Best Subscription Boxes for Gift Giving

I heart subscription boxes. First of all, they are often filled with surprises and it’s fun to not know what to expect in each box. Moreover, subscription boxes make gift giving easy peasy and what’s even better, they keep going! But how to choose among the growing numbers of retailers entering this arena? Well, we’ve done some research an culled through the reviews and come up with our favorites in various categories. From kids to men and women, fans of fashion and accessories to wine clubs and four legged favorites, here are the best of the best subscription boxes just in time for the holidays. And let’s be honest: you may find a few to order for yourself. Score!

I have to think back to when I didn’t know what a subscription box was. Flashback to 2015 when everyone was raving about StitchFix. So I jumped on the bandwagon and couldn’t wait to get my hands on my first “Fix” as Stitch Fix calls it. Well, that’s a great word for it because I was hooked! That began a love affair with subscription boxes. I soon stumbled on a Groupon for BarkBox and thought, “That sounds cool. My dog would LOVE that.” Plus, I found a Groupon for it. How could I say no?

That’s when the wheels started turning. I wondered how many possibilities were out there for subscription boxes. Um, turns out, there are a TON of them out there .I’m going to share my “research” with you and see if you have any ones to add to my list. I’m organizing these by category and limiting each category to a few options.

And here’s a money saving tip: Go to MySubscriptionAddiction to find coupon codes and reviews before you order.

This post contains affiliate links. 

Best Subscription Boxes for Giving

Subscription Boxes: Food and Wine

Graze

For those of us that love to snack, Graze offers up to 8 delicious choices for $ 13.99 a shipment. Better yet, the first box will be half price! The choices range from nuts, seeds, fruit, granola, flapjacks, dips and dippers, savory snacks, popcorn, and snacks with “a touch of chocolate.” Even aromatic broths are available. Customize your order and having the munchies at work or at home won’t be a bad thing because you’re prepared! There are so many choices that it would take months to sample them all. I’ve got my eye on the Salted Fudge and Peanut Cookie, Snickerdoodle Dip, and Lemon Drizzle Flapjack.

Winc

Hello, this is a Wine Club. What’s not to like? From the vineyard to your doorstep is the tagline. Create a palate profile (sounds fancy schmanzy), then Winc will make recommendations and you can receive your monthly shipments. Questions they ask as part of your palate profile quiz are:

-How do you like your coffee?

-How do you feel about salt?

-Do you like citrus?

-Do you like earthy flavors like mushrooms and black truffles?

-Do you like blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries?

-How adventurous are you when it comes to food and drink?

My first three picks were $ 13.00 bottles and with a 50% off promotion for your first order, I could get the shipment for under $ 30! (Sadly, they cannot ship to AK, AL, AR, DE, HI, KY, MS, OK, RI, SD and UT.) Otherwise, you’re golden, so give it a try!

Subscription Boxes for Kids

TinkerCrate by KiwiCrate

Imagine: you could have the next Einstein at home. Encourage that scientific know-how with TinkerCrate. Billed as a laboratory for hand-on experiments delivered every month. Discover and learn about science, engineering, and technology through fun hands-on activities. Each box arrives with Kiwi Crate offers four different subscriptions depending on ages and interests of kids:

Koala Crate play and learn for ages 3-4;

Kiwi Crate for kids 5-8 about science, art and more;

Doodle Crate for art ages 9-16+; and

Tinker Crate for science and engineering for 9-16+

My son received the Tinker Crate on animation (pictured), which included a spinning zoetrope (so cool). Not something I would continue indefinitely, but it included interesting science and math oriented experiments that were worth doing for several months. Cost: $ 19.95/month and free shipping.

Subscription Boxes for Teens

Play! by Sephora

After looking at MANY beauty boxes, my teen settled on Play! by Sephora as her favorite. And the price tag won’t break the bank at $ 10/month.

Features five deluxe makeup skincare and hair care samples (plus a beauty bonus);

A collectible makeup bag;

Access to exclusive video how-tos and tutorials about how to use the products in your box;

and PLAY! BOOK with tips, tricks, and how-tos about each sample.

OwlCrate

First, what a great name for a subscription box! OwlCrate is a Young Adult fiction book subscription box that sends out a newly released YA hardcover book with some book related goodies (such as jewelry, toys, stationary). Starting at $29.99/month (plus shipping), each month has a theme. There’s also OwlCrate Junior for kids 8-12.

November’s OwlCrate theme was “Rise from the Ashes” and OwlCrate Jr. was “Intergalactic Adventure.” 3 month plan prepay plan is $ 86.98 and 6 month prepay plan is $ 167.94 plus shipping.

Subscription Boxes for Women

FabFitFun

FabFitFun has beauty, wellness, fashion and fitness finds valued at $ 200 for $49.99 and free shipping on a quarterly basis. New subscribers get 10% off their first box, too.

I’m really impressed by the caliber of the products and the reviews I’ve read. This month’s features a choker necklace, BB Dakota poncho, face palette (makeup) and a choice from several other items. No wonder FabFitFun place 2nd overall in the Best Overall Subscription Box with My Subscription Addiction.

Rachel Zoe Box of Style

Rachel Zoe Box of Style  is a fashion/accessories box from Rachel Zoe. Each seasonal box includes one item which is revealed before boxes ship, and other fashionable items and accessories, plus a few beauty products and styling tools, too. Added bonus: this subscription box is packaged beautifully, so slap a bow on it and you’re good to go! This is my newest subscription box, and I can’t wait for this month’s box to arrive.

This subscription box also rates highly on My Subscription Addiction as the Best Women’s Accessory Box for 2017 and 2nd best for a Women’s Fashion Box. With a price tag of $ 100/quarter, it’s more than some of the other subscription boxes but EXCELLENT content!

Subscription Boxes for Men

Dollar Shave Club

This is possibly the best slogan for a company: “A GREAT SHAVE FOR A FEW BUCKS A MONTH. No commitment. No fees. No BS.” Well now. That’s pretty straightforward! This club will save me from runs to Target for razors. Three levels of blades (ranging in cost from $3, $ 6 and $9 a month-including shipping). Satisfaction guaranteed, and can be cancelled at any time. The humor of this brand is awesome! Just watch any of their commercials and you’ll see what I’m talking about!

I’m thinking a gift subscription for someone is in my future. Up to 3 months subscription runs $ 55, while 6 months is $ 85 and a year subscription is $ 140.

Loot Crate

 

 

Gamers and pop culture fans, this is the subscription box for you! LootCrate is billed as curated collection of awesome items from the best pop culture franchises delivered to your door every month. Yeah, we’re talking Marvel, Halo, Harry Potter, Minecraft, Nickelodeon themed boxes for gamers and geeks.

Last year’s specialty box based on the Netflix series Stranger Things sold out quickly! Go figure. But for my Harry Potter fanatic, I ordered the J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World box. He will be thrilled when it comes (except he may be disappointed it doesn’t arrive via owl.) Prices range depending on subscription. Low end was $ 8.99/month; the Harry Potter one is $ 35.99 per box for the 6 boxes a year subscription plus shipping. My teen LOVES this gift!

This is for all ages; I just happened to put it in the “for men” category.

Subscription Boxes for Pets

BarkBox

Our dog Millie gives it two enthusiastic paws up because she loves treats AND toys. I do have to be careful letting her have rawhides because she will sit there and eat the entire thing and try to swallow the last bit whole when I try to take it from her, but you can customize your BarkBox to request certain items. Problem solved! Millie’s referral code for Barkbox if anyone was thinking of ordering. Millie says “woof” meaning THANKS!

Miscellaneous

Wonderful Objects 

Prepare for the whimsical and fantastic with this subscription box. Wonderful Objects is storytelling through physical objects. Think interesting items for your home, wearable delights (from baubles to scents), limited edition art, and more. Each box contains 3-5 objects hand-picked to transport you into a world of wonder.  Be advised: there’s a much higher price point on this one as one quarterly box is $ 54, two quarter prepay is $ 99 and four quarter prepay is $ 189. But hopefully the whimsy and adventure of each box is well worth the price.

You won’t know exactly what to expect because “[m]ystery is a key element to the mystery boxes. Wondering what you’ll receive in each shipment and the anticipation of the theme is a huge part of the process of imagination. That said, we promise to deliver high quality, creative objects. They will come in a variety of categories including small home goods, decorative objects, stationery, paper goods and writing implements, and whimsical odds and ends.” I’m hoping to try this one out and have a personal review posted soon.

There you have it! Subscription boxes make perfect gifts for the holidays–or suggest one as a gift for yourself. Question: Have any piqued your interest? Or what one(s) have I not included  that you recommend and why?

Disclosure: Some items listed here contain affiliate links. They help keep me caffeinated and motivated to find new goodies to share. Thanks!