What Freshly is and how meals arrive at your door

Freshly is a meal delivery service that sends prepared meals to your home on a schedule you choose. Unlike meal kits where you cook the food yourself, Freshly meals come fully cooked and ready to heat. You pick from a rotating menu of about 30 options each week, choose how many meals you want, and they arrive in an insulated box with ice packs.

The service operates in most of the continental United States but not all areas. You can check whether Freshly delivers to your address on their website before you commit to anything. Meals are typically delivered once a week on a day you select, though you can pause or skip weeks without penalty.

Each meal comes in a recyclable container. You heat it in the microwave (usually 2 to 3 minutes) or in a conventional oven. Freshly does not require you to sign a contract — you can cancel anytime, and there is no cancellation fee.

Key Takeaways

  • Freshly sends fully prepared meals that you heat at home, not ingredients you cook from scratch.
  • You choose your meals from a menu that changes weekly and select how many you want per week.
  • Pricing varies by the number of meals per week and your location, but typically ranges from about $9 to $13 per meal before any discounts.
  • You can pause, skip weeks, or cancel anytime without paying a cancellation fee or being locked into a contract.
  • Freshly is owned by Nestlé and is available in most but not all U.S. areas — check your zip code first.

How pricing works and what affects your cost

Freshly charges per meal, and the price per meal drops as you order more meals per week. If you order 4 meals per week, the cost per meal is higher than if you order 12 meals per week. The exact price depends on your location because delivery costs vary by region.

As of early 2024, a typical price for a single meal ranges from about $9 to $13, but this changes based on how many meals you order at once. Freshly occasionally offers discounts for first-time customers — usually a percentage off your first order — but these promotions change. Check their website for current offers.

Shipping is included in the per-meal price; there is no separate delivery fee. If you live in an area where Freshly operates, the cost is the same whether you are in a city or a more rural location within their service zone.

Choosing meals and managing your weekly order

Each week, Freshly releases a new menu of about 30 meals. You log into your account and select which meals you want for the coming week. You can choose the same meal twice if you like it, or pick something different each time. The menu includes options labeled for different diets — some meals are marked as high-protein, low-carb, or vegetarian, though not every meal fits every category.

You decide how many meals per week you want to receive: typically 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12. You pay only for the meals you choose. If you do not want a delivery in a particular week, you can skip that week from your account without losing your subscription or paying anything.

Meals are delivered in a box with ice packs and arrive cold. Once they arrive, you store them in your refrigerator. Most meals stay fresh for about 7 days from the delivery date, though you should check the label on each container.

What meals look like and dietary options

Freshly meals are restaurant-style prepared dishes, not diet food. Examples include grilled salmon with roasted vegetables, beef meatballs with marinara, chicken parmesan, and vegetarian options like chickpea curry. Portion sizes are standard restaurant portions, not reduced portions.

The service labels meals by diet type, but the labeling is informational only — Freshly does not verify that meals meet specific medical or therapeutic diets. If you follow a strict diet for a medical reason (such as a renal diet or a diet for diabetes management), you should read the nutrition label on each meal rather than relying on the category label alone.

Freshly does not currently offer meals for common allergies like peanut-free or tree nut-free as a may provide category. You can see the ingredient list for each meal before you order, so you can check for allergens yourself. If you have severe allergies, contact Freshly customer service to ask whether they can accommodate your needs.

Comparing Freshly to other meal services

Freshly differs from meal kit services like HelloFresh or EveryPlate because those services send you raw ingredients and recipes — you do the cooking. Freshly sends cooked meals you only need to heat. This means less time in the kitchen but also less control over how the food is prepared and what ingredients go into it.

Other prepared meal services like Factor and Trifecta operate similarly to Freshly: they send fully cooked meals, they focus on nutrition, and they let you choose from a weekly menu. The main differences are the specific meals offered, the price per meal, and which areas they deliver to. If Freshly does not deliver to your address, one of these alternatives might.

Freshly is generally less expensive per meal than some competitors but more expensive than cooking at home from grocery store ingredients. The trade-off is convenience: you are paying for someone else to buy, cook, and deliver the food.

How to start and what happens after you order

To begin, visit Freshly's website and enter your zip code to confirm they deliver to your area. If they do, you create an account, choose your meals from the current week's menu, select how many meals you want, and enter your payment information. Your first order is processed and scheduled for delivery on a day you choose.

Freshly typically delivers within 1 to 3 business days of your order, depending on your location. You receive a tracking number via email so you know when to expect your box. Meals arrive in an insulated box with ice packs to keep them cold during transit.

After your first delivery, you can manage your account online. Each week, you log in to choose meals for the next delivery, change the number of meals, or skip a week. If you decide the service is not for you, you can cancel from your account settings — there is no phone call required and no cancellation fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my meals after I have ordered them?

Yes, as long as your order has not been packed for delivery yet. Log into your account and modify your selections. Once the order ships, you cannot change it, but you can contact Freshly customer service to ask about exceptions. For future orders, you can change your meals anytime before the cutoff date, which Freshly shows in your account.

What if a meal arrives damaged or tastes bad?

Contact Freshly customer service with a photo of the damaged meal or container. They typically offer a refund or replacement. If you straightforward do not like a meal, you can choose different meals the next week or skip meals you know you will not eat.

Do I have to commit to a certain number of weeks?

No. Freshly has no contract and no minimum number of deliveries. You can cancel anytime from your account. You can also pause your subscription for a few weeks and restart it later without losing your account or paying anything.

Are Freshly meals actually fresh?

Freshly meals are cooked and then chilled for delivery. They are not fresh in the sense of just-cooked, but they are prepared in a commercial kitchen and kept cold during shipping and storage. The shelf life is typically about 7 days from delivery. If freshness is important to you, a local meal prep service or cooking at home may be a better fit.

Can I use Freshly if I have food allergies?

You can read the ingredient list for each meal before you order and avoid meals with your allergen. Freshly does not currently offer allergen-free meal categories or may provide that meals are prepared in an allergen-free facility. If you have a severe allergy, contact their customer service to discuss your specific needs before ordering.