In our full Nutrisystem review, we talked about how and whether Nutrisystem works, covered the key facts about food lists, meal plans, and pricing, and simply introduced you to all the essential information you should possess before you get started with this weight loss meal delivery program. In this post, we will adopt a slightly different approach and exclusively focus on determining whether Nutrisystem is as affordable as it is effective, that is, whether it is worth the cash.
Charging about $2-$3 per meal, it more affordable than many other dieting solutions. However, what we aim to discover is if it is truly better than its alternatives. Stick around to find out.
What You Get In A Nutrisystem Delivery
What you get in your Nutrisystem delivery depends on the meal plan you opt for. The company offers 9 plans, each providing 4 weeks’ worth of food in every monthly delivery. You can get 3-5 ready-made diet meals and snacks per day. Nutrisystem’s signature shakes are included in the first week of each plan. If you want to enjoy the shakes regularly, you can purchase them a la carte or get the company’s most comprehensive plan (Uniquely Yours Plus), which does not only provide meals and snacks but also brings you 1 shake per day.
It is important to note that no matter which plan you choose, your deliveries do not cover all of your weekly meals. Namely, all the plans require you to eat 6 times a day but only provide 3-5 ready-to-eat meals and snacks daily. In addition to the meals provided by Nutrisystem, you get to eat fresh grocery food and Flex meals – dishes you cook yourself using Nutrisystem recipes or meals you eat at a restaurant following Nutrisystem’s guidelines.
Therefore, you can expect to get 84 to 140 meals and snacks every month, plus 7 shakes in your first delivery. If you opt for the most comprehensive plan, you get 28 shakes per delivery. In any case, this is quite a lot of food, so you need to free up some space before your order arrives. Fortunately, you do not have to keep the food in your fridge since the company uses the soft canning process to seal its products. This means that they can be safely stored in the pantry. However, this applies to fresh foods, which make up the largest part of the company’s assortment. You can choose to get frozen foods as well, but keep in mind that you need to store them in your freezer, so you should determine the fresh-to-frozen ratio in accordance with your freezer’s capacity.
How Much Does Nutrisystem Cost
Nutrisystem meal plans differ in the range of food items and additional perks they provide. Therefore, it only makes sense that they come at different prices. On average, the service charges $11 per day or about $2.50 per meal. Before we get started with our complete pricing overview, let us first take a quick look at the options before you.
Nutrisystem’s standard set of meal plans includes the Basic, Core, Uniquely Yours, and Uniquely Yours Plus plans. All the plans come in 2 versions – for women and for men – and allow you to decide whether you want to get the Favorites Pack – pre-selected meals and snacks – or the Custom Menu – you pick your own meals.
Diabetics and pre-diabetics can opt for diabetic-friendly versions of the Basic, Core, and Uniquely Yours plans. All the meals available with these plans are designed in accordance with the guidelines for recommended sugar intake provided by the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association.
For individuals on meat-free diets, Nutrisystem has designed the Vegetarian meal plan. For those who want to enjoy greater flexibility, cook more, and order less, the service has created the Dinners My Way plan.
Now that you know what your meal plan options are, let us discover exactly what they include and how much they all cost.
Nutrisystem Dinners My Way Plan Cost
The women’s version of the Dinners My Way plan brings you 3 food items per day for 4 weeks, which translates to 84 items per monthly delivery. Included in the deliveries are ready-made breakfasts, lunches, and evening snacks. That means that you make your dinners and remaining 2 daily snacks on your own. If you are a man, you get an extra snack each day because men need more calories. The plan does not include any extras, like weight loss counseling, tools, and trackers.
Here is how much this plan costs:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $199.99 per month with auto-delivery; $307.68 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $199.99 per month with auto-delivery; $307.68 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $239.99 per month with auto-delivery; $369.22 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $239.99 per month with auto-delivery; $369.22 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Basic Plan Cost
With the Basic plan, you get 4 or 5 meals and snacks per day for 4 weeks, that is 112 or 140 food items per delivery. Women get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 1 snack per day while men get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 snacks per day. Like the previous plan, the Basic option does not come with counseling and free weight loss tools and trackers.
Let us take a look at the Basic plan pricing:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $284.99 per month with auto-delivery; $438.45 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $309.99 per month with auto-delivery; $438.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $324.99 per month with auto-delivery; $499.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $499.98 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Core Plan Cost
The Core plan includes 3 meals and 1 snack per day if you are a lady or 2 snacks per day if you are a gentleman. Therefore, you get 112 food items every month with the women’s version and 140 food items per month with the men’s version. In comparison to the previous 2 plans, it allows you to choose from a wider range of meal options – as many as 100 fresh menu items. Plus, it includes unlimited support from dietitians and counselors and free online trackers and tools. Here is how much it costs:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $309.99 per month with auto-delivery; $476.91 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $309.99 per month with auto-delivery; $476.91 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours Plan Cost
The Uniquely Yours plan includes all the benefits provided by the Core plan – 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks per day (112 or 140 products per month) and unlimited support from experts. The only difference is that it provides greater menu variety than the previously described plans. It lets you choose from over 150 menu items and freely mix and match frozen and fresh food items. The prices are as follows:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours Plus Plan Cost
The Uniquely Yours Plus plan differs from the Uniquely Yours plan in that it provides 4 weeks’ worth of shakes in addition to all the benefits included in the previous plan. That means that apart from 112 or 140 meals and snacks, your monthly delivery includes 28 Nutrisystem Turbo shakes, one for each day of the week. Let us take a look at the Uniquely Yours Plus pricing:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $429.99 per month with auto-delivery; $661.52 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $429.99 per month with auto-delivery; $661.52 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Vegetarian Plan Cost
The Vegetarian plan is quite similar to the Uniquely Yours plan. It includes 3 meals and 1-2 snacks per day (1 for women, 2 for men), that is, 112 or 140 items per month. It enables you to choose from over 90 meat-free menu items, including both fresh and frozen foods. Unlimited support from dietitians and counselors and online trackers and tools are included in the plan as well. The prices are:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Basic-Diabetes Plan Cost
The Basic-Diabetes plan is pretty much the same as the Basic plan. It brings you 3 meals and 1-2 snacks per day for 4 weeks, with men getting 1 extra snack per day. It only provides food and does not include any extra benefits. The only difference in comparison to the Basic plan is that all the meals you get are diabetic-friendly. Here is how much you would pay with this plan:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $284.99 per month with auto-delivery; $438.45 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $284.99 per month with auto-delivery; $438.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $324.99 per month with auto-delivery; $499.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $499.98 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Core-Diabetes Plan Cost
The Core-Diabetes plan includes 3 meals and 1 snack per day if you are a lady and 3 meals and 2 snacks per day if you are a gentleman. It lets you choose your meals from a rich menu including about 100 diabetic-friendly items and allows you to enjoy the benefits of counseling and weight loss tools and trackers. The monthly costs with this plan amount to:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $309.99 per month with auto-delivery; $476.91 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $309.99 per month with auto-delivery; $476.91 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours-Diabetes Plan Cost
Like the previous plan, the Uniquely Yours-Diabetes plan brings you 3 meals and 1-2 snacks per day, free counseling, and weight loss tools and trackers. However, unlike Core-Diabetes, it offers 150+ diabetic-friendly food items, including fresh and frozen products. Therefore, it provides greater menu variety for a bit more cash. Here is how much it costs:
- Women – Favorites Pack: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Women – Custom Menu: $349.99 per month with auto-delivery; $538.45 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Favorites Pack: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery;
- Men – Custom Menu: $389.99 per month with auto-delivery; $599.98 with one-time delivery.
Nutrisystem Shipping Costs
With Nutrisystem, you do not have to worry much about shipping costs. All of its 4-week meal plans come with free FedEx shipping throughout the continental US. However, if you want your order to be shipped outside the mainland United States, a shipping fee does apply. The service delivers to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, APO and PO boxes, military addresses, other US territories, and Canada for a fee of $49.95 per delivery. If you choose to order Nutrisystem products a la carte, without getting a subscription or opting for a meal plan, you can expect to pay $7.99 to $19.99 per delivery, depending on the value of your order (larger orders come with higher shipping fees).
Nutrisystem Coupons & Special Offers
If you are thinking about ordering from Nutrisystem, we warmly suggest checking out our Nutrisystem Coupons page first. There you can find at least a couple of active and verified coupons and promo codes, no matter when you stop by. These coupons can help you save $100 or more on your Nutrisystem orders, no matter which meal plan you choose.
Once you become a customer, you can save extra cash and help your friends get discounts as well. Every time you refer someone and this person opts for a Nutrisystem plan, you get a $100 credit and your friend gets $100 off the plan of his or her choice. You just need to keep in mind a few rules. First, the person you refer needs to be a first-time customer. Second, both of you can only use the credit you get to purchase 4-week plans. Third, your $100 credit is split into 2 parts, both of which you can use in 1 order. Fourth, you can get up to 5 referral credits per month and up to 50 referral credits total. Finally, both you and the persons you refer need to use the received referral credit within 60 days.
It is worth noting that the service regularly provides special bonuses in the form of free food. Quite often, it offers free shakes and bars with its 4-week plans. However, these special offers are usually only available to first-time customers.
Nutrisystem Returns & Refunds
Nutrisystem offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on its Basic, Core, Uniquely Yours, Uniquely Yours Plus, Vegetarian, and diabetic-friendly plans. This guarantee applies to first orders and each customer can take advantage of it only once. If you order from Nutrisystem and you are not happy with your first shipment, you should get in touch with the company’s support staff via phone within 14 days after delivery and send back all the unused food. The service promises to give you a full refund, not including potential shipping costs.
When it comes to the company’s return policy, the general rule is that you can return any unopened fresh goods within 30 days of delivery. You just need to reach out to the support staff via phone to get a return authorization number. Once you safely return the goods, Nutrisystem will issue a full refund, minus the return shipping fee of $19.99. It is important to mention that you cannot return frozen goods. Frozen products are only refundable under the 14-day money-back guarantee.
Is Nutrisystem Worth It?
In the previous paragraphs, we have thoroughly analyzed Nutrisystem’s pricing and covered its return and refund policy as well as special offers that can help you save cash. The time has come to see how Nutrisystem compares to other weight loss solutions, including its top competitors and independent dieting.
Nutrisystem Vs. Competitors
As mentioned earlier, Nutrisystem’s average price is about $11 per day, with 3-5 food items included. This makes it as affordable as South Beach Diet and far cheaper than BistroMD and Diet-To-Go, both of which charge more than $8 per single meal. Nutrisystem is a bit pricier than WonderSlim, which charges $1.25 to $2.20 per meal. This is significantly lower than Nutrisystem’s average price of about $2.50 per meal. However, WonderSlim does primarily focus on meal replacements, which accounts for the difference in prices.
When it comes to effectiveness, scientific studies have shown that the average weight loss with Nutrisystem is 11.6 pounds and 8 inches during the first month on the program. During the same time period, you can lose 9-11 pounds with South Beach Diet, 4 to 8 pounds with Atkins Meal Delivery, 4-12 pounds with Diet-To-Go or 4 to 8 pounds with Jenny Craig. Since the average weight loss seems to range from 6 to 10 pounds during the first month with these top-rated Nutrisystem competitors, we can conclude that Nutrisystem yields exceptional results that can be significantly more visible than those you can achieve with some of its top competitors.
Considering that Nutrisystem is more affordable and seemingly more effective than a number of other services that are considered to be the best weight loss meal delivery programs in America, we can only conclude that Nutrisystem is a superior choice for losing weight with professional assistance.
Nutrisystem Vs. Losing Weight On Your Own
When you first take a look at your monthly total with Nutrisystem, it may seem like quite a lot of cash. The sum is certainly not small, but eating 6 diet meals and snacks a day does not cost little, regardless of whether you cook on your own or sign up for a weight loss meal delivery program. It is not easy to make a meal that costs much less than $2.50, especially if you are trying to lose weight and avoiding cheap fillers that just add inches to your waistline. Therefore, if you eat Nutrisystem food, you are not likely to spend much more than you would if you were making 6 daily meals and snacks on your own.
However, the cost of the food is not the only factor that should be considered. First of all, if you opt for a Nutrisystem meal plan, you have a whole lot of work done for you. You do not have to plan and cook all your meals, count your calories, and wonder whether or not you should eat that banana. The service prepares and delivers nearly all the food you need and provides clear guidelines on what you can eat when cooking on your own or dining out. Plus, it provides free counseling, trackers, and tools that can help you maximize your results.
According to a scientific study published in 2011, dietary counseling alone can significantly increase your odds of achieving greater weight loss results. Furthermore, following a structured meal plan and having most of your meals ready-made makes dieting simpler and minimizes your chances of giving up. Reaching your goals is easier when you have a clear path and do not have to do everything on your own. With Nutrisystem, you always have the right food ready to eat and you can get unlimited support from experts. Such a structured, professionally assisted approach is likely to yield much better results than dieting on your own since it helps you stick to the plan, eliminates excuses, and helps you avoid common mistakes dieters make when losing weight independently.
Nutrisystem Is A Good Choice For…
Based on everything we have said so far, we believe that Nutrisystem can be a great solution for:
- Dieters who do not have the time to plan and cook all their meals;
- Diabetics who are trying to lose weight;
- People who want to achieve fast results;
- Individuals who find it hard to stick to a diet independently;
- Dieters who need help starting their weight loss journey;
- People who do not want to spend more than a few dollars per diet meal;
- Individuals who want to try a weight loss meal delivery risk-free, with guaranteed refunds.
In a word, Nutrisystem can be of use to anyone who finds it difficult to get started and does not have much time to invest in dieting. When you calculate the cost per meal and compare it to its alternatives, it is quite budget-friendly. Plus, you have nothing to lose but extra pounds since you are guaranteed to get your money back if you are not happy. Therefore, we find Nutrisystem to be a rather good weight loss program that is worth giving a shot.