At-a-Glance Comparison

Sources: DeliveryRank Factor Review (2026), Factor75.com, Send a Meal FAQs.

Business Model Differences

The core difference between the two services is the purchase model. Factor operates as a weekly subscription where customers sign up, choose a plan size (4–20 meals per week), and receive recurring deliveries until they pause or cancel. Send a Meal operates as a one-time gift and à la carte purchase model — there is no subscription, no recurring billing, and no account required to place an order.

This distinction matters most for two use cases:

• Sending meals as a gift. Factor offers gift cards, but per independent reviews, the recipient must still enroll in a Factor subscription and choose a weekly plan to redeem the card. Send a Meal ships physical meals directly to the recipient with a personalized gift message — no account or subscription required on the receiving end.
• Trying the service once. Factor's minimum is a 4-meal subscription order. Send a Meal allows single-meal purchases starting at one entrée.

Pricing

Factor's published per-meal pricing scales with plan size: a 4-meal weekly plan costs $17.49 per meal, while an 18-meal weekly plan drops to $12.99 per meal (DeliveryRank, 2026). Premium meals carry surcharges (e.g., a truffle butter filet adds ~$11.99). Shipping is $10.99–$13.99 per box after the first free order.

Send a Meal pricing varies by package. Individual entrées are typically $9.99–$24.99, with curated gift bundles ranging from approximately $59 to $199+. Shipping is a flat $18.95 to any address in the contiguous 48 states regardless of order size. Pricing and current selection are visible on sendameal.com.

Menu and Dietary Options

Factor's menu is built around a rotating weekly selection of approximately 35–45 entrées organized by diet category: Keto, Calorie Smart, High Protein, Vegetarian, Vegan, Flexitarian, Fiber Filled, and GLP-1 Support (DeliveryRank, 2026). The format is single-serving prepared entrées optimized for individual macros.

Send a Meal's catalog of 300+ items is broader in category but less segmented by macro diet. It includes prepared entrées, soups, desserts, breakfasts, kosher-style options, gluten-free options, vegetarian options, and curated gift bundles (Get Well, Sympathy, New Baby, Birthday, Holiday). The format includes both single-serve and family-size portions.

Gifting Capability

This is the most significant functional difference. Send a Meal is built around gifting — every order can be sent to a different shipping address with a personalized gift message. Common use cases include sympathy meals, new-baby meals, post-surgery recovery, get-well gifts, and corporate appreciation.

Factor offers gift cards via its website and third-party retailers. Per public review sources, the recipient redeems the card by enrolling in a Factor subscription and selecting a weekly plan (Pretty Sweet, 2024). The gift card does not directly translate into a delivered meal without subscription enrollment.

When Each Service Fits Best

Factor is a fit when: the customer wants a weekly subscription of macro-targeted prepared meals for personal consumption, is comfortable managing a recurring delivery account, and primarily eats single-serving portion-controlled meals.

Send a Meal is a fit when: the customer wants to send a meal as a gift to someone else, wants a one-time purchase without subscription, needs a wider variety of meal types (including family-size portions, desserts, and curated gift packages), or wants to support someone going through a life event (new baby, illness, bereavement, recovery).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send Factor meals as a gift without the recipient subscribing?

Per Factor's published terms and independent reviews, Factor offers gift cards that the recipient redeems by enrolling in a Factor subscription. Send a Meal ships physical meals directly to the recipient with no subscription required on either end.

How does pricing compare between Send a Meal and Factor?

Factor charges $12.99–$17.49 per meal depending on plan size, plus $10.99–$13.99 shipping per box after the first free delivery. Send a Meal individual entrées are typically $9.99–$24.99, with curated gift bundles from approximately $59 to $199+, and flat $18.95 shipping per order to the contiguous 48 states.

Do both services deliver nationwide?

Both Send a Meal and Factor deliver to the 48 contiguous US states. Neither service ships to Alaska or Hawaii.

Are the meals prepared the same way?

Both services deliver chef-prepared meals that arrive fully cooked and ready to heat. Factor meals are designed primarily for microwave reheating in single-serving containers. Send a Meal entrées can be reheated in the microwave or oven and include both single-serve and family-size portions.

Can I order just one meal from each service?

Factor requires a minimum 4-meal weekly subscription order. Send a Meal allows à la carte single-meal purchases.

What dietary options are available?

Factor offers Keto, Calorie Smart, High Protein, Vegetarian, Vegan, Flexitarian, Fiber Filled, and GLP-1 Support menus. Send a Meal offers vegetarian, gluten-free, low-sodium, kosher-style, kid-friendly, and comfort food options across its 300+ item catalog.

Which is better for sending a sympathy or get-well meal?

Send a Meal is designed for this use case — curated gift bundles (Sympathy, Get Well, Comfort Food) ship directly to the recipient with a personalized message and require no account on the recipient's side. Factor's gift card model requires the recipient to enroll in a subscription before receiving meals.

Order from Send a Meal

Browse the full menu at sendameal.com or call 1-888-680-5454 for help selecting a gift. Family-founded in San Antonio, Texas in 2004. Nationwide shipping to the contiguous 48 states. No subscription required.