Is Thrive Market a Good Choice? Our Detailed Review

Thrive Market Detailed Review — Explore savings on over 5,000 healthy and organic grocery items.

If you’re aiming to incorporate more organic foods into your diet, Thrive Market is a fantastic starting point. While grocery delivery may no longer be the groundbreaking novelty it once was, it certainly adds a level of convenience that makes healthy eating more accessible.

We’ve covered meal kits and prepared meal delivery services extensively, but platforms like Thrive Market and Hungryroot have surged in popularity recently. For many American households, these grocery delivery services have become essential, reshaping how we shop and stock our kitchens.

What is Thrive Market?

Thrive Market is an online grocery delivery service often compared to a blend of Costco and Whole Foods. But what makes it stand out in today’s competitive and evolving market?

Thrive Market offers low prices through its membership model, high-quality ingredients, and a seamless online shopping experience—providing a convenient alternative to traditional stores.

However, with Instacart and Amazon’s Whole Foods delivery, can Thrive Market keep up in terms of convenience and price? And how do their products measure up?

To answer these questions, we tested Thrive Market twice—initially in 2022 with two orders of dry goods, paper products, organic meat, and fish, and again recently with a typical organic grocery delivery.

Pros:

Wide variety of products;
Quick delivery time;
Premium quality products.

Cons:

Membership is required for subscription;
Groceries, frozen goods, and wine are delivered separately.

Thrive Market Membership Cost

To access Thrive Market’s wholesale-style prices, you need a membership. Here’s a breakdown of the costs and benefits:

Annual Membership: $5 per month + Free $60 gift with your first order (saves 58% compared to monthly);
Monthly Membership: $12 per month.

Once you’re a member, you can order as frequently as you like, with free shipping on grocery orders over $49. Keep in mind:

Frozen Boxes: Free shipping on orders over $120;
Wine Boxes: Free shipping on orders over $79;
Frozen Order Minimum: $65;
Orders below these minimums ship for $19.95 (frozen) and $13.95 (wine).

Thrive Market prioritizes eco-friendly shipping practices to minimize environmental impact.

AutoShip is included with your membership, allowing you to schedule deliveries weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly. Adjust deliveries anytime. Thrive currently ships across all contiguous U.S. states, with wine shipping restricted by state laws.

Members reportedly save an average of 30% on groceries compared to other retailers. Thrive offers a price-match guarantee. If your savings don’t cover your annual membership fee, Thrive credits the difference in Thrive Cash upon renewal. Though unverified, many members reclaim their membership cost within two months.

Earn Thrive Cash on select purchases, applied to your next order. Thrive Market also provides free memberships to qualifying applicants, veterans, teachers, students, first responders, and low-income families through the Thrive Gives program.

Does Thrive Market offer sales and discounts?

Absolutely! While they do charge membership fees, Thrive Market offers several ways to save money.

Membership Perks: Annual members receive benefits like free gifts, occasional coupon codes, and cash-back deals on select items—much like loyalty programs at other grocery stores.
Auto-Ship Savings: Sign up for auto-ship to enjoy additional savings, akin to discounts offered by Amazon and other retailers.
Thrive Cash Rewards: Occasionally, you can earn Thrive Cash by reviewing newly released products.
Savings Guarantee: Thrive Market guarantees savings for annual members. If you don’t save the equivalent of your membership fee by year’s end, they’ll credit you the difference when you renew—based on the difference between their selling price and the item’s MSRP (not comparisons with local store prices).
Sale Alerts: Thrive Market sends alerts for sales on your favorite items. For instance, I recently received an email notifying me that my favorite Atlantic salmon is on sale—a feature I love!
Introductory Offers: New members can enjoy one-time discounts, like 30% off their first order and a free gift. Just remember, these offers apply to your first purchase only.

While these deals are fantastic, there are some limitations. Programs like price matching might affect the total savings you experience.

How Thrive Market Works

With an active membership, you gain full access to everything Thrive Market offers, making shopping easy and convenient.

The Thrive Market website is user-friendly and organized into typical categories like “Meat & Seafood” and “Pantry.” It also features unique categories such as “Thrive Market Goods” and “Exclusives.” You can find a wide range of products, including wine, personal care items, and household and pet supplies.

Similar to Whole Foods, Thrive Market appeals to those who prefer organic and non-GMO products. It also caters to specialized diets like gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and ketogenic.

Keep in mind that Thrive Market’s selection is akin to what you’d see at Whole Foods, focusing more on specialty items rather than mainstream grocery brands. So if you love Skippy peanut butter or Crest toothpaste, you might need to shop elsewhere.

Interestingly, products at Thrive Market often cost a dollar or two less than their counterparts at Whole Foods, offering a more budget-friendly option for similar brands.

Thrive Market vs. Costco: Who offers a wider range of products?

Thrive Market and Costco both offer diverse product selections, but they serve different customer preferences. If you prioritize healthy and organic options, Thrive Market is your go-to. It specializes in natural foods and products, offering an impressive range of organic fruits, vegetables, pantry staples, beauty items, and household goods. Plus, their own Thrive Market brand provides affordable organic options. Some favorites include Bob’s Red Mill, Simple Mills, and Primal Kitchen.

Costco, on the other hand, offers a broader range of products beyond health-focused goods. From groceries to electronics, it provides a one-stop-shop experience, although its selection for specific diets might not be as extensive as Thrive Market’s.

The choice ultimately depends on your priorities. If you’re focused on organic and dietary-specific choices, Thrive Market is ideal. Use this link to enjoy $40 off your first order. But if you need a wide variety of general products, Costco could be the better fit.

What We Like

We Tested Thrive Market—Here’s Our Honest Review

In May 2022, we joined Thrive Market and placed our first order to get a real sense of the service. Our initial box included dry ingredients and home products, followed by another filled with meat and seafood.

Fast forward to December 2023, we renewed our annual membership and opted for a grocery order featuring only dry and refrigerated items. By early 2024, we explored their frozen box option since frozen goods require a separate purchase.

Thrive Market Offer a Wide Range of Products

Thrive Market’s product selection has expanded significantly over the years. While it continues to offer a curated range focusing on brands with organic, non-GMO ingredients and sustainable practices, it now includes an extensive variety that caters to a wide array of needs, particularly in snacks and pantry items. You’ll find a wide variety of products to choose from.

Fast Shipping with Timely Updates Along The Way!

Each order arrived within three business days. Besides the standard shipping notifications and tracking info, you can opt to receive text alerts when your package is delivered.

Our boxes were received in perfect condition, with all items securely packed inside. Staying true to Thrive’s commitment to sustainability, all packaging is recyclable or biodegradable.

The frozen box comes packed with dry ice, ensuring the meat and seafood remain frozen. Transferring everything to the freezer was easy, though there was more packaging to dispose of than with our initial grocery box (similar to experiences with meal kits).

If you use AutoShip, you’ll get a notification when your suggested groceries are added to your cart a few days before shipment, allowing you to adjust or change products as needed.

Thrive Market’s Frozen Boxes Deliver Exceptional Value

To evaluate Thrive Market’s approach to frozen orders, we purchased a meat and seafood box in 2022 and revisited it in 2024. Over the years, Thrive has significantly broadened its range of meat, poultry, and seafood, moving away from curated boxes that previously offered limited value for their price.

Today, Thrive Market provides an extensive selection of frozen products—from raw proteins and frozen entrees to breakfast items and ice cream. Each product meets Thrive’s stringent Quality Standards.

In 2022, our box included two pounds of chicken breasts, about two and a half pounds of chicken thighs, and four 4-ounce lobster tails, all for $120 with free shipping.

Now, for the same $120 free-shipping minimum, you can receive one pound of ground beef, two pounds of chicken breasts, one and a half pounds of salmon, one pound of shrimp, a package of bacon, and several frozen sides or entrees.

Additionally, Thrive offers bulk options at wholesale prices, allowing you to stock up without worrying about grocery store fluctuations.

Our only gripe is the $65 minimum order for a frozen box. If you don’t reach the $120 free-shipping threshold, shipping costs an additional $20. This can add up, so it’s ideal to order when you’re ready to fully stock your freezer.

What Did Not Like

The Service Doesn’t Include Fresh Produce

If you’re seeking a full grocery delivery service, Thrive Market falls short—it doesn’t include fresh produce. While it covers almost everything else for your weekly shopping, you’ll need to look elsewhere for fruits and vegetables.

Consider pairing it with a service like Misfits Market, which delivers produce along with meat, dairy, and pantry items. This combination ensures you can complete your online grocery shopping seamlessly.

You Can’t Include Meat and Wine in a Single Grocery Delivery

Thrive Market holds its own against Whole Foods delivery through Amazon in many ways. However, the need for separate deliveries of groceries, frozen foods, and wine is a drawback. While this system efficiently delivers goods, it’s frustrating that you can’t combine a frozen item or a bottle of wine with your grocery order.

These items require individual shipments, each with a minimum shipping amount. This means you’ll need to plan ahead and order in larger quantities. Additionally, if you don’t reach the $120 minimum for a frozen box, you’ll face high shipping fees.

While Thrive Market can save you time and money on certain grocery shopping aspects, success requires commitment to the delivery process and a willingness to separate orders into different categories.

Lack of Cold Packs in Grocery Deliveries

In our latest grocery delivery, which included some refrigerated items, we noticed the box lacked cold packs or insulation.

While the current winter weather in the northeast allowed us to quickly move the box indoors and refrigerate the contents, we’re concerned about potential issues in warmer months or if a delivery is delayed.

Frozen items like meat and seafood are shipped in specialized boxes designed for freezing, which eases our concerns for those products. However, we believe that grocery deliveries should include cold packaging for refrigerated items to ensure their safety year-round.

Canceling Can Be a Hassle

Finding out how to cancel a paid membership isn’t straightforward. We only discovered the process by clicking on the “Contact Us” link in the site’s footer, where an FAQ finally explained it.

To cancel, you must chat with customer service through their dedicated site, as the chatbot isn’t available on the shopping site. On the bright side, if you cancel an annual membership, you can still enjoy all Thrive Market benefits until your original membership period ends.

If you wish to pause deliveries instead, simply keep your cart empty and ensure no items are on Autoship. However, keep in mind that you’ll still be charged the annual membership fee unless you officially cancel.

Is Thrive Market membership right for you?

Thrive Market caters to consumers who prioritize high-quality, organic foods and are willing to invest in a $60 membership. If this resonates with you, the membership could be a great value, especially as grocery prices keep rising.

If you prefer buying small amounts of fresh meat or lack freezer space, the frozen box may not suit your needs. However, if you frequently purchase grass-fed and wild-caught meat and seafood, Thrive Market’s frozen boxes offer a convenient way to stock up alongside other frozen groceries.

We’re impressed with Thrive Market’s product quality, pricing, and mission. While it can’t match the widespread reach and instant convenience of giants like Amazon, being a smaller brand comes with its own set of advantages.

Thrive Market Conclusion

In conclusion, whether or not Thrive Market is a good investment ultimately depends on your personal needs and priorities. It offers various benefits such as convenience, affordability, and access to a wide selection of healthy products. However, it also has its drawbacks such as the limited products for some dietary restrictions. So, before making a decision, consider carefully what matters most to you in terms of grocery shopping. Do you value savings and convenience more than specialized options or vice versa? Additionally, keep in mind that investing in Thrive Market means supporting a company that promotes sustainable and ethical practices in the food industry. If you are passionate about these values and want to make a positive impact on both your health and the environment, then Thrive Market might be worth considering as an investment. After all, we only have one body and should prioritize nourishing it with wholesome and sustainable food choices. So why not give it a try? Joining Thrive Market could be an exciting new step towards incorporating healthier foods into your lifestyle while also contributing to a greater cause. Let’s take action towards our health and a better future for our planet with Thrive Market today!