Factor 75 vs Thistle (+9 Interesting features)
In this blogpost, we will be showcasing two very popular meal delivery services, Factor 75 and Thistle. Both Factor 75 and Thistle are known for their fully-cooked meals which are healthy and wholesome at the same time. These meal delivery services are limited in operations to the United States as of now.
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these two may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
Factor 75 vs Thistle
In the following table, you will be able to find the different features and advantages offered by Factor 75 and Thistle. We have also mentioned the price ranges in both these meal delivery platforms, along with the types of recipes which you can expect from these. You can choose between Factor 75 and Thistle by using the table below.
| Feature | Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii | California,NV,AZ,WA,OR,ID |
| Price per plate | $11..99 per plate | $11.50 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy | Easy |
| Avg. cooking time | No cooking required | No cooking required |
| Avg. calorie count | 600 calories per serving | 400-600 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Meal description,Nutritional facts | Meal description,Nutritional facts |
| Recipes supported | Keto,Paleo,Low calorie,Low carb,Dairy-free,Vegetarian,Plant-based | Vegetarian,Vegan,Meat,Gluten-free,Dairy-free,Wellness shots |
| No. of choices | 20+ per week | 30 per week |
| Introductory deal | $40 off on first box | 2 free meals with first order |
| Avg. shelf life | 1 week in the fridge | 3 days after delivery in refrigerator |
Types of Plans: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Factor 75 | Thistle |
| 6 meals per week $7.38 per portion + $40 off on first order,4 or 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 18 meals per week,Chefs Choice/Keto/Calorie Smart/Vegan & Veggie | Breakfast $11.25 per meal |
| 8 meals per week $7.38 per portion + $40 off on first order,4 or 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 18 meals per week,Chefs Choice/Keto/Calorie Smart/Vegan & Veggie | Lunch $12.50 per meal |
| 12 meals per week $7.38 per portion + $40 off on first order,4 or 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 18 meals per week,Chefs Choice/Keto/Calorie Smart/Vegan & Veggie | Dinner $12.50 per meal |
| 18 meals per week $7.38 per portion + $40 off on first order,4 or 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 18 meals per week,Chefs Choice/Keto/Calorie Smart/Vegan & Veggie | Meat only $2.25 extra per meal |
Factor 75 offers various meal plans for the user to choose from based on how many meals they require in the week. The meals in Factor 75 come in various categories like keto meals, low-calorie meals and even vegan meals for those who are following a plant-based diet. Factor 75 also offers the Chefs Choice plan for those who want a more balanced diet.
In Thistle, the plans are pretty straightforward. The user can choose from plans offering breakfast items, lunch items or even dinner items based on their needs. The lunch and dinner items in Thistle cost a bit more since they contain more food. Thistle also offers only meat-containing meals for those who really like something to chew.
Winner: Factor 75 wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Ingredient type | Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Produce | Farm-fresh produce from trusted partners,GMO-free | Mostly organic produce |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Hormone-free,Antibiotic free | Antibiotic-free,Hormone-free |
| Other ingredients | Refined sugar-free | Gluten-free |
Factor 75 meals come with the best of ingredients which are all GMO-free. Therefore the meals in Factor 75 can be great for those who want to eat only as naturally as possible. The meat and the poultry used to create Factor 75 meals are completely hormone-free and antibiotic-free. The meals are also free of any refined-sugar.
Thistle states that not all of the produce and the fruits used to create its meals are completely organic. However, this meal delivery brand definitely tries its best to include as much organic produce as possible. The meals in Thistle are also gluten-free, but might not be suitable for those who are allergic to gluten since the processing of all the food takes place in a shared plant.
Winner: Factor 75 wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Snacks,Sides,Drinks | Snacks,Desserts,Soups,Salads |
In Factor 75, the add-on menu is pretty limited in options, especially when compared to many other meal delivery services. In Factor 75, the user can choose from various healthy snacks like nuts and granola in the add-on menu. There are also a number of shakes in Factor 75 which users claim to be quite filling in nature.
Thistle’s add-on menu offers a number of options like snacks and sides like soups and salads to fill up the spaces on the dinner table. For those who have a sweet tooth, Thistle’s add-on menu offers a range of desserts which can also be added to the cart. Furthermore, the user can choose to even add more meals to their weekly cart if they wish to do so.
Winner: Thistle wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal box: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Meal box,Ice packs,Box liner,Bottles,Containers,BPA-free CPET recyclable plastic | Cardboard boxes,BPA-free plastics,Ramekins |
| Partially recyclable | Fully recyclable |
Factor 75’s meal packaging is pretty similar to that of other meal delivery services. The meal boxes in Factor 75 are mostly made of recycled cardboard and these can be simply flattened and placed in the recycling bin. The plastic used to contain the individual elements of the meal is BPA-free and this can be easily rinsed and then reused.
Thistle’s meals also come in cardboard boxes which can also be recycled pretty easily. The plastic used to pack the meals is completely BPA-free and thus can be safely placed in the recycling bin after cleaning. Thistle also offers compostable packaging for its sachets, which is definitely one-of-a-kind.
Winner: Thistle wins the Packaging of Meal box segment.
Customer Support: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Feature | Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | – |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
In case Factor 75 customers are facing issues with their meals or their orders, they can simply reach out to the customer support of this meal delivery service through a number of ways. The easiest way to get in touch with the customer support of Factor 75 is through the live chat. Email support and phone support is also available in Factor 75.
Thistle’s customer support is a little limited when compared to other brands. The only sure way to get in touch with the customer support of Thistle is through the email support. Unlike other brands, Thistle’s customer support cannot be reached through chat or even through phone. The customer support is available on all days of the week.
Winner: Factor 75 wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Sample | Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Sample 1 | Name: Chicken Piccata with Cauliflower Mash & Roasted BroccoliHeating time: 2 mins in the microwaveSpice level: Medium | Name: Red Thai CurryFeatured Ingredients: Lemongrass, ginger, garlic, limeCalorie count: 554Heating required: Optional |
| Sample 2 | Name: Keto Chorizo Chili with Shredded Cheese & Scallion Sour CreamHeating time: 2 mins in the microwaveSpice level: Medium | Name: Green Olive PastaFeatured Ingredients: Chickpea pasta, capers, castelvetrano olivesHeating required: Not required |
| Sample 3 | Name: Keto Mushroom Burger with Steamed Spinach, Tomatoes & Parmesan Cauliflower MashPreparation time: 2 mins in the microwaveSpice level: Mild | Name: Miso Squash BowlFeatured Ingredients: Chickpea miso glazed squash, mushrooms, garlic rice, lemon miso vinaigretteHeating required: Optional |
In Factor 75’s menu, the user is bound to find meals that can easily suit their special dietary requirements and nutritional needs. Most of the meals in Factor 75 are low in carbs but pretty high in lean protein, and therefore this meal delivery service is great for anyone who is trying to eat more lean and clean.
Thistle also has a pretty fantastically curated menu. In Thistle, the user can find numerous pre-made foods like pastas and curries. Some of these can be heated as an option, but many of the foods do not need any heating and can be consumed as they are. The meals also contain a variety of ingredients to ensure the right combination and balance of nutrients.
Winner: Factor 75 wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Factor 75 vs Thistle
| Platform | Factor 75 | Thistle |
| Google Play Store | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| Apple App Store | 4.8 | 2.7 |
| TWP Rating | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
Final Verdict: The winner of this battle is Factor 75 with its great access and high levels of customer satisfaction.
Factor 75 is just one of the many meal delivery services which operate in the United States today. However, it clearly stands out as one of the best in the market due to its carefully designed meals which are not only very nutritious, but delicious as well. The menu in Factor 75 has also been crafted to easily accommodate a number of diets and palate preferences.
Thistle is another great meal delivery service which aims to offer healthy and nutritious meals at very affordable prices to customers. While Thistle certainly achieves this in its meals, the other aspects of this meal delivery service like the app and the customer support are comparatively sub-par.
Between Factor 75 and Thistle, we can see that the former option wins. Thistle does have many unique plus points like its compostable packaging and gluten-free menu, but Factor 75 takes the cake in a variety of dishes and also the great taste and flavor which users are mainly looking for in healthy meals.
Methodology
To bring you the best reviews of each and every meal delivery service, we spoke to testers and real life users, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, carried out primary research on social media platforms and checked out the user reviews of these platforms on various social media sites. We have also used the reviews presented by current users of these services on their respective Google and Apple apps.
We are currently conducting our own internal review and we will update this page with videos and pictures of our experiences. If they differ extensively from what our external reviewers said then we will update this post so you get both points of views and can decide which service provider is more suited to your needs based on the information above.
The main types of criteria which we have used in order to assess and evaluate these meal delivery services is the simplicity of the recipes, the variety of meals in the service, the inclusiveness of diets and cuisines and even the supporting material.
In addition to these, we have also highly taken into regard the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging of these services. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer services of these platforms.
Frequently asked questions: “Factor 75 vs Thistle”
What is the difference between Factor and Factor 75?
There is no difference between Factor and Factor 75. This is practically the same brand. While some users call it Factor, others call it Factor 75. Factor 75 is a meal delivery service which delivers healthy pre-cooked meals to users.
Can you lose weight on Factor 75?
Yes, you can lose weight on Factor 75, since the meals contain high amounts of lean protein and very few carbs. Therefore, these meals are superb for those who are trying to lose weight.
Can you microwave Thistle?
Yes, you can microwave Thistle. As an alternative, the meals in Thistle can also be heated up in a saucepan on the stove top.
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