Everyone loves getting gifts during the holidays and on birthdays, but what if the unwrapping didn’t have to come with a reason?
Subscription boxes are the perfect way to extend the season of giving to all year long, and treat yourself or a friend to a surprise in the mail, as even if they know that a box is coming, the contents change each month.
The best idea we’ve had for Christmas and the other winter holidays this year? Gift a subscription (also great for last-minute gifting) on the actual holiday and then see their smile when you explain that they will be getting not just one present in the mail but many more over the course of the coming year.
Subscriptions are also great for those that have products they love, but hate running out to replace them each month, like clothing finds, food, drinks, and even underwear, which can still be a great holiday gift.
We broke it down for you, compiling a list of the best boxes for him, for her, for the kids, and even for couples looking to share some unboxing time together, as well as more niche categories for foodies, interior design lovers, home chefs and more.
Best subscription boxes for women
1. FabFitFun, $50/quarterly seasonal box
The name says it all with this one.
Treat yourself or a friend to eight to 10 full-size items worth over $200 for just $50 per box. The subscription is unique in that instead of monthly, it runs seasonally four times per year, so you always get topical items to help you keep warm over the winter or stay fresh in the summer.
There is usually a discount code for first-time subscribers, so check the website for details. For the seasonal plan, customers can choose up to three items guaranteed to be in the box, as it is billed $50 quarterly. The annual box costs $180, comes with five customizations, and includes access to faster shipping and early access to customize your box’s contents.
We smell a good deal on a great gift for any perfume lover on your list.
LUXSB is a monthly perfume subscription box that offers designer fragrances for a fraction of the price. For just $15 per month ($10.37 for your first month) customers get a 30-day designer or niche fragrance supply of their choice every time; one of the largest sizes out there when it comes to perfume subscriptions.
Fragrances include designer scents from Prada, Versace, Gucci and more, and the subscription comes in both men’s and women’s brands. Take the fragrance survey before choosing your scents to find out what they recommend, perfect for new perfume lovers or for gifting to someone else.
3. Underclub, starting at $15/month
Help curate the sexiest underwear drawer in 2022 — with a monthly subscription to Underclub.
The luxury underwear club sends either one or two pairs of designer undies, bras and bodysuits per month, expertly curated based on a style quiz and Underclub stylists. The one-pair signature membership costs $15 or two pairs for $28, while the fancier Luxe Plan costs $21 for one item and $35 for two. The plans automatically renew, and members can choose to skip any month or cancel anytime.
4. Petite Ave, prices vary
Are your vertically-challenged or need a gift for the shortie in your life? This one is perfect for all the ladies under 5-foot-5 who love style and hate baggy clothes.
Petite Ave saw the need for a subscription-based curated styling system, where after filling out a personal style quiz, one of the Petite Ave stylists will choose a one-of-a-kind box for your exact height and shape. The $25 styling fee goes toward the items you decide to keep after receiving and trying on the box of five unique wardrobe essentials. Simply try on, and decide what you love and what to send back in a prepaid box with no extra hassle, and pay only for the items you keep.
Box items include everything from tops and pants to shoes and accessories, all of which are fully customizable during the quiz portion of the process.
5. Birchbox, starting at $15/month
Do the beauty aisles at the drug store stress you out? Never again struggle to find quality makeup products again, after signing up for Birchbox.
Subscriptions start at just $15/month for a monthly box and see how you like it. After you subscribe, fill out a beauty preference profile to help the Birchbox team fill your box with products you’ll love, from hair care to skin care, makeup to fragrances. A typical box will include four to six deluxe beauty sample products spanning each category, but until the box arrives at your door, it’s a fun surprise every time.
6. Adore Me The Elite Box, $10, original price: $20
This is a lingerie box she will adore.
The Adore Me subscription box starts with a style quiz, helping the team decide what to pack in your first box. The best part? Once your items come, you have seven days to try everything on and send back what you don’t adore and then keep the rest to love forever.
7. Rocksbox, $21/month
We know diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but so is an endless supply of new jewelry.
Gift her just that, with a monthly subscription to Rocksbox. The jewelry subscription service costs just $21 per month and includes three pieces of bling, from necklaces and bracelets to rings and more. Remember that $21? The coolest part is that it also serves as a monthly credit, should you want to purchase any of your pieces and not have to part with them once the month is up.
Best subscription boxes for men
1. GQ Best Stuff Box, $50/quarter or $190/year
GQ is synonymous with the best dressed and looking men, so why not join those ranks with the GQ Best Stuff Box.
The subscription service comes packed with over $200 worth of items for him, but only costs $50, saving you time shopping and money, too. The items are all hand-selected by the GQ editors, so you know you’re getting the latest and greatest of style, grooming, lifestyle products and more.
Opt to order quarterly at $50 per box, or save even more cash and choose the yearly plan at $190 for four boxes, saving you an additional $10.
2. Dollar Shave Club, starting at $5
A perfect subscription for any bearded bro, Dollar Shave Club is for you.
The shaving and men’s wellness company has crafted a foolproof way to discover new products and maintain the best beards and mustaches through even the driest of winters.
First, take the quiz to see what type of products you and your facial hair need. Then choose from full-size products, or shop the starter kits that start at just $5 for three products, a razor and refill blades. Restock boxes ship out every two months, but can be postponed or changed at any time, and with a 30-day money back guarantee, there’s nothing to lose but your quarantine beard.
3. Battlbox, starting at $35/month
Are you prepared?
Prepared for the best survival gift subscription out there, we mean. Battlbox is a subscription box filled to the brim with outdoor gear, survival tools and camping must-haves that will help you survive the holidays and him survive the great outdoors.
Boxes come in many sizes, including a basic box for $35 all the way up to the pro plus for $170/month, including full-size and name brand equipment. Gifting these boxes is easy as well, as once you choose your size, simply sign up for a six-month or yearly subscription and the rest is up to him and the elements.
4. Menlo Club, $20, original price: $60
Want the down-low on a supertrendy men’s fashion club?
The Menlo Club covers all the bases for you to curate your perfect closet, combining three brands to span dress and casual clothes, athletic wear and shoes all in one subscription. Subscribe to receive a curated package of name brand styles, with two to three items in each box.
5. Gentleman’s Box, starting at $26/box
Treat the gentleman in your life to accessories that match.
Gentleman’s Box is a great gift for any man who likes looking dapper and also enjoys fun fashion surprises each month. A subscription includes four to six new fashion and lifestyle
accessories per box, from ties and wallets to socks, stationary and more.
Best subscription boxes for couples
1. DateBox Club, starting at $42/month
Date night will never be just a movie on the couch again, thanks to the offerings from DateBox Club.
The subscription box service brings fun back into date night, sending themed boxes right to your door every month, including everything you’ll need to have the most fun or romantic night with your partner in the comfort of your own home. Some past themes have included a spicy hot sauce-themed box with games and candy, and a nostalgic and creative journaling box to record what you love about each other and then play a flirty and fun version of Truth or Dare.
Subscriptions range from monthly to package deals of three months, six months, annual, or even larger boxes for the whole family to have some bonding time. Perfect for the pandemic, digital dates are also being offered in some packages, so make sure to check those out for a COVID friendly date, or if you have a long-distance relationship and could use some togetherness.
2. The Adults & Crafts Crate, starting at $31/box
Arts and crafts are not just for the kids anymore.
Get crafty with your significant other with an adult crafting subscription box from CrateJoy.
Some past kits have included a build-it-yourself wine caddy, an engraving kit to honor a special date with your loved one, and a wood-burning kit to make your love permanently known. The box has over 250 reviews on CrateJoy and an almost perfect five-star rating, so get some wine and a baby sitter and embrace each other’s artistic side.
3. UrbanStems, starting at $55/delivery
Add some color to your home with a plant and flower subscription from the UrbanStems.
Becoming plant parents together has never been easier, with many different subscriptions to choose from, for those who want fresh flowers in the home all year long. Subscriptions start at $55 per delivery, and can be dropped off weekly, bi-weekly or monthly depending on how many arrangements you want. They also have a seasonal flower plan for $75 and a luxe option for $105 per delivery.
4. Green Chef, starting at $13/portion for two
There’s nothing more romantic than cooking a meal together, and now you and your partner can do so without having to bother with the grocery store or measuring portions.
Green Chef offers a subscription package perfect for couples that includes three perfectly portioned meals for two per week, at only $79. The weekly membership can be changed at any time to include more portions for the hungry couple, or more meals per week for those who want to have date night every night.
All the meals are healthy and fit with every lifestyle, including Keto meals, plant-based, vegetarian and more.
Best subscription boxes for kids
1. KiwiCo, starting at $18.50/month
Learning through play is the best gift you could give your child, and KiwiCo is making it more fun and easier than ever.
The subscription boxes start at just $18.50 per month and can be tailored to your child perfectly, taking age, interest and price into account before selecting the perfect box. Crates start at birth and go up through 16-year-olds and older, making this a company you’ll want to stick with for life. And with over 20 million crates sold, ask anyone and get a positive review of any box, from STEM-focused kits for the elementary schoolers or an art-centric kit for your creative middle schooler.
2. Little Passports, prices vary
Have passport, will travel. And now they don’t even need one to experience all the world has to offer from their own playroom.
Little Passports starts little ones as young as 3 learning about the world around them, providing a subscription box filled with cultural and educational toys and materials for all ages. Check out the Early Explorers kit for your 3 through 5-year-olds and watch them become fascinated with the ocean, dinosaurs and more. The older crowd 9 and up may enjoy the Science Expeditions set, which includes an age-appropriate experiment to help them discover new passions and delve deeper into old ones.
3. Claire’s Cdrop Subscription boxes, starting at $30/box
Bring their favorite accessory store right to them with the new Claire’s subscription boxes called Cdrop.
They have three varieties of the box: “bitsydrop” for ages three to eight filled with toys and fun, “glitzydrop” for ages 12 and older with a dozen sets of earrings and “vibeydrop” for ages nine and older that is packed with trending accessories.
4. Amazon Book Boxes, prices vary
Go on a trip anywhere their imagination will take them with the gift of reading.
Amazon Book Boxes make that super easy, sending shipments of curated books to your door every one, two or three months. There are options for age as well, starting with baby to two which sends four new board-books, all the way to ages nine through 12 that will receive two new hardcover books each shipment.
5. Kidpik, items average $16 each, box prices vary
Change their wardrobe as often as they change their tastes with a subscription to Kidpik.
The monthly children’s subscription box contains three coordinated outfits, which makes dressing the little ones a breeze. Made up of seven pieces of clothing and accessories, pick and choose which items to keep and which to return, with a 30% discount if you choose to keep the whole box. Kidpik comes in both boys and girls styles, and you can order them to come once per month, every two months or every third month depending on your needs.
Best subscription boxes for the home
1. GlobeIn, starting at $8/month
Fill your home with items from around the world, even if you can’t physically travel right now.
GlobeIn is the perfect subscription box to remind you of the wonders of the world while getting new and exciting artisan-made home decor from around the globe. Each box has a theme, so it is a surprise every time. Past boxes have included the “Cozy Box” with blankets and mugs, and the “Bonjour Box” filled with everything you need for a breakfast in bed.
2. Earthlove, $60 per season
Get a subscription both you and Mother Nature would approve of with Earthlove.
The subscription box ships out every season, with items that are always sustainable and ethically sourced. Each box contains 10 products that span houseware, self-care and more, with a guaranteed value of $150 or more.
Right now, the Summer box is on major discount, offering seven full-sized products for just $59.95, valued at over $230.
3. Decorated, starting at $75/box
Celebrate each season in style with a curated box with home decor for summer, fall, winter and spring.
Decorated is a quarterly subscription box that helps you get in the holiday mood every season of the year, be it with spooky signs for Halloween, snowflakes and cozy trinkets for the winter or a spring and summer bouquet. Each box contains six to eight full-sized items, plus with a membership, you gain access to the online shop to pick and choose even more items priced a la carte with an additional 50% off.
Best subscription boxes for foodies
1. Goldbelly Monthly Food Subscription, $85/month
Get the best of the best, delivered monthly for as long as you want with the Goldbelly monthly subscription.
The Best of Goldbelly package is a refillable subscription that sends you a curated box of the nation’s most craved foods every month. The box varies each month, switching between savory and sweet options that feed a minimum of four people, for a country-wide feast without ever having to leave home.
2. Bokksu, starting at $40/month
Say konnichiwa to the best Japanese snack on the market, sent right to your door no matter where you live.
Bokksu box is a treat for any foodie who loves the fun and unique flavors of Japan, even if we can’t travel at the moment. Boxes start at $40 for the annual subscription, or go with less frequent deliveries at a rate of six months, three months, or go one month at a time. Each box comes full to the brim with 20 to 24 snacks, candies and tea pairings, as well as a 16+ page cultural magazine with details on the snacks you received. The treats are sent directly from Japan and in the case you ordered more than you can chew, simply pause or cancel at any time.
3. Cusa Tea and Coffee, prices vary
Is coffee part of your personality?
Fuel their addiction and expand their beverage horizons with a subscription to Cusa Tea and Coffee. They carry tons of different blends of both tea and coffee, from herbal to chai, vanilla latte and even cold brew. The best part is, all the drinks are instant, as they come in a pre-measured powder packet and are ready to be mixed into water or milk, hot or cold.
4. Butcher Box, starting at $137/month
There’s no way to butcher this gift if you have a meat-lover in your life.
Butcher Box is the ideal gift for the person that loves to cook and grill quality meats, but hates going to the store and dealing with quality or quantity issues. The subscription box starts at $137 per month for 8.5 to 11 pounds of premium chicken, pork, and beef, or $149 for nine to 15 pounds of a choose-it-yourself box from more then 25 different cuts of meat.
The fresh food is all well-sourced, including 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage-breed pork and wild-caught seafood options. All the boxes also have built-in free shipping and with cancelation available at any time, grilling at home is risk free and oh so tasty.
5. The Mantry Company, starting at $75/crate
Is his pantry looking a little empty? Upgrade it to a mantry.
The Mantry Company is a food subscription service on a mission to find the best artisanal foods and snacks and send them to your door in a handmade wooden crate. Each delivery contains six full-sized products, which all fit a fun theme each time. Past boxes have included grilling essentials like barbecue sauces and spice rubs to a German biergarten box with pretzels, salami and dipping sauces.
6. Club Corto Olive Oil Subscription, starting at $210/year
Every foodie needs a well-stocked supply of olive oil, and here is an easy way to have just that.
Club Corto comes in two different sizes, including a three-delivery Pantry Collection and a two-delivery Classic Collection. They both come with One TRULY® 3L Pantry-Sized FlavorLock Box container of oil, as well as added perks like a bottle of limited-edition Harvest Olive Oil, an expert-led virtual olive oil tasting experiences and online access to chef-led cooking classes via their site.
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