A Guide to the Best Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes make excellent gifts and are a great way to pamper yourself.

Whether you’re looking for a clothing subscription to avoid going to the mall or a craft box and toys for fun at home with your kids, there’s a subscription box for anything and a gift idea for anyone.

However, shopping for the best subscription boxes can be overwhelming. But don’t worry — you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ve rounded up the best subscription boxes across a variety of categories to help you make the right choice.

Table of Contents:

  • Best subscription boxes for women
  • Best subscription boxes for men
  • Best subscription boxes for kids
  • Best subscription boxes for teens
  • Best subscription boxes for babies and parents
  • Best clothing subscription boxes
  • Best beauty and skincare subscription boxes
  • Best meal subscription boxes
  • Best subscription boxes for drinks
  • How to get the most out of your subscription box

Best subscription boxes for women

To celebrate yourself or the women in your life, here are a few ideas on the best subscription boxes for women.

FabFitFun

FabFitFun delivers lifestyle products that include makeup, fitness, and style products from women-owned brands.

FabFitFun offers these boxes each quarter, and they’re themed for each season. Seasonal subscriptions start at $49.99, and you’ll get to choose from four categories, while annual subscribers choose from six categories.

Illustration of FabFitFun’s Spring Box

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Beachly

Beachly is the perfect gift subscription for someone who loves going to the beach.

In this box, you’ll get beach apparel, hair care, jewelry, beauty products, and other beach essentials. Each box costs $99, and the proceeds are donated to help restore coastal systems through their partners at SeaTrees.

NewBeauty TestTube

The NewBeauty TestTube is a great subscription for trying out new beauty brands. It delivers a mix of full-size items and deluxe samples ranging from well-known brands to trending items.

You’ll get a free magazine subscription once you join. The New Beauty TestTube box starts at $38.90, and you’ll receive samples and full-size skincare, makeup, and hair care products every two months.

Singles Swag

Singles Swag is a lifestyle subscription box designed to cater to single women. It offers a mix of full-size makeup products, trending fashion accessories, best-selling books, and even snacks. The SinglesSwag subscription box starts at $39.99.

Billie

Billie is a razor subscription for women that costs $10 per shipment. The first shipment you’ll get is a starter kit that comes with two razor cartridges, a magnetic razor holder, and a handle. Then, you can choose how frequently you want to refill, with each four-refill-blade shipment costing $10.

Best subscription boxes for men

If you’re having a hard time picking gifts for the men in your life, or you’re just looking for great products for yourself, here are the best subscription boxes for men.

Breo Box

The Breo Box is a seasonal subscription box for tech, home goods, and fitness products that starts at $159. You’ll get five or eight products matching a seasonal theme. Some past Breo Boxes contained a portable LED projector, touchless dispenser, and a biometric padlock.

Bespoke Post

Costing $49 each shipment for members and $70 for a one-off order, Bespoke Post offers themed monthly boxes with hand-curated pieces. The Weekender is a themed box with new luggage, and the Alchemy box comes with cocktail equipment. You can also get lifestyle items, outdoor gear, portable coffee-making equipment, or trendy accessories.

Illustration of items to expect from a Bespoke Post subscription

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GQ Best Stuff Box

GQ Best Stuff Box is a quarterly subscription curated by GQ Magazine editors. The box is filled with apparel, grooming products, and accessories. The GQ Best Stuff Box starts at $50.

Dollar Shave Club

The Dollar Shave Club is a razor subscription for men that starts at $5. As a subscriber, you’ll get to create a custom kit that suits your grooming preferences. You’ll be able to shop for the best four or six-blade razors and choose between multiple handles.

In addition, you’ll get shaving cream, aftershave, shampoos, and skin serum to help you deal with razor burns.

Gentleman’s Box

The Gentleman’s Box offers stylish accessories to help men curate their style every month. Items you can expect from the subscription include ties, suspenders, socks, pocket squares, chic bow ties, trendy lapel pins, and premium skincare products.

The Gentleman’s Box has three subscription tiers:

  • The monthly subscription starts at $35
  • The quarterly subscription starts at $30
  • The bi-annual subscription starts at $28

Watch Gang

The Watch Gang is the right place to go if you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone who loves watches or you want to build your own collection.

The subscription delivers a new watch every month for $49.99. Watch Gang also offers weekly giveaways for Seiko, TAG Heuer, and Rolex.

BattlBox

BattlBox is ideal for someone who wants to spend more time outdoors and build up their outdoor gear collection. BattlBox has four subscription tiers to choose from:

  • The Basic plan starts at $29.99
  • The Advanced plan starts at $59.99
  • The Pro plan starts at $109.99
  • The Pro Plus plan starts at $159.99

Mystery Tackle

Mystery Tackle Box is a fishing subscription that offers a steady supply of quality fishing lures from different brands. The subscription box is ideal for anyone interested in fishing — whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fisher.

When you sign up, you’ll choose a box type based on fish species, which you can change at any time. It also comes with helpful information on how you can effectively use your lures. You can choose from three different plans:

  • The Regular plan starts at $19.99
  • The Pro plan starts at $29.99
  • The Elite plan starts at $39.99

Grill Masters Club

A grilling subscription is a great gift idea for someone who has a passion for barbecue. The Grill Masters Club box comes with BBQ sauces, marinades, dry rubs, mustards, hot sauces, grilling accessories, and recipes.

The best value option starts at $27.99, and you also get access to their online community, where you’ll get how-to videos, product discounts, and giveaways.

Best subscription boxes for kids

When it comes to subscription boxes for kids, they’re usually pretty age-specific, so you’ll want to make sure you pick an option that’s best for your child’s skill level and age range. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular.

KiwiCo

KiwiCo is an educational box that’s filled with fun activities for kids of every age and interest.

Kids can use this subscription box to enhance their education through play and build their tech, engineering, and art skills through exploration. The subscription starts at $18.50, and each crate comes with detailed instructions for every project. KiwiCo also has an online platform for more guidance.

KiwiCo has a box set for each age range — including adults. Let’s look at the different options:

  • Panda Crate (0–2 years) is suitable for babies to explore
  • Koala Crate (2–4 years) is great for toddlers
  • Kiwi Crate (5–8 years) has science and art activities
  • Atlas Crate (6–11 years) focuses on geography and culture
  • Doodle Crate (9–16 years) is ideal for aspiring artists
  • Yummy Crate (6–14 years) is a new crate for learning about cooking
  • Maker Crate (teens and adults) is a craft box for new art and design tools
  • Eureka Crate (teens and adults) is a subscription box for engineering
Illustration of monthly deliveries based on different ages from KiwiCo

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Lovevery

Lovevery is a developmental toy subscription box with stage-based play essentials for kids up to three years old.

Each box delivered includes research-based play items for different developmental milestones. The subscription starts at $80, and play kits arrive every two months. Larger kits get delivered every three months.

Little Passports

Little Passports is a play-based science and geography subscription that introduces kids to new cultures, countries, and hands-on STEM activities. The subscription starts at $25, and you can move between subscriptions as your child grows up.

Little Passports has the following categories:

  • Early Explorers Edition (3–5 years) helps kids explore the world’s wonders
  • Science Junior (5–8 years) comes with STEM activities to boost interest in these subjects
  • World Explorer Edition (6–10 years) comes with souvenirs and activities to help your child learn about a new country each month
  • USA Edition for kids (6–12 years) comes with maps and hands-on activities to learn about a new state each month
  • Science Expedition (aged 8+) helps kids discover the mysteries of the world through science experiments
  • Animals Wild (3–5 years) comes with pop-up sets to help kids learn about different animals

Best subscription boxes for teens

Buying a gift for a teenager isn’t always easy, as their interests are constantly developing and changing. However, the right subscription can give your teens something to look forward to each month. Here are a few ideas:

Ipsy Glam Bag

The IPSY Glam Bag is a beauty subscription that can help your teens explore new makeup and beauty products or build their skincare routine.

This beauty box is ideal for teens because it’s customizable and contains a mix of drugstore and high-end beauty products at an affordable price point. The IPSY Glam Bag starts at $13 each month, and you get a cute makeup bag each time.

OwlCrate

Owl Crate is a huge score if your teens love books. The monthly book subscription offers newly-released young adult novels and bookish extras.

The subscription starts at $32.99, and each box is based on a creative theme and comes with goodies such as pouches, pens, combs, mugs, stickers, prints, bracelets, bookmarks, and exclusives from the author or book featured that month.

illustration of what’s inside an OwlCrate subscription box

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Pura Vida

Pura Vida offers a monthly jewelry or bracelet subscription that starts at $19.95. Their products have a beautiful hand-crafted aesthetic that makes them unique. Pura Vida would be ideal for teens who love cool and funky jewelry.

STRONG Self(ie)

STRONG Self(ie) is a great gift subscription for your tween or teen daughter. The box is filled with accessories, lifestyle products, snacks, stationery, and inspirational messages to boost self-confidence and empower young women.

The Tween box is designed to delight girls between ages 7 and 12, while the Teen box is curated to uplift girls between ages 13 and 17. Starting at $38, each box comes with helpful information for parents to help them build a better connection with their daughters.

Best subscription boxes for babies and parents

If you’re looking for a great gift to take to a baby shower, or you just found out that a friend is pregnant and want to spoil them with a special present, these subscription boxes are great ideas.

Bump Boxes

Bump Boxes is a pregnancy subscription box to help mothers-to-be feel more relaxed as they wait for their bundle of joy to arrive. The box is filled with items like a swaddle blanket, massage roller, stretchmark oil, or body lotion.

Each box comes with five items that don’t have harsh chemicals to guarantee safety. You can choose from these different subscription options:

  • The month-to-month subscription starts at $44
  • The six-month subscription starts at $39
  • The nine-month subscription starts at $37
  • The 12-month subscription starts at $35
Illustration of what to expect when you’re expecting

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DYPER

DYPER is a diaper subscription box that provides sustainable plant-based diapers. The subscription costs $80 each month, and members get between 100 and 264 diapers delivered to their doorstep, depending on their order size.

Agni Mama Box

Agni Mama Box is a monthly subscription for new moms to pamper themselves. The products are designed to provide nourishment for new moms. They’re curated with organic ingredients and have no artificial sweeteners.

The Agni Mama Box starts at $65, and the box contains four products, including an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie for lactation support, double chocolate chip cookie for hormone balance, sesame nori seasoning for immune health, and tulsi cinnamon tea for better sleep.

Best clothing subscription boxes

Clothing subscription boxes and styling services are an exciting way to upgrade your wardrobe. Some boxes focus on casual looks, others on outfits for work, and others offer rental services for events.

Let’s look at the best subscription boxes for women, men, and children. First, let’s look at two made for women.

Le Tote

Le Tote is a great subscription for trying out new clothing trends monthly, including a variety of dresses, tops, pants, jackets, and more.

You can return the pieces you don’t want to keep after trying them out.

Le Tote offers maternity clothing and notable brands like Free People, Calvin Klein, and Rachel Roy. It’s worth noting that Le Tote carries sizes XS to XXL. The subscription starts at $79, and you can rent up to ten clothes and five accessories per month.

Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway comes in handy when you’re invited to attend any type of formal event. You’ll get clothing from high-end designer brands such as Badgley Mischka and Kate Spade.

Rent the Runway will handle the dry cleaning for the clothes you send back. You can also rent sunglasses and jewelry to go with your ensemble. The Rent the Runway subscription starts at $69, and you can get up to four items per month.

Now, let’s look at a couple of clothing subscription boxes for men.

Basic Man

Basic Man is a monthly subscription that focuses on providing you with essential clothing. Starting at $19.99 each month, you can expect a T-shirt, a pair of underwear, and socks made from high-quality fabrics. The clothing is made from sustainable materials, and the packaging is biodegradable.

The Black Tux

If you need a nice suit for a formal event, wedding, or job interview and don’t want the hefty price tag, The Black Tux allows you to rent a tux or a high-quality suit at a starting price of $150.

You can even schedule a free home try-on ten days before your big day to pick out the right style for you. You can also rent accessories like cufflinks, belts, and ties to complete the look.

Now, let’s look at a few clothing subscription boxes for kids.

KidPik

KidPik offers a customized eight-piece collection of clothes for your kids. This also includes high-quality shoes and accessories.

KidPik allows you to mail back unworn items within a week, and you’ll get a 30% discount if you keep the clothes in the box. The subscription starts at $20, and you can choose the frequency you’d like to get your delivery.

Rockets of Awesome

Rockets of Awesome is a great kid’s clothing subscription that starts at $20. Stylists handpick five or eight clothing items guided by a survey you fill out to indicate your child’s size and preference. You can then review selected items and swap out any clothes you don’t like before shipment. Once the clothes are delivered, you can send back anything that doesn’t fit.

Rockets of Awesome allows you to mail them clothes that your child has outgrown, and you earn credits for future purchases.

Best beauty and skincare subscription boxes

Buying every new beauty item that comes out can be expensive, so subscription services let you try out new products at a lower price. Let’s explore the best subscription boxes for beauty aficionados.

ScentBird

ScentBird is a subscription service that allows you to sample the latest colognes and perfume fragrances each month. You’ll pay $16 every month to receive an eight-milliliter bottle of perfume from more than 450 designer perfumes.

Kinder Beauty Box

The Kinder Beauty Box offers cruelty-free and clean beauty products that are vegan. The subscription starts at $26, and you’ll receive skincare, makeup, and hair care products that can be full-size or travel-size.

Illustration of what’s inside a Kinder Beauty Box subscription

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Best meal subscription boxes

When looking for the best meal subscription boxes, variety is an important factor to keep in mind. You’ll also want to check to see if the subscription accommodates your diet or any allergies. Let’s take a look at some of the best subscription boxes on the market.

Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot is a plant-based meal subscription that delivers recipe-based meal kits or fully prepped meals depending on your preference. You can choose breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as soups and sauces. The subscription starts at $51.94, and you can choose between high protein, low calorie, or quick and easy options.

If you choose to go with meal options, you’ll choose between 12 different meals each week. If you opt for meal kits, you’ll subscribe to four dinners each week.

Illustration of what’s inside a Purple Carrot box

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CookUnity

CookUnity is a meal subscription that provides meals prepared by leading chefs in small batches. You have the option of receiving four, six, eight, or 16 meals every week tailored to your health goals and personal preferences.

The subscription starts at $53.96, and you can expect meals that are dairy-free, low-carb, or vegan. You can also get Keto and Paleo diet options.

Butcher Box

Butcher Box is a great meat subscription for someone who is looking for a variety of meats and cuts. The meal delivery service starts at $159, and it follows strict animal welfare standards. You can set your delivery frequency to four, six, or eight weeks.

The subscription boxes include:

  • Custom box: choose from free-range organic chicken, 100% grass-fed beef, pork raised crate-free, and seafood wild-caught
  • Beef and chicken box: free-range organic chicken and 100% grass-fed beef
  • Mixed box: free-range organic chicken, 100% grass-fed beef, and pork raised crate-free
  • All Beef box: 100% grass-fed beef

Piquant Post

Piquant Post delivers seasonings from every part of the world to you each month, starting at $11.99. You’ll get a fresh batch of spice blends from a new country as well as recipes on how to use them.

Universal Yums

Universal Yums delivers tasty snacks to your doorstep every month. The subscription starts at $14.67, and you’ll get 5 to 20 snacks from a different country every month. You’ll also receive a booklet with trivia and games.

Candy Club

Candy Club is a great gift idea for someone with a sweet tooth. The subscription starts at $29.99, and you’ll receive a box of candy from famed candy producers or small artisans from around the world.

Best subscription boxes for drinks

Whether you’re into tea, wine, or coffee, here are the best subscription boxes for your preferred drink.

Sips By

Sips By is the perfect gift for tea lovers, as it comes with fun flavors from a variety of different tea brands. Sips By starts at $16, and you’ll receive four types of bagged or loose leaf tea.

Atlas Coffee Club

The Atlas Coffee Club is a great subscription for coffee lovers to try out coffee from all around the globe. When you subscribe, you’ll receive coffee from any part of the world based on your roast preferences. The subscription starts at $9, and you can pay bi-weekly or monthly.

Winc

Winc offers bottles of wine for both beginners and enthusiasts looking to expand their tastes. The subscription starts at $13.99, and you’ll receive four bottles of wine according to your preferences.

How to get the most out of your subscription box

Subscription boxes and a simple way to try out a variety of products — and they provide a fun surprise whenever they arrive.

Check out our article on if subscription boxes are worth it to learn more about if you’re getting your money’s worth.

Plus, maximize your savings on your subscriptions by taking advantage of available discounts and deals. Visit CouponFollow to get discounts on all your favorite brands.

about the author

Tiara Rea-Palmer
Director of Partnerships
As an expert in online savings and an avid deal enthusiast, Tiara heads up retail relations at CouponFollow, where she stays up-to-date on all the best deals, discounts, and freebies, as well as negotiates exclusive coupons and offers for CouponFollow users. In her free time, you can find Tiara writing, DIY crafting on a budget, and traveling with free rewards card miles.