Subscriptions and subscription boxes are a genius eCommerce strategy. They extend your customer lifetime value (LTV), introduce consumers to new product lines, and provide memorable brand experiences.
The past few years have been a challenge for many consumers, who have turned to eCommerce to brighten their day and break up the monotony. Subscription boxes are an excellent way to reward yourself or your team, surprise a friend or loved one, and enhance your eCommerce brand.
They’re convenient, exciting, and affordable. From a brand perspective, they build a loyal customer base and generate recurring revenue.
From food deliveries to beauty boxes, tech hauls and books, subscription boxes work well with almost every category and personality.
I’ve pulled together this list of unique and popular subscription boxes that you can draw inspiration from, or gift yourself and others. Below each, I’ve also listed out similar ones to give you even more choices.
How to use this list
Subscription boxes are a fun regular self-care surprise, but they also serve so many other functions.
You can use this list of subscription boxes for:
- Yourself: Make your life more convenient and ensure you don’t run out of treats for your pup.
- Your team: Delight your team members with a subscription box to show your appreciation.
- Loved ones: Gift loved ones who live in a different state or country.
- Your business: Analyze the subscription boxes for inspiration. Look at how the brands acquire customers, their on-page conversion tactics, and their communication cadence and channels.
Now that we’ve covered all the reasons to get excited for these subscription boxes, let’s dive in.
eCommerce subscriptions platforms: How to add subscriptions to your DTC website
20 Awesome subscription boxes
1) Book of the Month: Get new reads every month
Transport yourself to another world, gain fresh perspectives, and expand your horizons with the Book of the Month subscription box.
You’ll get a new read delivered to your door each month. Your first book is $9.99, then it costs $15.99 per month. Plus, you can add up to two additional books to your monthly box if you’re really struggling to decide what to read.
You choose which book you want to receive from their monthly selection of top books — perfect for making sure you always receive a novel you’ll love.
However, if you’re drowning under a sea of books and don’t want to add another to your TBR pile, Book of the Month makes it easy for you to skip a delivery or roll your credits over. If you forget to choose a monthly read, they’ll automatically roll your credits over to the next month too.
Similar subscription boxes: OwlCrate, Once Upon a Book Club, LitJoy, Introverts Retreat, The Book Drop
For kids: Bookroo, Little Feminist, Reading Bug Box
2) Dear Holmes: Put your detective skills to the test
If you enjoy solving mysteries, you’ll love the Dear Holmes subscription game.
The game will have you on tenterhooks, anxiously monitoring your mailbox for a new letter each week. Every month, a new mystery unfolds; you’ll receive weekly letters containing clues to help you solve it, and then one solution letter that reveals all.
You can opt to receive the Dear Holmes subscription boxes on a three-, six-, or 12-month renewal contract. Once your time is up, the subscription doesn’t auto-renew — great for those who commonly forget to unsubscribe.
Similar subscription boxes: Hunt A Killer, Deadbolt Mystery Society, Finders Seekers, Escape the Crate
3) KiwiCo: STEM, STEAM, and science kits
Lovers of learning can stimulate their curiosity with KiwiCo’s collection of STEM, STEAM, and science crates.
These subscription boxes contain fun and enriching science and art projects that both children and adults will love. KiwiCo tailors the crate contents to the recipient’s age, letting you choose from 0 to 14+ years. Once you’ve selected your age range, you then get to pick the subscription line that matches your interests.
For example, the Eureka Crate features fun engineering projects and challenges. Meanwhile, the Maker crate is filled with art and design projects that let you tap into your artistic talents. Both are recommended for ages 14-100 years. And you can switch interests at any time.
Once you’ve chosen your crate, you can set how often you want to receive your STEM subscription box: monthly or every three, six, or 12 months. KiwiCo also lets you pause or cancel your subscription anytime.
Similar subscription boxes: Groovy Lab in a Box, Scholastic Teachables, Little Passports, Girls Can! Crate, Sensory TheraPlay Box
For older kids: MEL Science, Bitsbox
4) BarkBox: Dog treats delivered to your door
Who said monthly treats had to be only for humans? Dog parents can spoil their pups with monthly dog treats from the BarkBox subscription box.
BarkBox releases a new theme each month. You then get to build your own customized box of themed dog toys, treats, and a chew. Every month, your dog will receive over $40 worth of toys and treats. My favorite thing about this box is you can select toy durability, which is a lifesaver if you have a determined chewer.
You can cancel or disable the auto-renewal at any time. If you just want a break, you can contact BarkBox’s support team to pause or skip your upcoming box.
Similar subscription boxes: RescueBox, KONG Club
For cats: MeowBox
5) Lola: Feminine care treats for that time of the month
Add some joy to your time of the month with a monthly box of feminine care products. Lola offers a variety of period and sex products that have been carefully created with wellness in mind.
Select your preferred products, subscribe, and sit back knowing you’ll be looked after each month. You can go with your flow to receive monthly boxes, or opt to have boxes delivered every three or six months.
Making changes to your subscription is easy too. Simply head to your online account and edit to cancel individual items, or head to the “Subscriptions and Orders” page to cancel your entire subscription.
Similar subscription boxes: Rael, Cora, Athena Club, The Period Store
6) Function of Beauty: Made-for-you monthly beauty products
Beauty lovers can personalize their self-care routine with the Function of Beauty subscription service.
The company offers a range of 100% customizable hair, skin, and body care products as part of their subscription service.
To start, take the Function of Beauty quiz to tell them about your hair type and share your hair goals. You even get to choose your preferred fragrance and color. Once done, Function of Beauty will create a unique formula for you and deliver it straight to your door, plus some additional treats.
You’ll receive frequent deliveries that fit the schedule of your choosing — once a month, or every two, three, or six months.
As a Function With Benefits (FWB) member, you’ll also receive exclusive perks such as 10% off recurring orders, a free hair treatment every four weeks, free shipping, and more.
Canceling or editing your subscription plan can all be done from your online account.
Similar subscription boxes: Birchbox, Allure Beauty Box, Boxycharm
7) Atlas Coffee Club: Try coffee from around the world
Coffee is a lifeline for the modern professional. Many of us are fueled by our morning, afternoon, and evening evening coffees. If that sounds like you, it’s time to check out the Atlas Coffee Club subscription box.
This monthly coffee box goes the extra mile by letting you try single-origin coffee ethically sourced from sustainable farms all around the world.
Atlas Coffee Club recognizes our coffee-drinking habits can shift. When starting your subscription, you’ll decide whether you want to receive a 6-ounce half bag, a standard 12-ounce bag, or double up and get two 12-ounce bags. You can then choose to receive your coffee goods every two or four weeks.
The customization doesn’t stop there though. You can select your roasting preference and whether you want whole beans or ground coffee. With each box of fresh coffee, you’ll also get a postcard from your coffee’s country of origin, a tasting notes card, and brewing tips to help you brew the perfect cup every time.
Atlas Coffee Club lets you alter your subscription anytime, whether you want to cancel, change frequency, or receive more coffee.
Similar subscription boxes: Peet’s Coffee, Bean Box, Trade, Blue Bottle Coffee, Nomad Coffee Club, Crema.co, Lifeboost Coffee, La Colombe
Tea subscriptions: Atlas Tea Club, Blendbee, Simple Loose Leaf, Tea Runners, Tea Drops, Art of Tea, Tekuno
8) Stitch Fix: Clothing subscription service with style
Stitch Fix is shaking up the world of fashion with its clothing subscription service.
When you first open your Stitch Fix account, you take a style quiz so Stitch Fix can learn more about your taste in clothes. An expert personal stylist will then recommend pieces for you based on your preferences and budget. This personal stylist is what sets Stitch Fix apart from the other clothing subscription services.
The company offers flexible shipment options, recognizing you don’t always need new clothes every month. You can order on demand or set up automatic deliveries, and you can easily reschedule or pause your Fix shipment in your account settings.
You pay a $20 styling fee for each box, which is then credited towards any pieces you decide to keep. Don’t like something they sent? You can easily send it back with free returns.
Similar subscription boxes: Rent the Runway, Wantable, MeUndies
9) Bouqs: Send yourself farm-fresh flowers
Gifting yourself flowers is one of my favorite acts of self-care. With Bouqs, you always have fresh flowers to brighten up your home or workspace.
Choose how often you receive a fresh bouquet, from weekly to every other month. You’ll also receive exclusive discounts on one-time orders when you sign up for their bouquet subscription service. Bouqs will then send you seasonal favorites, or you can customize the style or size of the bouquet you receive.
You also can snooze your subscription for up to three consecutive shipments, or skip individual deliveries whenever you want. After your first delivery, you can cancel your subscription at any time.
What’s more, you can even change the recipient at any time — great if you want to gift your flowers to someone else for a month. This simple switch makes gift-giving a breeze.
Similar subscription boxes: BloomsyBox, ReVased, UrbanStems
Tip: If you have a local florist you love, consider asking them about a flower delivery subscription. Many will be happy to accommodate, plus you shorten the distance between the flower field and your doorstep, helping to keep it more sustainable. Don’t forget to ask for seasonal florals to lessen your environmental footprint even further.
10) SnackNation: Delicious snacks delivered to your door
SnackNation is a great way to discover award-winning and great-tasting snacks every month.
Before starting, you can select your box size, catering your subscription to your snacking preferences. In your box, you’ll get a variety of snacks from premium and better-for-you brands. Snacks range from chips, crackers, and popcorn to jerky, nuts, nutrition bars, and healthier sweets. SnackNation also offers a coffee subscription service to feed that caffeine addiction.
As an added bonus, for every box you receive, SnackNation will donate a meal to American families in need through their partnership with Feeding America.
To cancel your subscription, you have to call the SnackNation support team, so it isn’t as easy to end as other subscription services. It’s also important to note your subscription will auto-renew on a monthly basis.
Along with the personal subscription box, SnackNation also offers corporate packages. You can send monthly snacks to your employees and clients, whether they’re remote, in-office, or international.
Similar subscription boxes: SnackCrate, Universal Yums, SnackMagic, MunchPak
11) JIGGY: Join the monthly puzzle club
Relax your mind with the JIGGY puzzle club. Whether you’re a puzzle person or not, JIGGY’s monthly subscription service is sure to grab (and hold) your attention.
Every month, you’ll receive an exclusive 500-piece puzzle. These are a great way both to stimulate and relax your brain. I love puzzles for relieving stress and unwinding after an intense work day.
You choose whether you’d like to receive a puzzle every month, every other month, or quarterly. As a member, you also get exclusive access to the new JIGGY collections before public launch, as well as brand partner discounts.
Shipping is always free for subscription puzzles and, if you prepay, you can save 5%–15% on your subscription plan. You can manage your plan through your online account, including skipping, pausing, or canceling it.
Similar subscription boxes: Puzzlcrate, Buffalo Games & Puzzles, Kubiya
12) Mouth: Receive mouth-watering food and drinks every month
Any foodies reading this guide will likely fall head over heels in love with Mouth’s subscription service. As a subscriber, you’ll have delicious, curated treats delivered to your doorstep.
As with most subscription services, you get to pick your frequency. You can choose a monthly box, or one every three, six, or 12 months.
You then get to pick what type of subscription box you’d like to receive. You can choose from a list of options, including:
- Cocktails
- Pickles
- Snacks
- Hot Sauce
- Cheese
- Best of Mouth
- Indie States of America
Being able to select your box type ensures you receive the type of snacks you love most. The Best of Mouth box is great for those who want to try a bit of everything, whereas cocktail lovers will enjoy making tipples with the Cocktails option.
Meanwhile, the Indie States of America box can be described as a U.S. road trip for the mouth. Taking you on a tour of the states, this subscription box is filled with food and drinks from a different region of the U.S. each month.
You can cancel your subscription via your online account page or by contacting Mouth’s customer service team.
Similar subscription boxes: Try the World, Murray’s Cheese, Olympia Provisions
13) Cocktail Courier: Personalized cocktail kits
Bring the bar to your home with Cocktail Couriers’ personalized cocktail subscription box.
Cocktail Courier delivers everything you need to make delicious mixed drinks from the comfort of your home. The company offers two subscription levels: one with alcohol, and one without.
Each kit has recipe cards and the ingredients to make drinks (with or without alcohol, depending on your subscription plan).
You can personalize your box by choosing your favorite spirits, swapping out cocktails, and skipping or adding deliveries.
If you don’t like gin, for example, just let Cocktail Courier know and you’ll never receive any gin-based boxes. The drinks you receive are tailored to your palate, creating a cocktail kit you’ll love. In your dashboard, you can see your recipes and leave reviews. They even have an option to add barware items such as bar tools, syrups, spirits, and mixers.
You can cancel your subscription online, snooze it, or change your delivery schedule with the click of a button.
Similar subscription boxes: Drink Haus, Cocktail Courier, SaloonBox, Flaviar
Non-alcoholic: Ritual Zero Proof, Raising the Bar, Kin Euphorics, Shaker & Spoon
Tip: Have a favorite winery? Join their wine club!
14) Undiscovered Box: Explore the world without leaving home
Travel the globe with the Undiscovered Box. Sent out quarterly, these subscription boxes let you discover new cultures and traditions from regions around the world.
Each box features five fair-trade products lovingly gift-wrapped. You decide which five items you receive from a list of carefully curated options. Along with these, Undiscovered will also send thoughtful extras such as bonus items, recipes, and tips and suggestions from artisan guides.
If you want to pause or cancel your subscription, you can email the Undiscovered team, who will then process your request.
Similar subscription boxes: Celebrate States, The Holiday in a Box Co., The Wordy Traveler
15) History by Mail: Fascinating historical documents by post
Go on a journey through time with the History by Mail monthly subscription. This service delivers replicas of historical documents to your door every month, transporting you to another era in time.
From Rosa Parks’ police report to Albertin Einstein’s correspondence with FDR, History by Mail’s team of archivists uncovers fascinating historical documents to send subscribers each month. Graphic designers then carefully replicate these documents so you can expand your historical knowledge in a more enriching way than just reading from a textbook.
Alongside historical letters and documents, you’ll also receive any additional context needed to further your understanding of that particular event or subject.
You can choose to pay up front for a six- or 12-month subscription. This way, there’s no need to cancel or pause your subscription. Once your initial subscription period is over, your plan will automatically cancel.
Similar subscription boxes: Letterjoy, History Unboxed, Mysteries in Time
16) VinylPost: Hear new-to-you music every month
Vinyl Post is a unique monthly record club featuring music pressed onto vinyl postcards. This record club is an awesome way to discover new indie music every month.
Each month gives you one unique vinyl postcard. While it may look like a regular postcard, it can actually be played on your record player to reveal new music from Vinyl Post’s indie music blog. The reverse of the postcard contains a written message from that month’s featured artist. You’ll also receive a lyric and artist bio sheet and a high-quality MP3 download of the song.
Expect to receive music spanning a mix of genres from indie rock and pop to dream pop, surf rock, chillwave, and more.
Payment plans are available to give you flexibility in your subscription. Plus, you can easily cancel your membership from your online account.
Similar subscription boxes: Broadway Boxed Up, Music Library
17) Breo Box: Pay per season to receive cool tech and gadgets
The technophiles among us will be big fans of the Breo Box. Featuring the coolest gadgets and tech products, Breo Box is sent out every three months.
You can opt to pay for your subscription box each quarter or annually. Your plan will auto-renew, but you can easily cancel at any time.
Every season, you’ll discover five to eight unique tech products for your home, work, and lifestyle. You’re sure to find new tech products that you would never think of using, but soon realize you can’t live without.
Items range from gadgets that make life easier to tech products that add more fun to your everyday life.
Similar subscription boxes: Gadget Discovery Club, Creation Crate
18) Brooklyn Candle Studio: Ignite your senses with a candle subscription box
Join Brooklyn Candle Studio’s candle of the month club to receive beautifully scented candles every month.
From peonies in spring to woodland pines in the winter, members of the candle of the month club enjoy a seasonal candle and matchbox each month. You can upgrade your membership to receive a travel-sized candle alongside your full-sized one. This subscription box is a luxurious treat to spice up your home.
If you aren’t burning through candles as fast as you expected, you can put your subscription on snooze or cancel it by logging in to your online account.
Similar subscription boxes: Vellabox, Keap, Wicksly, Outdoor Fellow, Malicious Women Co
19) Horti: Bring nature into your home with a plant subscription box
Flex your green thumb with Horti’s plant subscription box. Plants are great for brightening your workspace and breathing life into your day.
Horti’s subscription box sends you hardy plants on a monthly, six-month, or 12-month basis. You can select from three plant types: new to planting, pet friendly, or Horti’s pick.
Throughout your cultivation journey, Horti will slowly introduce you to more exotic plants as you develop your green thumb. As well as a beautiful potted plant every month, you’ll also be sent instructions on how to care for it. Some months, you might receive fun exercises and planting tools and accessories too.
Horti doesn’t believe in keeping you tied down. So, they make it easy for you to skip or cancel your subscription whenever you like.
Similar subscription boxes: The Plant Club, My Garden Box, TheHousePlantBox, The Sill, Organic Urban Gardener, Bloomin’ Bin
20) Cairn: Get outside with an outdoors subscription box
Cairn’s subscription box is perfect for those who want to feed their soul with the wild outdoors.
Each month delivers an expertly curated and tested selection of outdoor products. You can expect a mix of products such as safety must-haves and outdoor comforts. The products on offer range from apparel to gear, food to energy products, and skincare to emergency items.
Better yet, when you review your new gear, you’ll earn points to redeem in the Cairn shop for free boxes, apparel, or gifts for friends.
While your Cairn subscription will auto-renew, you can cancel at any time, making it easy to put your subscription on hold until you’re ready for another taste of the great outdoors.
Similar subscription boxes: Nomadik, Wild Woman Box, BattlBox
For kids: ThinkOutside
Bonus: Your local farm co-op for fresh seasonal veggies
While the eCommerce space is overflowing with incredible subscription boxes, few come close to being able to buy seasonal produce from your local farm co-op.
You can stock your fridge full of colorful, farm-fresh produce with seasonal boxes. These make a great alternative to buying fruit and veg from the grocery store. You’ll support and sustain local farms while ensuring you get high-quality produce.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for a local farm co-op, check your farmers market and ask local store owners, who often travel in the same online networks.
Wrapping up — Subscription boxes for yourself, your team, and your business
Subscription boxes are an awesome way to celebrate your wins and show yourself some love as a business owner or freelancer. There’s something special about receiving a carefully curated selection of products every month.
If you’re a freelancer or business owner working for yourself, take this blog article as a sign to treat yourself with a monthly pick-me-up in the form of a subscription box. If you’re an eCommerce business owner, consider adding subscription boxes to generate a little whimsy in your catalog.
The power of subscription boxes is undeniable. It’s something many eCommerce brands could lean into if they want to build an online community within their niche. By offering well-crafted subscription services, brands can strengthen their community and build monthly recurring revenue.