Calo vs Gousto: Which is Better?
Calo and Gousto are completely different services. Calo delivers ready-to-eat calorie-controlled meals, while Gousto is a recipe box where you cook. Here's how they compare.
Looking for something better?
HomeCooks offers restaurant-quality meals made by independent UK chefs. High protein (30-60g), balanced macros, 200+ dishes. Whether you're building muscle, losing weight, or just eating well - properly nutritious food that actually tastes great.
Quick Comparison
| Calo | Gousto | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ready to eat | Recipe box (you cook) |
| Prep time | 3-4 minutes | 10-50 minutes |
| Price | £14-20/day (full plan) | £3.20-£10.25/serving |
| Menu size | ~30 mains | 175+ recipes |
| Best for | Complete daily plans | Recipe variety/cooking |
Calo
Calo offers complete daily meal plans with calorie control. Originally from the Middle East, they provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as a package. App-based experience with personalised plans.
Gousto
Gousto is the UK's most popular recipe box with 175+ recipes per week. They deliver pre-portioned ingredients with recipes to cook at home. Great variety but requires 10-50 minutes cooking time.
Key Differences
Cooking Required
Fundamental difference: Calo is fully prepared, just microwave 3-4 minutes. Gousto requires cooking everything yourself - from quick 10-minute meals to 50-minute elaborate dishes.
Convenience vs Variety
Calo: Maximum convenience, calorie control, ~30 mains. Gousto: Much more variety (175+ recipes) but you do all the work and track calories yourself.
Calorie Control
Calo is specifically designed for calorie management. Gousto's calories vary by recipe - some healthy, some indulgent. You'd need to choose carefully and track yourself.
Price
Different pricing: Gousto is £3.20-£10.25/serving (you cook). Calo sells daily meal plans at £14-20/day (multiple ready meals).
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Calo if convenience and complete daily plans are priorities. No cooking, no meal planning required.
- Choose Gousto if you enjoy cooking and want maximum recipe variety. Track calories yourself from varying recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers more flexibility?
Gousto lets you pick individual recipes. Calo operates on a daily meal plan model with set packages.
Which is more convenient?
Calo by far. Heat and eat in 3-4 minutes vs 10-50 minutes cooking plus washing up with Gousto.
Which has more variety?
Gousto offers 175+ recipes per week vs Calo's ~30 mains. But Gousto requires cooking everything yourself.
Can I get variety without cooking?
Yes - there are other meal prep services that offer ready-to-eat meals with more variety than Calo.
Want the Best of Both Worlds?
Try HomeCooks instead
Comparing Calo to Gousto means choosing between convenience and variety. HomeCooks gives you both.
200+ ready-to-eat dishes from independent chefs - similar variety to Gousto's recipe box, but with zero cooking required. Balanced nutrition with high protein (30-60g per meal).
- Ultimate convenience - No prep, no cooking, no washing up
- 200+ dishes - More variety than any other meal prep service
- High protein - 30-60g per meal for fitness goals
- Perfectly balanced - Every meal nutritionally optimised
- Super high quality - Restaurant-quality ingredients, not mass-produced
- Independent chefs - Small batch quality, not factory production
- Beautiful presentation - Your meals arrive in lovely bento boxes, like this:
Ready for variety without cooking?
200+ chef-prepared meals ready in 3-4 minutes. The variety of a recipe box, zero effort required.
More Meal Prep Comparisons
Compare all UK meal prep services