Shopping is hard—at least for some of us. Whether seeking that perfect pair of pants for myself (Pleats? No pleats? What the hell is a pleat?!), a gift for that parent who already gets every catalog known to man, or the nephews who seem to already own every toy sold by Toys R Us, what does a shopping-impaired person do? The secret? Don't shop. Subscribe.
The Internet is full of entrepreneurs whose ideas came well before their time, but curated subscription shopping hit at exactly the right time. Whether it's clothes, food, or experiences, there's a cadre of sites offering new options. Yes, you can go to Amazon Subscribe & Save to receive regular delivery of important items like diapers, toilet paper, dog food, and mac and cheese—but you have to pick it out. Curated subscription services are like having a long-distance personal shopper. You "interview" with the site, tell it what you (or a gift recipient) like, and then pay to get surprise items sent to your doorstep. Or a curator actually picks all the cool stuff in your box. If you don't like the contents, you can usually send it back.
We'll be honest: There's some serious sticker shock with many of these services. Remember—they're putting in a little more work than the average shopping site that yanks items off a warehouse shelf. In some cases, they might even be preparing food on your behalf—and you know what a good meal costs at a restaurant (plus 25 percent tip, unless you're a cheapskate). Keep that in mind.
While not all of these sites work as gifts—you don't want your mom getting fashions that you prefer, or vice versa (probably)—those that do can provide not just hours of enjoyment, but continued recurring joy as new items arrive on a regular basis. Give them serious consideration for your holidays—or any days.
(Want to create your own subscription service? Check out Cratejoy.)
For Dorks
Let's get this one out of the way immediately: the average PCMag reader probably identifies as a geek, and Loot Crate is all about the gear for gamers and nerds. For a low price of $19.95 (with shipping) or lower with a subscription plan, you get handpicked merch worth about $45 bucks. Items like Deadpool masks, hats comics, Transformers, gamer t-shirts, statues, and a lot more. Now they even have multiple loot types, including clothes, anime stuff, and even stuff for pets! You won't know what is in the box until you [STEREOTYPE ALERT] take it into your parent's basement to open. Or in the case of PCMag's Will Greenwald, open them in PC Labs, because that's where we keep him.
GeekFuel offers up similar dork delights, with the basic box a promised $50 value for only $29.90 (with shipping), and it gets down to $19.90 a month if you subscribe for a year ahead of time. Gift boxes are similarly priced. Get friends to join and you get $5 off for each new recommendation.
Nerd Block delivers similar goods, with a little more focus on toys, for $19.99 a month. They have different segments for fans of horror, arcade games, sci-fi, comics, and special boxes for junior boys or girls. You can even just get one with all the shirts they make available (that one is $29.99 per month).
Quarterly, meanwhile, is for dorks of all different types. They used to do the "famous people pick" idea—having names like Rosario Dawson and Bill Nye The Science Guy curate a box of picks for you every three months. They still have some of those (called "Lifestyle boxes") but now focus largely on "experiences" boxes with titles like Biohack, Literary (adult or young adult), Culinary, and Maker, each one curated by a guest. Boxes cost anywhere from $50 to $100 per package, a little cheaper if you subscribe for a year.
For Adventurers
A complete 180 from the dork set might be the mountaineering outdoorsy types, but they have their own subscription options.
Cairn stands out with monthly boxes full of apparel, gear, food, even emergency kits—all the things needed for an adventure. They promise 3-6 products a month worth $35 dollars. Subs are a basic $22 a month (shipping free with a subscription), which you can give as a gift. Higher-end tastes should try the Obsidian Box offer, which is five to 10 premium items worth $300 for $199 per month, billed quarterly.
The Apocabox is a little more apocalyptic, geared toward, as you might guess, "survivalists." It ships every two months for $60.95 (with shipping costs). Previous boxes featured items like knives, wooden cups, saws, bandanas, fire kits, and glow-in-the-dark paracord.
Battlbox is likewise a survival and tactical gear provider, with a basic box starting at $24.99 + $5 shipping, each with 4-7 items. The more you spend, the more you get (boxes are Advanced for $49.99, Pro at $99.99, and Pro Plus for $149.99).
For Men
Men's fashion has found a true niche online with subscription shopping services. Guys who hate to shop for clothes are especially going to like this option—if they can afford it. While the sites typically make the fashions involved look only appropriate for 20-something hipsters, the point is to break dudes out of their Dockers comfort zone. In some cases, "interviewing" with personal stylists who pick a set of duds will lessen the pain.
The bellwether of such sites for men (and also now catering to women) is the well-known Trunk Club (now owned by Nordstrom). When you make a request (it's not a monthly thing), you'll get a "trunk" (actually a cardboard box) with an outfit, plus all the info and labels you'll need to send things back if you don't like them or they don't fit. Price, however, might be an issue. You get an itemized list with each trunk and, yowza, even the socks are up there, which is hard on a guy who buys packages of tube socks at Target.
As they say on the site: "denim prices are $170–$250, casual shirts $100–$200, and sweaters $100–$300." One review of a trunk (from 2014) had a guy getting $1,765 worth of clothes! You get to try everything on, at least, and you only pay for what you keep. How they dress you depends on how much you talk to your stylist. How much you like it probably depends on your income. Give a gift card as an option.
Of course, Trunk Club is far from alone when it comes to dressing dudes. Bombfell, for example, has much the same setup (no subscription fees, only pay for what you keep, 10 days to make a return), but you set a schedule and a budget. Bombfell has an average price of $69 per item, compared to Trunk Club's $160.
Cladwell uses a mix of people and robots/algorithms to pick out clothes. It also ships internationally, but returns aren't necessarily as easy, since the policy for each retailer Cladwell works with is different. You can set a budget, and Cladwell's average price per item is $79. Cladwell has also branched out into providing women via its Cladwell Capsules, to create a small wardrobe of favorites.
FiveFour Club keeps it pretty simple. Tell them your style (casual, forward, or classic), then for $60 per month you get three items. Members can exchange things for size problems and cancel any time.
What about specific types of clothes? Think of Rootbizzle as the "tie of the month club,"—plus you can add socks. The basic plan is $25 per month (you pay a little less if you pay multiple months up front). Pick a tie style under names like Business, Whimsical, Skinny, or Formal. Or get a variety, specify the size tie you want (or even get a bow-tie), and get ready to wrap your neck in style. Another neck tie subscription to consider: Spiffster at $8.95 per month.
A subscription for guys doesn't have to be just about clothes or picking things out. Men also need supplies, like a constant supply of razors. That's where Dollar Shave Club comes in. DSC has a pretty sweet system whereby they'll send you different levels of new shaving blades each month (or every other month) for $1, $6, or $9 plus shipping—that includes four to five replacement razors. They'll also sell you a subscription to moist butt wipes. Gift subscriptions are also available. They also have the best promotional video ever.
Dollar Shave Club has plenty of competition, including Harry's, ShaveMob (formerly 800Razors.com with the tagline: "We don't have a funny video, sorry"), even Gillette.
For Ladies
What are the Trunk Club equivalents for the ladies? You can always try Trunk Club and Cladwell, as noted.
Women can also try Stitch Fix (which, in a stark change from above, is now catering to men, too). Pick a style profile, submit some measurements, and you'll get five hand-picked items in the mail, which you can return as needed. There's a $20 "styling fee" on the initial order, but that goes toward the first actual purchase, and you get 25 percent off if you keep all five items.
Average price from Stitch Fix on a garment is $55; the company accommodate sizes 0/XS up to 16/XXL, plus petite and maternity sizes. If you're giving it away, get a Stitch Fix gift card.
Tog+Porter does the stylist interview thing. There's a $50 stylist fee on top of what you pay for the first two "togboxes," but that goes away if you keep at least $250 worth of clothes. They also charge a $25 "box assembly fee," which makes me think they should ship it in a bag. Budgets can be set from $250 up to $3,000. They also do gift cards.
For ladies who want to stick to just one area of clothing instead of entire outfits, there several options. Elizabeth & Clark is all about tops—get a box of up to three every three months after you pick the style, color, and fabrics you prefer. You can get one shirt for $60, two for $100, or three for $120. Sizes are 00 to 14, and you only pay for the shirts you keep.
Want a new set of panties on a regular basis? Try Canada-based Panty by Post. Start its Panty of the Month Club for $9.95 for the first pair, then pick from their everyday line ($14.94 per month), Signature ($21.95 per month), or Premium Luxe ($34.95 per month). They ship free in North America. There are in fact so many underwear subscription services you could try a new one each month.
Shoes for obsessing over can be found at ShoeDazzle, where you take a quiz on which heels most suit your personality and style (or let a stylist pick for you). For $40 a month you can be a VIP who gets a 25 percent discount, free shipping, and access to exclusives.
Ladies, meanwhile, need products that men run screaming from, for we fear what we do not understand. If you subscribe at sites like HelloFlo, though, you never need to send that idiot husband/boyfriend/dad to the store for your hygiene products again. Pick your brand (no personal shopper here!), quantity, and customize the box that will show up each month with your subscription. There are kits for students, new moms, even young ladies starting with the whole, uh, process. Prices vary depending on your picks. Again, there are many more options beyond Flo.
For grooming, the shaving isn't just for men. Check out Chic Shave, the female equivalent of Dollar Shave Club, to get $9 worth of razor cartridges per month to start. ShaveMob also sells lady-targeting razor blades for as low as $0.96 per cartridge.
For Couples
There are a few services out there that work for men and women. Sometimes they're for couples. Birchbox— PCMag's neighbors in New York—is not. But it has expanded its offering from just a box of beauty and makeup products for women to providing a grooming box for men, as well. The base price at Birchbox for a woman's sub with four to five items is $10 per month ($110 a year); for guys it's $20 ($110 for six months). Guys get a mix of skin, hair, and other products. There's always a non-skin/beauty extra, like socks, earbuds, etc. You're not limited to subscribing; shop the Birchbox store for individual items or send gift subscriptions
One of the better places for a man or woman to subscribe together online (or give as a gift to another couple) is Sock Club. It certainly helps if your feet are close to the same size if you're going to share, of course. It costs $12 per month, and you can subscribe for 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals (but you only save with the annual rate of $132). You can find similar offerings from Sock Panda, Sock Fancy, and Shark Tank darling Foot Cardigan.
When it comes to catering to couples, there's one service that knows exactly where to head: the bedroom. The Fantasy Box provides gift sets meant to add a little spice and surprise where it counts. Deliveries come in discrete packaging so the neighbors won't start giving you looks in church. The contents are labeled either Essentials ($39 per box for three to four products), Classic ($59 per box for four to six products), or Platinum ($159 per box for five to eight high-end products hand packed by a personal concierge service).
You pick whether the contents are "playful," "sensual," or for "control," "voyeur," or "costume/role play." They suggest you try each, with the full choreographed instructions inside. Shipping is free in the US and $10 in Canada. The Fantasy Box is also suitable for gay couples; lingerie is available in plus sizes. Don't worry—the video below is PG-13 at worst.
For Pets
Pet lovers knew there had to be some kind of monthly box subscription for dogs. Enter BarkBox, available for subscriptions or as a gift. Share the size of the dog who will enjoy the contents, so they can adjust the chewies/cookies/toys inside appropriately. The base price is $20 per month for one BarkBox; you can get more boxes at a discount, while an extra premium toy per month is an another $9. All shipping in the lower 48 is free; it's $5 elsewhere. They even have a free app for iOS and Android to track upcoming box shipments, and rate the contents of each new box or purchase more of something your pup likes. Gifted Barkboxes start at $35 for one, savings kick in if you give 3-, 6-, or 12- month subs.
A kitty equivalent is KitNipBox, which starts at $19.99 per month for one to two items, and goes to a multi-cat box set for $29 per month. Inside you'll find toys, treats, hygiene products, even cat gadgets. We assume the latter is a ball of yarn. Shipping is free in the continental US. Most customer shots show the cats in the box itself, naturally.
Finally, here's a subscription every apartment-dwelling dog owner should consider. You don't get anything different each month when you subscribe to Doggie Lawn. What you do get for $24 per week ($28 for every three or four weeks) is a 20-by-24-inch box full of perfectly manicured, hydroponically grown sod. Or pay $11 more and get a patch of 24 by 48 inches for larger pups. All for that one job your beloved canine absolutely should only perform in the grass. You know the one. Shipping is free. What you do with the dog's deposit is up to you. I suggest bags—lots of bags. Save yourself from the stench by using flushable doodie bags.
For Food Lovers
The gift that keeps on giving (to your waistline): food and drink. Subscribing to get these services goes well beyond just a wine-of-the-month club. Though that is an option with Winc (formerly Club W) or NakedWines.com or Glassful.
Start with snacks from Graze, which is all about a "better way to snack." That means snacking twice a month on $11.99 worth of pre-portioned eats in a nibblebox (the first box is half price). A calorie counter box is also an option if you are trying to stay healthy. Nuts are involved, so Graze isn't for people with allergies.
Mantry should perhaps be under the For Men section, but it's sexist to say woman don't like bacon and bourbon. Mantry's a once-ever-two-month delivery service of six products meant to stimulate male taste buds, all shipped in a wooden crate. It can be given as a gift to anyone, male or female, starting at $59 for one box, with savings if you get a three- or six-box subscriptions; a self-sub starts at $49 every two months.
Bestowed (formerly Conscious Box) is about more than your health; it's also trying to save the world, one GMO-free food-bit at a time. Naturally, it offers gluten-free and vegan options. And it's not just food, they also throw in beauty and health items. The Home Box is $20 a month for one try with discounts if you subscribe. You can give a Bestowed subscription as a gift.
Want to spice up the kitchen? RawSpiceBar sends packets—a monthly flavor kit—with freshly ground ingredients and inspiring recipes. One month is $8, but subscribe for 12 and it goes down to $7 per month.
If you're more of a coffee person, there are plenty of options such as Craft Coffee for various prices per blend per month with the promise of free shipping, always; Drift Away Coffee is $8 for the first delivery (a tasting kit); then you pick a ongoing shipment size for 7, 11, or 32 ounces of coffee a day at $12, $16, or $34, respectively; MistoBox starts at $15.99 per 12 ounce bag, which you can get every one to four weeks.
If you're not a real foodie but you still like to eat, there are a number of food delivery services now that send you exactly the ingredients needed to make splendid meals without knowing a damn thing about the kitchen. Perhaps the best known is Blue Apron , which costs $9.99 per person per meal, with a minimum number of three meals a week to feed two people (so $60 a week at least), though you can skip a week if you tell them before the delivery deadline. The family plan serves as many as four, with two or four recipes per week, so $140 per week. That's a lot less than eating out four times with four people.
Blue Apron has plenty of competitors: Plated, HelloFresh, Home Chef, and PeachDish all have similar options; some deliver to more places than others.
For Artists
If you or a gift recipient are artistic, consider Artsnacks. They don't send food, but they do send excellent art supplies you might not otherwise consider for $24 a month. You can save money with 6- and 12-month subscriptions ($240 annually saves $48). Shipping is free in the U.S., $10 outside, but the actual subscriptions are only for U.S. residents. You can also give it as a gift.
Rad and Hungry's The Something Mighty (STMT) Collection promises something similar, but it's not just art, it's artsy office supplies. Each kit has a minimum of a writing instrument or paper good, a poster, info on the country of origin, and more if you opt for a longer-term subscription beyond the initial plan for $25 per month (plus $7 shipping). The longer your subscription, the more stuff they throw in the box and the more you save. There's also a store for gifts.
If you're not into creating art, buy some outright. Art in a Box delivers a new piece of art from the San Francisco Bay Area to your doorstep every month, based on the profile you fill out (namely, three adjectives that describe your tastes); each piece fits in a box that's 11 by 17 by 3 inches. You have the option to get new pieces monthly, quarterly, or even less. Cost is $50 a month, with a minimum of three months of deliveries. You can give it as a gift, so prepare those adjectives to describe your friends' tastes.
Need inspiration in your knitting endeavors? KnitCrate provides a package full of yarn and patterns plus a "soothing" extra" every month. They even have an 8-month newbies-to-knitting package that comes with videos to help you learn. The basic Knitcrate subscription is $49 per month plus shipping, with 2 patterns and enough yarn to finish.
The Hello Subscription mega-list of subscription boxes many more crafting boxes for those who do it with fiber or with paper/ink.
For Kids
Who better to get a monthly box of goodies than the children?
Kiwi Crate is in the business of creating projects and activities mailed out to kids to keep them stimulated and being creative. They've got kid-tested crates for ages 3 to 16—there's the Koala Crate for ages 3 to 4, Kiwi Crate for ages 4 to 8, Tinker Crate for mechanically inclined sciency-types and the Doodle Crate of art supplies (the latter two are for ages 9 to 16+). Basic crate shipment cost starts at $19.95 per month. Shipping to other countries is possible. Naturally, gift subscriptions are an option, and you save with longer subscriptions of six or 12 months. Got kids fighting over the contents of the crate? Use the sibling add-on option for $9.95 a month.
Bluum isn't just for blooming children (Get it? Bloom?), it's also for mom and dad. The target is those with new babies, with each box "curated by baby experts." You configure the subscription with the child's birthdate and gender (or not) to get appropriate contents. The price starts at $34 per month, but drops as low as $27 per month for 1-year subscriptions; shipping is free in the continental U.S. ($5 elsewhere) and there is sales tax to pay in NY, DE, and CT. Gifts are an option.
For the full fun-with-learning-a-lesson experience, check out Pley. It's a monthly toy club that starts at $12.99 a month—but it's a rental. Kids get to play with it and then have to return it to get the next one. There are 500 toys in the Pley library to choose from. And if you've got kids into the Disney Princess milieu, there is a special Pleybox just for them with items to help bring Disney stories to life, and those are they get to keep (but of course the price more than double at $34.49).
For Readers
Since 1926, the Book of the Month Club has ben providing voracious readers new material to devour. They picked "Gone with the Wind" and "The Sun Also Rises," among others classics. With the online version, you can pick each month from the five selections the club provides, and get one (or more) sent to you. One book a month is $14.99 ($5 for the first one), or subscribe for 12 months and each month costs $11.99. You can cancel whenever you like, or just skip a month if you don't see a book you like.