Today, I’d like to talk about an online store that I’ve recently tested out called Thrive Market. This will be a candid evaluation of my experience with Thrive Market products, services, and philosophies as an online seller of top organic and healthy products.
If you’ve ever gone to a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods and loved their variety of foods and other products but wished it could be more convenient or less expensive, keep reading! Thrive Market just may be the service for you.
Their online market offers a great selection of healthy and planet-friendly foods and other items, and while it does require a membership to browse their catalogue, the cost will quickly cover itself!
Jump to:
- Why Did I Try Thrive Market?
- What Is Thrive Market?
- Membership and Shipping
- Thrive Market Products Overview
- Some Thrive Market Brands
- Navigation and Ease of Shopping
- What I Like About Thrive Market
- Thing I Would Change About Thrive Market
- Our Favorites So Far
- Is Thrive Market Worth It For Me?
- How I Shop at Thrive Market
- Overall Impression of Thrive Market
Why Did I Try Thrive Market?
I’m always looking to purchase healthier foods, both for myself and my family. Shopping for healthy, accessible foods can be a hassle sometimes, but with Thrive Market I have access to an incredible selection of delicious, organic foods.
I’m also able to easily find food with no genetically modified ingredients and as well as eco-friendly products.
The biggest struggle I faced before finding Thrive Market's site was trying to find foods and products like this that didn’t completely break the budget.
So when I heard that Thrive Market was a much more affordable option, I absolutely had to give it a try!
What Is Thrive Market?
Located in Los Angeles, California, Thrive Market is an online food retailer that offers “wholesome foods at wholesale prices.” Their selection of products hones in on a smaller variety of brands; this allows them to purchase items in large quantities to get the best prices. As a result, they’re able to sell them at lower prices as well.
Think of Thrive Market as a sort of online Costco, only their focus is on diet, healthy, and eco-friendly food options. It’s been compared to Whole Foods as well, and the variety of products reminds me a bit of Trader Joe’s.
Membership and Shipping
Thrive Market is a membership store—what this means is that you have to be a member of their services in order to shop their catalogue.
But don’t fret! They offer a 30-day risk-free cancellation period when you sign up, during which you can explore all of their options and familiarize yourself with the kind of products they offer, but receive a full refund if you find out that it's not for you.
Here are the membership options.
- Month to month membership: $9.95 per month
- Annual membership: $59.95 per year (this works out to about $5 per month)
- No matter which option you choose, you get 25% off your first order and a FREE gift, when you purchase your membership!
As of this writing, Thrive Market ships everywhere in the contiguous US, but they’re hoping to add Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada in the future. I’ve found that my shipments typically arrive in just 2-3 days.
Here are the details to qualify for free shipping:
- Price threshold for free shipping: $45
- Shipping fee for under threshold: flat fee of $5
However, with a little planning, it's very easy to exceed the $45 needed to qualify for free shipping!
Thrive Market Products Overview
Thrive boasts an impressive selection of shelf stable food products:
- snacks
- cereal
- condiments
- granola bars
- nut butters
- spices
- baking good
- beverages
- candy
- pasta
- and so much more!
Looking for meats? You can buy the below items in bulk. Thrive allows you to build your own ‘box’ and select your meats based on preference.
- frozen beef
- pork
- poultry
- seafood
Another great option is their frozen meals, which are akin to Lean Cuisine or Stouffer's products, but of course from Thrive Market, they’re plant-based, paleo, and/or organic.
Thrive Market also carries beauty products...
- skin care
- hair care
- makeup
- deodorant
- sunscreen
- insect repellent
- first aid supplies
...and household products:
- home accessories
- kitchenware
- laundry supplies
- paper products
- garbage bags
- eco-friendly cleaning supplies
Plus, if you have pets or babies/young kids, they have products for those demographics as well.
Most importantly, Thrive Market carries pesticide-free wine! 🥰🍷
Some Thrive Market Brands
Here’s an assortment of some of the brands that Thrive Market offers in addition to the Thrive Market brand: Bob’s Red Mill, Nature’s Path, Seventh Generation, Burt’s Bees, Annies, KIND, and Primal Kitchen. And of course, it doesn’t stop there!
Navigation and Ease of Shopping
Thrive Market’s website is easy to navigate and comes equipped with a great search engine, which makes it so easy to find exactly what you’re looking for! In every category you have the option to whittle down your search results by values or diet, and also filter by brands or even shop based on deals to ensure you’re seeing the best prices.
The option to shop by diet is one of Thrive Market’s most powerful tools, as it allows you to see an unbelievable amount of options based on your particular diet.
Not only that, but it allows you to search for certifications (such as organic or fair trade), health and ingredients (like hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, or nut-free), and environmental or social factors (think things like cruelty-free, family-owned, and ethically sourced).
Shopping at Thrive also offers the option to build your own bundles for things like meat, seafood, and wine. This way, you can buy large quantities while still achieving some variety!
They also offer a variety of pre-selected samplers and themed kits as a fun and convenient way to try new products or aid you in starting a particular diet; for example, they have a gluten-free baking kit. Other products like this include a movie night kit and a paleo kit. (Click here to see all the kits!)
With Thrive, you’re also able to save items to curated lists so you can easily order them again, which is incredibly convenient and efficient.
They also have an autoship feature for products that you just can’t get enough of; with this option, Thrive will automatically send you certain products at your desired frequency.
What I Like About Thrive Market
Lots of options: First and foremost, they have so many options! I love browsing through to get familiar with everything they offer, but if you’re in a hurry, they also provide product recommendations based on a quick survey you’ll take when you sign up.
Convenient and money saving: I like the convenience of online shopping, and also that I save money by avoiding some of those impulse purchases I might have made in person at Trader Joe’s or any other grocery store. Even if I do add something to my cart on impulse, it’s so easy to remove it before checkout if I see that the total cost of my purchase has gone above what I intended to spend. Personally, I’m not as likely to do that in the grocery store.
Great prices: Thrive offers a pretty impressive collection of kitchen staples, and their filtering functions make it much easier to buy specific types of food—like organic or gluten-free—than in the grocery store. Overall, their prices are fantastic; sometimes I’ll find something that’s as much as 50% below retail cost! They also include reviews for all of their products, which gives me an idea of how real people are responding to those items.
Freebies: Something that really sets Thrive Market apart is the number of freebies/special deals they offer. I get regular emails from Thrive that include great deals and, more often than not, free products!
Shop from my phone: With the Thrive Market mobile app, I’m able to shop anytime I want, anywhere I might be. This is incredibly handy for when I remember that I need something but I’m already cozy in bed!
Thrive Cash program: With Thrive’s referral program, I’m also able to refer my friends and earn some Thrive Cash, which can be used toward purchases.
Membership match program: Another incredible way Thrive Market is giving back to the community is their membership match policy—for every paid membership, Thrive donates a membership to someone in need.
Minimal carbon footprint: Another way they’re taking responsibility is by ensuring all of their shipping materials are 100% post-consumer recycled and recyclable. For me, it’s important when a brand is socially conscious, and Thrive Market is definitely in that category!
Thing I Would Change About Thrive Market
Of course, there are a few things I would tweak to really perfect the Thrive Market experience. So in the interest of full disclosure, I will share them with you.
No produce: For one, I would love to be able to buy fresh produce. There’s another service I use called Farmbox Direct that delivers fresh produce right to your door, but it would be so convenient if Thrive Market offered this option as well.
Need to plan ahead: I also need to put a bit of extra thought into my shopping habits to make up for the 2-3 day shipping time. It’s never fun when you plan a particular meal for a specific night and your ingredients are still floating around the mail system! I also have to plan ahead enough to take advantage of the free shipping, which is definitely worth it, but a bit of a pain at times.
Overwhelming at first: I’ve mentioned how great Thrive’s product catalogue is, but I’ve also found that, at times, it can almost be too much! The first few times I shopped with Thrive I was a bit overwhelmed. Once I got a hang of the filtering tools and formed a clearer idea of what I was looking for it became easier to navigate, but this is definitely something to keep in mind as you start with Thrive.
Meat and seafood only in bulk: Another thing is their meat and seafood options. Buying in bulk is only practical if you have a large enough freezer to store everything. Finally, I don’t love the idea of a membership fee for an online store. However, it’s definitely worth the cost if you go for the yearly membership and place an order every month. It pays for itself pretty quickly that way, especially if you’re avoiding shipping costs as well.
Our Favorites So Far
SNACKS! One thing we love especially about a store like Trader Joe’s is the snack selection, and Thrive Market is just as good. They carry so many delicious, better-for-you snacks, and all at a great price!
I’ve also been loving their affordable eco-friendly cleaning products and reusable zipper bags (these are similar to ziplock bags, but much sturdier and better for the environment!)
In addition, we really love Thrive’s organic coffee, their selection of seaweed and cauliflower snacks, and their superfood smoothie pouches.
We’re also fans of the jackfruit meal pouches, which provide a great, healthy lunch for only $2.99 a pop. And they are shelf-stable, so no refrigerator or freezer needed - just pop them in the microwave and enjoy!
Their organic pasta sauce is also delicious and has enhanced a lot of the recipes I already make that require tomato sauce.
Is Thrive Market Worth It For Me?
I personally think that everybody should try Thrive Market, but there are definitely some demographics that would benefit especially from Thrive’s selection of products.
Looking to stick to special diets: If you’re on a special diet (anything from paleo, whole30, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten/nut free), Thrive has so many options catered specifically to you.
Looking for specific values: They also provide a great variety for people who are focused on foods that are organic, non-GMO, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free.
Interested in easy access to healthier options: For us, one of the greatest aspects of Thrive is their collection of better-for-you snacks as well as their non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning and personal products. Everyone can benefit from products like these, regardless of what kind of dietary specifications you may have.
In general, if you like products with:
- fewer ingredients
- transparent sourcing
- honest labels
- sustainable and planet-friendly manufacturing and packaging
- regenerative farming methods practiced
- organic and fair trade standards met
- reasonable pricing
...then Thrive Market will be well worth the membership cost for you!
How I Shop at Thrive Market
So far, I’ve found it easiest to shop in little bursts. Every time I think of something I need, I just hop onto the app and add it to my cart.
I also like to watch my email to see which freebies I can take advantage of.
Then, every couple of weeks, I’ll place my order. Before I finalize the purchase, I sit down and think about what I might need in the next week or so to make sure I include it in the order.
I also love the ‘previously ordered’ section and Thrive’s recommended products—looking at these pages helps ensure that I’m not missing anything!
Overall Impression of Thrive Market
I love it! I’ve found that, for the most part, prices are similar to or even lower than regular grocery store and Whole Foods prices. They’re generally more in line with Trader Joe’s, but Thrive Market offers the added convenience of shopping from home and having the order delivered right to your door.
I’m a huge fan of the freebies and deals they offer, and I’m impressed by their product variety.
Once I used the app a couple of times, I had a much better idea of what’s available and how to find it, which made a huge difference and really put me over the edge into loving Thrive Market.
Not sure where to start? You can try the Thrive Market Starter Kit!
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
You can also check out more of my product recommendations and gift guides!
Happy shopping!
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