Mountain Primal Meat Co. and ButcherBox are two companies that offer high-quality meat delivery. However, there are some key differences between the two services that set them apart.
As Carnivore lifestyle experts, we decided to do a 3-month taste test to see which company's meat was better.
After trying out their products, we found that one service edged out the other. Read more to learn about our analysis.
ButcherBox vs Mountain Primal: Key Differences
The main difference between Mountain Primal Meat Co. and ButcherBox is in their sourcing practices.
Although they both use only hormone and antibiotic-free beef, that meat comes from very different locations.
Mountain Primal sources all of its beef and pork from its own ranch - located up against Crown Mountain in Colorado.
Their cattle are all the American Highland breed, perfect for that cold, high environment. The cows are all pasture-fed and known for their flavor.
On the other hand, ButcherBox is not a meat producer. Instead, it sources its meat from a variety of family-owned farms in Australia that adhere strictly to humane cattle-raising practices.
Comparing Their Features Head to Head
The features of each service are important to consider when making your decision.
1. Selection
Mountain Primal meat subscription service has a variety of beef and pork cuts that are all sourced from their farm within the US.
Their beef selection is extensive, with 44 different cuts available - from steak to stew meats, ground beef to filet mignon. Their pork is limited to ground pork breakfast sausage and pork belly.
They also offer wild game meats like elk and bison. However, they do not offer any poultry, so you will have to find your whole chicken or chicken thighs from a different supplier.
Mountain Primal has some unusual items to add to their chuck roast and pork sausage - fuel sticks, meat sticks, and a tasty BBQ sauce.
ButcherBox offers a different variety of meat options than Mountain Primal. In addition to beef and pork, they also offer chicken drumsticks and breasts.
They do not have any game meats, and their beef offerings are not as extensive as Mountain Primal, but they do have boneless pork chops and tenderloin on their menu, which Mountain Primal does not.
Of course, they do have all the basics, such as grass-fed ground beef, New York strip steak, and the like.
2. Quality
ButcherBox provides quality pork, beef, and chicken raised free from antibiotics and growth hormones.
It is a meat delivery company that offers humanely raised and grass-finished beef, organic chicken, and humanely raised pork to give their customers healthy meat options in a subscription service.
Mountain Primal is a company that specializes in the sale of beef and pork raised on their farm in the Roaring Fork Valley.
They make sure every calf introduced to the herd is healthy and gain weight appropriately. This way, they get cattle with sound pedigree and strong fitness for their wide-open ranch.
These cows are grass-fed on the open range, and the resulting beef is dry-aged for a minimum of 14-days. This treatment develops the flavor and tenderizes the meat.
Like ButcherBox, Mountain Primal's pasture-raised cattle and pigs are never given antibiotics or hormones to increase their growth.
They are raised in the ranch's wooded environment and open grasslands sustainably and humanely. The game meats from Mountain Primal come from ranches in Wyoming and Colorado.
3. Sourcing
Mountain Primal's unique value is that it sources all of its meat from its farm in Colorado's high country.
Their elk, Berkshire pork, and American Highland cattle thrive in the fresh, cold air of the Roaring Fork Valley snugged up against the Rocky Mountains.
With Mountain Primal, there is never any doubt as to where your meat comes from - they are proud that their Crown Mountain ranch provides 100% of the meat they send to your table.
And of course, all of the Mountain Primal meat comes from animals that are ethically and humanely pasture raised without antibiotics or hormones.
“We believe in better. For us, better means caring about animals and our planet. It means improving the livelihoods of farmers.”
- ButcherBox
ButcherBox has a more worldwide approach to sourcing their meat. Most of their beef comes from farms in Australia that share their commitment to humane animal treatment and sustainability.
Their pasture-raised meat is butchered into premium beef and is sent directly to your table.
Their chicken can range freely on pesticide-free pastures, and their heritage-breed pork comes from pigs that live in open-air barns, not crates.
None of their animals are given growth hormones or subtherapeutic antibiotics.
4. Pricing
Mountain Primal is a company that provides high-quality, range-fed meat in an a la carte manner, with the prices varying based on the cut and weight of the meat you select.
For example, their ground beef starts at $9.99 per lb., while a New York Strip is $30.99 per lb.
In addition to their American Highland beef, Mountain Primal also offers game meats such as elk tenderloin at $50.99 per lb. and bison bratwurst at $16.99 per one-pound package.
ButcherBox is a meat delivery service that offers various meal kits: an all-beef box, beef, and chicken box, beef and pork box, or mixed box. The base cost for this service is $137 per month for 8-11 lbs. of curated meat choices.
$22 a month in additional charges will allow the customer to create a custom box with their desired meats. To save money, you also can get a 16-22 lb. big box of meat for $253 a month, which is their best value.
5. Packaging
ButcherBox uses a variety of packaging options to ensure your meat arrives fresh. They use eco-friendly packaging that is recyclable and insulated to keep the meat cold.
Dry ice or gel packs are placed alongside the meat to ensure it arrives at less than 40 degrees F and is safe to eat.
Mountain Primal packages its meat in 100% compostable and recyclable materials. They will ship with cold packs and dry ice so that their meat can stay cold for 80 hours without creating much packaging waste.
Their packaging is specifically designed to be regenerative and sustainable, so the customer can be environmentally responsible while enjoying their product.
6. Shipping
One of the defining characteristics of ButcherBox is that the company offers free shipping on all of its boxes - from the classic box to the big box.
The company delivers in all the continental 48 states and provides a tracking number for your order. ButcherBox gives you the flexibility to pick the day of the week that your order arrives.
Mountain Primal is an a la carte service that is less flexible on shipping dates. They only ship on Mondays but send their products to all 50 United States.
They also will ship globally any product that does not require freezing.
7. Cancellation
Mountain Primal is a delivery service that offers a la carte ordering, so you can order only the meat you want and get it only when you want. There are no cancellation fees and no penalty for not ordering.
With a different business model, ButcherBox is a delivery service based on monthly subscriptions.
That said, you can change your delivery preferences to get meat more or less frequently than the monthly baseline.
Additionally, if you want to cancel your subscription at any time, you can do so without incurring a financial penalty.
8. Customer Support
Both companies have reviews across the internet, hailing their top-notch customer service. Our experience echoes those reviews - ButcherBox and Mountain Primal answered all of our questions thoroughly and quickly.
ButcherBox offers email and online chat support, as well as a toll-free number for US customers. They have an extensive FAQ section on their website that contains tons of helpful information.
Mountain Primal does not have chat support but does have phone, email, and an online form that you can fill out with your questions. Their FAQ is comprehensive and answers any common concerns or questions.
Stand Out Features
Both ButcherBox and Mountain Primal have a lot of features in common, but there are a few things that set ButcherBox apart.
ButcherBox is famous for its curated meat selection in its delivery boxes. The company puts the best cuts of Australian beef, heritage-breed pork, and free-range chicken in every delivery.
And the monthly delivery schedule is flexible, so you can get your box as often or as little as you need - on the day you want it.
The free shipping ButcherBox on all of its boxes - from the classic box to the big box - is a bonus that helps make this service cost-effective and convenient.
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ButcherBox vs Mountain Primal: Who Is the Winner?
After evaluating ButcherBox and Mountain Primal Meat Co., we find that ButcherBox is the superior service.
Although they may not have the more exotic options like bison and elk that Mountain Primal does, the benefit of having regular delivery of top-quality staples for the Carnivore diet is hard to beat.
ButcherBox also has the advantage of free shipping, which makes the service not only convenient but cost-effective for someone on an all meat diet who wants a go-to supply of food in the freezer.
Check out our review for more information about ButcherBox meat delivery service.
#1 Meat Delivery Service
ButcherBox
- Grass-fed and grass-finished beef delivered directly to your door
- Without antibiotics or added hormones
- Customizable boxes available
- Select from up to 21 different cuts
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of May
- No organ meat
