Green Chef vs. Factor 2025: Kits or Prepared Meals?

In my Green Chef vs. Factor comparison, you’ll see that both services have benefits. Both companies are under the HelloFresh umbrella, so picking between them can be tricky. Green Chef offers organic meal kits and Factor has prepared meals, but there are other key differences to explore.

Fortunately, we've tested out both companies and have compared lots of variables. I’ve looked closely at pricing, menu variety, meal prep times, customization options, how easy it is to order and have your food delivered, and customer service.

Though it’s a close race, Factor narrowly gets my vote. It offers a very large selection of prepared meals perfect for those looking to live a healthier lifestyle. However, Green Chef has organic and diet-friendly meal kits and extras, so read on to see which is a better fit for you.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety: Green Chef Has More Weekly Options

Green Chef’s weekly changing menu consists of 45+ unique meal kits. You need to cook them yourself using pre-portioned ingredients and pre-made sauces, dressings, and spice blends. Factor's menu has 30+ prepared recipes each week, so slightly fewer than Green Chef.

Green Chef’s Meal Kits Come With Easy-to-Follow Instructions

Green Chef's recipes come with clear, detailed instructions that make cooking as simple as possible. The pictures that illustrate each step pretty much make the meals foolproof. Most of Green Chef’s meals take around half an hour to make, but there are a couple of 10-minute lunch recipes on the menu each week. You’ll find options like Black Bean & Cheese Burritos With Sour Cream, Cholula Sauce, & Chimichurri Slaw.

The Green Chef menu is a mix of cuisines and influences that’ll take you around the world. You'll get to try cuisines like Mediterranean, South American, Asian, and Middle Eastern, yet also more familiar Mexican and American recipes (like Monterey Jack Burgers).

Many of the recipes are actually fusion cuisine, combining elements from different parts of the world into exciting new dishes. For instance, the Turkish-Spiced Chicken Tacos is a tasty blend of Mexican and Turkish.

Factor’s Prepared Meals Can’t Be Beat in Terms of Convenience

On the other hand, Factor’s menu is entirely made of prepared meals, so you don’t need to cook anything. In order to enjoy the meals, you simply heat them in the microwave or oven and eat them. 

Most of the meals are either keto or calorie-smart, making Factor a great choice for fitness and health enthusiasts. Many recipes are transformed into lower-carb and low-calorie versions, like using zucchini noodles instead of rice noodles, for example.

However, Factor’s menu isn’t as internationally focused or exciting as Green Chef’s. Most of the recipes are of American, Mexican, or Italian inspiration. For instance, the Tuscan Shrimp with Creamy Kale and Zucchini-Pepper-Onion Medley (pictured) is pretty Americanized.

Both Competitors Have Lots of Extras

Green Chef and Factor have an impressive number of add-ons, extras, sides, and snacks. For instance, Factor offers everything from keto desserts and energy bites to breakfast options and side dishes. You can also get smoothies, shakes, juices, and protein add-ons. 

Green Chef’s add-on offerings are similar. For example, you can get anything from banana nut muffins, egg bites, oatmeal, Breakfast to Lunch Bundles, “pita pizzas”, bacon and egg sandwiches, and more. It also offers a few keto desserts, like Factor, such as cookies. 

You can also get lots of protein add-ons with either service. Choices here include salmon, barramundi, steaks, ground meats like turkey, pork, and beef, pork tenderloin, pork chops, and even a variety of chicken breasts.

Serving size is another key difference. Green Chef’s meals can serve as many as 6 people, making it a better choice for feeding a family. Meanwhile, Factor’s meals are single-serving only, so it’s more suitable for singles and couples that want to share a plan.

Meal Options for Special Occasions

Both services have options for special occasions on the menu each week. Those are called Chef Select by Green Chef and Gourmet Plus by Factor, but they’re basically the same thing. These are “nicer” dishes with more expensive ingredients for special occasions.

Green Chef goes a step further with its premium offerings. Since all ingredients are seasonal and made to highlight what nature has to offer, you can order a special Season’s Finest dish. It reflects the local ingredients around at that time.

It’s definitely a tough call between Green Chef and Factor. Green Chef has gourmet-style meal kits that are internationally inspired, while Factor focuses on healthy, tasty prepared meals.

But even with all that said, Green Chef is the winner overall. It offers more weekly options, USDA-certified produce and eggs, and more dietary preferences like certified gluten-free, which Factor doesn’t have.

Sample Meals: Both Were Super Tasty

Factor Meals

With Factor, you just have to heat your meals and eat them. Each meal takes no longer than around 2 to 3 minutes to heat up. The company offers an abundance of health-conscious meals across several special diets.

• Roasted Garlic Chicken With Sour Cream & Onion Mashed Potatoes: This recipe featured a lean grilled chicken breast served over a pile of creamy Yukon gold mashed potatoes with a rich brown gravy. Roasted green beans on the side added some color to the dish, which was simple but well-executed. Despite a somewhat bland appearance, the meal was elevated by the bold flavors of garlic and onion that made it a savory delight for dinner.

• Vegetarian Tamale Bowl With Spiced Sweet Potatoes & Pickled Jalapeño Crema: This dish was a hodgepodge of flavors and textures. A hearty medley of beans and peppers was served over a masa corn cake, sort of like a deconstructed tamale. There was a side dish of Mexican-spiced sweet potatoes, which were delicious even though they didn’t get crispy in the microwave. Overall, this was a unique vegetarian dish even if it’s not a conventional tamale.

• Mexican Beef & Refried Beans With Jalapeño-Cilantro Crema: This was another recipe inspired by Mexican cuisine. Think of this dish like a burrito bowl: it’s all the fillings of a beef burrito, but without the tortilla. The flavors came together well, and people who aren’t restricting their carbs can use their own tortilla to turn this dish into a complete burrito.

Green Chef Meals

Green Chef provides top-notch meal kits that require a bit of work in the kitchen. You’ll also get similar diets like keto and calorie-smart, but you’ll also find more niche ones like Mediterranean and gluten-free.

• Mushroom & Swiss Burgers: These burgers were pretty unique. The beef was infused with sauce before cooking to provide a more robust patty. It was rounded out with the classic combo of mushrooms and Swiss cheese, with sweet potato fries on the side. These indulgent burgers were great for a special occasion, but they may be too rich for everyday dining.

• Roasted Garlic & Fennel Flatbreads: These vegan flatbreads offer among the more unique flavor combinations we’ve seen. The garlic was infused into coconut milk for a creamy, plant-based sauce, and the fennel brought a distinct herbal flavor and pleasant crunch. This was a hearty, flavorful meal that was totally vegan.

• Honey Mustard Chicken Salad: This salad was a delight to eat, but a pain to make. Unless you are quite comfortable in the kitchen, candied nuts can be a tall order. The honey dijon dressing was delectable and the chicken was simple to cook, but it ended up being a lot of effort for what was ultimately a fairly light salad.

Meal Customization: Green Chef Offers Some Ingredient Swaps

Neither company prioritizes customization, but Green Chef edges out another win here. Unlike Factor, Green Chef has some limited ingredient swaps. For example, you can choose the type of chicken in some recipes out of organic and non-organic options.

Other than that, you can’t ask for any modifications or exclude certain ingredients from the meals before they arrive. You can, of course, omit any ingredient you wish when it comes to preparing the meal kit at home. 

Factor’s prepared meals don’t support customization. You’ll need to look at each and every ingredient list to see if the meal suits your dietary needs and preferences. The meals don’t cater to any specific allergies either, unfortunately. 

Both Have Lots of Dietary Preferences to Choose From

Factor and Green Chef categorize their menus into different plans you can choose from. Green Chef offers Keto, Protein Packed, Plant Based, Mediterranean, Quick & Easy, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, and Gluten Free. Factor, on the other hand, offers Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Protein Plus, GLP-1 Balance, Fiber Filled, and Carb Conscious.

You can mix and match between plans as you please, so you aren’t stuck with whatever menu you pick. It mainly functions as a simple way to select your dietary preferences and guide what recipes are suggested for you each week.

For Green Chef, many common allergens are excluded from the menu by default. When I checked the menu, 26 were labeled gluten-free (out of 45). And rightly so: Green Chef is certified through the Gluten Intolerance Group’s Gluten-Free Food Service program. This is great news for celiacs. Plus, all gluten-free meals are designed to be soy-free as well.

The Factor menu features around 14 keto and 14 calorie-smart recipes (550 calories and less). Many of them are high in protein, with 30g or more per portion. This is great if you’re looking to lose weight and/or put on more muscle.

Ingredient Quality & Nutrition: Both High Quality, But Green Chef Is Organic

Both Green Chef and Factor offer pretty high-quality ingredients. For instance, Green Chef promises organic fresh produce and eggs, and it’s a USDA-certified organic company.

You get organic beef, chicken, and wild-caught seafood options with Green Chef. It also works closely with local farmers and suppliers, and its proteins are raised with high animal welfare standards.

Factor, on the other hand, isn’t USDA-certified organic and doesn’t promise to use any special foods or ingredients. However, it does use chickens that have been raised with high animal welfare standards.

Nutrition Values Are The Same From Both Competitors

In terms of nutritional data, both companies are tied as each provides 9 nutritional values. They're even formatted the same, which I guess makes sense as they're both owned by the same company. These include:

• Calories

• Total fat

• Saturated fat

• Carbs

• Sugars

• Dietary fiber

• Protein

• Cholesterol

• Sodium

However, I’d love to see complete labels like you’d find on products at the grocery store. But at least you do get some very valuable information.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing: Factor’s Process Is More Streamlined

Though a close call, the win goes to Factor here. Both Green Chef and Factor have a straightforward ordering process, and both make it easy to see the menu and select your plan before you pick your meals. 

Same Family of Companies, Different Experiences With Ease of Use

Factor’s overall ordering experience is heaps ahead of Green Chef’s. I think this is mostly attributable to the fact that Factor’s meals are prepared. Meal kit deliveries can get a bit cluttered and messy with there being lots more ingredients.

The site is also much easier to navigate than Green Chef’s. Green Chef’s menu is horizontal, which means you constantly have to scroll. Factor’s, on the other hand, is vertical, which means it’s just easier to see the meals at a glance.

You Have to “Pay to Play” With Both Services

What I really don’t like is that you can’t pick your meals until you pay with either service. For Factor, this also means that you can access the prices of the add-ons only at the end, so you can’t budget your order before registering first. Kind of annoying!

The minimum order for Green Chef is 3 meals for 2 people, so 6 portions per week, while the maximum order is 6 meals for 4 people, so a whopping 24 portions per week. This is perfect if you have a family to feed.

For Factor, you can order from 6 to 18 single-serving meals each week. This makes it a better choice for smaller orders or for individuals.

Both Services Make Delivery Simple

Changing your orders is simple for both services, as long as you do it before the weekly cutoff date. That’s 7 days prior to delivery at 11:59 pm EST from Green Chef, and 11:59 CT on Wednesday before your next order from Factor.

Both Green Chef and Factor deliver to all continental US States. You can expect to receive your box from 8 am to 8 pm (local time) on your scheduled delivery day. Your best bet is that you’ll find them on the porch or outside your door when you get home from work.

Green Chef’s boxes are delivered Monday through Saturday, and you can choose your delivery day. This depends on where you live. You can even use a commercial address, in which case the carrier will make an effort to deliver your box before 5 pm.

Since Factor uses different carriers throughout the US, you don’t have much control over exact delivery dates. You can sometimes choose from more options, but for some locations, you’re stuck with a single delivery date.

I’m also happy to report that both companies have apps for both Android and Apple devices. This helps you track your orders or make changes as necessary.

When it comes to packaging and recyclability, both companies do a pretty good job. Green Chef’s packaging is made from recycled, reusable, and/or compostable materials. The only exceptions are for food safety reasons, like the plastic film that wraps tofu to ensure its freshness. 

Factor also has plenty of resources on the website about recycling. However, not everything in the packaging can be recycled everywhere, so you need to check with your local facilities. The PET insulation and the cotton insulation, for example, need to be thrown in the trash.

Meal Prep: Factor Offers Quicker Meals

Factor wins here thanks to its convenient prepared meals. Green Chef’s meal kits take much longer to make. While you need around 25 to 35 minutes to cook Green Chef’s kits (and just 10 for some quick lunches) Factor’s meals only take a few minutes in the microwave.

What I really like about Factor’s meals is that you can reheat them directly in their plastic trays. They’re BPA-free and microwave- and oven-safe. Plus, it means that cleanup is virtually non-existent. We heated several of our Factor meals in the oven, and they turned out great. While this takes longer, I’m not convinced that heating them in a microwave would have resulted in better-tasting meals.

Our meals from Factor arrived freshly prepared and cool, but not frozen. When they arrive, you need to unpack them and store them in the fridge. Factor doesn’t recommend freezing the meals, as it affects the quality of the eating experience (translation: things would get a bit mushy).

The best-by date is printed on each meal sleeve, but in general, the meals last for 7 days in the fridge. That basically means you can eat them anytime you want before your next box arrives.

Green Chef’s meals don’t come prepared, but almost everything is already done for you. The sauces, dressings, and spice blends are made in-house to make things easier, and many of the pre-portioned ingredients don’t need more than a quick peeling or chopping.

You get detailed instructions and cooking tips, plus pictures of every step of the cooking process, in the recipe card of every meal. All kitchen utensils you’ll need (and essentials like salt and pepper) are also listed there.

Green Chef ingredients don’t have a very long shelf life, since the service is certified organic and doesn’t use artificial preservatives. After you receive your box, you should put everything in the fridge and prepare the meals within 5 days – 3 if your recipes include seafood.

Your Green Chef box will also arrive cool, not frozen. The produce is always in-season and will stay fresh until it gets to your home, thanks to the insulated packaging.

Customer Support: Factor Has 24/7 Live Chat

Both Green Chef and Factor can be reached by phone, email, or live chat. There is also an extensive FAQ section on each competitor’s website. However, Factor wins here because it offers 24/7 live chat support. For phone calls, Factor’s agents are there for you from 6 am to 11 pm ET during the week and 7 am to 7 pm on weekends.

Green Chef’s live chat is available every day from 9 am to 7 am EST. (A quick tip: make sure to deactivate any ad blocker, so the live chat icon appears on the screen.) For phone calls, the schedule is 6 am to 11 pm EST on weekdays and 7 am to 7 pm EST on weekends.

It’s easy enough to cancel your Green Chef plan. Just go to Settings, scroll down to the Account section, and click on Deactivate Your Plan. After you enter your reason for cancelation, simply click on Deactivate Now and you’re all set. No need to contact customer service!

I tested both competitors’ live chat feature. The experience was identical, with each agent providing very fast and courteous service. The English wasn't perfect, but I got the answers I needed. Since both companies are part of the HelloFresh brand, I’m not surprised at the similarity as they probably use the same technology.

Factor is also easy to cancel from your computer or mobile device. Simply log into your account, click Settings, then Plan Settings. Scroll down and click on Deactivate My Plan in the Status section, select one of the options or click Cancel Anyway, and choose your reason for cancellation. After you click on Deactivate Now, you’re all done!

Pricing: Factor Is More Affordable

Factor’s pricing depends on the number of meals you order each week, with larger orders lowering the per-meal price. The best-value option offers 18 single-serving meals for $103.41 on your first purchase if you use our link.

Green Chef’s lowest price per serving (without discounts) is $11.99. You need to order at least 16 servings per week to get this price (4 meals for 4 people or a 6-person plan).

The shipping fee for both Green Chef and Factor is $10.99 per weekly order, so there isn’t any comparison here. The 2 services also have comparable prices for their extras and add-ons. It’s a close match, but Factor will be the cheaper option for most households.

Green Chef vs. Factor – Quick Overview

Green Chef vs. Factor – Pros & Cons

Green Chef

Pros:

• Organic ingredients with USDA certification

• Diverse meal plans (keto, gluten-free, Mediterranean)

• Recipes offer international and fusion cuisines

Cons:

• Longer prep times

• Limited customization for ingredients

• Higher cost per serving for smaller plans

Factor

Pros:

• Prepared meals are ready in just minutes

• Wide selection of keto and calorie-smart options

• User-friendly website and ordering experience

Cons:

• Single-serving meals only, less ideal for families

• Fewer menu options (30+ weekly) compared to Green Chef

• Not USDA-certified organic

And the Winner Is: Factor

Taking everything into consideration, Factor emerges as my top pick. Deciding wasn't easy, as both services are great and have something to offer, but Factor was slightly better across the board.

Factor has an extensive range of ready-made meals tailored to support a range of diets. As the meals are prepared, they're also incredibly quick and easy to get on the table. When we tried them, we found them really tasty, especially when heated in the oven. The whole ordering and delivery process was also super easy. 

Green Chef has its unique strengths, though, especially for families. If you're keen to elevate your culinary skills, it offers a variety of gourmet meal kits that impressed us. Most of these can be prepared in a short time span, so, while not as quick as ready meals, they can still help speed up dinner time. It also introduces options for certified gluten-free and Mediterranean diets, which aren't available at Factor.

Both of these services have their merits and we rated them highly when we tried them ourselves. Depending on your preferences and needs, either could be a suitable choice for you. For more of our top-ranked services, check out our list of the Best Meal Delivery Services for 2025.

FAQ

Is Green Chef a good brand?

Green Chef is one of the better meal delivery services out there. For example, during our testing we found that all Green Chef’s veggies and eggs are organic and that everything else is sustainably raised, caught, or sourced.

Is Green Chef the same as Factor?

No – while they have the same parent company, they operate as separate companies with vastly different offerings. For instance, Green Chef offers organic meal kits whereas Factor offers healthy prepared meals. Take a look at my Meal Variety section above to get a better understanding of each company’s offerings.

What is the average cost of Green Chef meals?

Green Chef’s meals (per serving) vary in price. For example, when you opt for Green Chef’s largest order, which is 4 weekly meals for 6 people, you’ll pay $6.00 per serving. If you order fewer servings per week, you’ll pay slightly more – so I always recommend getting as many meals as you can to save money (especially if you use a coupon).