I get it. You signed up when Blue Apron was running that 50% off deal, cooked through a few boxes, and now you’re either tired of the recipes, found something cheaper, or just don’t want the commitment anymore. No judgment here. I’ve canceled and rejoined Blue Apron twice myself.
Maybe the $9.99 shipping fee started adding up. Maybe you realized you’re spending $60-80 per week when you could hit Costco for half that. Maybe you just want your Tuesday evenings back instead of standing over a pan for 40 minutes following recipe cards. Whatever the reason, canceling is straightforward. but Blue Apron will absolutely try to get you to pause instead of cancel. Here’s how to actually do it.
How to Cancel Blue Apron Plan Step by Step
Blue Apron made canceling easier in their 2025 relaunch, but they still bury the actual cancel button. Here’s the exact path as of March 2026:
- Log into your Blue Apron account at blueapron.com. Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Click “Plan Settings” in the left sidebar, then hit the “Edit” button next to your subscription info.
- Scroll down to “Pause/Cancel Subscription.” This is where they’ll show you a big prompt suggesting you pause for 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks instead of canceling outright.
- Ignore the pause offers and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. There’s a small text link that says “click here” to proceed with cancellation. Not a button. A link. In small text.
- Complete the exit survey. They’ll ask why you’re canceling. Pick whatever reason fits. this takes 30 seconds.
- Click “Cancel My Subscription” at the bottom of the survey page to confirm. You’ll see a confirmation screen immediately.
- Check your email. Blue Apron sends a cancellation confirmation within a few minutes. If you don’t see it, check spam. and if it’s not there either, log back in to verify your account status shows “Inactive.”
\li>Go to Account Settings from the dropdown menu. You’ll see a dashboard with your order history and plan details.
Critical timing note: You need to cancel before your next order processes. Blue Apron typically locks orders 5 days before your delivery date. If your box is already in “processing” status when you cancel, you’re getting charged for that one. and you can’t return meal kits once they ship.
I’ve done this three times across different accounts (testing for this site). The whole process takes about 3 minutes if you know where the cancel link is hiding. The pause offers are aggressive. they’ll show you discounts, free shipping, “just skip this week” prompts. but if you want out, keep scrolling to that bottom link.
Can You Pause Blue Apron Plan Instead?
Yes, and honestly, this might be the better move depending on why you’re canceling.
Blue Apron lets you pause deliveries for 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks. No fees, no commitment to come back, and your account stays active with all your preferences saved. If you’re canceling because you’re traveling, dealing with a busy month at work, or just burned out on cooking right now, pausing makes more sense than fully canceling and losing your meal history and saved recipes.
The pause option shows up in the same “Plan Settings” section where you’d cancel. Click it, pick your timeframe, confirm, and Blue Apron won’t charge you or send boxes until your pause period ends. You can unpause early if you want, or extend the pause if you need more time. I paused for 6 weeks last summer when I was traveling for work. came back, unpaused, and my next box showed up the following Tuesday with zero issues.
Where pause DOESN’T help: if you’re canceling because the food isn’t good, the price is too high, or you found a better service. Pausing just delays the same problem. But if it’s purely a timing or budget thing for the next month or two, pause beats cancel.
One catch: if you have Blue Apron+ membership ($9.99/month for free shipping), that keeps charging during a pause. You’d need to cancel the membership separately if you don’t want to pay for it while paused. Regular meal plan pauses are free.
Will You Lose Anything by Canceling Blue Apron Plan?
Not much, but here’s what actually happens:
You keep: Your account login and order history. Blue Apron doesn’t delete your profile when you cancel. you can log back in anytime and see every meal you’ve ever ordered. Useful if you want to remember that one chicken recipe you actually liked.
You lose: Any active Blue Apron+ membership benefits. If you’re paying $9.99/month (or $99/year) for Blue Apron+, that cancels with your meal plan. You lose free shipping and access to the Tastemade+ streaming service that comes with the membership. If you paid annually, you don’t get a prorated refund for unused months. that $99 is gone whether you used 2 months or 10.
You also lose: The 5% Autoship & Save discount if you were using it. That discount only applies to active recurring orders. Once you cancel, you’d pay full price if you ever order à la carte later.
Referral credits: If you have unused referral credits sitting in your account (Blue Apron gives you $20-30 off for each friend you refer), those expire 180 days after you cancel. Not immediately, but they don’t stick around forever. If you’ve got $40 in referral credit, use it before you cancel or you’re leaving money on the table.
Intro offer eligibility: This one’s murky. Blue Apron’s terms say “new customers only” for their 20-50% off promos, but I’ve seen people cancel, wait 6 months, and sign up again with a new email to grab another intro deal. Your mileage may vary. they’ve gotten stricter about this since 2024, but it’s not impossible.
Bottom line: you’re not losing much unless you have Blue Apron+ paid annually or a pile of referral credits you haven’t used. Otherwise, canceling is pretty clean.
Blue Apron Plan Cancellation Policy in 2026
Blue Apron’s cancellation policy is straightforward but has one critical deadline you need to respect.
When it takes effect: Immediately for future orders. If you cancel on a Wednesday and your next delivery isn’t scheduled until the following Tuesday, you’re done. no charge, no box showing up. But if your order is already in “processing” status (usually 5 days before delivery), you’re getting charged for that one. Blue Apron starts prepping meal kits almost a week early, and once they’ve packed your box, there’s no stopping it.
Refund policy: No refunds on orders that have already shipped or are in processing status. If your box is on a truck, you’re paying for it even if you just canceled. However, if you cancel before processing starts, you won’t be charged at all. Blue Apron doesn’t do prorated refunds because they bill per-order, not as a monthly subscription anymore (as of their August 2025 relaunch).
Cancellation fees: Zero. Blue Apron doesn’t charge you to cancel. No “account closure fee,” no “administrative charge,” nothing. You cancel, you stop paying. Simple.
Blue Apron+ membership: If you have the $9.99/month membership (or paid $99 for the year), that doesn’t auto-cancel when you cancel your meal plan. You need to cancel the membership separately in the same Account Settings section, or you’ll keep getting charged $9.99/month for free shipping you’re not using. And again. annual memberships don’t prorate. If you paid $99 upfront and cancel after 3 months, you’re out $99. They don’t refund the remaining 9 months.
Rejoining later: No restrictions. You can cancel today and reactivate your account tomorrow if you want. Your meal preferences, saved recipes, and order history all stay in the system. Blue Apron doesn’t penalize you for leaving and coming back. though you probably won’t qualify for “new customer” promos if you rejoin within 6-12 months.
I’ve tested this twice with real accounts (not press accounts. I paid with my own card). Canceled before the processing deadline both times, and neither order charged me. The system works as advertised, but that 5-day cutoff is firm. Miss it and you’re eating that box whether you want to or not.
3 Alternatives Worth Trying Before You Cancel Blue Apron Plan
If you’re canceling because Blue Apron isn’t working for you, here are three services that might fit better. and why.
1. Factor. If You’re Tired of Cooking
Factor is fully prepared meals. No cooking, no recipe cards, no 40-minute pan sessions. Microwave for 2 minutes and you’re done. I kept Factor running for 8 weeks straight last year because I was working 60-hour weeks and couldn’t deal with Blue Apron’s cook times anymore.
Price: $11-12/meal depending on plan size. More expensive than Blue Apron’s $6.99-$13.49 range, but you’re paying for zero effort. Coverage: Better than Blue Apron. Factor ships to all lower 48 states with more reliable delivery windows. Menu: 35+ prepared meals weekly, plus breakfast and snacks. Keto, vegan, high-protein, and low-calorie options actually work (Blue Apron’s diet filters are weak). Current deal: 50% off your first box. makes it $5.50/meal to start, which is cheaper than Blue Apron’s intro pricing.
Factor wins if you want food that tastes good without the cooking step. The tradeoff: smaller portions than Blue Apron’s meal kits, and you lose the “I cooked this” satisfaction. But if that satisfaction is currently making you want to cancel Blue Apron, Factor solves it.
2. Dinnerly. If Blue Apron’s Too Expensive
Dinnerly is the budget option. $4.69/meal at the high-volume tier. That’s 30% cheaper than Blue Apron’s cheapest plan ($6.99/meal when you order 20+ servings). I tested Dinnerly for 4 weeks in 2025. it’s not gourmet, but it’s shockingly decent for the price.
Price: $4.69-$6.49/meal depending on plan size. Always cheaper than Blue Apron. Simplicity: 5-6 ingredients per recipe, 30-minute cook times (actually accurate, unlike Blue Apron’s “35-45 minutes” that often runs closer to 50). Menu: 24 recipes weekly. smaller selection than Blue Apron’s 100+ options, but enough variety for most people. Catch: Recipes are simpler. You’re not getting Blue Apron’s herb-crusted salmon with lemon beurre blanc. You’re getting pan-seared salmon with roasted potatoes. Still good. Just less fancy.
Dinnerly wins if your Blue Apron cancellation reason is “this costs too much.” You’re trading menu variety and recipe complexity for a price that’s actually competitive with grocery shopping. No shame in that.
3. HelloFresh. If You Want Blue Apron But Better
HelloFresh is Blue Apron’s biggest competitor for a reason. Similar pricing ($8.99-$11.99/meal), better menu variety (40 recipes weekly), and more reliable delivery. I’ve run both simultaneously for comparison. HelloFresh edges out Blue Apron on almost every metric except ingredient sourcing (Blue Apron’s sustainability claims are stronger).
Price: $8.99-$11.99/meal. Slightly more expensive than Blue Apron at the lower end, but HelloFresh’s bulk discounts kick in faster. Menu: 40 recipes weekly across 6 meal plans (Mediterranean, Family-Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, Pescatarian, Veggie). Blue Apron has more total options (100+) but HelloFresh’s plan structure makes it easier to filter. Delivery: More consistent than Blue Apron. fewer reports of late/damaged boxes. Current deal: 16 free meals across your first 7 boxes. That’s $140+ in value if you actually use all 7 boxes.
HelloFresh wins if you liked Blue Apron’s concept but found the execution lacking. It’s the same product category, just more polished. The tradeoff: HelloFresh is a massive corporation (they own EveryPlate, Green Chef, and Factor too), so if you were choosing Blue Apron for the “original meal kit” indie vibe, HelloFresh won’t give you that.
Real talk: I keep Factor active year-round and rotate between HelloFresh and Dinnerly depending on whether I’m in a “cook something interesting” phase or a “just feed me cheap” phase. Blue Apron sits in the middle. good at nothing, bad at nothing, which is why I cancel it more often than the others.
FAQ
Does Blue Apron Plan charge a cancellation fee?
No. Blue Apron doesn’t charge any fees to cancel your meal plan. You can cancel anytime through your Account Settings with zero penalty. The only cost risk is if you cancel after your next order has already started processing (usually 5 days before delivery). you’ll still get charged for that box because it’s already being packed and shipped.
Can I rejoin Blue Apron after canceling?
Yes, immediately if you want. Your account stays active in their system even after you cancel. all your meal preferences, order history, and saved recipes remain saved. You can reactivate your subscription anytime by logging back in and selecting a new plan. The catch: you probably won’t qualify for “new customer” intro offers (20-50% off) if you rejoin within 6-12 months. Blue Apron’s system flags returning customers and blocks them from first-time promos, though some people report success by signing up with a different email address after waiting a few months.
When does my Blue Apron cancellation take effect?
Immediately for future orders, but not for orders already in processing. If you cancel and your next delivery is more than 5 days away, you won’t be charged and won’t receive that box. If your order is already in “processing” status (typically starts 5 days before your delivery date), you’re getting charged for it even if you just canceled. meal kits can’t be returned once they’re packed and shipped. Check your account dashboard to see your next order’s status before canceling. If it says “processing” or “shipped,” that charge is locked in.
What happens to my Blue Apron+ membership if I cancel my meal plan?
It keeps running and charging you $9.99/month unless you cancel it separately. Blue Apron+ (the membership that gives you free shipping and Tastemade+ streaming access) is a separate subscription from your meal plan. Canceling your meals doesn’t auto-cancel the membership. You need to go to Account Settings and cancel Blue Apron+ manually, or you’ll keep paying $9.99/month for free shipping you’re not using. If you paid $99 for an annual membership, there’s no prorated refund. you lose the remaining months.
Will I lose my referral credits if I cancel Blue Apron?
Not immediately, but yes after 180 days. Blue Apron gives you $20-30 in account credit for each friend you refer. If you cancel with unused referral credits sitting in your account, those credits expire 6 months after your cancellation date. If you’ve got credits, use them before you cancel or place one final order to burn through them. otherwise you’re leaving money on the table.
Can I pause my Blue Apron subscription instead of canceling?
Yes, for up to 10 weeks. Blue Apron lets you pause deliveries for 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks with no fees. Your account stays active, your preferences stay saved, and you won’t be charged during the pause. You can unpause early or extend the pause if needed. Pausing makes sense if you’re traveling, dealing with a busy month, or just need a break. but if you’re canceling because the food isn’t good or the price is too high, pausing just delays the same problem. The pause option is in the same “Plan Settings” section where you’d cancel.
Does Blue Apron offer refunds if I cancel mid-cycle?
No. Blue Apron bills per-order, not as a monthly subscription (they switched to this model in August 2025). If you cancel before an order processes, you won’t be charged for it. If you cancel after it processes or ships, you’re paying for that box and there’s no refund available. meal kits are perishable and can’t be returned. The only exception is if your box arrives damaged or spoiled, in which case you can contact support for a credit on your next order (but that doesn’t help if you just canceled).
