Thrive Market Review From a Long-time Customer

Here’s my Thrive Market Review with everything you need to know so you can decide whether or not it’s a good fit for your lifestyle. Is Thrive Market worth it? It is cheaper than Whole Foods? Can you really save money shopping at Thrive Market? I talk about all of this and more.

If you’re ready to try Thrive Market, and don’t want to read my entire Thrive Market review, you can use my link to Get up to $20 in shopping credit when you purchase a Thrive Market Membership! (1 month and 1-year memberships available).

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Thrive Market Review

Thrive Market is an online grocery store that offers natural and organic foods, household items, hygiene products, make-up, along with other items at comparable prices you’d find at your local grocery store. Even though I have access to numerous grocery stores I still utilize Thrive Market on a regular basis to get the organic items I need.

Whether we agree with it or not our schedules leave little time to fit in meal planning, the grocery store, and cooking meals. That’s not to say we shouldn’t do all these things, I think it’s important to keep a healthy lifestyle a priority. However, not many people want to work 40+ hours a week, drive around for activities, and then spend 2 hours at the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon. This is one of the reasons fast food and convenience items are so popular, because people just don’t want to spend their extra time grocery shopping, and companies are taking notice.

Over the last few years businesses have popped up everywhere working hard to make it more convenient for busy families to eat healthier. Up until then “convenience” or “fast” equaled processed and unhealthy. Well, fortunately, the tides are changing on this.

Today, it’s getting much easier to fit a healthy lifestyle into your busy schedule. One option for people who want to eat healthier without spending hours at the grocery store is Thrive Market.

Thrive Market is an online grocery store that offers organic and natural foods, cleaning supplies, and other items. It’s kind of like an online Whole Foods.

Anyway, I’ve been a Thrive Market member since 2015 and have ordered groceries on a regular basis since then. I want to share my honest thoughts so you can decide whether or not Thrive Market would be a good fit for you and your family.

If you’re ready to try Thrive Market, and don’t want to read my entire Thrive Market review, you can use my link to Get up to $20 in shopping credit when you purchase a Thrive Market Membership! (1 month and 1-year memberships available).

Is Thrive Market Worth The Membership Cost?

Let’s start with the money part because that’s the biggest concern with most people.

Recently, Thrive Market changed up their membership structure. It used to be you can only purchase a yearly membership but now they offer a 1-month and 1-year membership. 

The 1-month Thrive Market membership is $9.95 a month and the 1-year is $59.95. Obviously, the 1-year is a better value but if you don’t want to commit to a year then the monthly membership is a good option. You can cancel your membership at any time.

Does Thrive Market offer a free trial?

Yes. Thrive Market does offer a 30-day free trial membership. This allows you to look over the products, do some price comparisons, and put in a couple of orders before committing to a membership.

But keep in mind…

You do need to give a credit card and will be automatically charged an annual membership if you don’t cancel before the 30-days are up. So, mark your calendar!

From all the research I’ve done on Thrive Market, this is the biggest complaint. They do list this in a few different places across their website, so I don’t feel they are trying to hide the fact you’ll be charged once your free trial is up. However, for whatever reason, people still miss it.

Anyway, if you want to give Thrive Market a try then sign up for their free 30-day trial. I started with the 30-day trial and found it to be very helpful. I was able to get a good feel for the brands, prices, and whether or not I’d use it. Obviously I think it’s a good fit considering I’ve been a member since 2015.

Is Thrive Market Cheaper than Whole Foods?

Alright let’s talk prices. Thrive Market is most comparable to Whole Foods in the products they offer. I also shop quite frequently at Whole Foods so I want to do a quick comparison.

Simply Organic Pure Vanilla extract (4 ounce) bottle Whole Foods $19.99 | Thrive Market $14.99

Simple Organic Spices are cheaper at Thrive Market by $1 – $2 a bottle.

KIND Bars Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Whole Foods $20.28 | Thrive Market $15.49

Garden of Life Women’s Multi-vitamin Whole Foods $34.99 | Thrive Market $25.19

Kettle Chips Sea Salt 13 ounce bag Whole Foods $4.99 | Thrive Market $4.49

Dececco Pasta Whole Foods $3.29 a box | Thrive Market does not have this brand

Rao’s Marinara Sauce Whole Foods (32-ounce jar) $9.49 | Thrive Market (24-ounce jar) $7.49

Navitas Organics Organic Cacao Nibs (8 ounce bag) Whole Foods $9.99 | Thrive Market $6.99

Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese Shells and Real Aged Cheese (1-box) Whole Foods $2.99 | Thrive Market $1.99

Overall, I think the brands I purchase most are cheaper at Thrive Market than Wholefoods. Some items there’s a $5 difference which I think is pretty big.

Thrive Market and Whole Foods have their own store brand, both are very comparable in prices. For example a 15 ounce can of tomato sauce is $1.49 for both the Thrive Market brand and 365 Brand (Whole Foods store brand).  The Thrive Market brand is super affordable and they have a huge selection of items under their brand. In my opinion, the Thrive Market brand along with the prices on the other items I purchase make Thrive Market well worth the price of membership.

Something to consider is Thrive Market is a smaller online store compared to Whole Foods. So, there are times that Thrive Market will be out of items that can be easily purchased at Wholefoods.

Also, you can’t purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. So, you’ll still need to go to the grocery store to grab fresh produce. Thrive Market does sell meats but I find it easier to grab fresh meats at Whole Foods.

Another thing to consider is Thrive Market items need to be shipped which usually takes about 3-5 days and sometimes a little longer depending on where you are in the country. So, I find it helpful to order once a month or so in bulk pantry items I’m going to need. Anything I need right away I’ll just go to the store to get.

One other way Thrive Market keeps items affordable is they offer membership deals and discounts all the time. Once a month or so I’ll receive a coupon for 10 – 15% off my total bill. Hint hint…that’s usually when I do a stuck up. They also offer sales on certain brands and offer lots of freebies to try.

If you’re ready to try Thrive Market, and don’t want to read my entire Thrive Market review, you can use my link to Get up to $20 in shopping credit when you purchase a Thrive Market Membership! (1 month, 3 month, and 1 year memberships available).

Is Thrive Market Comparable to Cosco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale?

Overall, I think Thrive Market prices are very comparable (if not cheaper than) Whole Foods and other grocery stores. However, in my opinion I wouldn’t compare Thrive Market prices to wholesale prices. I belong to BJ’s Wholesale and I can say that the prices there are always cheaper.

Of course, they don’t carry the same brands but wholesale stores have grown leaps and bounds with their organic offerings. I can find organic meats, peanut butter, olive oil, pasta, rice, sauce, bread, and many other products. Yes, I need to purchase a larger size but the price is often much cheaper than any grocery store, including Thrive Market. So, in my opinion, I think Thrive Market can definitely compete with grocery chains but prices are not necessarily “wholesale pricing”. 

Alright, I think I’ve established that Thrive Market’s prices are reasonable and you’re not going to get ripped off. In fact, I’ll even say I think the $59.95 annual membership is worth it. Oh and did I mention you get free shipping with orders over $49? You do. So, let’s move beyond prices.

Who would benefit most from a membership?

In my opinion, there are 2 types of people that can benefit from shopping at Thrive Market. First, is the person looking for convenience ← that’s me. Whether you agree or disagree, like it or not, we live in a very busy world and companies have taken notice and capitalized off this. There’s no denying that ordering groceries online and having them delivered to our door, is nothing short of amazing.

I know it’s difficult for some people to wrap their brains around ordering groceries online. We are used to spending hours on Saturday mornings shopping for the week. However, think about this. Remember when ordering clothing online was considered abnormal? I certainly do. Well, today you can order just about anything online and it will show up on your doorstep in about 3 days. Grocery shopping has finally caught up with the rest of the online world. You can log into Thrive Market, place an order, and in about 3 – 5 days it will be at your home. Gone are the days of wasting Saturday morning fighting at the grocery store.

The second type of person that I think could really benefit from Thrive Market is someone who doesn’t have access to larger grocery chains. I live in an area where I’m within driving distance to Wegmans, BJ’s Wholesale, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods. If I need almond butter, coconut oil, or organic avocado oil it’s very likely I can find it. Of course, that means I have to get in my car, drive there, and hope the store has it in stock – but I can still get there. However, many people don’t have access to 4-5 major grocery stores.

For example, in the summer, I spend a lot of time at our cabin in the country. There’s one small Tops Supermarket and an even smaller “natural food” store in town. The selection is limited and prices are outrageous. If I lived there full-time it would be quite the effort to get my hands on Justin’s almond butter, Rao’s marinara, or organic coconut oil.

Thrive Market provides access to quality organic food and products to people who quite possibly didn’t have it before.

I think this is a big deal!

As a healthy lifestyle blogger I can’t tell you the number of times people tell me they don’t have access to natural and organic foods. That is no longer the case. Anyone with internet and a credit card can go onto Thrive Market and easily purchase brands they never had access too.

Plus like I said earlier, the prices are comparable to grocery stores making it affordable to most people. In my opinion, this is a game-changer.

If you’re ready to try Thrive Market, and don’t want to read my entire Thrive Market review, you can use my link to Get up to $20 in shopping credit when you purchase a Thrive Market Membership! (1 month, 3 month, and 1-year memberships available).

Who wouldn’t benefit from a membership?

If you have access to grocery stores, don’t mind driving around and spending time at the grocery store, enjoy price comparison, and live for couponing and finding the best deals then I don’t think Thrive Market is something you have a need for or will benefit from. Thrive Market does offer coupons but you’re not going to get $1 toothpaste deals or .50 boxes of mac n cheese.

Also, if you’re not concerned with organic and natural products then you probably don’t need Thrive Market. Their entire business is about offering organic and natural brands – they don’t carry Froot Loops and Doritos.

Pros and Cons

I wanted to add some pros and cons to my Thrive Market review just in case you’re still on the fence.

Pros:

• • You can shop organic and natural brands from the comfort of your home.
  • Thrive Market carries all the popular organic and natural brands like Annie’s, Spectrum, Simply Organic, KIND, Newman’s Own, Bob’s Red Mill, Lara Bar, Eden Organic, and many others.

• • Thrive Market also carries hard to find organic and natural brands. A big perk for me is knowing whether or not an item is in stock simply by checking their website. I hate when I drive to a store only to find the item I want is sold out or they don’t carry it. I don’t waste any time with Thrive Market and that’s a huge bonus.

• • Prices are very comparable, if not cheaper, than in-store prices.

• • Free delivery if you spend $49 or more and groceries get delivered in about 3 days.

• • Thrive Market sends regular coupons and deals to your email. For example, I receive a 15% of the total order about once a month or so. I stock up when I get it.

• • Thrive Market offers more than food. You can get toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, baby food and supplies, make-up and other beauty supplies, vitamins and supplements, and many other items. Take a look at the Thrive Market website to see everything they offer.

• • Thrive Market is a good company that gives back to the community. For every membership purchased they give one to a family in need.

• • They offer a Thrive Market brand to help you save more money on organic and natural items.

• • Thrive Market has an app, making it very easy to add items to your list, along with ordering them. The app is also a great way to stay updated with sales and coupons.

• • All your orders are saved on the website. I find this helpful with keeping track of my grocery budget and when I need to reorder an item.

Cons

• • There is a $59.95 annual membership cost. However, if you don’t make your membership up in savings Thrive Market will give you back the difference. So I guess that can be a pro.

• • You need to plan ahead. It takes 3 -5 days (and sometimes longer) to get your items. This is an issue if you ordered an item you need right away. I recommend planning a few weeks at a time because of this. For example, if you eat KIND granola bars every week you’re better off ordering for the month instead of trying to order by the week and then not getting the box in time.

• • You need to pay shipping for orders under $49. Therefore, if you need something small you either need to pay shipping or wait until you order more. However, Thrive Market does offer free shipping on all purchases sometimes. Although this doesn’t help if I need garlic powder now.

• • They don’t offer fruits, vegetables, and other perishables. They now offer meats but it would be nice to have the option to order other perishables from Thrive Market someday. Meal Kit delivery services send perishables so maybe they’ll consider it someday. I’m all about a one-stop-shop.

Helpful Shopping Tips

 As a Thrive Market customer since 2015 I feel like I can offer some shopping advice.

• • Plan in advance. I know I said this already but I want to mention it again. Personally, I think Thrive Market works best when you shop for the month or at least 2 weeks at a time. Don’t expect to get an order the next day – this isn’t Amazon Prime. Put together a 2-week meal plan, look in your pantry, and then place a Thrive Market order. Give yourself 3-4 days for groceries to get there.

• • Stay organized. If you’re just looking to stock your pantry then it doesn’t matter when you place your order. However, I recommend staying organized.  Keep track of the items in your pantry and make a list of the things that need to be reordered.

• • Create a shopping list inside Thrive Market. This is super helpful. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the items Thrive Market offers. I recommend, after you join, to search out all your favorite products and save them to your favorites. Then create them into lists. For example you can create a pasta list, canned good list, cleaning list, etc. When you’re ready to shop head into your lists and add what you need to the cart.

• • Watch (or wait) for coupons. Like I said earlier I receive a 10 – 15% off total order coupon from Thrive Market on a regular basis. I add items to my favorites and then when my coupon arrives I stock up.

I hope you found my Thrive Market review helpful. If you’re ready to try Thrive Market you can use my link to Get up to $20 in shopping credit when you purchase a Thrive Market Membership! (1 month and 1 year memberships available).

I hope you found my Thrive Market review helpful.

If you have any other Thrive Market questions please ask in the comments below and I’d be happy to answer them. Also, I’d love to hear about your Thrive Market experience. What are your tips?

Here’s another Thrive Market Post I put together.

My Favorite Things to Purchase at Thrive Market 

Along with a video