Factor and Gobble sit in similar price territory and both target busy adults who want good food on weeknights without the overhead of traditional meal preparation. After testing both services across four weeks, I found one clean distinction: Factor removes cooking from the equation entirely, and Gobble compresses it to 15 minutes with one pan. Which one is right comes down to whether you want zero cooking or fast cooking.
My biggest takeaway: Gobble has the best shipping deal of any mainstream meal service at $6.99, which is a real and meaningful difference on a weekly subscription. Factor wins on pure time savings. If 15 minutes of cooking sounds fine to you and you want the satisfaction of a hot meal you actually made, Gobble is underrated. If 15 minutes is 15 minutes too many on your typical Tuesday, Factor is the answer.
Last updated: May 2026. Prices and plan details verified against each service’s current website.
Quick verdict: Factor wins on convenience and nutrition plan structure. Gobble wins on shipping cost, the satisfaction of a cooked meal, and simplicity of execution (one pan, pre-prepped, 15 minutes). For most very busy households, Factor is the better tool. For households that like to cook but want the fastest possible weeknight dinner, Gobble is genuinely excellent and often underestimated.
- Gobble offers only about 6 dinner options per week, one of the smallest menus in the meal kit category. Picky eaters may find this limiting after a few weeks.
- Gobble’s $6.99 shipping is the lowest flat shipping fee of any major meal service. Over 52 weeks, you save over $150 in shipping versus services charging $9.99 or more.
- Gobble focuses exclusively on dinner. There are no lunch options, no breakfast items, and no snack add-ons. Factor covers all meal occasions.
- Factor meals are single-serving. Gobble meals serve 2 per default plan. For a couple, Gobble’s per-person pricing is more competitive than it looks at first glance.
Ratings Scorecard
| Category | Factor | Gobble |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-prep convenience | 10/10 | 5/10 |
| Shipping cost | 7/10 | 10/10 |
| Menu variety per week | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Diet plan structure | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Cooking satisfaction | 2/10 | 8/10 |
| Speed (dinner on table) | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Good for couples | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Good for solo eaters | 9/10 | 5/10 |
Factor vs Gobble at a Glance
| Category | Factor | Gobble |
|---|---|---|
| Price per meal | $10.99–$15.99 | $11.99–$15.99 |
| Shipping | $9.99 | $6.99 (lowest of any major service) |
| Format | Ready-to-eat (2 min reheat) | Pre-prepped meal kit (15 min, 1 pan) |
| Prep and cook time | 2 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Servings per meal | 1 (single-serve) | 2 per meal (default) |
| Weekly menu size | 35+ | ~6 options |
| Diet plans | 5 structured plans | Limited (no named plans) |
| Best for | Solo eaters, no-cook households | Couples, fast-cooking households |
Factor Deep Dive
Factor’s proposition is absolute: you do not cook. The meal arrives in a sealed tray, fully prepared by professional chefs under registered dietitian supervision. Microwave for two minutes, peel back the film, eat. No pan, no knife, no cutting board, no cleanup. The five diet plans cover Keto, Calorie Smart (under 550 cal), Protein Plus (30–55g protein), Vegan and Veggie, and Chef’s Choice. With 35+ options per week, you have genuine variety even on a 10-meal plan.
During four weeks of Factor testing alongside Gobble, the Factor meals I rated highest were a spiced lamb kofta with herbed couscous and tzatziki (8/10) and a chipotle chicken bowl with black beans and avocado crema (8.5/10). The consistency was reliable. Even the weaker Factor meals, a somewhat dry turkey meatball with marinara (6/10), were complete and nutritionally sound.
Pricing math: A 6-meal Factor plan at $15.99/meal plus $9.99 shipping equals $105.93/week for one person eating 6 dinners. A 10-meal plan at $10.99/meal plus $9.99 shipping equals $119.89/week.
Try Factor: Get 50% off your first Factor box.
Gobble Deep Dive
Gobble’s pitch is the fastest possible cooked dinner: pre-marinated proteins, pre-chopped vegetables, pre-made sauces. You heat one pan, cook for 15 minutes, plate, eat. The result actually feels like you cooked it, because you did. Gobble does the 30 minutes of prep work before shipping so you do not have to. The six or so weekly options are dinner-only, family-friendly, and designed around simple, crowd-pleasing flavors.
The Gobble meals I cooked during my test weeks were better than I expected for the time investment. A honey garlic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and snap peas came together in 13 minutes and tasted genuinely good, not like a shortcut meal. A teriyaki salmon with jasmine rice and sesame bok choy took 16 minutes and was clean, well-balanced, and satisfying. The small menu is Gobble’s real limitation: after four weeks, I had seen most of the options cycle through. For a household that does not mind repetition or switches off with other services, that is manageable.
Pricing math: A 2-person, 3-meal Gobble plan at $11.99/meal times 6 servings plus $6.99 shipping equals $78.93/week. That is genuinely competitive for two people eating three home-cooked dinners per week. Per-person, per-meal cost comes to $6.58 before shipping, which is excellent.
Try Gobble: Get 18 free meals on your first Gobble box. Offer varies by plan.
Pricing Side by Side
| Scenario | Factor total | Gobble total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person, 6 meals/week | ~$96–$106 + $9.99 ship = ~$106–$116 | N/A (Gobble serves 2 per meal by default) |
| 2 people, 3 dinners/week | ~$66 x 2 people (12 Factor meals) + $9.99 = ~$142 | ~$72 (6 servings) + $6.99 ship = ~$79 |
| 2 people, 4 dinners/week | ~$88 x 2 (16 Factor meals) + $9.99 = ~$186 | ~$96 (8 servings) + $6.99 ship = ~$103 |
For a couple eating dinner together, Gobble is significantly cheaper than Factor because Gobble meals serve two per order while Factor meals are single-serving. The shipping advantage ($6.99 vs $9.99) adds to this. For solo eaters, Factor is the cleaner match structurally.
Who Wins Each Category
Zero-effort nights: Factor. No cooking, no cleanup, no decisions beyond reheating.
Couples eating dinner together: Gobble. Structurally designed for two servings per meal at a price that reflects it.
Shipping cost: Gobble. $6.99 is the lowest flat shipping fee in the mainstream meal service category.
Diet and nutrition plans: Factor. Five structured plans with detailed macro labeling beat Gobble’s limited dietary filtering.
Menu variety: Factor. 35+ options per week versus Gobble’s ~6 weekly options is a meaningful gap.
The Final Call
Choose Factor if you want zero cooking, structured nutrition plans, solo-friendly single servings, and 35+ weekly meal options. Choose Gobble if you cook for two, want the satisfaction of a hot meal you made yourself, and want the lowest shipping fee of any major service. Both are solid, underrated services in their category.
Read our full Factor review for complete details. Compare Factor vs Home Chef if you want more weekly variety from a meal kit, or Factor vs Daily Harvest if plant-based eating is your goal. Also see HelloFresh vs Factor for the broader cooking vs no-cooking comparison.
Ingredient Quality and Food Freshness
Factor sources proteins and produce through a network aligned with its performance nutrition mission. Chicken and beef are antibiotic-free and hormone-free, portioned precisely to the macro target of each meal. Proteins are not USDA certified organic but exceed standard commodity grade. The culinary team uses marination, seasoning, and sauce composition to elevate conventional sourcing: a well-marinated conventional chicken breast finishes better than an unmarinated premium one. Factor's ingredient quality is among the highest in the fully prepared meal segment. For households comparing Factor to restaurant delivery, the sourcing standard is competitive with casual restaurant quality at a lower cost.
Gobble uses conventional proteins and produce at a mid-range quality tier. The distinguishing factor is the pre-prep model: proteins are often sous-vide cooked or marinated and partially finished before the box ships, and vegetables arrive pre-cut and ready to add to the pan. This pre-prep approach prioritizes the 15-minute cooking promise over raw ingredient freshness. Pre-cooked proteins have a different texture profile than raw proteins cooked fresh, which is the main tradeoff Gobble subscribers accept. The ingredient grade is comparable to HelloFresh and Home Chef, but the processing changes the eating experience. For households where speed is the priority and slight texture differences are acceptable, Gobble's ingredient handling is a reasonable tradeoff.
Ingredient quality edge: Factor. Factor uses above-commodity conventional sourcing with a quality focus; Gobble uses standard conventional sourcing at a reliable quality level. The gap is noticeable in protein cuts and produce quality, though both services deliver satisfying results for their respective price tiers.
Who Gets the Most from Each Service
Choose Factor if your household wants to eat well without any cooking. Factor requires zero kitchen time: two minutes to heat and plate. Meals are macro-balanced, dietitian-designed, and fully prepared. For households where weeknight cooking time genuinely does not exist, Factor covers dinner without compromise on food quality. It competes against restaurant delivery rather than home cooking: at $10.99 to $15.99 per meal, Factor is typically less expensive than equivalent restaurant delivery for comparable quality. Factor is not a match for households that enjoy cooking as an activity or hobby. For households that have accepted that they are ordering delivery most nights anyway, Factor is a cheaper, healthier version of the same behavior.
Choose Gobble if 15-minute prep time is the specific constraint driving your decision. Gobble's model is built entirely around that promise: pre-measured, pre-chopped, partially pre-cooked ingredients that reduce kitchen time to 15 minutes per meal. For households where a full 30-to-45-minute cooking session is genuinely not available on weeknights but where the cooking ritual still matters, Gobble occupies a specific niche between traditional meal kits and fully prepared services. At $11.99 to $13.99 per serving, it is mid-premium, justified by the pre-prep labor that goes into each box before shipping. It is not a match for households that want to cook longer or that prioritize raw ingredient quality over convenience.
Cancellation, Pausing, and Subscription Management
Both Factor and Gobble allow cancellation through account settings with no contract and no cancellation fee. Factor allows cancellation or adjustment of the weekly meal count through account settings at any time before the weekly cutoff, with no fee. Gobble allows week-by-week skipping and cancellation through account settings with no fee. Both services charge for deliveries when the weekly ordering cutoff is missed, typically five to six days before your delivery date, so setting a recurring calendar reminder prevents unwanted charges. Account credits for ingredient quality issues are available from both services; contacting customer service within 24 hours of a delivery produces the fastest resolution on either platform.
Packaging and Delivery Experience
Factor: Factor ships fully prepared meals in individual microwave-safe containers with detailed nutrition labels (calories, protein, carbs, fat) printed on every lid. Meals arrive refrigerated, packed in an insulated box with gel ice. The containers are compact and stack well in your fridge. Factor has committed to sustainable packaging targets; the trays are recyclable where facilities accept them. No cooking means no individual ingredient bags or extra plastic.
Gobble: Gobble ships pre-prepped ingredients: proteins are already marinated, vegetables are pre-cut, and sauces are pre-mixed. This means more packaging per meal than raw-ingredient kits (more sealed pouches and containers), but it reduces prep time to under 15 minutes. The insulated box with gel ice handles standard 24-hour delivery. The premium presentation is reflected in the per-meal cost.
Packaging edge: Factor. Excellent for prepared meals, no ingredient plastic waste, clear nutrition labels on every container, reliable cold chain.
App and Digital Experience
Factor: Factor's app (iOS 4.8 / Android 4.4) is one of the cleaner apps in the prepared meal space. Meal selection with dietary filtering (keto, protein+, calorie-smart, vegan+), delivery scheduling, and macro tracking are all handled intuitively. The "Chef's Choice" auto-select feature is useful for subscribers who want to set dietary goals and let Factor curate their weekly box.
Gobble: Gobble's app (iOS 4.5 / Android 4.1) handles meal selection, delivery management, and skipping weeks. The interface is clean but minimal, Gobble focuses on simplicity, and the app reflects that. Recipe browsing is fast; the weekly selection view makes it easy to see what's available. Advanced features (customization, dietary filters beyond basics) are limited compared to competitors.
App edge: Factor. Top tier, clean design, excellent dietary filtering, auto-curation option. Among the best prepared-meal apps available.
Customer Service and Account Management
Factor: Factor offers live chat and email support with fast response times (typically under 5 minutes for chat during business hours). The account portal makes it easy to pause, reschedule, change plans, or cancel. Factor's cancel flow is straightforward, no multi-step retention friction. Refund credits post within 24–48 hours for delivery or quality issues.
Gobble: Gobble offers chat and email support during weekday business hours. The self-service portal manages skips, plan changes, and cancellations with reasonable ease. Chat response times average 10–15 minutes. Gobble's cancel flow is more involved than budget brands but less friction-laden than legacy competitors. Refunds for quality issues typically credit within 48 hours.
Customer service edge: Factor. Excellent, fast chat, clean self-service, no-friction cancel. One of the most user-respecting subscription services in this category.
Dietary Options and Special Diets
Factor arrives fully prepared and reheats in two minutes. Eight plan types are available: Performance, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Vegan, Vegetarian, Keto, Protein Plus, and Chef's Choice. Menus are developed with registered dietitians and are macro-labeled, so subscribers tracking calories, protein, or carbohydrates can order to specific targets. The Keto plan keeps net carbs under 35g per meal. Portion sizes run 400-800 calories per dish. Factor works equally well as a complete meal replacement or as a supplement for busy weeknights.
Gobble specializes in 15-minute dinner prep: every ingredient is pre-measured, pre-chopped, and often partially cooked before the box arrives. Plan options include low-carb, paleo, family-friendly, and vegetarian selections. There is no organic certification, and the dietary range is narrower than health-focused services. Gobble is the right fit for households that want the satisfaction of home-cooked food in the minimum possible time and are not navigating specific nutritional requirements.
Getting Started: Welcome Offers and First Box Experience
Factor typically offers 50 percent or more off the first box. After the discount, prices range from $10.99 to $15.99 per meal, with the per-meal cost decreasing as the weekly meal count increases. Since Factor meals require no cooking, the fair comparison is against restaurant delivery or takeout, where comparable quality typically costs $18 to $25 or more per person. Cancellation is straightforward in account settings with no fee, and the weekly meal count can be changed any time before the ordering cutoff.
Gobble typically offers 50 percent or more off the first two boxes. After the introductory discount, prices run $11.99 to $13.99 per serving, which is mid-premium for a service that still involves cooking. The higher price relative to budget services reflects the pre-prepped convenience: chopping, measuring, and sauce preparation are done before the box ships. Skipping weeks and cancellation are available in account settings with no fee.
Who Gets the Best Value Long-Term
Factor requires zero cooking (two minutes to heat). Gobble requires 15 minutes of light assembly with pre-prepped ingredients. Factor runs $10.99 to $15.99 per meal; Gobble runs $11.99 to $13.99 per serving. The prices are close, but the experience differs meaningfully. Gobble provides the ritual of home cooking with minimal effort; Factor provides convenience without any kitchen involvement. For households that want the cooking ritual stripped to its minimum, Gobble wins. For households that cannot spare 15 minutes or want precise macro control, Factor is the more practical long-term choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Factor or Gobble cheaper?
For a single person, Factor and Gobble are close in total weekly cost. For a couple, Gobble is significantly cheaper because meals serve two per order. Gobble’s $6.99 shipping versus Factor’s $9.99 adds to the savings for couples. Run the per-person math for your household to find the true winner.
Does Gobble require cooking?
Yes, but minimally. Gobble sends pre-prepped ingredients (pre-chopped, pre-marinated) and you cook in one pan for about 15 minutes. Factor requires zero cooking: 2 minutes in the microwave.
Which is better for a busy weeknight, Factor or Gobble?
Factor is better for the busiest nights. A 2-minute reheat has no real time cost. Gobble at 15 minutes is faster than most meal kits but still requires active cooking time and pan cleanup.
Does Gobble have diet plans?
Gobble has a limited weekly menu of about 6 options and does not offer the same structured diet plan system as Factor. Factor’s five named plans (Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Vegan, Chef’s Choice) provide more nutritional structure.
2026 Pricing: Factor vs. Gobble
Factor delivers fully cooked, dietitian-designed meals ready in 2 minutes; Gobble was a quick-cook meal kit that permanently closed in 2024.
| Detail | Factor | Gobble |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $10.99–$15.99/meal | N/A (closed 2024) |
| Shipping | $10.99 | N/A |
| Meal Type | Fully prepared (heat & eat) | N/A (service closed) |
| Menu Size | 35+ meals/week | N/A |
| Diet Options | Keto, Paleo, Calorie Smart, Vegan | N/A |
| Commitment | No contract, skip/cancel anytime | N/A |
Factor is the clear choice here — Gobble shut down in 2024 and is no longer accepting orders.
Where to Order in Your City
Both services deliver nationwide. See how meal kit delivery options stack up in the largest U.S. markets:
- Meal delivery in Los Angeles
- Meal delivery in New York
- Meal delivery in Chicago
- Meal delivery in Houston
- Meal delivery in Phoenix
- Meal delivery in San Francisco
- Meal delivery in Seattle
- Meal delivery in Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gobble still available in 2024?
No. Gobble permanently closed its doors in 2024 and is no longer accepting new subscriptions or fulfilling orders. If you're looking for a meal kit alternative to Gobble, Factor is an excellent option for prepared meals (no cooking required), while HelloFresh or Home Chef are strong alternatives for cook-at-home kits at a similar price point to what Gobble charged.
What was Gobble known for, and how did Factor compare?
Gobble was known for ultra-fast 15-minute cook-at-home kits with pre-prepped ingredients, targeting busy families and professionals. Factor takes convenience even further with fully prepared meals that reheat in 2 minutes — no cooking required at all. Both services targeted convenience-focused customers, but Factor's fully cooked approach required zero prep.
What should former Gobble subscribers try instead?
Former Gobble subscribers looking for quick, convenient dinners should consider Factor (fully prepared, 2-minute reheat, starting at $10.99/meal), Home Chef (20-minute meals with Oven Ready options, starting at $8.99/serving), or HelloFresh (30-minute meals, 50+ recipe options, starting at $9.99/serving). All three currently offer significant new subscriber discounts.
Did Factor and Gobble serve the same dietary needs?
Partially. Gobble offered standard dinner kits with some low-carb options. Factor offers a broader range of structured dietary plans including Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Vegan & Veggie, and Paleo — all fully prepared by chefs and labeled with detailed macros. For diet-focused meal planning, Factor is the more comprehensive service.
Cancel Guide Links
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