With barbecues here and there almost every weekend, meat delivery services are no stranger to me. I decided to test two of the best out there – Good Ranchers and Butcher Box.
The convenience these both companies bring is perfect for someone like me who likes cooking cuts of meat more than twice in just one week.
They offer huge meat selections that you can choose from, and they are great if you have something planned in the coming days that involves cooking a lot of meat.
It was not easy to choose which company I should stick to since these two have very good customer reviews and company reputations as well as great products.
That is why I made sure to review and compare both of them in a detailed manner that can help you choose which meat delivery company you should be ordering from between these two.
Now that I know which meat delivery company I should stick with, I will share with you my full review so keep on reading to find out the answer.
Table of Contents
Main Differences Between The Two
- Butcher Box offers 6 different subscription boxes, while Good Ranchers has 9 different boxes.
- Good Ranchers offer one-time purchases, while Butcher Box only has subscription boxes recurring monthly.
- Butcher Box is only $99 to $164 depending on the box you subscribe to, while Good Ranchers can get up to $1299.
- Butcher Box sources beef from Australia, while Good Ranchers only sources meat from the U.S..
- Butcher Box has 100% grass-fed beef cuts, while Good Ranchers sell beef cuts that are both grass-fed and grain-finished.
Unique Features Of The Two
Butcher Box
- Has unique cuts like bison, lamb, and turkey available.
- A much cheaper option with only $169 as the most expensive choice.
- Sells wild-caught seafood that is also sourced sustainably.
- A wide variety of pork, beef, chicken, and seafood options.
- Sources beef from Australia for a different but good flavor.
- 100% grass-fed beef cuts.
- Crate-free pork cuts.
- Free-range, cage-free, and organic chicken cuts.
- All meat cuts are free from antibiotics and hormones.
Good Ranchers
- Sources meat solely from U.S. farms and ranches.
- Offers up to 9 boxes to choose from.
- Beef boxes, chicken boxes, or a mix of both.
- Seafood is caught, cut, and packed in the boat to preserve freshness.
- Sells American wagyu burgers/ground beef.
- Seasoned options like Italian seasoned chicken breasts are available.
- More choices on the seafood option.
- Sells beef cuts from cattle that are grass-fed and grain-finished for more marbling.
- Good Ranchers donate FREE meals to local food banks for every order you place.
Butcher Box Vs Good Chop
1. Meat Quality And Sourcing
One of my main concerns when shopping for meat in supermarkets is that I do not know where the meat comes from.
Naturally, I do not know what the quality of the meat is, and with that, I have no idea if the animal was raised under humane conditions or not.
So this part of the review looks at the sourcing practices of both Butcher Box and Good Ranchers and whether the meat I buy from them is of the best quality.
Butcher Box
There are a lot of options from Butcher Box. First, beef cuts come from cattle raised in Australia and are exported by Butcher Box to sell in the U.S.
The cows are pasture-raised to ensure they are not stressed during their lifetime. They are fed with 100% grass diet throughout their life as well.
The same goes for their pork, chicken, and seafood. The pork and chicken live in humane conditions, and the seafood is wild-caught.
Good Ranchers
Good Ranchers takes pride in how all of its products are sourced from America only. They believe this is the way to deliver fresh cuts of meat to you, their customers.
The beef cuts are sourced from local farms and ranchers that practice new and innovative ways of raising animals sustainably and that do not harm the environment.
The steaks from Good Ranchers are 100% American and pass the USDA standard for Choice and Prime cuts of meat, meaning they have great marbling and amazing flavors.
Both the Good Chop and Butcher box have almost the same meat sourcing it is just that the countries they are from is different.
2. Types Of Meat Available
Butcher Box
From the most beautiful steaks to the robust-flavored bison and lamb cuts, here are the available meat from Butcher Box that you can choose from.
1. Beef
The beef choices from Butcher Box received a Prime or Choice grade from the USDA, meaning they have the best marbling and flavor in any cut of steak.
Choose from the vast selection of New York strip steak, ribeye steaks, filet mignon, steak tips, ground beef, and burgers from Butcher Box.
2. Pork
Pork tenderloin, St. Louis pork ribs, boneless pork chops, and bacon are some of the best-sellers when you choose pork options from Butcher Box.
If you want some more unique cuts of pork, you can get options that have nice marbling and juicy textures like the pork loin roast and pork butt or my favorites, breakfast sausages.
3. Chicken
When you order chicken from Butcher Box, I highly recommend chicken tenders that are extremely juicy and flavorful. I love seasoning them with my favorite rubs and glaze.
You can also buy a whole chicken for roasting or get the common cuts like chicken breast, chicken wings, chicken thighs, and drumsticks.
4. Seafood
Growing up on the seaside, I have loved seafood my whole life. That is why I was really amazed when the seafood options from Butcher Box were as close to the seafood that I grew up with.
Choose from the fantastic and flavorful sockeye salmon and scallops from Butcher Box and have a healthy omega-3-filled meal for your family.
5. Others
Sometimes I feel more adventurous than the other days so I choose cuts of meat that are not conventional such as the bison cuts and lamb leg from Butcher Box.
During holidays, I also like how you have an option to buy a free-range turkey from Butcher Box as it is really tender and juicy, all I need to do is season it and roast it for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.
Good Ranchers
1. Beef
Good Ranchers has many options if you want to step up your game and cook amazing steaks. You can choose from NY strip steaks, flat iron steaks, and top sirloin steaks.
Other available beef options are bone-in steaks like T-bone steaks and the signature Angus ground beef. These are delicious choices for making amazing meals for the family.
2. Burgers
I separated the burger section from the steaks because you can also choose different burgers from Good Ranchers.
My favorite is the American wagyu ground beef, perhaps the juiciest burger I have cooked on the grill. There are also tacos and meatballs for the ground beef option.
3. Chicken
The ‘Better than Organic Chicken’ options from Good Ranchers are chicken breasts seasoned with Italian seasoning or garlic and pepper, fajita chicken breasts, and more.
I love that some of the chicken options from Good Ranchers are pre-seasoned. These cuts were really helpful when I did not have time to prepare the cuts before cooking.
4. Seafood
While I prefer the seafood flavors from Butcher Box, Good Ranchers is not far from the quality. They also have more seafood options than Butcher Box.
You can get the delicious rainbow trout, bay scallops, skin on boneless Atlantic salmon filets, Pacific snapper, or the organic shrimp that has been peeled and deveined.
Do Good Ranchers Have Pork Options?
So as of writing this post (September 22, 2022), there are no pork options from Good Ranchers. This is a bit of a letdown as you would expect a meat delivery service to have pork cuts.
When I contacted them by e-mail, however, they mentioned that they are actively working on a “Full Pork Box” and hope to release it shortly.
So we should be expecting a box from Good Ranchers with the best cuts of pork that you can find soon.
3. Pricing
There is no denying that Butcher Box has less-expensive options than Good Ranchers. If I want to order bulks of meat, I would prefer Buther Box because of the more versatile options.
With Good Rancher, you can get the burger box for only $129, which is their cheapest option. Other boxes would cost you anywhere from $139 to $1299,
That is so much more expensive than the ones from Butcher Box, where you get to buy boxes of meat for $99 for the basic box and only $169 for the most expensive option.
But do I get the same amount of meat? Not really. Butcher Box has more meat when you calculate the value of the boxes, so if you are on a budget, Butcher Box is the better option
For instance, the cheapest option from Good Ranchers, which is the burger box at $129, has 10 pounds of American wagyu
The Butcher Box Custom Box has up to 14 pounds of meat at only $169, and you can choose which cuts you want to include in the box.
4. Subscription Options Between The Two
Butcher Box
You have six subscription boxes to choose from Butcher Box. You can cancel any time, so you do not have to commit to recurring boxes or orders if you do not need that.
1.Custom Box – $169 a month
Select from up to 25 cuts of meat that you want. The Custom Box is perfect for expanding your culinary experience with different cuts of meat that can be cooked differently.
You get between 9 and 14 pounds of meat in just one box, costing only $169 a month.
This box also gives you 20% more meat than the curated boxes from Butcher Box.
Every month, you also have the freedom to edit the content of the boxes, so you do not have to get the same cuts of meat every month.
2. Mixed Box – $146 a month
I wanted to try all the cuts of meat from Butcher Box, and this subscription box was a great choice.
With the Mixed Box, you can choose from 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and pork cuts.
This gives you the freedom to cook any cut of meat you want so you do not get tired of the same beef or pork flavors in each meal.
An excellent example of what you can get from the Mixed Box subscription is 2 pounds of ground beef, 2 NY strip steaks, 4 top sirloin steaks, 1 pound of whole pork tenderloin, and 3 pounds of chicken breasts.
3. Beef And Chicken Box – $146 a month
With the Beef and Chicken Box, you will get 8 to 11 pounds of meat each month at only $146. You can select from any beef and chicken cuts from Butcher Box.
This option is also a favorite of mine since I have a trusted butcher shop near me that provides me with my pork cuts.
So when I order pork from my local butcher shop, I can choose the Beef And Chicken Box from Butcher Box for my supply of chicken and beef cuts.
4. Beef And Pork Box – $146 a month
This subscription box is the same as the previous one; you get 8 to 11 pounds of meat each month for only $146.
The only difference is that you can only choose from the 100% grass-fed beef cuts and the crate-free pork cuts.
5. All Beef Box – $146 a month
This is a great subscription box if all you want are beef cuts. Choose any cut from the 100% grass-fed beef cuts from Butcher Box.
When I ordered this subscription box, I got 2 pounds of ground beef, 2 NY strip steaks, 1 pound of premium steak tips, 2 pounds of chuck roast, and 4 top sirloin steaks in just one box.
6. Basic Box – $99 a month
This is the cheapest option from Butcher Box, and it is the perfect box if you are new to them and want to try out their service to see the quality of meat they have.
You can choose any of the cuts you like from the 100% grass-fed beef, crate-free pork, and organic chicken and have a box of up to 7-7.5 pounds of meat.
Note: All subscription boxes from Butcher Box are shipped FREE, and you can cancel any time you want.
The only disadvantage is that there is a limited supply, so specific cuts like New York strip steaks, flat iron steaks, boneless pork chops, and others might not be available depending on the region.
Good Ranchers
I love Good Ranchers because I get to choose from 9 different boxes. As for the writing of this post, you can choose from any of these boxes.
1.The Burger Box – $129 (subscription) and $154 for one-time orders.
This box is perfect for your barbecues in your backyard. The box contains 10 pounds of American wagyu beef, burgers, tacos, and meatballs.
This is the cheapest option from Good Ranchers, and I think it is a good choice if you want to try the Prime and Choice cuts from them.
2. The Cattleman – $199 (subscription) and $224 for one-time orders.
This box is for people who love beef cuts. I liked this box when I ordered it because it contains different cuts of beef that I can cook in many different ways.
Contents:
2 (17oz) Bone in Steaks (T-Bones or NY Strips)
5 (5oz) Flat Iron Steaks
2 (1lb) Signature Angus Ground Beef Packs
5 (6oz) Top Sirloin Steaks
3 (10oz) NY Strips
3. Ranchers Classic – $179 (subscription) and $204 for one-time orders.
If you want a mix of chicken and beef, you can order this box from Good Ranchers. You get a lot of steaks and some chicken included in the box.
Contents:
- 2 (17oz) Bone in Steaks (T-Bones or NY Strips)
- 5 (5oz) Flat Iron Steaks
- 2 (1lb) Signature Angus Ground Beef Packs
- 16 (5oz) Plain or Preseasoned, Triple Trimmed Chicken Breasts
4. The Cowboy – $249 (subscription) and $274 for one-time orders.
Each of the cuts of meat included in this box is either Prime or upper Choice-graded so you can get amazing steaks with perfect marbling to cook at home.
Contents:
- 4 (16oz) Black Angus Bone-in Ribeyes
- 3 (10oz) Black Angus N.Y. Strips
- 5 (6oz) Black Angus Top Sirloin Steaks or 2 Lbs American Wagyu Beef Steak Tips
- 2 (1lb) American Wagyu Ground Beef Packs
5. Family Feast Bundles – $349 (subscription) and $374 for one-time orders.
This is the perfect box if you have an occasion to celebrate and you want to cook a lot of recipes for your family or with a large group of people. You get both chicken and beef cuts in this box.
Contents:
- 2 (17oz) Bone in Steaks (T-Bones or NY Strips)
- 5 (5oz) Flat Iron Steaks
- 2 (1lb) Signature Angus Ground Beef Packs
- 5 (6oz) Top Sirloin Steaks
- 3 (10oz) NY Strips
- 8 (5oz) Italian Seasoned Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Garlic Pepper Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Fajita Chicken Breast (Pre-sliced)
- 8 (5oz) Plain Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Assorted Chicken Breast
6. Butchers Bundle – $394 (subscription) and $419 for one-time orders.
This is another box with a mix of beef and chicken in it. It is perfect for parties and barbecues in your backyard during weekends or some cookouts with your family and friends.
Contents:
- 2 (17oz) Bone in Steaks (T-Bones or NY Strips)
- 5 (5oz) Flat Iron Steaks
- 2 (1lb) Signature Angus Ground Beef Packs
- 4 (16oz) Black Angus Bone-In Ribeyes
- 3 (10oz) Black Angus NY Strips
- 5 (6oz) Black Angus Top Sirloin Steaks or 2 Lbs American Wagyu Beef Steak Tips
- 6 (5.33oz) American Wagyu Steak Burgers
- 16 (5oz) Plain or Preseasoned, Triple Trimmed Chicken Breasts
7. Better Than Organic Chicken – $139 (subscription) and $164 for one-time orders.
This box contains chicken cuts from Good Ranchers and a mix of seasoned breast as well as plain chicken breasts so you can also experiment with the seasonings that you have.
Contents:
- 8 (5oz) Italian Seasoned Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Garlic Pepper Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Fajita Chicken Breast (Pre-sliced)
- 8 (5oz) Plain Chicken Breast
- 8 (5oz) Assorted Chicken Breast
8. Prime Seafood – $169 (subscription) and $194 for one-time orders.
Now we get to the box where you can try all the seafood that you want. This box contains varieties of fish so you can have other meat options in your freezer.
Contents:
- 2 (8oz) Rainbow Trout Skin On Boneless OR 2lbs Wild Caught Bay Scallops
- 4 (8oz) Skin on, Boneless Atlantic Salmon Fillets
- 4 (8oz) Pacific Snapper, Wild Caught, Boneless
- 4lbs of Organic Shrimp peeled and deveined
9. Pepper Kit – $1299 for one-time purchase only.
This large box is something that restaurants would love to order. It contains a total of 85 pounds of meat with both chicken and beef in just one box.
Make sure that you have a large freezer if you order this box. The Pepper Kit can serve up to 280 meals and the cuts can last for up to 2 years in the freezer.
Contents:
- 17lbs Bone-In Steaks
- 15lbs Boneless Steaks
- 15lbs Signature Ground Beef
- 40lbs Pre-trimmed, Plain Chicken Breast
Note: All the boxes from Good Ranchers can be ordered as a one-time purchase or as a subscription box (except the Pepper Kit).
That means that you do not have to be a member to be able to order the boxes from Good Ranchers. The only thing I do not like with the boxes is that I do not get to edit the content.
5. Packaging And Delivery
Butcher Box
The packaging from Butcher Box is still the best I have received after ordering from several different meat delivery companies.
The cuts of meat are perfectly frozen within the insulated box. The box is also reusable, and the foam insulation is water soluble, so it has a minimal environmental impact.
As per the company, the meat can stay frozen for up to 6-8 hours, so even when I am not around to pick up my order immediately, the meat inside remains frozen.
Butcher Box also provides a zip code tool to determine if your orders need dry ice and, if so, how much, so they do not put too much dry ice that will only go to waste.
You can schedule the delivery of your orders every four weeks, 6 weeks, or every 2 months. All the subscription boxes from Butcher Box are delivered FREE of charge.
The only downside I noticed from Butcher Box’s delivery is that you cannot schedule the exact day for delivery, so you will need to plan.
Good Ranchers
There is not much difference between the packaging of Butcher Box and Good Ranchers. My orders from Good Ranchers arrived in a box that is insulated.
Good Ranchers also put dry ice in the insulated box to ensure the meat stays frozen. They also ensure that the cuts of chicken and beef do not mix.
A large box arrived at my doorstep, which contains smaller boxes in it. Each box contains the different cuts that I have ordered, and each cut of meat is individually wrapped in a vacuum-sealed pack.
You also get to choose when your box is delivered. Choose from 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or 2 months for your boxes to be delivered.
Shipping is also FREE anywhere within the U.S. with Good Ranchers, and the cuts of meat arrived within 4 days of placing my order.
Aside from sending e-mails, you can also track your order from Good Ranchers by logging into your account and putting the tracking number of your order that you also get through e-mail.
What Do Other Customers Think Of Bucher Box Vs Good Ranchers?
Butcher Box
I have not experienced any bad service or meat from Butcher Box, and I think most customers agree with me. There are stellar reviews about the company saying that the meat is of high quality.
Since I have only been ordering from Butcher Box for a few months, I relied on other customers to see how good they are when I first ordered.
Some long-time customers are satisfied with both the service and the quality of meat from Butcher Box.
“I have used Butcher box since 2018 and have had a wonderful experience. The 2 or 3 issues were handled with replacements ASAP. Great quality and customer service. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants quality meat delivered to your door. I have a carnivore way of eating and all I eat is meat. Very satisfied with this service. THANK YOU Butcher Box…” – Roxanne Lambert
Of course, some customers disagree with my review as well as the other customers but overall, I have had a great experience with Butcher Box and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon.
“Started out…ok. Ended up a disaster. The meat we ordered went downhill quick. Plus, their customer service is a bit crap. If your box gets order and you don’t really need it, you really can’t cancel it. Got on text support and even though, they can hold your frozen meat for two weeks, they can’t cancel it to when you need to order again.” – Brian Hester
Good Ranchers
I can also say the same with Good Ranchers as they have great reviews from other customers as well. The cuts of meat I received came in completely frozen and are perfect in quality.
While I loved the juicy and tender American Wagyu burgers, I was especially impressed with the chicken from Good Ranchers.
The chicken was tender and juicy and it does not become dry even after I grilled them over high heat. Most customers also say that the chicken from Good Ranchers really is better than organic.
“I really love Good Ranchers Chicken. We get compliments all the time when we serve to others. It’s ALWAYS tender and juicy. Really is the best chicken.” – Deanna B.
Other customers were also impressed with how well the packaging is from Good Ranchers as their orders came perfectly frozen with the dry ice still in the box.
“I placed an order late at night on 06/14/22 for “The Cowboy” package, which included: boneless ribeye, NY strips, sirloin steaks and ground hamburger pattie’s. The package arrived on 06/16/22 during the middle of the day. By the time I opened the box around midnight, there was still plenty of dry ice and the steaks were still frozen solid.” – Ray C.
Amidst all these great reviews about Good Ranchers, there are also those customers who have experienced it differently.
Some claim that the meat is mediocre or is not better than the other meat delivery services while also saying that their customer service is not responsive, nor do they follow instructions.
“Company appears to be a scam. If not, they’re one of the most incompetent and Tone-deaf groups I’ve ever dealt with. Additionally, the product is no better than and possibly inferior to what I can source locally for a lesser price. Took approx. 2 weeks to receive my shipment. Meat was still cold but not frozen. Most importantly, they substituted less desirable cuts of meat in my subscription order, then denied they did it.” – Mac C.
What About Refunds Or Exchanges?
Butcher Box
Butcher Box guarantees that you will receive your orders in perfect condition and they also put a lot of trust in the quality of meat that you receive.
If you are not satisfied in any way or if you think that Butcher Box did not meet their own standards, you can contact them through e-mail or phone.
Butcher Box offers a partial or full refund on orders that do not meet their guarantee. You can also earn points on your account and credits for your next orders.
You cannot, however, accept returns of products given the nature of their service where they deliver perishable goods.
Good Ranchers
Good Ranchers also put a lot of trust in their product and delivery. They make sure that you receive what you ordered and you can also ask for refunds or replacements if needed.
You can contact Good Ranchers through e-mail or phone for your complaints. They review the product in question and replace it if possible.
There are also other options where you can get partial or full refunds as well as credits towards your next order.
Returns are not accepted since Good Ranchers sell perishable products. You can check out their terms and policies here for more information.
Does Butcher Box Or Good Rancher Have A Better Company Reputation?
Butcher Box has a relatively good reputation earning A-plus ratings on Better Business Bureau. Customers can also agree as you see with the reviews.
There are not many complaints about Butcher Box, and most complaints have been resolved properly by the company.
Good Ranchers is a newer company (2018) than Butcher Box (2015) and while they have a good company reputation, they are not better than Butcher Box.
Final Verdict
I went with Butcher Box because I have a better experience with their system. I have not received any wrong orders, and all my boxes were delivered on time.
I also prefer Butcher Box over Good Ranchers because they offer more flexibility on the orders that I want.
I can choose any cut of meat that I want from Butcher Box, and they have a lot of options to choose from.
During barbecues, I can never fail to impress my guests when I order the amazing ribeye steaks and chicken cuts from Butcher Box.
Good Ranchers is a great alternative company to Butcher Box, but I do not have as much freedom when choosing the cuts that I want.
If you prefer a consistent order every month with the same content, then Good Ranchers is for you but I like switching up my orders now and then, so I am going with Butcher Box.
Photo Credits- www.goodranchers.com, www.butcherbox.com
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