Fully prepared dietitian-designed meals vs Martha Stewart–developed meal kits. Two very different approaches — here's how they compare on price, convenience, and quality.
Two services, two totally different use cases. Factor is for people who want zero cooking. Marley Spoon is for people who enjoy cooking with premium ingredients and Martha Stewart–quality recipes.
Fully prepared, microwaveable in 2 minutes. Dietitian-designed macros. Calorie Smart, Keto, Protein Plus plans. No chopping, no pans.
See Factor →Martha Stewart recipes, 100+ weekly options, generous portions. Best for people who love cooking but want the shopping done for them.
See Marley Spoon →300+ chef-prepared meals. More variety than Factor, zero cooking like Factor. 50% off first week for new subscribers.
Get 50% Off →| Category | Factor | Marley Spoon | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fully prepared meals | Meal kit (you cook) | Depends on preference |
| Prep Time | 2 min microwave ✓ | 25–45 min cooking | Factor Wins |
| Price/Meal | $11–$15 + $10.99 ship | $7.50–$12 + $9.99 ship ✓ | Marley Spoon Wins |
| Menu Size | 30–35 meals/week | 100+ recipes/week ✓ | Marley Spoon Wins |
| Diet Plans | Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Vegan ✓ | Veggie, Family, Quick options | Factor Wins |
| Macro Tracking | Dietitian-designed, precise macros ✓ | Nutrition info provided | Factor Wins |
| Recipe Quality | Solid, consistent | Martha Stewart–developed ✓ | Marley Spoon Wins |
| Portion Size | Single-serving prepared | Generous, family-style available ✓ | Marley Spoon Wins |
| First-Order Discount | Up to 50% off ✓ | Typically 30–40% off first box | Factor Wins |
| Flexibility | Skip/cancel anytime ✓ | Skip/cancel anytime ✓ | Tie |
| Best For | Busy adults, health goals, no cooking | Cooking enthusiasts, families, variety | — |
Factor (formerly Factor 75) delivers fully cooked, single-serving meals that heat in approximately 2 minutes in the microwave. There is zero prep work — no chopping, no pans, no cleanup beyond the container. Every meal is designed by dietitians and clearly labeled with macros.
Factor's meal plans are organized around health goals:
The tradeoff: Factor is more expensive than Marley Spoon (especially with the $10.99/week shipping fee regardless of plan size) and has less menu variety (30–35 options vs Marley Spoon's 100+).
Marley Spoon is a meal kit service — you receive pre-portioned, pre-prepped ingredients and recipe cards to cook yourself. What makes Marley Spoon stand out is the Martha Stewart partnership: all recipes are developed in collaboration with Martha Stewart's editorial team, bringing a genuinely culinary-focused approach to the meal kit format.
The menu rotates weekly with 100+ recipes across categories including family-friendly, quick (20-minute), plant-based, and premium options. Portions tend to be generous — particularly on the 4-person plans — and the recipes are more elaborate than competitors like HelloFresh or EveryPlate.
Marley Spoon is cheaper per serving — but only because you're providing the labor. Factor's higher price includes full preparation.
| Plan | Factor Price/Meal | Marley Spoon Price/Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (smallest) | $15.00 (6 meals) | ~$12.00 (2 people, 2 recipes) |
| Mid-size | $12.50 (10 meals) | ~$9.00 (2 people, 4 recipes) |
| Large plan | $11.00 (18 meals) | ~$7.50 (4 people, 5 recipes) |
| Shipping | $10.99/week | $9.99/week |
If you value your time at $15–20/hour, Factor's premium is often cost-neutral once you factor in 30 minutes of cooking per Marley Spoon meal. If you enjoy cooking, that time has positive value — Marley Spoon is the clear winner on price.
If you want convenience and precise nutrition: Factor. If you enjoy cooking and want variety: Marley Spoon. If you want both — the variety of Marley Spoon with zero cooking — our recommendation is CookUnity.
Try CookUnity — 50% Off First Week →Depends on your lifestyle. Factor is better for zero-effort meals — heat in 2 minutes, precise macros. Marley Spoon is better for people who enjoy cooking and want more recipe variety and Martha Stewart–quality instruction.
Marley Spoon is cheaper per serving ($7.50–$12 vs Factor's $11–$15). But Factor includes full preparation — the price difference reflects the cooking labor you're providing with Marley Spoon.
No — Marley Spoon is a meal kit. You receive pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards, and cook meals yourself (25–45 min). Factor delivers fully cooked meals that microwave in 2 minutes.