearly displayed on my Green Chef recipe cards, the nutritional information was a little more difficult to find (though for account holders, this information is more readily available). My meals contained up to 52 grams of protein, but the sodium count was well over 1,000 milligrams per serving, and the saturated fat hovered around 11 grams, so that’s something to keep in mind. Green Chef gave me some of the most produce-forward meals I tried, but its wellness-oriented labels aren’t a substitute for reading the nutrition facts.

HelloFresh is known for meal kits and an impressively large rotating menu — at the time I’m writing this, there are more than 100 options available. The site lets you tailor your preferences extensively, based on dietary needs and preferences, number of servings (up to four), and how long you want to spend in the kitchen. Meal kits start at about $12 per serving, depending on the plan you choose.

My HelloFresh meal kit for the week included Spicy Miso Pasta With Chicken and Bacon, Prep and Bake Persian Shrimp and Rice, and Garlicky Shrimp Couscous Bowls. I feel like I got a good (if shrimp-heavy) amount of variety in terms of the flavors and prep involved. Nothing took more than 35 minutes to make, but be prepared to do your own washing and chopping. I felt like the recipes were quite versatile, though perhaps a little adventurous for picky eaters. The pasta dish was a surprising combination of umami-rich stock and tangy sour cream, which made the dish feel rich and creamy. The shrimp couscous bowls had great texture, contrasting the shrimp with springy, nutty grains, bulked up with some roasted broccoli. The prep and bake shrimp dish was notable in that, in addition to its nice blend of aromatic spices, it only required one dish (and trust me, after all the cooking, this was a nice reprieve).

I will say that the portions were quite generous (this was a theme with the meal kits). My husband and I struggled to finish our portions of these, and I frequently had enough left over for my lunch the next day. If you had, say, a child who was an adventurous eater, it would easily be enough for them. And, for what it’s worth, HelloFresh does offer meals that are suited to pickier palates. Of the four services I tried, HelloFresh felt like the middle ground: It offers more variety than EveryPlate but lacks Green Chef’s stronger nutrition focus and Factor’s higher-convenience format.

One thing I did notice: Even though you can, to a certain extent, control how much salt or sugar you add to a dish, each of my meals contained more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

Martinet, who also tested this service, agrees that HelloFresh’s meals often have a high sodium count, and while there are vegetables included in the meals, she says, “You’re not likely to see a ton of whole grains or really produce-heavy options.” So, while you do have plenty of options, the sodium content is something to keep in mind if, for instance, you have high blood pressure and are trying to limit your sodium intake.