Choosing the perfect gift can be difficult, but subscription boxes make it easy. Whether you’re shopping for a birthday an anniversary or a holiday—for yourself or someone else—there are oodles of boxes to choose from, from food to beauty to tech to home goods. You can opt for one month, but we think three months is the ideal subscription box length. That way, your giftee can open a present over and over again. We’ve hand-tested all of the recommendations below, like our top pick for self-care, Therabox.
These subscription boxes don’t require contracts. You can cancel or pause them (just make sure to check the fine print to see if you need to give advance notice before the billing period). If you purchase a multiple-month subscription, you can cancel the automatic renewal, but you won’t get money back for the boxes that haven’t shipped yet. We’ve noted when boxes have separate gift options, which typically cost a little more, but you won’t have to worry about canceling.
Be sure to check out our many other gift guides, including gifts for women, gifts for moms, gifts for men, and gifts for grads.
Updated May 2025: We’ve removed five older picks and added Therabox, Fikabröd, Trade Coffee, and Grill Masters Club. We also updated pricing throughout.
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For Self-Care
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Therabox is a self-care box geared toward women. My personal therapist is always telling me about how intentional self-care can help my mental state, but it can be difficult to figure out how to prioritize oneself if you’re constantly stressed out. Therabox makes it easy to calm down and take a break. Each box includes eight full-size items valued at up to $200. The boxes are themed and include a little booklet that goes over the products and offers ideas on how to use them intentionally.
As an example, one of my boxes included hemp-infused muscle pain relief, aromatherapy balm, an aromatherapy inhaler, lip gloss, a facial cleanser, a moisturizer, and a deck of affirmation cards with mood-boosting phrases. There was also a pamper kit designed to offer a spa treatment in 15 minutes, including a hair mask, a hand mask, a foot mask, face masks, and an eye mask. I think this box offers excellent value for anyone in your life who needs to slow down and prioritize themselves.
Price breakdown: $38 per month, $108 for three months, $204 for six months, $384 for 12 months. Gift options are available at the same prices without automatic renewal.
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For Baking Fanatics
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Fikabröd sends monthly subscription boxes that are all about baking. The eco-friendly packaging is adorable, and the box is thoughtfully curated. For example, one box that shipped after Hurricane Helene supported small businesses in western North Carolina (with a portion of proceeds being donated to a food bank there), and another was themed all around ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, malted milk powder, and a sample of flavorings.
My tester boxes included ingredients like gourmet small-batch dark chocolate sauce, a jar of apple butter, and a Speculoos cookie spice blend. There were other little goodies, too, like goat’s milk lotion, a stand mixer sticker, chocolate-covered almonds, and a cute 2-ounce disher. This box would make a good gift for anybody who’s always whipping something up in the kitchen—and you might even get to reap the rewards of whatever they make next.
Price breakdown: Boxes cost $52 per month, with shipping adding $8 per box. Plans automatically renew. Gift subscriptions cost the same but include an optional gift message.
