Does Factor have vegan options?

Yes — Factor's Vegan & Veggie plan offers plant-based prepared meals each week. However, Factor is primarily known for its protein-heavy plans (Keto, Protein Plus, Calorie Smart) with meat and fish. If vegan is your primary dietary priority, Purple Carrot has far more dedicated plant-based options.

Do I have to cook with Purple Carrot?

Yes — Purple Carrot is a meal kit service, meaning fresh pre-portioned ingredients arrive and you follow recipe cards to cook meals at home (typically 25–45 minutes). Factor is a fully prepared service — meals arrive ready-to-heat in 2 minutes. If you want zero cooking, Factor is the clear choice.

Factor vs Purple Carrot 2026: Which Wins?

Q: Which is cheaper — Factor or Purple Carrot?

Purple Carrot meal kits start at around $11–$13 per serving with $9.99 shipping. Factor prepared meals run $11–$15 per meal with $9.99 shipping. On a per-serving basis they're close, but Purple Carrot's meals are kits (you cook), while Factor's are fully prepared and ready in 2 minutes. For the convenience difference, Factor can represent better value for busy people.

Q: Is Purple Carrot 100% vegan?

Yes — Purple Carrot is a 100% plant-based meal delivery service. Every meal kit is vegan. There are no animal products, meat, dairy, or eggs in any Purple Carrot recipe. Factor, by contrast, is primarily meat-forward but does offer a Vegan & Veggie plan.

🏆 Also Consider: CookUnity

Before we dive in — if you want prepared meals with a strong plant-based selection, CookUnity is our overall #1 pick. It offers 300+ chef-prepared meals per week from 100+ culinary partners, including a large vegan/vegetarian selection, 12+ diet filters, and 50% off for new subscribers. It beats Factor on variety and Purple Carrot on convenience.

Get 50% Off CookUnity →

Factor vs Purple Carrot: The Full Breakdown

Factor and Purple Carrot don't compete head-to-head the way two prepared meal services do — they serve different use cases. Understanding the fundamental difference helps clarify which one is right for you:

Factor (formerly Factor 75) delivers fully cooked, refrigerated meals that heat in 2 minutes. No cooking required. With 30–35 rotating meals each week across Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, and Vegan plans, Factor is built for busy people who want nutritionist-designed food without any kitchen effort.

Purple Carrot is a 100% plant-based meal kit service. Every recipe is vegan — no meat, dairy, or eggs. Ingredients arrive pre-portioned with step-by-step recipe cards, and you cook at home (25–45 minutes per meal). Purple Carrot was acquired by Oisix and is a leading choice for people committed to a fully plant-based diet who enjoy cooking.

The Core Difference: Prepared vs. Meal Kit

This is the most important decision point. If cooking is not something you want to do — especially on weeknights — Factor wins by default. You pull a tray from the refrigerator, microwave it, and eat. That's it. Purple Carrot requires genuine cooking effort.

However, if you enjoy cooking and want to eat 100% plant-based with exciting, chef-developed vegan recipes — Purple Carrot delivers something Factor cannot: the satisfaction of making your own food from high-quality plant-based ingredients.

Pricing: How Do They Compare?

Factor pricing (2026):

6 meals/week: ~$15.00/meal + $9.99 shipping
8 meals/week: ~$13.49/meal + $9.99 shipping
12 meals/week: ~$11.99/meal + $9.99 shipping
18 meals/week: ~$11.00/meal + $9.99 shipping

Purple Carrot pricing (2026):

2 meals/week (2 servings each): ~$12.99–$13.99/serving
3 meals/week (2 servings each): ~$11.99/serving
4 meals/week (2 servings each): ~$10.99/serving
Shipping: $9.99 per order

The verdict: On a pure per-serving basis, Purple Carrot can come in slightly cheaper on larger plans. But each "meal" from Purple Carrot is one recipe serving — and you have to cook it. Factor's pricing reflects the cost of full preparation, portioning, and cooking — significant convenience value for busy subscribers.

Plant-Based Options: How Do They Compare?

Purple Carrot: 100% Vegan, Always
Every single Purple Carrot recipe is plant-based. There's no meat, no dairy, no eggs — ever. The menu rotates weekly with creative vegan recipes: jackfruit tacos, cauliflower tikka masala, lentil Bolognese, mushroom risotto, peanut noodle bowls. The chefs behind Purple Carrot genuinely specialize in making plants taste exceptional.

Factor: Vegan & Veggie Plan + Mixed Menu
Factor offers a Vegan & Veggie plan with 5–8 plant-based prepared meals each week. These are fully cooked and ready to heat — a real convenience advantage. However, Factor's menu is primarily protein-forward (meat, fish, eggs), with the vegan selection being a subset rather than the core product. If 100% plant-based eating is a firm commitment, Purple Carrot offers more dedicated plant-based variety.

⚡ Factor Score

8.4/10

Best convenience in the category — no cooking, dietitian oversight, huge variety. The go-to for busy professionals.

🥕 Purple Carrot Score

7.8/10

Top 100% vegan meal kit on the market. Creative plant-based recipes with high ingredient quality. Requires cooking.

Taste & Food Quality

Factor Taste Profile

Factor consistently delivers bold, restaurant-inspired flavors: Korean BBQ steak, Tuscan chicken, Thai green curry. The food is seasoned assertively, portioned generously, and designed to satisfy. As prepared meals go, Factor is among the best-tasting — with ratings averaging 4.3–4.5 stars on their platform.

Purple Carrot Taste Profile

Purple Carrot's recipes punch well above what you'd expect from a vegan meal kit. The culinary team specializes in building depth and umami from plant sources — roasted vegetables, fermented flavors, nut-based sauces, and legume proteins. Meals tend to be bright, global-inspired, and genuinely satisfying. Because you're cooking them yourself, freshness is exceptional.

✅ Factor Pros

Zero cooking — 2 min ready
30+ meals per week
Dietitian-designed every meal
High protein options (35–55g)
Multiple diet plans in one subscription
Consistent quality week to week

✗ Factor Cons

$9.99 shipping every week
Not 100% vegan
Packaging-heavy (single-serve trays)
Higher per-meal cost on small plans

✅ Purple Carrot Pros

100% plant-based — every meal
Creative, chef-developed vegan recipes
Fresh ingredients arrive weekly
Lower per-serving cost on larger plans
Great for cooking skill development
Environmentally conscious menu

✗ Purple Carrot Cons

Requires 25–45 min cooking
Lower protein than Factor
Fewer weekly recipe options
Not suitable if you hate cooking

Who Should Choose Factor?

Choose Factor If You Are…

Busy

You don't have 30+ minutes to cook on weeknights. Factor is 2 minutes from fridge to plate.

Protein

You prioritize high-protein meals — Factor's Protein Plus plan offers 35–55g protein per serving with meat, fish, and egg-based dishes.

Flexible

You eat both plant-based and animal protein — Factor lets you mix Vegan, Keto, and other diet tracks in a single weekly order.

Tracking

You count macros — Factor's Calorie Smart plan is under 550 calories with precise dietitian-approved targets.

Who Should Choose Purple Carrot?

Choose Purple Carrot If You Are…

Vegan

100% plant-based eating is a firm commitment. Purple Carrot is built entirely around vegan cuisine — every recipe, every week.

Cook

You enjoy cooking but want pre-portioned ingredients and creative recipes — Purple Carrot removes the planning and shopping while keeping the cooking experience.

Couple

Purple Carrot's 2-serving meal format is ideal for couples — each meal kit feeds two people, making it naturally efficient for households of two.

Environment

You want to minimize your food's environmental impact. A fully plant-based menu has a significantly lower carbon footprint than meat-focused services.

The Honest Verdict

Factor wins for convenience and variety. If you want healthy, dietitian-designed meals with zero cooking and maximum weekly variety, Factor is the clear choice. It's one of the best no-cook meal delivery services available in 2026 — and it includes solid vegan options for plant-curious subscribers.

Purple Carrot wins for 100% vegan households. If your dietary commitment is fully plant-based and you enjoy cooking, Purple Carrot's creative, globally-inspired vegan recipes are genuinely outstanding. No other mainstream meal kit service matches Purple Carrot's depth of vegan culinary expertise.

If you want the best of both worlds — no cooking AND excellent plant-based variety — CookUnity is our top recommendation. Their vegan and vegetarian selection is among the best of any prepared service, and new subscribers get 50% off their first week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Factor or Purple Carrot better for weight loss?

Factor's Calorie Smart plan (under 550 calories, dietitian-designed) is better for structured calorie-control weight loss. Purple Carrot's plant-based meals are naturally lower in saturated fat and higher in fiber, which supports weight management through satiety. For no-cook calorie control, Factor wins. For a plant-forward whole-foods approach, Purple Carrot is excellent.

Which is cheaper — Factor or Purple Carrot?

Purple Carrot can be slightly cheaper per serving on larger plans (~$10.99–$13.99 vs Factor's $11–$15), and both charge $9.99 shipping. However, Factor meals arrive fully cooked — the convenience value is significant. Most subscribers find Factor's cost reasonable given zero prep or cooking time required.

Is Purple Carrot 100% vegan?

Yes — every Purple Carrot recipe is fully plant-based. There are no animal products in any Purple Carrot meal kit. This makes it the top choice for households following a strict vegan diet.

Does Factor have good vegan options?

Factor's Vegan & Veggie plan offers 5–8 plant-based prepared meals per week — fully cooked and ready in 2 minutes. The vegan variety is solid but smaller than their meat-focused plans. For a fully vegan-dedicated experience, Purple Carrot offers more options and deeper culinary commitment to plant-based cooking.

How do Factor and Purple Carrot compare to CookUnity for plant-based eating?

CookUnity offers the largest prepared plant-based selection of any meal delivery service — 50+ vegan/vegetarian options among their 300+ weekly meals. Unlike Purple Carrot, meals arrive fully cooked. Unlike Factor's smaller vegan plan, CookUnity's plant-based variety is vast. See our CookUnity vs Purple Carrot comparison for the full breakdown.

Factor vs Purple Carrot