I Tried a Thrive Market Membership for Three Weeks — Here’s My Honest Review

These days, we’re no longer beholden to traveling to our local-ish supermarket for groceries. There are dozens of online grocery delivery services that offer practically everything you’d find at a typical grocery store. Some even stock premium-quality staples and niche products you can’t get anywhere else.

I’ve used several of these services as part of my job as a groceries editor at The Kitchn, and have plenty of favorites. One I hadn’t yet tried was Thrive Market. I’ve heard excellent things about the popular membership-based grocery service for years, and wanted to see if it lived up to the hype myself. 

I spent three weeks testing Thrive Market — here’s my full review.

Thrive Market is a membership-based grocery delivery service that focuses on organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly groceries and home goods. The online marketplace has a wide range of pantry and shelf-stable items (including cleaning supplies and personal care products), as well as wine and frozen foods, which ship separately. Members can filter items based on diet (keto, vegan, or Paleo) as well as certification (pasture-raised, certified gluten-free, or kosher).

To shop at Thrive Market, you’ll need to purchase a membership for $59.95 a year (or $12 a month). Shipping is free when you spend at least $49 on groceries (otherwise it’s $5.95) and at least $99 on frozen items (otherwise it’s $19.95). The company estimates members save up to 30% on groceries compared to a typical brick-and-mortar store.

After creating my account, I spent about an hour just browsing before I placed my first order (you know, in the name of research). I was impressed with the quality and variety of the hundreds of items. Specialists at Thrive Market vet and restrict more than 1,000 ingredients, including artificial flavors, antibiotics, synthetic nitrates and nitrites, and parabens. 

Eventually, I got down to business and ordered some pantry and freezer staples, plus a few household items. I was able to set up recurring, auto-ship orders for specific items (for every few days, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly), with the flexibility of skipping or rescheduling at any time. Here’s everything I ordered over the three weeks.

• Pantry: Dried rice, spaghetti, coconut milk, hot sauce, chia seeds, flax seeds, dried oats, boxed macaroni and cheese, almond butter, oat milk, cereal, ghee, and powdered sugar
• Frozen produce: Blueberries, organic sweet peas, and organic spinach
• Frozen meat: Sirloin steaks, frozen chicken drumsticks, bone-in chicken thighs, ground beef, and chicken sausages
• Household: Dish soap, hand wash, and toothpaste

The pantry and shelf-stable items shipped within 24 hours of when my order was placed, and arrived within two to three business days. The frozen items ship Monday through Wednesday to avoid delays that come from weekend shipping.

When each of my boxes arrived, I was delighted by how put-together they were. I’m no stranger to ordering frozen foods or produce online, and more often than not they come with dents or wet marks from melted ice. Not Thrive. The glass pantry items were wrapped with additional paper for an extra layer of security, and the frozen meat came with dry ice that kept them at temperature (even though I couldn’t retrieve the box until the end of the day). 

I ordered an assortment of groceries that I already know and love, like 4th and Heart Himalayan Pink Salt Ghee and Native Forest Coconut Cream, as well as some from Thrive Market’s private-label line, like Organic Jasmine Rice and Organic Medium Salsa. I cooked as I regularly do, mixing the new groceries in with what I already have in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. The Thrive items fit seamlessly into my weekly meal routine, and definitely live up to their high-quality reputation. 

I made oatmeal the first morning with exclusively Thrive Market groceries: oats, coconut milk, chia seeds, flax seeds, frozen blueberries, and a spoonful of almond milk — and it was just wonderful. The cooked oats were tender with a bit of a bite, and all of the toppings made it a textural dream. 

That afternoon, I made the Banza Macaroni and Cheese with a bit of the Cascadian Farm Frozen Spinach, and again, it was another delicious, hearty meal. The boxed macaroni and cheese was on sale (26% off!); I’d seen it on shelves, and am glad I finally tried it. The mac was so cheesy and nostalgic. I will definitely be buying it again. 

Later that night, I cooked a sirloin steak on the stovetop. It was tender and meaty, and overall such a high-quality piece of meat that tasted like it could’ve come from a nice restaurant. 

My meals for the next few weeks had the same kind of fluidity. My Thrive Market groceries naturally meshed into my weekly meal rotation (in the best way possible). I ate Applegate Chicken Sausages most mornings, and made chia seed pudding with the chia seeds and coconut milk to eat throughout the week — and I enjoyed each and every bit of it. 

If you’re into organic groceries, have dietary restrictions, or just want to avoid the chaos of grocery stores, then absolutely YES. It’s kind of like shopping at a specialty or organic grocery store online — and at a discount. I also find that Thrive Market is especially great for small-space or apartment living because you can restock your pantry without a bulk warehouse run or schlepping multiple bags of groceries to your home. 

It is not a one-stop shop, though. Because the marketplace does not have perishable items like fresh greens, milk, or eggs, you’ll need to supplement those with a stop at your local grocery or farmers market. That said, it does excel in speciality and organic pantry, household, and frozen items.

I’ve tested several grocery delivery services as part of my job as a groceries editor at The Kitchn. (Reviewing groceries is also one of my passions.) I ordered a variety of groceries from Thrive Market and tested them over the course of three weeks. Throughout this time, I took notes on delivery, quality, and functionality of the platform. Every product in this review was purchased by me and used in my kitchen. 

Sign up: Thrive Market

Have you tried Thrive Market? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.