The UK’s healthy ready-meal market is undergoing a massive transformation, with projections suggesting it will reach £8.7 billion by 2027.
A fundamental shift in priorities drives this 2026 boom, with one in four households identifying health as their primary objective. However, ambitions for better nutrition are currently colliding with a shrinking window for cooking.
With the average evening meal now taking just 31 minutes to prepare, there’s little room for making nutritious meals from scratch. This pressure has fueled a 9.6% surge in protein-focused food sales as consumers seek functional, ready-to-eat options.
Yet speed alone is no longer enough; convenience is facing a clean-eating reckoning. With 66% of UK adults concerned about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), many are scrutinising ingredient lists for hidden additives.
In this competitive market, Simmer Eats focuses on flavour-led simplicity, while Calo employs an AI-based model to tailor nutrition to specific macro targets.
This guide compares Simmer Eats vs Calo on price, variety, and results, while introducing Frive as the premium, 100% UPF-free alternative.
Simmer Eats vs Calo: A quick comparison
| Category | Simmer Eats | Calo |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Balanced, flavour-led meals with some freezer-friendly options. Free from artificial preservatives, additives, and processed fillers. | Nutritionist-approved meals tailored via AI. Mix of fresh and freezer-friendly dishes. |
| Variety | 16–22 dishes weekly; rotating breakfasts. | Over 80+ dishes weekly across breakfasts, mains and snacks. |
| Delivery | Weekly (Sun & Mon); 5-day fridge life. | Select delivery days (subject to availability). |
| Cooking | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). | Fully cooked and heats in minutes. Some meals are freezer-friendly. |
| Price (6-meal example) | £44.94 + £6.99 delivery (£7.49/meal). | £58.50-£60 (£10 per meal) for a comparable high-protein plan. |
| Reputation | 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (10k+ reviews). | 4.3/5 on Trustpilot (300+ reviews). |
| Diet plans | Balanced meals; high-protein options available. | AI-driven Balanced, Gut health, High Protein and Custom Macros. |
| Tech Compatibility | Website only; no direct app integration. | App-based ordering with built-in AI personalisation. AI Food Calorie Counter with built-in barcode scanner functionality |
| Best for | Every day variety and convenience. | AI-driven macro tracking is structured with data-led nutrition support. |
Deep dive: Head-to-head comparison
Meal quality and ingredients
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats takes a "real food" approach, committing to excluding artificial preservatives, additives and industrial fillers from their menu. To maintain quality without using chemical stabilisers, they follow a small-batch cooking method and chill meals immediately after preparation to seal in natural flavours. Their ethos focuses on culinary integrity, offering natural, chef-led recipes for those wanting to avoid ultra-processed foods without overthinking nutrition.
Calo
Calo operates with a "science-first" angle. Meals are nutritionist-approved and tailored through AI to match specific calorie and macro targets. While the ingredients are fresh and high-quality, the preparation is designed primarily for precision and performance. For users who view food as a tool to reach a specific physical goal, Calo offers the consistency of a data-driven kitchen, though the focus on "functional" nutrition means the meals can sometimes lack the artisanal touch found in more flavour-oriented services.
Key Takeaway: Choose Simmer Eats for clean, additive-free meals with a 100% "real food" focus. Choose Calo if you need goal-specific portions and AI-driven macro precision.
Chilli Lemon & Garlic King Prawns
Menu variety and nutrition
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats provides a more focused weekly menu of 16–22 dishes, which are rotated from a 50+ monthly rotation to keep things interesting. They’re particularly strong on dietary inclusivity, with over 80% of the menu being dairy and gluten-free, making it easier for people with specific sensitivities to find a full week of meals. The range focuses primarily on mains, with an emphasis on high-protein staples and vibrant global flavours that cater to a wide range of tastes.
Calo
Variety is one of Calo's main strengths, with over 80 rotating dishes including breakfasts, mains and snacks. Rather than a standard fixed menu, the service uses AI-driven personalisation to tailor meals to individual calorie and macro goals. The philosophy is more structured and performance-oriented, with plans such as Balanced, Gut Health and High Protein guiding the menu.
Key Takeaway: Choose Simmer Eats for a simpler, hand-picked menu with a strong emphasis on dietary inclusivity. Choose Calo for an automated, app-led experience that handles variety for you.
Pricing and value for money
Simmer Eats costs £44.94 for six meals, which works out at roughly £7.49 per portion. Calo’s comparable 6-meal high-protein plan comes in at around £60, or about £10 per meal.
Value, however, depends on what you are paying for. Simmer Eats positions itself as straightforward, flavour-led convenience with balanced nutrition. Calo’s higher price reflects its AI-driven personalisation, tailoring meals around your specific calorie and macro targets. For some users, that added structure justifies the premium.
Both brands offer introductory promotions and selected discounts such as Student or Blue Light eligibility, though these tend to vary over time. There are no obvious hidden subscription fees, but the long-term cost will depend on plan size and frequency. The gap isn’t dramatic, but it reflects two different philosophies: simplicity versus engineered precision.
Key Takeaway: Choose Calo for a premium, AI-driven experience that tracks your macros for you. Choose Simmer Eats for better value on high-quality, high-protein meals with a transparent pricing structure.
Customer reviews and reputation
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats holds a high 4.4/5 rating on Trustpilot from more than 10,000 reviews. Customers frequently praise flavour, portion size and convenience, with many highlighting how easy it is to stay consistent with healthy eating. As with most subscription meal services, occasional complaints mention delivery timing or menu repetition over time.
Calo
Calo currently scores 4.3/5 on Trustpilot from just over 300 reviews, reflecting a much smaller review base in the UK market. Positive feedback often focuses on the AI-driven personalisation and how well the meals align with macro goals. Some users, however, note that the style can feel more functional than indulgent, and the smaller sample size makes overall sentiment harder to benchmark at scale.
Key Takeaway: Choose Calo for a modern, results-driven service highly rated for its digital personalisation. Choose Simmer Eats for a highly-rated, flavour-first experience backed by over 10,000 reviewers.
Smoky Mexican-Style Beef With Lime & Coriander Rice
The pivot: Why Frive is the choice for 100% real food
Simmer Eats focuses on flavour and simplicity. Calo leans into AI personalisation and macro precision. Both serve a purpose. But for many customers, the longer-term question becomes bigger than convenience or tech. It becomes about ingredient standards, menu fatigue, and whether the meals feel genuinely high-quality week after week.
Frive raises the bar.
Chef-prepared and nutritionist-approved, every dish is built around whole foods with no ultra-processed ingredients, no artificial additives and no low-quality seed oils to support long-term health.
Portions are carefully controlled to support consistency, and each dish includes a full macro and ingredient breakdown, giving you complete transparency over what you are eating. By guaranteeing a 100% UPF-free menu, it connects the dots between the efficiency of meal prep and the high standards of a clean, whole-food diet.
| Category | Simmer Eats | Frive | Calo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Balanced, flavour-led meals; some freezer-friendly options. Free from artificial preservatives, additives, and processed fillers. | 100% natural ingredients with zero ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Meals are chef-prepared and nutritionist-approved. | Nutritionist-approved meals tailored via AI. Mix of fresh and freezer-friendly dishes. |
| Variety | 16–22 dishes weekly; rotating breakfasts. | 40+ dishes weekly across breakfasts, snacks and mains. | Over 80+ dishes weekly across breakfasts, mains and snacks |
| Delivery | Weekly (Sun & Mon); 5-day fridge life. | 4 delivery days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu) for 7-day freshness. | Select delivery days (subject to availability). |
| Cooking | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). | Ready in under 5 minutes in the microwave or under 40 minutes in the oven. | Fully cooked and heats in minutes. Some meals are freezer-friendly. |
| Price (6 Meal plan) | £44.94 + £6.99 delivery (£7.49/meal). | £50.94 + Free Delivery (From £8.49/meal) | £58.50-£60 (£10 per meal) for a comparable high-protein plan. |
| Reputation | 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (10k+ reviews). | 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (11k+ reviews) and endorsed by celebrities. | 4.3/5 on Trustpilot (300+ reviews). |
Why Frive is the premium standard
- - 100% UPF-free guarantee: While many brands claim to be "healthy," Frive is the only UK meal prep service that guarantees zero ultra-processed foods. Every meal is made from 100% whole foods, using only premium fats, like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, with no industrial seed oils, artificial thickeners, or hidden E-numbers.
- - Commitment to organic sourcing: Up to 30% of all ingredients used are sourced organically to support higher farming standards and long-term health.
- - Unrivalled menu variety: Don't get stuck in a "chicken and rice" loop. Frive offers a rotating weekly menu of 40+ different dishes across breakfasts, mains, and snacks.
- - Maximum freshness with 4 delivery days: Unlike competitors who typically deliver once or twice a week, Frive offers four delivery days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu), for ultimate freshness throughout the week.
- - Inclusive dietary support: Premium nutrition should be accessible to everyone. Frive offers a wide range of dietary-specific menus, including dedicated high-protein, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and halal options, without compromising on its 100% natural ingredient standard.
- - Seamless tech and goal tracking: Hit your targets without the manual labour. Every Frive meal comes with a scannable barcode for instant MyFitnessPal integration. Whether you are on the High Protein (40g+), Low Carb, or Balanced plan, tracking your macros is as simple as a quick scan.
- - The Frive Rewards Club: Frive rewards you for making healthy choices. As you enjoy and review your meals, you earn points towards treats and discounts for future orders. The Frive app tracks your progress, notifying you when you’ve unlocked a reward and allowing you to view your history as you commit to your long-term health goals.
- - Eco-conscious packaging: Frive’s commitment to health extends to the planet. All Frive packaging is 100% recyclable or biodegradable, ensuring your convenience doesn't come at the cost of the environment
- - Best for: Health-conscious and busy professionals, couples and fitness enthusiasts who want to stay on track without the burnout of manual meal prep. Frive is the ideal solution for anyone tracking macro goals or seeking a 100% UPF-free diet, providing high-quality, convenient meals for busy careers and active lifestyles.
Read our guides “Frive vs Simmer Eats” and “Frive vs Calo” for a more comprehensive breakdown.
Simmer Eats vs Calo: The final verdict
Choosing between Simmer Eats and Calo comes down to what kind of experience you want each week. Both services are great at helping you reclaim your time, but Simmer Eats keeps things simple and flavour-led, whereas Calo delivers structure through AI and macro targets.
At the end of the day, long-term satisfaction depends on more than saving a few pence per portion. What keeps you subscribed is ingredient integrity and the confidence that quality won’t dip after week one. A small difference in cost per meal rarely outweighs trust in what you are eating.
If you are a busy professional or a health-conscious fitness enthusiast who needs nutritionist-approved, macro-balanced meals, but you are done with hidden fillers and processed junk, Frive is the right choice for your kitchen.
Designed for those who want the convenience of a ready meal but refuse to compromise on real, 100% natural food, Frive ensures you get high-quality nutritionist-approved and chef-prepped meals with zero UPFs week after week.
Raise the bar on everyday nutrition and try Frive today to get up to 40% off your first order.
