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 starts at $18.95 to any address in the contiguous 48 states and scales with order size, covering your entire order at each tier. 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 shipping from $18.95 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.