What we’d leave: Aside from the protein shakes, which pack 18 grams of protein per bottle, Factor’s smoothies all contain less than 10 grams of protein per serving. From a nutrition standpoint, this means you should be consuming your fruit smoothie alongside a few eggs or a bowl of Greek yogurt to round out a balanced breakfast. That said, the bevs work great as a mid-morning snack or post-run pick-me-up. Also worth noting: smoothie flavors don’t change seasonally, which might be a downside if you like variety in your rotation.
Best smoothie service based on value: Kencko
Pros
- Smoothies are shelf-stable
- “Happiness Guarantee” policy offers replacements, credits, or a refund if you’re not satisfied with your first box
- Each smoothie contains 2½ cups of fruits and vegetables
- No blender needed—just mix with liquid and shake
- At $2.74 per serving, it’s the most affordable smoothie subscription we tested
Cons
- Shaking doesn’t fully dissolve the powdered mix, leading to some textural inconsistency
- Aside from protein blends, Kencko’s smoothies contain just one to two grams of protein (and three grams of fiber) per serving. Think of them as a snack, not a breakfast!
Kencko is on a mission to make it easier to pack more fruits and vegetables into your daily routine. Instead of shipping frozen ingredients or pre-blended drinks, Kencko delivers powdered, shelf-stable smoothie packets you simply mix with 10 ounces of water or milk. Kencko’s smoothie bases are made using a flash-freeze and slow heat process to remove the water from organic ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, while retaining all the fiber, macronutrients, and the majority of the produce’s vitamins and minerals.
Kencko’s core smoothie line includes nine color-coded flavors, like Pinks (dragon fruit and raspberry) and Greens (pineapple, kiwi, spinach). Those who want more protein can choose from five protein-packed smoothies that contain 11 grams of plant protein per serving.
What we love: Kencko is the most accessible smoothie subscription service we tested. It’s shelf-stable (no need to reserve any fridge or freezer space for these “smoothies”), easy to prepare, and more affordable than other options. While most other smoothie brands cost closer to $10 a pop, Kencko’s come in at just $2.74. This makes it an affordable way to pack more produce into your diet.
Each Kencko smoothie contains 2½ cups of fruit and veggies per serving, which is impressive given how easy they are to prepare (how hard is it to shake up a 10-ounce drink?). Since the American Heart Association recommends eating 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables daily, one Kencko smoothie gets you halfway there—yes, even if the produce is powdered.
So, how do they taste? Honestly, pretty darn decent—our favorites when testing were Blues (made with ingredients like dried pineapple, kiwi, Thai lime leaf, baobab, and blue spirulina) and Purples (a bright berry-licious blend that also packs dates, cranberries, and banana). The smoothies are fruit-forward without being overly sweet; we found them far more palatable than, say, a glass of greens powder.
What we’d leave: While tasty, Kencko’s smoothies were lacking in the texture department, tasting more like a juice than a smoothie. After shaking the smoothie base with liquid for a solid several minutes, there were still chunks of unblended powder left behind. This also made the smoothies taste thinner and more watered-down than we’d have liked. You can get a smoother blend, however, by massaging the packet before mixing with liquid, and/or using Kencko’s own Universal Shaker Bottle (your milk frother or blender should do the trick, too). Also, at just 80 calories and just a gram or two of protein per blend, look to Kencko as a snack—or an add-on to an otherwise balanced meal.
For those who crave convenience: Hungryroot
Pros
- Offers 17 smoothie and shake options
- No blender needed—everything is grab-and-go
- Includes a mix of in-house blends and bottled smoothies from well-known brands
- Members can also order from Hungryroot’s nutrient-rich online grocery store, which offers over 1,000 items
Cons
- Recipes are nutritionist-reviewed, but not developed by registered dietitians
- Only four in-house blends; the other 13 come from third-party brands
- Most smoothie options (aside from protein shakes) contain under 10 grams of protein per serving, which makes them better suited for snacking than standing in as a meal
Hungryroot isn’t just a smoothie subscription service—the brand’s core business comes from their direct-to-consumer online grocery marketplace, which sells over 1,000 unique items. That said, the smoothie program is very advanced: Hungryroot sells 17 smoothie and shake options. This includes four Hungryroot-branded smoothies (such as Mango Orange Boost and Power Greens) as well as blends from third-party vendors (such as Noka’s Organic Blackberry Vanilla Superfood Smoothie and Remedy Organics’ Ube Protein Shake). Hungryroot’s own culinary team designs the in-house blends, while outside brands are chosen based on flavor and nutrient density.
What we love: When it comes to convenience, it’s hard to beat Hungryroot’s smoothies. They all come pre-bottled and blended (and you can order your groceries right alongside), and we appreciate that you can buy from smoothie brands you may already know and love—like Koia and Owyn—in addition to the in-house line of fresh blends. Hungryroot avoids adding sugar or anything artificial to their smoothies; the ingredients listed on packaging are short and simple (i.e. whole foods only). One flavor standout from our test was Strawberry Banana Glow—the anything-but-basic mix of strawberry, banana, chia, and goji berries is thick, vibrantly fruity, and satisfying. It also packs probiotics and six grams of fiber, meaning it’ll give your gut microbiome a boost.
What we’d leave: Much as we enjoy the convenience factor of buying bottled smoothies from brands like Koia and Remedy Organic on Hungryroot, we wish they had a larger lineup of their house-made blends. Hungryroot’s drinks were among the most delicious smoothies we tried (and contain significantly fewer ingredients and more fresh, whole foods than most of their brand-name counterparts)—but with only four flavor options, we could see getting a little fatigued from sipping the same-old drinks daily. And while the Power Greens packs a considerable amount of protein (12 grams), the other three flavors clocked in at just three grams or less.
Ready to rival your local smoothie shop: Revive Superfoods
Pros
- Wide variety with 30 flavors available; members can choose 7, 14, or 21 smoothies per delivery on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis
- Flavor- and texture-wise, these came the closest to what you’d buy at a professional smoothie shop
- Add-ons available, including smoothie mix-ins (like chocolate protein or greens) and healthy snacks
Cons
- Recipes are reviewed by a nutritionist and food scientist, but not developed by registered dietitians
- Requires a blender to prepare
- Frozen cups take up considerable freezer space
- Some blends contain added sugars, nonnutritive sweeteners, or thickeners like xanthan gum
Smoothies from Revive Superfoods come in the form of pre-portioned fruits and vegetables frozen at peak ripeness for optimal flavor and nutritional benefits. To serve, simply add your liquid of choice to the fill line indicated on the packaging, pour into a blender, and whirl. After signing up for the subscription service, you can select your own smoothie flavors from Revive’s menu of 30 flavors in quantities of seven, 14, or 21 per shipment at a frequency that’s fitting for you: weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Members can skip or pause a shipment at any time.
While Revive Superfoods’ core menu remains the same year-round, you can expect regular rotating flavor additions based on the season, consumer feedback, and what’s trending. Those who want nutrient boosters can select from smoothie mix-ins, like chocolate protein powder or greens blends. Revive also sells healthy snacks, like frozen pancake bites, grain-free cereal, and protein bars.
What we love: Flavor- and texture-wise, Revive Superfoods’ blends came closest to the quality you’d expect from a professional juice bar. And with frozen beverages starting at just $3.50 (run don’t walk: the brand is currently running a generous sale on all beverage blends), a membership to the service means reduced cost plus added convenience. There are 30 smoothie options to choose from on the Revive Superfoods menu, which is more flavors than any other service we tested. Pick from fruit-forward drinks (like antioxidant-rich Raspberry Lychee, Sweet Peach and Yuzu, or keto-friendly Blueberry and Maqui Berry), caffeinated concoctions (Banana Mocha, Apple Matcha, Apple and Black Tea), protein-rich blends (such as High Protein Cherry and Choco, Mango, or Berry), and more.