Last updated: 1 oct 2026
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting any weight loss program, especially a low-calorie plan, or if you have diabetes, another health condition, are pregnant or have a history of disordered eating.
The short answer
Nutrisystem is the best value of the three for a full weight loss program, Factor is the best choice if you want fresh, high-quality meals without a strict diet, and Optavia is the most restrictive and most expensive. Your best pick depends on how much structure you want and how much you plan to cook.
These three are often compared, but they are very different products. Nutrisystem is a portion-controlled diet program with almost all your food delivered. Factor is a fresh prepared-meal service with lower-calorie options, not a diet plan. Optavia is a low-calorie program built on meal replacements called «Fuelings,» plus one home-cooked meal a day and support from a coach.
We compared current prices, what a typical day of eating looks like, nutrition, support and flexibility. Prices were checked in late September 2026; all three run frequent first-order discounts, so confirm the total at checkout.
Quick verdict
- Choose Nutrisystem if you want a complete, simple plan with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for about $15–$19 a day.
- Choose Factor if you prefer fresh, chef-made meals, want to replace only some meals and do not need a formal diet plan.
- Choose Optavia only after talking to your doctor, since its main weight loss plan is very low in calories, and only if you like strict structure and one-on-one coaching.
Nutrisystem vs Factor vs Optavia at a glance
| Feature | Nutrisystem | Factor | Optavia |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Portion-controlled diet program | Fresh prepared-meal delivery | Low-calorie meal-replacement program |
| What you get | Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack | Single-serve ready meals you pick weekly | «Fuelings» (bars, shakes, soups, snacks) |
| Typical monthly cost | About $370 (5 days/week) or $425 (7 days/week) | About $450–$1,000+ for 6–18 meals per week | About $400–$500 for the main weight loss kit |
| Extra groceries needed | Yes: fruit, vegetables, dairy, some protein | Yes, for meals you don’t order | Yes: one «Lean & Green» meal per day |
| Food format | Mostly shelf-stable, some frozen | Fresh, never frozen | Mostly shelf-stable |
| Calorie structure | Built-in portion control | Optional lower-calorie meals (Calorie Smart) | Very low-calorie on the main plan |
| Support | App, dietitian access, community | Mostly self-guided; dietitian content | Independent coach (not a health professional) |
| Commitment | 4-week auto-delivery; can cancel | Weekly; skip or pause anytime | Monthly autoship; can cancel |
| Best for | Simple all-in-one structure | Busy people who want good food | People who want strict rules and a coach |
How each program works
How Nutrisystem works
Nutrisystem ships four weeks of portion-controlled food at a time: breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack for five or seven days a week. Most items are shelf-stable, with frozen entrées on some plans. You add fresh foods yourself, such as vegetables, fruit, dairy and lean protein, following the program’s simple guidelines.
The plan also encourages regular physical activity and offers an app for tracking food, water and weight. Nutrisystem has specific options, including plans for people with type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, use these only with your doctor’s approval, since changing what you eat can affect blood sugar and medication needs.
How Factor works
Factor delivers fresh, fully cooked meals that you heat in about two minutes. Each week you choose from a large rotating menu, with plans from about 6 to 18 meals. You can skip weeks, pause or change your box before the weekly cutoff.
Factor is not a weight loss program on its own. Instead, it offers menu filters that help, such as Calorie Smart meals (under about 550 calories), high-protein meals and keto options. Each meal shows its full nutrition label. You decide how many meals to replace and plan the rest of your day yourself.
How Optavia works
Optavia is built on «Fuelings»: small, pre-packaged foods such as shakes, bars, soups and snacks. On the most popular weight loss plan, the Optimal Weight 5 & 1, you eat five Fuelings plus one home-cooked «Lean & Green» meal of lean protein and vegetables each day.
That plan provides roughly 800–1,000 calories a day, which is much lower than most adults need. Plans like this should only be followed with medical guidance. Optavia also offers less restrictive plans for slower weight loss and maintenance.
Optavia sells through independent coaches who earn commissions on sales. These coaches offer motivation and accountability, but they are usually not dietitians or medical professionals.
Cost compared: per day and per meal
Nutrisystem is the cheapest way to cover a full day of eating, at about $15–$19 a day for three meals and a snack. Factor costs about $12.50–$15 for a single meal, and Optavia’s main kit runs about $13–$17 a day before groceries.
| Plan | Listed price (US, Sept 2026) | Approx. cost per day | What that covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrisystem, 5 days/week | About $370 per 4 weeks | About $18.50 per plan day | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack |
| Nutrisystem, 7 days/week | About $425 per 4 weeks | About $15.20 per day | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack |
| Factor, 6 meals/week | About $90 + $13.99 shipping per week | About $17 per meal | One meal |
| Factor, 18 meals/week | About $225 + $13.99 shipping per week | About $13.30 per meal | One meal |
| Optavia Optimal Weight 5 & 1 | About $400–$500 per month | About $13–$17 per day | Five Fuelings (not the Lean & Green meal) |
| Optavia Optimal Health 3 & 3 | About $260 per month | About $9 per day | Three Fuelings (plus three of your own meals) |
Don’t forget the extras. Nutrisystem and Optavia both need groceries for fresh foods and home-cooked meals, which can add roughly $40–$80 a week. Factor charges shipping on every box, and you still need food for the meals you don’t order.
All three offer large discounts on the first order. Look at the regular price you will pay from the second month on, since that is what the program really costs.
Head-to-head: the details that matter
Food quality and taste
Winner: Factor. Factor’s meals are fresh, chef-prepared and never frozen, with a menu that changes every week. Nutrisystem and Optavia rely mostly on shelf-stable, packaged foods, which are convenient but less fresh. Some reviewers note that many Factor meals are high in sodium or saturated fat, so check the nutrition label on each one.
Weight loss structure
Winner: Nutrisystem. Nutrisystem gives you a complete, portion-controlled day without counting anything. Factor leaves the planning to you. Optavia is the most structured, but its main plan is very low in calories, which many dietitians consider hard to sustain.
Nutrition and safety
Winner: Nutrisystem and Factor (tie). Both let you eat a reasonable number of calories with regular meals. Optavia’s 5 & 1 plan provides about 800–1,000 calories a day, which can lead to fatigue, muscle loss or nutrient gaps if not supervised, and is not suitable for everyone. Check with your doctor before trying any very low-calorie plan, especially if you take medication for diabetes or blood pressure.
Fresh foods matter on every plan. Adding vegetables, fruit and whole grains improves fiber and nutrients, and it helps build habits you can keep after the program ends.
Support and coaching
Winner: Optavia, with a caveat. Optavia pairs you with a personal coach, which many members find motivating. But coaches are independent sellers paid on commission, not health professionals. Nutrisystem offers app support and access to dietitians, while Factor is mostly self-guided.
Flexibility
Winner: Factor. You can order as few as six meals a week, skip any week and pick exactly what you eat. Nutrisystem and Optavia work best when you follow their plan closely, which can be hard when eating out or with family.
Life after the program
Winner: Factor. Since it is closest to normal eating, the move back to your own cooking is easier. With Nutrisystem and Optavia, plan your transition in advance. Both offer maintenance phases, and gradually adding more of your own meals can help prevent regaining weight.
Pros and cons
Nutrisystem
Pros
- Covers a full day of food at the lowest daily cost of the three
- No calorie counting; portions are built in
- Options for men, women and people with type 2 diabetes
- Shelf-stable food is easy to store and travel with
Cons
- Mostly packaged, processed foods
- You still need to buy groceries
- Can feel repetitive over several months
Factor
Pros
- Fresh, tasty, chef-made meals ready in minutes
- Very flexible: choose, skip or pause any week
- Clear nutrition labels and lower-calorie filters
Cons
- Most expensive per meal
- Not a weight loss program, so you plan the rest of your day
- Shipping fee on every box; some meals are high in sodium
Optavia
Pros
- Very simple rules with little decision-making
- Personal coach and active community
- Several plans, including maintenance
Cons
- Main plan is very low in calories and should be medically supervised
- Expensive, plus groceries for daily meals
- Coaches are commission-based sellers, not health professionals
- Relies heavily on processed meal replacements
Which one should you choose?
Nutrisystem is better if you:
- Want a complete plan that tells you what to eat all day
- Are on a budget and want the lowest cost per day
- Don’t enjoy cooking or meal planning
Factor is better if you:
- Care most about fresh, good-tasting food
- Want to replace only lunches or dinners
- Already know roughly what to eat and need convenience
Optavia may fit if you:
- Want strict structure and daily accountability from a coach
- Have talked with your doctor and are being monitored on a lower-calorie plan
Skip all three if you have a history of disordered eating, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a condition that needs a specific medical diet. Ask a registered dietitian for a plan made for you.
Want a program with more coaching and no required food purchases? See our guide to the best online weight loss programs.
How we compared these programs
We reviewed each company’s current plans, menus and pricing, plus independent reviews from dietitians and testers. We compared total cost per day, food quality, calorie structure, support, flexibility and safety. We do not recommend any plan based on speed of weight loss, and we update this page when prices or plans change.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutrisystem or Factor better for weight loss?
Nutrisystem is designed as a weight loss program, with portion-controlled meals for the whole day. Factor is a meal delivery service; it can support weight loss if you choose its lower-calorie meals and plan the rest of your eating.
Which is cheaper, Nutrisystem or Optavia?
Nutrisystem is usually cheaper. Its plans cost about $370–$425 per four weeks for three meals and a snack a day, while Optavia’s main weight loss kit costs about $400–$500 a month and still requires groceries for a daily home-cooked meal.
Is Optavia safe?
Optavia’s main 5 & 1 plan is very low in calories, which is not appropriate for everyone. Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you have diabetes, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a history of disordered eating.
Can I use Factor meals for weight loss?
Yes, many people do. Choose meals from the lower-calorie menu, check the nutrition label for portions and sodium, and balance the rest of your day with vegetables, fruit and lean protein.
Can I cancel these programs anytime?
Factor lets you skip or cancel before each weekly cutoff. Nutrisystem and Optavia use monthly auto-delivery that you can cancel, but check the cutoff dates and any first-order conditions before you sign up.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.