Tovala makes it super easy to cancel your subscription directly in the app by pressing a couple of buttons, without having to call customer support. That’s the case even if you purchased your box using Tovala’s special discount.
Tovala is a great service, but it’s not for everyone. Maybe you found that the meals weren’t to your liking, or you want to be more involved in the cooking process. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to cancel your Tovala subscription – although the process is a bit different from other services.
If you haven't fulfilled your 6-week meal commitment, you’ll need to contact customer support, as you’ll be required to pay the full price for the oven. If you’re not looking to keep the oven either, you can ask for a refund for free, but only during the first 100 days.
There are some great alternatives out there. My top choice is Factor, as it’s more affordable and doesn’t require more than a traditional oven (or a microwave, if that’s your jam). You can check it out and see the meals for yourself.
Jump to see more great alternatives
If you’re not in a meal commitment, simply follow these steps:
Log in – Log into your account on the Tovala app. Go to your Settings and select Meal Plan.
Select Stop Deliveries – On the next screen, select Cancel Deliveries.
Canceling Tovala differs depending on whether you have completed your meal commitment. As a reminder, your meal commitment means that you agree to order 6 weeks of meals within the first 6 months of owning the Tovala Smart Oven. Until this commitment is complete, your account will be active and the only way to not get meals is to skip orders.
You can cancel your Tovala subscription easily after your compulsory 6-week meal commitment.
1. Sign in and open Settings – Open the app. Sign into your account and open the Settings tab. Go to Meal Plan.
2. Click on Stop Deliveries – You can stop orders altogether if you cancel by Wednesday at 6 pm CT the week before your next order is scheduled to be delivered.
3. Select Cancel Deliveries – On this page, you’ll have the option to pause or cancel. Hit the Cancel Deliveries button to confirm. You’ll get a confirmation email shortly after.
Author note: When you cancel, Tovala will remove you from its active customers list, delete your meal plan details, and stop contacting you.
If you haven’t completed your meal commitment (and you’re out of the 100-day refund policy), you’ll need to pay the rest of the oven’s full price to cancel your subscription. To do this, you’ll need to:
1. Reach out to customer support – Click on the Contact us button to launch the chat service. You’ll be asked to identify your issue upfront and then provide your login details (if you’re not already logged in). You can also call them at (312) 818-4437 or email [email protected].
2. Tell them you want to cancel. They will explain what it means to buy out of your commitment and what the cost will be.
3. Pay the buy-out fee. The credit card on file will be charged to close your meal plan.
If you wish to return the oven, there’s a 100-day money-back guarantee. You can send it to Tovala free of charge and request a refund during this period. Your meal commitment will be removed from your account when the oven is received by Tovala. Bear in mind, this only applies if you bought your oven from Tovala directly.
Start the return process by contacting Tovala's customer support at [email protected] or using the live messaging feature on the app or website. Tovala will cover the cost of return shipping on your oven.
Factor is great for people who are ultra-busy and want to do as little prep as possible. Its prepared meals are ready to heat and eat in 3 minutes or less. You can read about the full menu in our tested review, but there are plenty of calorie-smart, plant-based, high-protein, and keto meals.
What I like is that even though most of the menu is diet-friendly, the dishes look colorful and appetizing and feature tons of flavorful ingredients. There are 6 plans you can choose from: Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Flexitarian, and Vegan & Veggie. The menu also includes Gourmet Plus recipes, which feature more premium ingredients.
The subscription model is super flexible compared to Tovala. You can order from 6 to 18 single-serve meals per week, and the per-meal price drops the more you order. Prices start at $10.49 per portion, so it’s already cheaper than Tovala. Don’t forget to use our exclusive discount to make even bigger savings: Starting at $130 off! Code: DELIVERY130.
Green Chef is a good alternative if you don’t mind cooking at home. There are an impressive number of meal kits to choose from each week, with over 45 options. These dishes range from low-calorie and vegetarian selections to high-protein recipes, ensuring there's something for everyone, regardless of dietary preferences.
The meal kits offered by Green Chef are designed to be efficient and straightforward. Generally, they require around 30 minutes to prepare (often less). Although these kits are primarily marketed as dinners, they possess the versatility to fit into the slot of lunches as well. You can explore our in-depth review to find out what to expect when cooking with Green Chef.
What’s impressive about Green Chef is that it features certified organic produce. Prices start at $9.99 per serving, and you can order a minimum of 3 meals for 2 people and a maximum of 6 meals for 4 people per week.
HelloFresh offers a diverse menu with over 100 meals and market items per week. Meals can take anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes to prepare. If Tovala's menu felt too restrictive, HelloFresh provides a flexible solution. You can mix and match its meal plans and handy tags like Carb Smart and Veggie help you choose the right dishes.
HelloFresh's recipes are easy to follow, making it family-friendly. Our expert reviewer was impressed with the simplicity and clarity of the recipes. The straightforward instructions ensure a stress-free cooking experience, even if you were previously used to heating prepared meals.
Managing your subscription with HelloFresh is straightforward. This ease of management is a significant advantage if you were frustrated with Tovala's subscription model. You have the flexibility to modify, pause, or cancel your subscription easily. Prices start at $4.49 per serving and you’ll need to order at least 2 meals for 2 people per week.
Blue Apron is much more affordable than Tovala. It features prepared microwavable meals, as well as Ready to Cook and Fast & Easy recipes that you can assemble and throw into the oven. There are also easy meal kits if you’d like to try your hand at some simple to medium cooking.
The menu offers a wide range of options, such as low-calorie, high-protein, and carb-conscious meals, as well as add-ons like protein and desserts. The Meal Kits come in 2 sizes, for 2 or 4 people, while the Prepared & Ready meals are only available as single-serving dishes. Learn more in my colleague’s tested Blue Apron review.
Starting at $4.00 per serving, Blue Apron offers great value for families. You can choose up to 5 recipes each week for 4 people, making it ideal for family meals. It also includes microwavable meals as add-ons, allowing you to order more than the usual 5 meals per week if needed.
Top Plans | ||||
Top Plans | ![]() | |||
Our Rating | ||||
Our Rating | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 |
Starting Price | ||||
Starting Price | $10.49 Per Serving | $9.99 Per Serving | $4.49 Per Serving | $4.00 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | ||||
Minimum Order | 6 prepared meals | 3 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people |
Meal Types | ||||
Meal Types | Prepared meals | 10-45 minute meal kits | Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals | 5 - 60 min meal kits and prepared meals |
Prep Time | ||||
Prep Time | 2-3 min | 25-40 min | 5-50 min | 5-45 min |
Active Deals | ||||
Active Deals |
If you’ve completed your meal commitment, you can cancel Tovala directly from the app. Simply log in, go to Settings, into Meal Plan, then hit Stop Subscription.
If you haven’t, you’ll need to contact customer service to buy out of your commitment first.
You can try a service with a more flexible subscription, like Factor. You can order anywhere from 6-18 meals per week, and they come prepared and ready to heat in the microwave in 3 minutes.
Yes, as Tovala can be pretty expensive – even without the price of the special oven. You can try Factor instead, which starts at $10.49 per portion and offers a range of prepared meals for diets including vegetarian, keto, and low-calorie.
You need to make sure to cancel until Wednesday at 6 pm CT the week before your next order is scheduled to be delivered. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with your next order, and you’ll have to pay for it as usual.