Factor is a better choice for those seeking convenient, fully-prepared meals with a wide variety of dietary options, while Sunbasket is better for those who enjoy cooking and want organic, sustainably sourced ingredients with more customization options.
| Attribute | Factor | Sunbasket |
|---|---|---|
| Meal Variety | Offers a rotating weekly menu with over 35-50 options. Caters to various dietary preferences, including Keto, Calorie Smart, Chef's Choice, Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian, Fiber Filled, GLP-1 Balance, and Carb Conscious. Offers add-ons like breakfast meals, smoothies, snacks, and desserts. | Offers a wide variety of meal options, including meal kits and prepared meals. Caters to various diets, including Paleo, Carb-Conscious, Gluten-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Keto-Friendly, and Diabetes-Friendly. Offers options like Chef's Choice. |
| Ingredient Quality and Freshness | Uses high-quality ingredients, including sustainably raised proteins and organic produce where possible. Meals are fresh, never frozen, and prepared close to delivery times. Proteins are raised without hormones and antibiotics. Avoids refined sugars, artificial additives, and highly processed ingredients. | Emphasizes high-quality ingredients. Prioritizes organic produce, non-GMO ingredients, and sustainably sourced seafood. Meats are antibiotic and hormone-free. |
| Taste and Flavor Profile | Flavorful meals with well-seasoned vegetables. Offers a variety of cuisines, including American, Italian, and Mexican. | Recipes are designed to be both delicious and nutritious, using seasonal ingredients and house-made spice blends and sauces. Many reviewers praise the bold and fresh flavors. |
| Portion Sizes | Designed to be single-serving meals. Typical lunch or dinner contains around 400-600 calories, while breakfast meals may contain around 300-400 calories. Macronutrients are carefully measured and balanced. | Some reviewers feel portion sizes are adequate, while others find them small. Some found the portion sizes to be larger than other meal kits. |
| Ease of Preparation and Cooking Time | Meals are fully prepared and ready to heat in the microwave or oven. Heating typically takes only a few minutes. | Offers both meal kits (20-40 minutes prep time) and 'Fresh & Ready' meals (ready in minutes). Also offers pre-prepped meal kits to reduce cooking time. |
| Packaging and Environmental Impact | Meals are delivered in an insulated box with gel packs to maintain freshness. Most packaging is recyclable or reusable. Gel packs are non-toxic and reusable, containing salt water and sodium polyacrylate. | Prioritizes sustainability by using mostly recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging. Uses recycled denim insulation and compostable fiber-based food trays. |
| Customization Options | Customers can select meals each week before the cutoff date. Option to add extra food items like breakfast dishes, shakes, juices, and smoothies. | Allows you to customize meals by swapping out ingredients. You can also mix and match meals across different dietary plans. |
| Dietary Restrictions Accommodations | Offers options for various diets, including keto, low-carb, high-protein, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Customers can filter meal choices by allergens. Not suitable for individuals with severe food allergies due to potential cross-contamination. Limited options for vegan diets. | Offers various dietary plans and filters to accommodate dietary restrictions. Meals are prepared in a facility that processes major food allergens, so cross-contamination is possible. |
| Subscription Flexibility and Cancellation Policy | Offers a flexible subscription with no long-term commitment. Customers can skip weeks, pause, or cancel anytime. Cancellation must be done before the weekly cutoff date. | Offers subscription flexibility, allowing you to skip weeks or cancel anytime through your online account. |
| Customer Service and Support | Offers customer service via phone and chat. Some reviewers have reported issues with missing meals or incorrect orders and difficulty with customer service. Includes a 20-minute consultation with a dietitian. | Most say customer support is responsive and helpful in resolving delivery issues. |
| Price per Serving | Prices range from $10.99 to $15 per serving, depending on the number of meals ordered per week. Shipping costs around $9.99 per delivery. | Ranges from around $11.49 to $17.99 for meal kits, depending on the number of meals ordered per week. Fresh & Ready meals start at $9.99-$15. Shipping is an additional cost, though often waived on the first order. |
| Shipping and Delivery Options | Delivers to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Delivery days are Saturday through Wednesday, depending on the zip code. Meals stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. | Delivers to most of the contiguous United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota. You can select your preferred delivery day. |