ICON Meals vs. Factor (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2025?

As someone who juggles a packed schedule of work, training, and life, I’ve tested both Factor and ICON Meals to see which one delivers on convenience, nutrition, and taste. Both services promise to simplify healthy eating, but they take different approaches to getting quality meals on your table.

In this comparison, I’ll break down how these two meal delivery giants stack up across customization, variety, taste, pricing, and more. Whether you’re an athlete chasing specific macros or just someone who hates cooking, let’s dive into which service deserves a spot in your fridge.

Quick Verdict

Feature	Winner
Customization	ICON Meals
Meal Kits and Variety	Factor
Taste and Quality	Factor
Packaging	Draw
User Reviews	Draw
Cancelation Process	ICON Meals
Price	Factor

What Is Factor?

Factor is a subscription-based meal delivery service that provides fresh, fully prepared meals designed for convenience and nutrition. Launched in 2013 and now part of the HelloFresh family, it targets individuals seeking healthy eating options without any cooking required.

Unlike meal kits that require preparation, Factor meals arrive ready to heat and eat, taking just 2-3 minutes in a microwave. The service delivers to the contiguous United States and select Canadian provinces, offering a rotating menu of approximately 45 chef-designed meals each week.

Options are organized into categories like Protein Plus, Calorie Smart, Keto, and Chef’s Choice. Customers can select 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 single-serving meals per week, with flexibility to mix categories.

Meals are made with hormone-free meats, non-GMO ingredients, and no refined sugars, arriving fresh in insulated, recyclable packaging. Factor also includes free 20-minute dietitian consultations and integrates with nutrition apps like MyFitnessPal.

My Factor review goes into detail about my experience.

Pros

• High variety – 45 weekly chef-crafted meal options to choose from
• Quick convenience – Ready in just 2-3 minutes in microwave, no cooking required
• Restaurant-quality taste – Consistently flavorful meals with good sauces that don’t taste microwaved
• Free shipping – Nationwide delivery is included in the price
• Quality ingredients – Hormone-free meats, non-GMO ingredients, no refined sugars
• Better for vegetarians – More plant-based variety compared to ICON

Cons

• No customization – Cannot modify recipes, swap ingredients, or adjust portions
• Limited macro control – Stuck with whatever nutritional profile the chef designed
• Packaging waste – Creates more individual plastic trays, especially with larger orders
• High sodium content – Many dishes contain 800-1,000mg of sodium

What Is ICON Meals?

ICON Meals is a meal delivery service that provides fully prepared, ready-to-eat meals designed to simplify healthy eating, with a strong focus on athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Based in Texas, the company specializes in customizable, high-protein options tailored to support fitness goals, though it also serves anyone seeking convenient, balanced meals.

Meals are crafted daily in a USDA-certified kitchen, ensuring freshness and quality, and are delivered nationwide in vacuum-sealed, microwave-safe trays.

The service offers several meal types, including Signature Meals with a weekly rotating menu, Custom Meals for personalized portion control, Meal Boxes for bulk orders, and Bulk Items like proteins and sides by the pound.

Menu options cater to dietary preferences such as high-protein, keto, gluten-free, and low-calorie, with a heavy emphasis on meat-based dishes.

The standout feature is their “Build Your Own Meal” tool, which lets you pick your protein, carb, and veggie portions while adjusting sizes for each component.

Prices range from $8 to $22 per meal, with subscriptions offering a 5% discount and free shipping on orders over $115.

ICON Meals operates on a flexible model, allowing one-time purchases or recurring deliveries without long-term commitments. My ICON Meals review goes into detail about my experience.

Pros

• Superior customization – “Build Your Own Meal” feature lets you control protein, carb, and veggie portions
• Perfect for macro tracking – Ideal for athletes and fitness enthusiasts with specific nutritional goals
• Flexible ordering – No long-term commitments, can order one-time or subscribe
• Athlete-focused – High-protein options designed specifically for fitness goals
• Instant cancellation – Changes take effect immediately with email confirmation
• Competitive pricing – Basic meals start around $8-11 before customization

Cons

• Bland flavors – Many dishes are mild and often need extra seasoning
• Limited variety – Around 30 weekly rotating meals, less than Factor’s 45
• Poor vegetarian options – Very limited plant-based choices, heavily meat-focused
• Price creep – Costs increase quickly with premium proteins and larger portions

Factor vs ICON Meals Main Differences

Customization

When it comes to customization, ICON Meals takes the clear win here. Their “Build Your Own Meal” feature lets you pick your protein, carb, and veggie portions, with options to adjust sizes for each component.

For example, you can choose 6 oz of grilled chicken breast, 4 oz of sweet potato mash, and 2 oz of broccoli to hit specific macro targets.

This level of control is perfect for athletes who need precise nutrition or anyone following strict dietary plans.

Factor, on the other hand, doesn’t let you fiddle with individual recipes. You can’t swap ingredients or tweak portions. Instead, you pick from about 45 weekly options sorted into categories like Protein Plus, Calorie Smart, Keto, and Chef’s Choice.

While this gives you variety across different dietary approaches, you’re stuck with whatever the chefs decided to put in each dish.

ICON also provides dietary filters like high-protein, low-calorie, keto, and gluten-free, though they’re limited compared to some competitors. Factor’s category system is more streamlined but less flexible for specific macro needs.

For athletes or anyone tracking macros closely, ICON’s customization wins hands down. If you just want good meals without the fuss of tweaking every detail, Factor’s curated approach works fine, but you’ll miss that granular control that serious fitness folks often need.

Meal Variety, Kits and Recipes

Both services focus on fully prepared, heat-and-eat meals rather than meal kits, but they handle variety differently.

Factor offers around 45 weekly options across multiple categories, giving you plenty to choose from. Their menu includes everything from Grilled Chicken with Garlic Herb Cream to premium Gourmet Plus steaks, with solid representation across Protein Plus, Keto, and other diet-focused categories.

ICON Meals splits their menu into Signature Meals (around 30 weekly rotating dishes), Custom Meals, Meal Boxes, and Bulk Items.

Their Signature Meals include options like BBQ Brisket Sliders and Chicken Tamale Platters, but if you go with their specialized plans like Extreme Protein, you’ll get less variety since you receive multiple portions of only 3 different dishes.

Factor shines in weekly variety, with more fresh options hitting the menu regularly. They also offer over 60 add-ons, including breakfast items, smoothies, and snacks, which ICON matches with their own breakfast options and snacks, such as Protein Popcorn.

The big difference is the target audience. Factor caters to a broader crowd with balanced options for different lifestyles, while ICON leans heavily toward meat-eaters and athletes.

Vegetarians will find slim pickings at ICON, with only a Beyond Meat patty, while Factor offers more plant-based variety. For fitness folks who want protein-heavy meals, ICON’s focus works well, but Factor gives everyone more to choose from week to week.

Taste & Quality

Both services surprised me with their taste quality, though they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Factor’s meals, like the Grilled Chicken with Garlic Herb Cream and Smoky Bacon Pork Tenderloin, delivered solid flavor with sauces that didn’t taste microwaved. The proteins stayed tender and the overall taste felt restaurant-quality for pre-made meals.

ICON Meals delivered decent flavors too, with their BBQ Brisket Sliders hitting the spot with smoky sauce, and the Chicken Tamale Platter offering moist chicken that reheated well.

However, many of their dishes lean toward the mild side, often needing extra seasoning to really pop. Some users find ICON’s flavors too bland without adding their own spices.

Quality-wise, both services use solid ingredients. Factor sources hormone-free meats, skips GMOs and refined sugars, and maintains good standards, though they’re not certified organic.

ICON prepares meals daily in a USDA-certified kitchen with fresh ingredients, which instills confidence in their safety and freshness.

The biggest quality issue I noticed was with vegetables. ICON’s reheated veggies, especially broccoli, can arrive limp and unappetizing. Factor had similar issues, with some sides getting mushy, but it seemed less consistent.

Both services run high on sodium in many dishes, with some ICON and Factor meals hitting 800-1,000mg, which didn’t bother me during training but might concern others watching salt intake.

Overall, Factor edges out ICON slightly on consistent flavor, while ICON wins on customizable portion quality.

Packaging

Both services nail the packaging game but with different approaches. Factor meals arrive in BPA-free plastic trays with film lids packed in insulated boxes with ice packs.

Everything stays cold during shipping, and each tray is clearly labeled with nutrition info and heating instructions, which I loved for tracking macros. The trays, liners, and ice packs are recyclable, though you’ll need to check local rules.

ICON Meals goes with vacuum-sealed, recyclable trays that arrive with dry ice in insulated boxes. The vacuum-seal approach keeps meals fresher longer, and the trays are stackable, making fridge organization easier.

The film is designed to puff up during heating to steam the food, which helps keep proteins juicy.

The main difference is waste volume. Factor’s setup creates more individual packaging with 18 separate trays if you order their largest plan, which can feel like a lot of plastic, even if it’s recyclable. ICON’s vacuum-sealed trays are more compact and efficient for storage.

Both services earned points for eco-friendly thinking, though neither is perfect. ICON’s stackable design wins for meal preppers who need efficient fridge space, while Factor’s clear labeling system works better for anyone tracking detailed nutrition info.

My only gripe with ICON was the film being tough to peal off sometimes, but that’s minor compared to the overall functionality both services deliver.

Price

Here’s where your wallet starts talking. Both services sit in similar price ranges but structure their pricing differently.

Meal Delivery Service	Plan Size	Price per Meal	Total Weekly Cost
Factor	6 meals	$12.99	$77.94
Factor	12 meals	$11.49	$137.88
Factor	18 meals	$10.99	$197.82
ICON Meals	Signature Meals	$11-15	Varies
ICON Meals	Custom Meals	$10-20	Varies
ICON Meals	12-meal boxes	$10.67-16.58	$128-199

Factor includes free shipping nationwide, while ICON offers free shipping on orders over $115 with promo codes.

Factor’s pricing gets better as you order more meals, dropping from $12.99 per meal for 6 meals down to $10.99 for 18 meals.

ICON’s pricing varies more since you can customize portions and proteins. Basic Signature Meals run $8-22, but most hover around $11-15.

Premium proteins like salmon or bison cost extra, and larger portions bump up the price quickly. Their subscription discount is only 5%, compared to Factor’s built-in volume discounts.

For budget-conscious folks, Factor’s structured pricing makes costs predictable, especially with their frequent first-box discounts that can knock off $75.

ICON’s flexibility means you can find cheaper options, but costs can creep up if you go heavy on proteins or large portions. Both services are premium-priced compared to cooking at home, but reasonable for the convenience and quality you get.

Cancellation Process

Both services keep cancellation drama-free, which is refreshing in the subscription world. Factor lets you log into your account, hit settings, and click “deactivate” without calling anyone or dealing with pushy retention tactics.

Just make sure you cancel before Wednesday, or you’re stuck with the next box. You can also pause deliveries easily if you just need a break.

ICON Meals takes a similar no-hassle approach. Since they don’t lock you into long-term commitments anyway, you can cancel subscriptions with a few clicks on their website. Changes take effect instantly, and you’ll get a confirmation email within minutes.

For one-time orders, there’s nothing to cancel since you’re not automatically enrolled in anything.

Both services let you modify upcoming deliveries about a week before your scheduled drop-off, giving you decent flexibility to adjust meal counts or skip weeks. ICON’s flexibility extends to their subscription-free model, where you can just order when you want without any recurring commitment.

Neither service hits you with fees or makes you jump through hoops to cancel, which puts them both ahead of many subscription services that make leaving a pain.

User Reviews

Both services score well with users, though with different strengths. Factor averages 4 stars from over 72,000 reviews, with about 70% giving it 4 or 5 stars. Users consistently praise the convenience and taste, especially busy professionals and gym-goers who love the Protein Plus meals.

Most say dishes taste way better than frozen store options, though some complain about soggy vegetables or small portions.

Delivery gets high marks from 80-90% of Factor users, arriving cold and on time, but 10-15% report late boxes or delivery issues.

The $10.99-12.99 price point splits users, with half seeing it as worth it compared to takeout, while others find it too pricey for regular use.

ICON Meals holds a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot from nearly 1,000 reviews. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts consistently highlight how meals help them hit macros without cooking, with dishes like Beef Medallions getting specific praise. Users love the customization options and vacuum-sealed freshness.

However, ICON users echo my experience with bland flavors, wishing for bolder seasoning. Some complain about shipping costs without promo codes and inconsistent portion sizes. Vegetarians feel left out by the limited plant-based options.

Both services handle customer service decently, with Factor getting mixed reviews for email response times, while ICON seems quicker to resolve delivery issues.

Active singles and fitness-focused users seem happiest with both services, while families and budget watchers often pass due to single-serving sizes and premium pricing.

My Experience With Factor And ICON Meals

Testing both services over several weeks gave me a clear picture of how they fit into an active lifestyle. As someone who lifts weights and grapples regularly while managing a busy schedule, I approached both with the same needs: high-protein meals that taste good and save time.

Factor impressed me right out of the gate with its variety. Having 45 weekly options meant I rarely got bored, and the Protein Plus category consistently delivered 30-40 grams of protein per meal.

The Smoky Bacon Pork Tenderloin became a post-workout favorite, staying tender and flavorful even after reheating.

The convenience factor is unbeatable when you’re dragging after a long training session, you just pop it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and you’re eating something that tastes restaurant-quality.

ICON Meals won me over with customization. Being able to build meals with exactly 6 oz of chicken breast, 4 oz of sweet potato mash, and specific veggie portions let me hit my macro targets precisely. This level of control is game-changing for anyone tracking nutrition seriously.

The BBQ Brisket Sliders delivered solid flavor, though I found myself reaching for hot sauce more often than with Factor’s meals.

Price-wise, both services hit my wallet similarly, though in different ways. Factor’s structured pricing at $11.49 per meal for my usual 12-meal plan felt predictable, while ICON’s costs fluctuated based on my protein choices and portion sizes.

When I loaded up on premium proteins like salmon, ICON got expensive fast, but their basic options stayed reasonable.

The biggest difference showed up in my weekly routine. Factor’s set menu meant I was constantly discovering new dishes, which kept things interesting but sometimes left me disappointed if a meal didn’t hit right.

ICON’s build-your-own approach meant I knew exactly what I was getting, which was perfect for pre-workout meals when I needed specific macros, but it got repetitive when I built similar meals.

Both services delivered on freshness and quality, arriving cold and well-packaged. Factor’s BPA-free trays with clear nutrition labels made macro tracking easy, while ICON’s vacuum-sealed packaging kept meals fresher longer and stacked better in my fridge.

Should You Pick Factor Or ICON Meals?

After testing both services extensively, the choice comes down to your priorities and lifestyle. Factor excels for busy individuals who want variety and convenience without needing to think too hard about meal planning.

If you’re a professional, parent, or anyone who just wants good food fast, Factor’s 45 weekly options and heat-and-eat simplicity make it the easier choice.

ICON Meals is the clear winner for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who need precise macro control. The ability to customize protein, carb, and veggie portions makes it invaluable for anyone tracking nutrition seriously or following specific diet plans.

If you’re bulking, cutting, or just want to hit exact protein targets, ICON’s flexibility can’t be beaten. However, both services have limitations that kept me from fully committing to either long-term.

Factor’s lack of customization means you’re stuck with whatever the chefs decide, which can be frustrating if you have specific dietary needs or preferences. ICON’s limited variety gets repetitive quickly, and their milder flavors often need extra seasoning.

That’s why I ultimately recommend Trifecta Nutrition over both. At $16 per meal, it’s pricier than Factor ($10.99-12.99) or ICON ($11-15), but the quality and nutrition precision justify the cost.

Trifecta delivers 35-55 grams of protein per meal, using organic, grass-fed ingredients, and requires zero preparation. Their Performance line averages 700 calories and 52 grams of protein, perfect for serious training goals.

The macro-tracking app integration and organic ingredients make it the premium choice for anyone prioritizing peak performance nutrition.

If budget is a major concern, Factor offers better value for casual users, while ICON works well for fitness folks who want some customization without Trifecta’s premium price. However, for the serious athlete or health-conscious individual who seeks the best nutrition and convenience, Trifecta takes the crown.