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February 10, 2026

Calo vs Frive: The Healthy Meal Delivery Debate, Settled

Healthy Eating Has Changed. Meal Prep Had to Catch Up.

Eating well sounds simple until you factor in the real mental load. Deciding what to eat, shopping, checking ingredients, chopping, cooking, and cleaning can easily take hours out of an already packed day. When time is money and schedules are full of work, workouts, social commitments, and much-needed rest, it’s no surprise that many people fall back on takeaways or supermarket-ready meals.

But things are changing. As eating with purpose becomes a priority, people are looking for smarter ways to eat well without sacrificing time, taste, or quality. That shift has driven the rise of healthy meal delivery services, designed to replace takeaways and ultra-processed ready meals with nutritious, well-balanced food made from quality ingredients and delivered straight to your door.

That’s where Calo and competitors like Frive come into the picture. As the space becomes more crowded, the real difference lies in how well each service delivers on flavour, nutrition, convenience, and ingredient quality, without adding friction to everyday life.

In this article, we take a closer look at Calo vs Frive in the UK and which service truly makes healthy eating feel effortless.

Meet the Contenders: Calo vs Frive

Calo UK

Calo does the heavy lifting for you. Around 80% of the work is taken care of, leaving you with the refreshingly simple part: heating, eating, and enjoying genuinely good food.

Already well established in the Gulf region, Calo entered the UK market in 2025 and quickly gained traction. Following the acquisition of well-known brands Fresh Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen, Calo brought with it proven systems, experienced teams, and a refined approach to healthy eating. Today, Calo operates across seven countries, applying globally informed best practices while adapting to local expectations around quality and convenience.

Frive

Rebranded from Lions Prep in 2024, Frive is one of the UK’s established healthy meal delivery services. It focuses on calorie-controlled meals designed for routine, consistency, and everyday performance.

Frive’s plans are built around predefined calorie ranges and weight management diets. It appeals to users who want predictable portions, structured routines, and a straightforward approach to calorie management.

So, What’s the Real Difference? Let’s Break It Down

Category	Calo (UK)	Frive (UK)
Quality	Fresh, chef-prepared meals using all-natural ingredients. No ultra-processed foods. Nutritionist-approved for taste, balance, and performance.	All-natural ingredients. Calorie-controlled meals with good quality, more functional in focus. Mix of fresh and freezer-friendly meals.
Variety	100+ new meals weekly. 20+ daily options across balanced, high-protein, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal, gut-health, and custom macro plans.	Around 40 rotating dishes weekly, including breakfasts, snacks, and mains. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options.
Delivery	One of the very few services in the UK—if not the only one—offering daily delivery. Customers select delivery days.	Delivery once or twice weekly across four days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu). Meals last up to 7 days refrigerated.
Cooking	Fully cooked, fresh meals ready in minutes. Designed to maintain texture and flavour. Can be eaten hot or cold.	Fully cooked meals reheated in minutes. Some meals are freezer-friendly. Designed primarily for calorie accuracy.
Price	Affordable premium (£9–£10 per meal). Reflects freshness, personalisation, nutritional value, and tech-led experience.	Mid-range pricing (around £8 per meal). Focused on fixed-calorie plans.
Dietary Support	Highly inclusive: high-protein, balanced, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal, gut & IBS-friendly, allergen-aware.	Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal.
Diet Plans	Personalised, macro-based plans aligned with fitness goals, health objectives, and preferences.	Predefined calorie-based plans: Balanced, High Protein, Low Carb.
Tech	Advanced Calo app with AI-supported personalisation, macro & calorie tracking, swaps, skips, and exclusions.	Basic app. Compatible with MyFitnessPal for tracking.
Best For	Long-term healthy living, performance nutrition, flexibility, and variety.	Short-term calorie control and routine-based eating.

Let’s Talk Food Quality: Fresh, Functional, or Somewhere in Between?

When it comes to sticking with a plan long term, ingredient quality and freshness matter more than almost anything else. You need food that feels cooked, not calculated.

Calo Meals UK

Calo meals are prepared fresh, not mass-frozen, and built around real ingredients, balanced macros, and flavour. Meals are crafted by experienced chefs and designed and approved by nutritionists, with a strong focus on:

Fresh proteins
Seasonal vegetables
Precise, clean cooking techniques
Minimal reliance on freezing

Calo food feels much closer to home-cooked or restaurant-quality meals, rather than purely functional diet food. Bringing freshness, thoughtful sourcing, and chef expertise to your plate.

Frive

Meals are nutritionally structured and focused on calorie control. Ingredients are clean and well portioned, though the emphasis is more functional than culinary. Over time, meals can feel repetitive for long-term subscribers.

Verdict:
If freshness, flavour, and ingredient quality are top priorities, Calo meals lead. Frive works well for structured, short-term calorie management.

Menus That Move With You: Will You Get Bored After Week Three?

Calo Meal Plans

Calories are one thing, context is everything. Calo stands out for both variety and personalisation. Customers can choose from a daily-changing Calo menu featuring:

100+ new meals weekly
20+ options daily
Balanced, high-protein, low-carb, gut-health plans
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal options
Custom macros, allergen-friendly, and IBS-friendly plans

Calo meal plans are designed by nutritionists based on individual goals, macros, calories, and preferences. AI steps in as a support layer, acting like a smart assistant that helps users swap meals, adjust portions, exclude ingredients, and receive recommendations, saving time and effort.

Calo meals evolve as goals change, creating a dynamic experience rather than a static plan. Variety isn’t a bonus, it’s the difference.

Frive

Frive follows a more structured approach, with menus built around fixed calorie plans. While there is some variety, meals and portions are mostly predefined and offer less flexibility to adjust week by week, with limited personalisation. Plans:

Around 40 rotating dishes weekly
Balanced, high-protein, low-carb options
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free

Personalisation is more limited, with less flexibility to adapt week by week.

Verdict:
Calo meal prep is the stronger choice for users seeking a wide variety, adaptability, and personalised nutrition beyond calorie control.

Delivery: How Fresh Is “Fresh,” Really?

Calo Food Delivery

Calo is one of the very few services in the UK—if not the only one—offering daily meal prep delivery to prioritise freshness.

Regular daily deliveries option available
Customers choose delivery days
Meals stay fresh throughout the week
Minimal freezer reliance
Quick reheating without loss of texture or flavour

Frive

Deliveries available once or twice weekly
No delivery on Tuesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays
Fixed delivery windows
Freezer-friendly meals last up to 7 days refrigerated

Verdict:
Calo Kitchen offers a better balance between freshness and flexibility, even for customers who don’t want daily deliveries.

Value for Money: What Are You Actually Paying For?

Calo Meal Prep

Calo sits in the premium tier, reflecting:

Freshness and flavour
100% natural ingredients, no ultra-processed foods
Personalised nutrition
Tech-supported planning

While not the cheapest option, the value comes from quality, adaptability, portion size, and long-term results, not just meal count.

Frive

Frive is priced slightly lower and appeals to users focused primarily on calorie budgets and routine.

Verdict:
Frive is the cheaper option, you can save up to £1 per meal. Calo offers higher value for those prioritising quality, performance, and sustainability over price alone.

App & Experience: One-Size-Fits-All or Built Around You?

Calo App

The Calo App is a core part of the experience, giving you total control and full flexibility:

AI-supported swaps, skips, and repeats
Meal adjustments up to 24 hours before delivery
Macro and calorie tracking in one place
Goal-based recommendations
Flexible subscriptions (pause, skip, change anytime)

AI supports and streamlines the experience, it doesn’t replace nutritionist-led planning.

Frive

Basic plan management
Limited personalisation
Tracking macros and calories relies on third-party apps

Verdict:
Calo offers greater control, flexibility, and time-saving convenience.

Where Calo Stands Out

Quality You Can Taste and Trust
Every meal is chef-prepared, nutritionist-approved, and made fresh from whole ingredients. No ultra-processed shortcuts, offering restaurant-dining level in flavour and balance.
Personalisation and Total Control
Plans adapt to your goals, with AI oversight and support for swaps, skips, and ingredient exclusions, while the underlying plan is fully designed by nutritionists.
Freshness and Flexible Delivery
One of the very few UK services offering daily delivery, with meals designed to stay fresh all week and minimal freezer reliance.
Inclusive Options for Every Goal
Supports a wide range of dietary needs: gut-friendly, vegan, gluten- and dairy-free, high-protein, and custom macros for athletes or individuals with precise targets.
Rated #1 Healthy Meal Delivery Service in the UK
According to unbiased reviews of the top meal delivery services in the UK, Calo meals undoubtedly came out as number 1.
Read review 1 here:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/g32474872/food-delivery-boxes/
Read review 2 here:
https://mensfitness.co.uk/review/best-meal-delivery-services/
Verdict:
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a private chef, Calo is the next best thing.

Clearing Up a Few Myths About Calo

Nutritionist-Designed Plans with AI Support
Plans are created by qualified nutritionists to match individual goals and needs. AI supports access and personalisation, helping users plan, adjust, and customise meals. It enhances flexibility and convenience, without replacing expert human guidance.

Fresh Meals, Minimal Freezer Reliance
Meals are prepared fresh and designed to stay fresh for the week without relying on freezing. Reheating takes minutes with no compromise on flavour or texture.

Delivery Based on Customer Preference
Delivery is available and chosen by the customer. Daily delivery exists to support freshness, not obligation.

Final Verdict: Calo UK vs Frive

Both services have a place in the UK market, but they serve different mindsets.

Frive delivers reliable, calorie-controlled meals for users who value structure, predictability, and short-term dieting.

Calo UK is built for something bigger: fresh food, real flavour, personalised nutrition, and long-term consistency. After all, Calo sets the higher standard for those who care about quality as much as convenience, and want healthy eating to fit naturally into real life.

Don’t miss out on your exclusive 20% discount for your next subscription with code: Calo20