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The 22 Best Gift Subscriptions of 2024

Pamper your loved one with a gift subscription that will keep on giving.

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Real Simple / David Hattan

Shopping for a gift, no matter the occasion, can sometimes feel like a stressful “one and done” deal that can feel very fleeting at times. However, with a gift subscription, you can skip the hassle of in-store shopping and send a beautifully packaged box to your lucky recipient. Moreover, gift subscriptions are gifts that keep on giving—more often than not, your recipient can receive packages for up to 12 months. 

"Truly, on any occasion in which a gift is given, a subscription gift is appropriate," says etiquette expert Tami Claytor, founder of Always Appropriate, a New York City-based image and etiquette consulting service. "As with any gift, the number one rule is to consider the recipient’s taste, preferences, health issues, and lifestyle."

With so many subscriptions available, finding the right pick can be overwhelming. To help you weigh your options, we compiled our favorite gift subscription recommendations for a range of hobbies, interests, and services. Whether you're browsing presents for a hard-to-shop-for girlfriend or your best friend, there's a gift subscription out there that's bound to delight your beloved recipient.

Freshen up your giftee’s space with a lovely recurring flower subscription. We recommend a gift subscription from UrbanStems, which works with top floral designers and Rainforest Alliance-certified farms to curate stunning, sustainable bouquets. UrbanStems’ subscriptions start at $55 per delivery, but you can pre-pay for a long-term membership to streamline your billing process.

We love that the first delivery for all plans comes with a complementary glass vase, so your recipient won't need to go out of their way to buy a vessel for their blooms. Just note that bouquets may repeat for subscriptions with more than six deliveries, so it’s probably safest to choose between three to six shipments for gifting.

The Adults & Crafts Crate subscription from Cratejoy offers a fun new craft each month for the DIY enthusiast who always seems to be hitting up Michael’s. Geared towards grown-up crafters, each kit includes the materials and tools they’ll need to embark on creative projects such as DIY terrariums and epoxy resin coasters. You can choose from 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month gift subscriptions, and costs start at $32 per month. There’s a new surprise craft each month, so just keep in mind that your recipient won't be able to pick and choose their projects.

There’s no pure, unadulterated joy like a pup wagging their tail over a new treat or toy. Gift the pup parent in your life a monthly BarkBox subscription for those precious tail-wagging moments. For all the good dogs out there, each BarkBox comes with two plushies and two bags of treats.

If your recipient pup manages to gnaw through every toy, sock, and shoe they come across, consider a Super Chewer subscription, which features extra tough toys for eager chompers. BarkBox plans start at $35 for one month, but you can get better savings with a longer subscription. 

Those daily coffee runs can really add up, so give your giftee the opportunity to save money and make the most delicious morning brew possible from the comforts of their home. Coffee connoisseurs will appreciate a subscription from Trade Coffee, which features ethically sourced craft coffee from local roasters across the country. Trade Coffee spotlights over 450 roasts and offers fresh, ground, and whole-bean coffee options.

Gift subscriptions go by the number of bags you purchase, with each bag costing $20 regardless of how many you buy. You can choose when to send your recipient their gift, and they’ll get a subscription activation code right on that date.

Gift a recurring self-care set to the person in your life who’s too busy or stressed to pamper themselves properly. (Hint: This is a great gift for new moms!) For those obligatory self-care moments, we like TheraBox's TLC-packed kits, which start at $35 per month. TheraBox’s subscription offers eight full-size wellness products with each delivery, featuring items such as candles, face masks, body scrubs, and other goods. When purchasing a gift subscription, just note that Therabox only ships between the 24th and 29th of each month, and there’s a flat delivery rate of $5 per box.

A Breo Box gift membership will pique your favorite techie’s curiosity if they love gadgets. Featuring items such as speakers and beverage frothers, Breo boxes contain four to eight tech and lifestyle items. The goods arrive on a quarterly basis, and you can sign up for anywhere between one to four boxes.

Bear in mind that a Breo Box subscription can be a bit of a splurge: A one-season box is $175, while a four-season subscription is $700. But to ensure that you're getting bang for your buck, each box is worth up to $300 in retail value. 

Do you know someone who hosts tea parties all the time or loves curling up with some soothing tea and a good book? Indulge your favorite tea drinker with a lovely Discovery Tea Club subscription from Sips By, which delivers a personalized box with four premium teas every month. The company generates recommendations from over 1,000 premium teas, offering categories such as allergy-friendly teas, unique culinary blends, caffeine-free blends, and more. Along with tasty teas, subscribers receive biodegradable tea filters, access to a wide range of tea brands, and other members-only perks all for $50 for three months.

Help your recipient cultivate a cozy, inviting home with a candle subscription from Brooklyn Candle Studio. Every month, the company sends subscribers an artisanal candle along with matches for lighting. Featuring beautiful scents inspired by nature and travel, the hand-poured soy wax candles are vegan, petroleum-free, cruelty-free, and phthalate-free. Subscriptions start at $35 per month, but you can also purchase longer 6- and 12-month pre-paid subscriptions.  

It’s all in the name: Book of the Month allows subscribers to pick one book from its buzzy selection every month, offering popular novels in audio and hardcover formats. If your favorite bookworm can’t always make it to the library or bookstore, Book of the Month will deliver books straight to their home (or their phone, in the case of audiobooks).

To keep their TBR pile stocked at all times, they can choose from a monthly curated shortlist of five to seven new releases. Whether they love swoony romances or historical sagas, there’s typically a wide range of genres available. But if they’re not feeling a particular month’s selection, they can always skip it.

Chic jewelry can give an outfit extra polish, but finding the just-right pieces can be a process of trial and error. Rocksbox’s jewelry rental subscription, which features brands such as Kate Spade and Kendra Scott, lets members experiment with different accessory styles to their heart's content.

With an active subscription, your giftee will receive three items at a time and can keep their pieces for as long as they’d like. They'll receive a new set every time they return all their items, and even have the option to purchase the pieces that they absolutely love.

Save your favorite foliage aficionado a trek to the nursery with a houseplant subscription from Lively Root. We love that the service offers a variety of subscriptions for different types of plant parents, whether you’re shopping for a novice plant enthusiast or a plant-loving pet owner.

To make things easier for gift givers, Lively Root offers annual subscriptions designated as “great for gifting,” including its pet-friendly, easy-care, and rare and special plant collections. Most of Lively Root’s plant subscriptions follow a quarterly delivery cadence, so keep in mind that your recipient won’t receive monthly deliveries.

If your recipient’s vanity is lined with the latest in designer fragrances, a Scentbird perfume subscription is the ideal gift. Every month, Scentbird sends subscribers a new fragrance in a sleek 8 mL atomizer, allowing its members to sample scents without paying for full bottles. Its extensive scent library includes over 700 authentic fragrances from top designer houses such as Prada, Tom Ford, Versace, and Gucci.

Gift subscriptions range between 3- to 12-month commitments, starting with $51 for a 3-month membership. Once your giftee receives their subscription, they can set up a profile to pick perfumes or colognes based on their personal preferences.

If you know a music lover with a growing record collection, a Vinyl Me, Please membership makes for a wonderful gift. There are five genres to choose from, including Country, Rock, Essentials, Hip-Hop, and Classics. Every month, subscribers can enjoy a deluxe, exclusively pressed vinyl with a listening notes booklet and change tracks or swap records as they see fit.

Gift memberships start at $128 for 3 months, but you can get a better value if you commit to a longer 6- or 12-month plan. For extra presents, each gift subscription also includes at least one bonus record, which they can choose from Vinyl Me, Please's library of over 250 titles. 

Stitch Fix can cater to a wide range of giftees, which makes it a thoughtful present for fashionistas who love experimenting with different styles, or someone who simply wants to refresh their closet. With each Stitch Fix box, your recipient can try out five pieces and choose what they want to keep (the $20 styling fee will get credited towards their purchases).

Stitch Fix doesn't technically have a recurring subscription, but your gift recipient can set up automatic style box shipments at a delivery cadence that works for them. The best way to get them started is with a gift card—$20 is the minimum.

Come holidays and birthdays, sweets are simply one of those classic presents. Instead of picking up a generic candy box from the drugstore, consider indulging your recipient’s sweet tooth with gummies, sour belts, chocolates, and other treats from Candy Club's membership program.

This $40 monthly subscription box features a set of six 6-ounce candy cups from both small artisans and renowned candy producers alike. Depending on your giftee’s preferences, you can choose between a mostly sweet or mostly sour set — just note that there’s no in-between option where you get an equal balance of sweet and sour candies. 

With plans starting at $18 per month, a Petit Vour gift subscription will pamper the beauty enthusiast in your life with glitz and glam, featuring goods such as lip tints, face primers, and hair conditioners. Since Petit Vour makes a measured effort to partner with clean and cruelty-free brands, this is an especially thoughtful present if your beauty lover is into sustainable and ethical beauty. Each Petit Vour box features four plant-based and cruelty-free luxury beauty items worth up to $100 in retail value, with each box curated to your giftee's preferences, which they can specify in their profile.

Featuring chips and candies from all over the world, a SnackCrate membership is perfect for the adventurous foodie who loves rummaging the snack aisles at any market. Offering unique picks beyond your typical American convenience store treats, SnackCrate’s boxes offer bites from countries such as Poland, Greece, India, and China.

You’ll be able to choose the country for your recipient’s first set of snacks, but they’ll then receive surprise destinations in subsequent months. SnackCrate's boxes start at $16 per month, including at least five to six snacks per set for your giftee to munch on.

Socks have a reputation for mysteriously disappearing into the void after laundry day. That being said, a sock subscription can be a practical and welcomed gift. What we love about Sock Club is that it lets you choose between a modern classic look or a bold and funky style for your gift subscription. Whichever look you go for, you can rest assured that each month's sock design is unique and that all pairs are made from high-quality cotton.

The curious and creative cook in your life will revel in the delicious joy that comes from a RawSpiceBar subscription. Each month, RawSpiceBar sends members a unique spice blend that’s made from small batches in the USA. This allows your favorite kitchen enthusiast to try a different spice mix each month, with past shipments including tandoori, chili, and shawarma blends. In addition to spice blends, subscribers receive tasty recipes for each seasoning, and we like that you can choose between omnivore and herbivore recipes.

Cloth & Paper’s stationery box is a thoughtful subscription for the person who can’t seem to quit collecting fancy notepads and analog planners. Each monthly set includes eight to 12 planner accessories such as notebooks, stickers, and journaling cards. Because the company follows a luxury aesthetic, its boxes are beautifully assembled and perfect for gifting.

The subscription features accessory options for 11 different planner styles, but if your giftee happens to have a pre-bound planner, there are options that have inserts that can be punched for their planner or bound together separately. Plans start at $42 per box, and you can set up a month-to-month, 3-month, or 6-month plan.

A Wine of the Month Club subscription is a lovely gift for the wine connoisseur in your life, whether they enjoy hosting dinner parties with good wine or love spending cozy evenings with a movie and a glass. With nine different gift membership options, you can pick which type of wine to send, whether you think they’ll enjoy rosé or Bordeaux.

Each shipment can include between two to six bottles, and you can send up to 12 individual shipments. Prices start at $90 for three deliveries, and shipping isn’t free. Also bear in mind that Wine of the Month Club does not ship to Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and other areas where alcohol delivery is limited.

If you know someone who doesn’t have the time or energy to cook meals consistently, a gift subscription to a fresh meal delivery service like CookUnity can be a helpful present. The meal kit company partners with award-winning chefs across the country to generate a rotating menu of 200+ gourmet options every week that take into account food preferences or dietary restrictions.

All your recipient has to do is set their meals a week in advance and wait for the ready-to-heat meal trays to arrive at their doorstep. Depending on their plan, costs can range from $11 to $14 per meal, so you can send them a convenient e-gift card that will cover their food costs for a few weeks.

Questions You Might Ask

What are some popular gift subscription categories?

Popular gift subscription categories include beauty, fashion, food and beverage, entertainment, and plants. When narrowing down gift subscription options, Claytor recommends noting your giftee’s hobbies and how they engage in their interests. For example, if you’re shopping for a music lover, observe whether they listen to music digitally or collect classic records. If someone solely listens to music on Spotify, it wouldn't make sense to gift them a vinyl subscription. 

What are the pros and cons of gifting a subscription?

Two of the biggest pros of gifting a subscription is its long-lasting nature, and its convenience. When you purchase a gift subscription, your recipient will be able to receive multiple presents over a designated period of time and think of you whenever they open up their boxes. Additionally, you can directly send a subscription box or code to your giftee from your phone or computer, saving you time from selecting and wrapping a gift. Moreover, “the service may offer items you would not have considered gifting,” Claytor notes. 

There are a few things to bear in mind, though. For example, subscriptions can end up adding unwanted clutter. “Most subscriptions don’t allow the user to customize what arrives,” Claytor explains. “As a result, some items may not be used.” If possible, she recommends paying for a service and then allowing the giftee to select the items or collections that they prefer.

Additionally, subscriptions may also feel a little impersonal, but you can make them feel more intimate and thoughtful. “Look for subscription services that include a card with a personal message in every box,” Claytor suggests. 

What are some good occasions for gifting a subscription?

Subscriptions can be great presents for a variety of occasions, including weddings, anniversaries, promotions, housewarmings, holidays, birthdays, and even the passing of a loved one. On that last note, Claytor says that a subscription can be a thoughtful sympathy gift for comfort and support. “A subscription to a prepared meal service is a nice gesture while someone is grieving,” Claytor suggests. Ideally, this gift helps alleviate cooking/meal prep stress for your recipient during a tough time.

Bear in mind that if you’d like to gift a subscription around a specific occasion, you may have to plan ahead. For example, some companies may not give you the option to send your recipient an activation code, which may require you to order the delivery yourself. If that’s the case, be sure to check the company’s designated delivery windows to ensure the gift arrives on time. 

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Stacey Nguyen, a contributing shopping writer for Real Simple. For this piece, she researched dozens of services to select the top gift subscriptions for a broad range of interests. For gifting tips, she consulted etiquette expert Tami Claytor, founder of Always Appropriate, a New York City-based image and etiquette consulting service. 

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