The Best Subscription Gifts for Anyone (Yes, Even If They're Super Picky)

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I've been a professional shopper (i.e., commerce writer and editor) my entire professional life, and people often (always) ask me for gifting advice in the hopes I'll point them in the direction of a truly unique gift that'll change their recipient's life. Whether they're on the hunt for self-care gifts for mom or engraved gifts for friends, everyone seems to have the same anxieties around finding presents. I'm here to give you, dear reader, my best-kept secret: When in doubt, gift somebody a subscription.

That's right. A subscription. There are so many incredible subscription services or boxes or apps out there begging for us all to take advantage of them. Not only are there thousands (millions??) of fabulously niche options to find but also, almost all of them can be bought and gifted in seconds. Last-minute gift-giving truly has never been easier.

So, to help y'all out, I tested and reviewed a bunch of them to come up with a list of the quintessential best subscription gifts you can buy. These include subscriptions for everyone, from foodies and fashionistas to curious kiddos and energetic puppies. Check 'em all out below.

Subscription

There is no meal service out there I have not tested. That said, there is no meal service out there better than HelloFresh.

The meal variety is robust, the ingredients they send are, in fact, fresh, and it actually provides customers with a knowledge base that can help them when they're cooking in the future.

Gift this to your significant other who relies way too much on Trader Joe's frozen meals when you're not around, or to your grandparent who can't make it to the grocery as easy as they used to. It'll empower them to whip up something tasty all on their own – and if you're lucky, they might even share the finished product with you.

I'd recommend going with one of the protein options. I've found these usually result in the most leftovers and a happy tummy.

Glitz Up Gift Set

Here's the thing about rental clothing subscriptions: they rock. They're better for the environment since monthly boxes eliminate the need for fast fashion pick-ups, and they're a cost-friendly alternative to buying a bunch of new outfits whenever the weather turns.

If you have a fashionable friend with a packed schedule filled with events like weddings, vacations, baby showers, graduations, and more, they'll love to be gifted with a Rent the Runway subscription.

The service has high-end garb but also stuff your giftee can wear to the office or on the daily. I love that you can rent singular items or multiple pieces. Plus, the reviews are always spot-on, which makes selecting staples easy.

Another bonus? The service has handbags, jewelry, and sunglasses available for rent, too. This is a rarity among clothing subscriptions.

KitNip Box

If your friend is a major cat lover, they'll obsess over this super-cute cat subscription box that's filled with all-natural treats and toys. Each month, a box of curated goodies will arrive at their door for their kitty to enjoy. The gift options include 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year subscriptions.

Subscription Box

For giftees who love their pup(s), BarkBox is the way to go. The doggy subscription boxes have incredibly (and often, hilarious) themes that change depending on the month and season and come with unique toys your giftee will love as much as their dog will.

My favorite is the "Barkbuster Movie Night"that comes with a chewable remote, a bucket of popcorn, "Squeakish Fish," and other tasty treat-inspired toys.

Subscription

I'm sorry, Spotify users, but you cannot justify the UI of that app and tell me that it's more aesthetic or easier to use than Apple Music. You just can't.

Combine that with Apple Music's incredible spatial audio capabilities, and you'll get an all-around better gift for anyone — mom, dad, cousins, friends, etc. And yes, there is an end-of-the-year wrap-up report on all the music you've been listening to, but you can also access all of that incredible data any time you want.

Join me and become an Apple Music truther. Then gift a subscription to your friend or family member and our hive will grow stronger and louder together.

Also, side note, when new albums (Taylor Swift albums specifically) get added to Apple Music, the lyrics are included right away. That doesn't happen on Spotify. Swifties know this All Too Well.

Prime Subscription

If you're on the hunt for a stellar graduation gift, look no further. It might seem obvious, but gifting an Amazon Prime subscription to high school grads who are off to college or post-grads entering the real world will make their transition so much easier.

It will give them access to free and fast two-day shipping, Prime Day deals, and so much more.

3-Book Membership

If there's a reader in your life who refuses to get their nose out of their favorite books, they'll love a subscription to Book of the Month. It'll get them specially curated books (there's a quiz they take to begin their journey), potential new releases, reading challenges, community polls, and so much more.

It's a surefire way to get anybody out of a reading draught (and ensure they stay there). When you gift subscriptions, you'll get the option of buying 3-book, 6-book, or 12-book memberships.

Equinox+ Membership

If your giftee loves every kind of workout, they'll obsess over an Equinox+ membership. The $ 40-a-month subscription includes workouts from the popular gym as well as virtual classes (both live and pre-recorded) from cult favorites like SoulCycle and [solidcore].

I've personally been a member for over three years and love having high-quality workouts at the tip of my finger. Not to mention, the cost of this subscription versus a monthly unlimited one to any of the above-mentioned brands is super affordable.

I love the SoulCycle classes, especially with the instructors Jasmine and Cam, for my solo workouts at the gym. They're great at pushing you to reach performance goals even when you're feeling bleh. The app also has stellar HIIT, yoga, meditation, and Pilates instructionals.

The Best Coffee Gifts

Ben Box is the perfect subscription gift to give people you don't know all that well. I always recommend this as a gift for co-workers, new friends, or other acquaintances.

The reason? Pretty much everyone loves coffee, and the options from the brand are delectable. You can gift a 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year subscription via E-Gift — a life-saver when you're last-minute shopping and on the verge of breakdown.

You can also gift a one-time set like the Coffee + Chocolate Tasting Box that pairs up four coffee beans with four chocolate bars. What's better than that combo?

Tea Subscription Service

I'm not a tea drinker, but I can vouch for anything from Atlas Coffee Club, which is why I'm so confident that this subscription gift will be a hit. The brand is known and loved for its unique and artisanal offerings from around the world. Its tea flavors come from Thailand, Japan, India, and Indonesia. Each of these is specialty grade, single-origin, and very likely way better than whatever your giftee buys from the supermarket.

Before gifting, you'll choose between three box options and three tea preferences, so make sure you know your giftee's palette before adding something to the cart (or just go for the variety pack to avoid ruining the surprise).

The Dreamscape

Our editors dubbed UbranStems the best flower delivery service because of its high-quality arrangements, speedy shipping, and accessory offerings like gorgeous vase options that double as decor pieces.

"UrbanStems designs for the season, hits on trends, features so many options for special occasions, and has a distinct uniqueness with unparalleled quality, making this site the best floral delivery service for luxury arrangements," wrote our reviewer Alexis Gaskin. "You don't have to worry about a crumbled-up arrangement arriving for your giftee, either. Each bouquet is delivered in a branded cardboard box securely packaged for long-distance travel."

Wine Subscription

There's no problem a good bottle of wine can't solve, so think about how amazing your giftee's life will be when you gift them a wine subscription.

The curated subscription is designed specifically for each individual, thanks to a quick questionnaire that determines their palate profile. This way, there won't be any duds. Once they get their monthly assortment, they'll go in and rate the bunch. This way, each month gets better and better.

"The fact that Winc offers four bottles at less than $30 a month easily secures it as one of the most value-packed subscriptions," wrote our editor Michael Natale in his review of the best wine subscriptions.

There are around 80 wine offerings available (along with expert-curated variety packs) that can be bought individually as well.

Cookie Club Monthly Subscription

If you're looking to gift something delicious to someone with a sweet tooth, look no further. Levain's Cookie Club is what delectable dreams are made of.

With the subscription, your giftee will get eight cookies sent straight to their door. The flavors range, and sometimes even consist of new limited-time offerings. To make sure they like what they get, Levain will send them a menu of offerings a week before they're shipped so that they can swap out flavors.

Your friend who moved from the city to the suburbs will cry at the sight of them. Your mom, who can never have enough chocolate, will proclaim you're her favorite after trying these. And your kid's teacher (who deserves a gift) will forget about whatever fit they had in class the other week after taking a singular bite.

Hot Grill Summer Box

Every Father's Day, I sit back and relax, knowing that my gift for my dad is something he'll love because every year, I give him a box from ButcherBox. All of its meats are grass-fed, free-range, organic, and humanely raised. You're hard-pressed to find those accolades at Whole Foods or, better yet, via a subscription box.

I've gifted a lot of its different offerings, but the Hot Grill Summer Box is a current favorite. It comes with five steaks, chicken wings, shrimp, salmon, and pork — for under $200.

You can gift your recipient a box like this or go for a year subscription. When you choose this option, you'll also get to add on free salmon, steak tips, or chicken for free with every delivery.

Snack Box

This is a snack box that travelers especially will love. The curation of authentic Japanese treats from small businesses includes some truly delicious candy, salty sides, and teas. Your giftee will also get a guide on each snack's origins and dietary info.

I've tested and gifted boxes from the brand on a few different occasions, each time getting to try different snack offerings. Regardless of what's included, I've found everything to be fresh, decadent, and supremely flavorful.

It's great for friends who have trips abroad planned or who are still reminiscing on their cherry blossom experiences while in Japan. Choose from 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year subscriptions.

BeautyFix Subscription

Looking for an affordable gift for your beauty-loving friend? Our beauty editor and resident expert on all things skincare, Nicole Saunders, dubbed Dermstore's BeautyFix subscription the best out there for under $25.

"With Dermstore's delivery service, you're getting your beauty fix for a budget-friendly price," she wrote in her beauty subscription box review. "Focusing heavily on skincare and hair products, each beauty subscription box is valued at over $100 and overflowing with full- and travel-sized products from brands like Caudalie, EltaMD, Coola, Glytone, and more.

Charcuterie Kits

For the host in your life to whom you owe many good nights, a subscription to Platterful will make for a fine repayment. The charcuterie kits come in month-to-month or one-time orders in large or standard options that come with all the fixin's including crackers, cheeses, olives, nuts, and chocolates.

It's great for special occasions or for seasons when you and your friends gather to binge whatever's popping on TV.

Annual Membership

For the curious giftee who's always down to learn a new set of skills, MasterClass can do no wrong. The famous site is host to thousands of incredible lessons taught by some of the most successful and talented people in many different industries like business, cooking, writing, and arts.

Gifting somebody a subscription means gifting them new inspiration and a new outlook on life. Two things that are truly invaluable. It'll also give them a chance to learn from the likes of Kris Jenner, Anna Wintour, and Mark Cuban.

Crate Plan

If you're the cool aunt/ uncle trying to be a little more serious (as if!) and looking for an educational gift to help your favorite mini-human become the next baby Einstein, check out KiwiCo.

The subscription service is chock-full of fun educational sets that don't feel like school work and come in a bunch of different age-specific categories. Your giftee will enjoy it, but their parents will even more. It's a win-win for you.

A-List Movie Theatre Subscription

Screw Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Disney+. This is the REAL movie subscription the world should be gifting and receiving. To be an AMC A-Lister is to walk the red carpet at The Met. It's to be among the 1% of Culturistas. It's to know what living a superior life is like.

I myself have been among the best for five years, and it was the best decision I've ever made. It's the biggest and best money-saver a movie fan can get. You're telling me I can see three different movies a week, get free large upgrades, birthday presents, special screenings, and a priority lane for just $25 a month?!! That is just hardly above the cost of one movie!! I will save by just seeing two films a month. WHY ISN'T MORE OF THE WORLD TALKING ABOUT THIS!!!! (It may be even cheaper for you if you don't live in NYC, where air costs $5 for each breath you suck in.)

Gift this to someone if you love them and want to spend time with them, making memories and watching art (i.e., two hot men fight over Zendaya but also fight over each other). Skip if you don't have taste.

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