Frive vs Simmer Eats: Which UK Meal Delivery Service Is Right For You?
The UK ready-meals market is growing fast, projected to reach £8.7 billion (around $11.1 billion) by 2027 as more people look for healthier ways to eat well without the hassle of cooking.
Busy schedules, rising food costs and the drawbacks of supermarket ready meals or takeaways have led many to seek healthier options. Meal prep delivery services are booming as a result, offering the speed of convenience food with the quality of balanced, chef-prepared dishes.
Two of the leading brands are Frive and Simmer Eats, both promising fresh, flavour-packed meals delivered to your door. While their services sound similar, the details make a big difference depending on your priorities.
In this guide, we compare Frive vs Simmer Eats across meal quality, variety, pricing, delivery and customer reviews, so you can decide which offers the best value in 2025.
| Category | Frive | Simmer Eats |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | The only UK meal prep provider using 100% natural ingredients with no ultra-processed foods. Chef-prepared and nutritionist-approved. | Balanced, flavour-led meals with some freezer-friendly options. |
| Variety | 40+ dishes weekly including breakfasts, snacks and mains. | 16 dishes weekly (50+ monthly), including rotating breakfasts. |
| Delivery | Four delivery days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu). Meals last up to 7 days in the fridge. Split deliveries mean fresher food and greater flexibility. | Weekly delivery (Sun & Mon). Meals last up to 5 days in the fridge and can also be frozen. |
| Cooking | Fully cooked, ready in less than 5 minutes in the microwave. All meals can also be oven-heated in under 40 minutes. | Fully cooked, heats in less than 5 minutes in the microwave. |
| Price | 6-meal plan costs £47.10 (~£7.85 per meal). Student and Blue Light discounts available. | 6-meal plan costs £47.76 (~£7.96 per meal). Student and Blue Light discounts available. |
| Reputation | 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (9k+ reviews). | 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (6k+ reviews), often praised for flavour. |
| Dietary Requirements Supported | Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal. | Vegetarian and gluten-free options available, but the range is more limited. |
| Diet Plans Available | High Protein (40g+), Low Carb, low-calorie, Balanced | Balanced meals, some high-protein options, and fewer structured plans. |
| Additional Factors | Customer Rewards Club: earn points every time you order (“the more you eat, the more you save”). Strong eco-focus with recyclable, portion-controlled packaging. | Practical and variety-first, with recyclable packaging, but no loyalty or rewards programme. |
| Tech Compatibility | All meals are barcode-scannable and fully compatible with MyFitnessPal for easy calorie and macro tracking. Orders via website or app. | Orders via website. No direct integration with MyFitnessPal or similar apps. |
| Best For | Fitness-focused users, busy professionals, couples, families, eco-conscious customers, and busy parents who want fresh, all-day variety. | Busy, convenience-first users who want balanced, tasty meals and are comfortable freezing meals for flexibility. |
Brand Overviews
Frive
Launched as Lions Prep in 2016 and rebranded in 2024, Frive positions itself as a premium meal delivery service. Its USP is chef-crafted, nutritionist-approved meals made only from whole ingredients with no ultra-processed fillers. With twice-weekly deliveries and 40+ rotating options, it targets health-conscious professionals, busy parents, couples and fitness enthusiasts seeking convenience without compromise.
Simmer Eats
Founded in 2017 by brothers Simmy and Jhai Dhillon, Simmer Eats focuses on flavour-driven, balanced meals designed for everyday convenience. With a rotating menu of 16 dishes each week, plus vegetarian and gluten-free options, it appeals to busy people who want reliable, tasty food at a fair price. Its strong reputation comes from consistent reviews praising flavour, variety and value.
Frive vs Simmer: A Detailed Comparison
Meal Quality & Ingredients
When choosing a meal delivery service, nutrition and flavour go hand in hand. Meals need to be both balanced and satisfying, because if they compromise on health or taste, the convenience quickly loses its value.
Frive
Frive meals are made using whole-food ingredients with no ultra-processed fillers. Every dish is chef-prepared and nutritionist-approved, designed to balance macros while still feeling like restaurant-quality food.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats focuses on balance and flavour, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Some meals are freezer-friendly for extra flexibility, and the recipes lean toward everyday enjoyment rather than strict nutrition tracking.
Summary
Frive appeals most to those steering clear of ultra-processed foods and looking for a health-first approach. Like Frive, Simmer Eats suits people who want reliable, flavour-led meals with the option of freezing for convenience.
Frive’s Braja Prawl Bowl made from premium ingredients, and is free of ultra processed additives.
Menu Variety & Specialisation
Variety is not only about the number of dishes but also about how well a service supports different diets and goals. From vegan to high-protein, specialisation can be the deciding factor.
Frive
Frive offers 40+ rotating dishes weekly with options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free. Customers can also pick high-protein, weight-loss, low-carb, or balanced meals, making it easier for those with specific goals in mind or households with different needs to order together.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats runs a weekly menu of 16 dishes (50+ monthly), covering vegetarian and gluten-free diets. It includes rotating breakfasts but is less tailored to stricter nutrition plans such as high-protein or calorie-controlled diets.
Summary
Frive works best for customers who want meals that match specific goals, from vegan to high-protein or balanced eating. Simmer Eats is suited to those who want reliable flavour and variety without specific meal plans.
Preparation & Delivery
Convenience is one of the biggest attractions of meal prep delivery services, and it is often the reason customers continue using them. Delivery schedules and heating times can make the difference between a service that fits seamlessly into daily life and one that falls short.
Frive
Frive delivers four days a week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), offering more flexibility and fresher meals across the week. Meals now last up to seven days in the fridge, arrive chilled with ice packs, and are fully cooked, ready to heat in less than five minutes in the microwave, or around 40 minutes in the oven.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats delivers weekly on Sundays and Mondays. Meals arrive in protective chilled packaging and can be stored fresh or frozen. Like Frive, they are ready in less than 5 minutes in the microwave.
Summary
Frive is a good fit for anyone who wants more flexibility, with up to four delivery days a week and meals that stay fresh in the fridge for up to seven days. That gives you more freedom to enjoy meals without relying on the freezer. Simmer Eats is better suited to those happy with one weekly delivery and the option to freeze meals for later.
Read our guide to find out how long prepped meals actually last in the fridge.
Frive’s Grilled Rib-Eye Steak, packed full of 46 grams of protein.
Pricing & Value
Price often decides whether meal prep delivery becomes a weekly staple or just a short-term experiment. Both Frive and Simmer Eats sit in the mid-to-premium range, but their value is delivered in different ways.
Frive
A 6-meal plan with Frive comes in at £47.10, working out at around £7.85 per meal. Larger plans bring the price down further. The cost reflects chef-led recipes, whole-food ingredients and the flexibility to choose from high-protein, weight-loss or balanced plans.
Simmer Eats
A 6-meal plan with Simmer Eats costs £47.76, or about £7.96 per meal. While slightly cheaper on some larger bundles, the menu is narrower and focused more on balanced mains with fewer all-day options.
Summary
On smaller plans, Frive actually works out a touch cheaper than Simmer Eats, with broader choice and meals built entirely from whole ingredients. Simmer Eats remains a fair option for those who prioritise straightforward, flavour-led mains. Both brands frequently run introductory discounts, helping first-time customers bring the cost down further.
Read our guide “How Much Does Meal Prep Delivery Really Save You?” to find out more.
Customer Satisfaction
Websites and marketing claims can only say so much. What matters most is how customers rate the food once it arrives at their door.
Frive
Frive holds a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from over 9,000 reviews, often praised for freshness, nutrition and ease of use. It is regularly featured in health and lifestyle media and has been endorsed by high-profile names including Rita Ora, Simon Pegg and Olympian Niamh Emerson and mentioned in leading publications including Cosmopolitan and Glamour.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats also scores 4.5/5 on Trustpilot, with more than 6,000 reviews. Customers highlight flavour and convenience as standout strengths. The brand has been featured in publications such as GQ and maintains strong visibility through TikTok and social media.
Summary
Both brands enjoy consistently high customer ratings and strong press coverage. Frive edges ahead on the sheer volume of reviews and celebrity endorsements, while Simmer Eats has built strong traction through social media engagement.
Tech Compatibility
Technology can make meal prep even easier, especially if you’re tracking nutrition or managing your plan on the go. Here’s how Frive and Simmer Eats compare.
Frive
All meals come with barcode scanning and are fully compatible with MyFitnessPal, making it simple to log calories, protein and macros directly into the app. Orders can be managed via the website or app for extra convenience.
Simmer Eats
Orders are placed via the website, but there’s no direct integration with tracking apps like MyFitnessPal. Customers who want to track nutrition will need to input details manually.
Summary
Frive stands out for its seamless tech integration, especially useful for customers tracking fitness or nutrition goals. Simmer Eats offers a straightforward online ordering experience but lacks the same level of app compatibility.
Additional Factors
Beyond food and price, extras, from sustainability to how easy a plan is to pause, can make the biggest difference when it comes to tipping the scales.
Frive
- - Flexible subscriptions with pause, skip, or cancel anytime
- - Strong sustainability focus with recyclable and biodegradable packaging
- - Meals now last up to 7 days in the fridge, reducing waste and boosting convenience
- - Inclusive dietary coverage: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and halal options
- - Runs a Rewards Club, allowing customers to earn savings the more they order
- - All meals are compatible with MyFitnessPal via barcode scanning, making nutrition tracking simple
Frive’s strong eco-focus also ties into reducing food waste, a growing priority for many households.
Simmer Eats
- - Subscriptions can also be paused or cancelled online.
- - Uses recyclable packaging, though less central to its brand positioning.
- - A broad menu that caters to varied diets, including vegetarian and gluten-free, but is more focused on balance.
- - Practical, variety-first brand identity.
Which Service is Right for You?
Both Frive and Simmer Eats make eating well easier, but they suit slightly different needs. The choice often comes down to how much value you place on nutrition, variety and freshness compared to cost and simplicity.
Frive is a better fit if you are:
- - A busy professional, couple or family who want chef-quality meals ready in minutes without the stress of cooking
- - A health-conscious eater who wants meals made with 100% natural ingredients and zero ultra-processed foods
- - A fitness enthusiast who needs high-protein meals to support training and recovery
- - Someone who values variety across breakfasts, snacks, lunches and dinners, not just main meals
- - Eco-conscious, with an interest in sustainable packaging and reducing food waste
- - Taking advantage of introductory offers and Blue Light/student discounts to bring the premium cost down
- - Someone who wants easy tracking, all meals integrate with MyFitnessPal for simple nutrition logging
- - A customer who likes the idea of a Rewards Club, earning more savings the more meals you order
- - Gluten-intolerant, as all Frive meals are made to be gluten-free
Simmer Eats is a better fit if you are:
- - Looking for balanced, flavour-led meals with straightforward choices
- - Comfortable with weekly deliveries and freezing meals to extend freshness
- - Someone who wants to reduce food waste by ordering fixed portions with no unused ingredients
- - Interested in student or Blue Light discounts, as well as frequent introductory offers
- - Happy with a simpler menu centred on mains and a few rotating breakfasts, rather than all-day variety
Try Frive today and take advantage of introductory discounts on chef-prepared meals that make healthy eating effortless and delicious.
FAQs
Which is healthier, Frive or Simmer Eats?
Frive is the only UK meal prep provider using 100% natural ingredients with no ultra-processed foods, making it a top choice for health-conscious eaters. Simmer Eats offers balanced, flavour-led meals with some freezer-friendly options, but without the same strict “no UPFs” guarantee. If clean eating matters most, Frive is the healthier option.
Does Frive or Simmer Eats offer more variety?
Frive serves 40+ weekly dishes, including breakfasts, mains, snacks and tailored diet plans such as high-protein, low-carb and weight loss. Simmer Eats runs a rotating menu of 16 dishes per week (50+ monthly), covering mains with some breakfasts. Frive is stronger for all-day variety, while Simmer Eats is better for straightforward, flavour-led mains.
How often do Frive and Simmer Eats deliver meals?
Frive delivers four times a week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), with meals lasting up to seven days in the fridge. This gives customers fresher food and more flexibility across the week. Simmer Eats delivers weekly on Sundays and Mondays, with meals that last up to five days in the fridge or can be frozen for later use.
Are meals from Frive and Simmer Eats easy to prepare?
Yes, both brands provide fully cooked meals that heat in under 5 minutes in the microwave. Frive also makes all meals oven-ready in under 40 minutes. Both are ideal for busy customers who want healthy food without extra prep.
Which is cheaper, Frive or Simmer Eats?
A 6-meal plan with Frive costs £47.10 (~£7.85 per meal), while the same plan with Simmer Eats is £47.76 (~£7.96 per meal). The price difference is small, but Frive offers a broader variety, whole-food ingredients and regular discounts, making it better long-term value.
What do reviews say about Frive vs Simmer Eats?
Both Frive and Simmer Eats score 4.5/5 on Trustpilot, but Frive has over 9,000 reviews, with customers often highlighting freshness and nutrition. Simmer Eats has around 6,000 reviews, praised mainly for flavour and convenience.
Which meal delivery service should you choose, Frive or Simmer Eats?
Frive is ideal for fitness-focused users, health-conscious families, eco-minded eaters and those who want tech features like MyFitnessPal integration and a rewards club. Simmer Eats works best for busy people who want affordable, tasty meals with the option to freeze them for later.
