Whether you won't be seeing them in person (or simply waited until the last minute to shop), these 40+ digital gift ideas can be delivered to their inbox instantaneously.
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who get all their holiday shopping done in November (my sister literally put her tree up the day after Halloween) and those who wait until the very last minute.
If you fall into the latter category, there's a loophole that'll not only hide the fact that you're a procrastinator (which happens to the best of us) but will also guarantee that your giftee gets something they actually want or need.
We're talking about digital gifts and subscriptions. Sure, knowing how to give a good virtual gift — good as in more personal than a Visa gift card — is basically an art form. But with this gift guide, you'll find we've rounded up a gift that'll fit the bill for just about anyone on your list, from family and friends to coworkers to lovers and everyone in between.
The best part? Digital gifts and subscription boxes give you the advantage of reminding your giftee just how awesome you are every month.
Each of the following gifts is delivered online or with a recurring delivery to their door, so you don't have to worry about shipping costs or delivery times.
1. A streaming service membership
No one is gonna turn down new stuff to watch. If you're gifting to someone who already has the classics like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, consider a newer or more niche streaming service:
Paramount+ ( Paramount+ Essential starts at $5.99/month): One streaming platform they may not have yet is Paramount+. One of the newer services to the fold, it's the go-to place for nostalgic Nickelodeon shows, reality icons like RuPaul's Drag Race and Love Island US, plus access to live sports. Paramount+ also offers a SHOWTIME subscription (Paramount+ with SHOWTIME) for $11.99 per month.
Max (starts at $9.99/month): Max (no longer HBO Max) is home to HBO originals like House of the Dragon and The White Lotus and non-HBO content like Abbott Elementary and Friends. It's also the streaming service that many new movies hit first when they come out.
Shudder (starts at $5.99/month): Horror junkies who have already tackled Netflix's hit-or-miss collection will dig Shudder's massive library of (actually good) scary movies only. Aside from a few classics like Hellraiser, a big chunk of the lineup is made up of films that probably weren't in theaters — but that blow mainstream disappointments out of the water. Mashable's Sam Haysom has some suggestions.
2. A Drizly gift card
Paying for someone to have alcohol delivered is always a great gift, but will likely be extra appreciated during an all-around shitty year. With Drizly (now owned by Uber), they can get beer, wine, or liquor delivered within 60 minutes or so. Maybe they'll find that really specific IPA that they like or discover a new favorite wine.
3. A Walmart+ membership
Walmart's Amazon Prime competitor might be a wiser choice for your friends who make way too many trips to Walmart each week. It's another "free two-day shipping" situation, but Walmart+'s unlimited free delivery is still legit — especially for just $12.95 per month. (Some products are even eligible for same-day delivery.) Other in-person shopping perks include Scan & Go and fuel discounts. The Paramount+ Essential subscription is also included.
4. A Planta Premium subscription
Plant parents could use a babysitter sometimes — whether they're nurturing their first plant ever or taking a stab at a feisty orchid. A paid Planta subscription ($9.99/month) goes past watering reminders: The app recruits their phone's camera to diagnose sick plants and make suggestions based on the amount of light in the room. Planta Premium also offers fertilizing, misting, repotting, and pruning help.
5. A Milk Bar delivery
Milk Bar's multi-tiered confetti cakes are definitely prettier than any of us, but that's what makes them such an iconic long-distance birthday gift. Loved ones with an eye for aesthetically pleasing foods would also appreciate a just-because tin of Milk Bar cookies or truffles. Prices range from $20 to $72, depending on location fees. Gluten-free options are available.
6. A YouTube Premium subscription
Picture this: Falling asleep to ASMR or a binaural beats playlist *without* being jolted out of a trance by an ad. For $13.99/month, YouTube Premium bars ads and continues playback when the YouTube app is closed. YouTube shares membership fees with content creators who otherwise profit from viewers watching ads.
7. An arrangement from UrbanStems
Flowers as a last-minute or long-distance gift is only cliché if you let it be. Online flower delivery service UrbanStems puts a modern twist on its floral arrangements with thoughtfully chosen color schemes and vases outside the traditional glass. The bouquets blow away anything you could find in the flower section at Whole Foods, and subscription prices start at $55 per delivery. You can choose weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
8. A class from MasterClass
If your loved one always talks about mastering a particular skill, there's probably a MasterClass course for it. MasterClass doesn't offer just any online courses — they'll be coached by, well, famous people. Annie Leibovitz teaches photography, Jane Goodall teaches conservation, Gordon Ramsey teaches cooking, and more. With a subscription starting at $10/month, your loved one can choose from more than 100 instructors, with new classes added every month.
9. A Jackbox Party Pack
On the rare occasion that they get tired of Mario Kart, anything from Jackbox is going to be a good-ass time. Jackbox's on-screen games are played on a phone app and are perfect for long-distance Zoom hangs. (Only one person has to have a Jackbox account. The others just have to download the app and enter the room code). Each Party Pack comes with four to five super unique games that really make you think — and will confirm the funniest person in the group.
10. A Nuuly subscription
Perfect for the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie stans, Nuuly is an $98/month service that offers rental pieces from sweaters to dresses to jeans (from the aforementioned brands and more). If they end up loving one of their rental items, they can buy it.
(Rent the Runway and StitchFix offer similar deals, but StitchFix has a $20 styling fee and only three days to decide whether to buy the clothes.)
11. A CodeSpark Academy subscription
If you're looking for a kids' gift that's not Frozen or Marvel, consider CodeSpark Academy, which stars cute, memorable monster characters called The Foos. Parents will love it because it's educational: It teaches coding through challenges that require kids to devise their own chain reactions. For kids, though, it's just fun. Gift memberships start at six months for $59.99 ($9.99/month), but 12-month and lifetime subscriptions are available.
12. An e-card
Greeting cards may be a "duh" gift, but are heartwarming nevertheless. Punchbowl's selection probably blows that of your local CVS out of the water, plus customization like text and photos or a gift card from partners like Amazon, Disney, and Sephora. Cards can be sent to multiple recipients for free, but removing ads or scheduling a date require a membership.
13. A virtual gym membership
Even the most hardcore fitness obsessives just feel like staying home sometimes. Paying for a virtual gym subscription lets them get a workout in without leaving the house. ClassPass (33 credits starting at $69 per month) has taken things online with over 2,000 live and on-demand workout classes from instructors across the country, with options ranging from yoga to HIIT and everything in between.
14. An online gaming subscription
No one expects you to score them a PS5 or an Xbox Series X. A free year of online play is still a great gift for anyone with any console, though. PlayStation Plus is $159.99 annually, and you can get Xbox Game Pass Core, previously Xbox Live Gold, for $9.99 per month. For Switch players, a $20 yearly Nintendo Online subscription will let them play Mario Kart, Fortnite, and more with friends across the globe.
15. An Instacart+ subscription
Getting groceries can be the absolute worst thing when you're already tired or stressed out. Instead of dealing with long lines, missing items, or people breathing too closely as you reach for the last roll of paper towels, why not gift your loved ones an Instacart+ subscription?
This subscription allows them to skip the grocery run and have their groceries delivered right to their doorstep. Plus, they can even set the best delivery time for them (so they can order groceries just before leaving work and arrive home to a fully stocked fridge). Members can also enjoy a premium subscription to Peacock with their Instacart+ subscription ($59.99/yr value), among other perks like free delivery on orders over $35 and 5% credit back on select purchases.
16. An Adobe subscription
One doesn't have to be a graphic designer to get a ton of use out of Photoshop — it's a must-have software for anyone with a creative side. Folks in marketing can make ads and cool emails, aspiring photographers can learn layering and blending, or anyone who draws in their free time could bump things up to animation. Prices start at $9.99 for photography basics like Lightroom, $22.99 per month for Illustrator, and more plans for Dreamweaver, interior design, and more.
17. Rosetta Stone (lifetime access)
Learning a new language in adulthood isn't off the table just because you can't remember a thing from high school Spanish. Rosetta Stone is one of the OG language-learning services, known for its deep dive into accent pronunciation, culture, and not pressuring you like the Duolingo owl. 10-minute lessons from Spanish and French to Russian and Vietnamese can be accessed on a desktop or via the totally redesigned app. Bonus: You can get 50% off a lifetime access subscription ($199) until Dec. 25.
18. A wine delivery subscription
If 2020 and 2021 taught us anything, it's the importance of having wine on hand for emergency at-home happy hours. A Winc Wine subscription lets your wine-loving friend skip inconvenient trips to the liquor store and welcome a box of wine (starting at three bottles) monthly right to their door instead. All choices are customized by Winc's team after a rigorous taste quiz, and if they don't like a bottle, Winc uses the info to make a better suggestion the next month.
19. A Scrivener subscription
Know someone who thinks in long form? They need Scrivener. It's like a hybrid of Microsoft Word and a notes app like Evernote, aimed specifically at writers organizing large projects like novels, screenplays, or research papers. Different templates and tools for honing in on chunks of writing make it easy to organize thoughts.
20. A mealkit service subscription
Trying new recipes is fun. Planning one of those recipes when you're dead tired after work is not fun. Meal boxes from services like Dinnerly and Blue Apron allow you to customize meals online and receive pre-portioned ingredients for those meals right to your door. Meals can be tweaked depending on dietary restrictions (like gluten-free or vegan) and how many people are eating.
Although subscription prices vary on portion sizes, they're way better than what grocery stores charge nowadays. Other meal kit options include HelloFresh (now offering a free breakfast item forever with an active meal kit subscription), Purple Carrot (plant-based meals), and Splendid Spoon.
21. A Tidal subscription
People love to say they don't want to pay for Tidal on top of Spotify or Apple Music — and then they complain that they really wish they could listen to Prince's posthumous album. While Tidal used to be big for exclusive albums from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, it's now the go-to for audiophiles thanks to its glorious hi-fi streaming. A subscription starts at $10.99 monthly and bumps up to $19.99 monthly for Hi-Fi Plus.
22. Escape the Crate subscription box
The idea of using clues to escape a fake locked room within a time limit is fun. The knowledge that there are multiple horror movies based on getting stuck in one? Not so much. Best of Cratejoy winner Escape the Crate brings the problem-solving adrenaline of an escape room to their home and is a 2019 winner of a Best of Cratejoy award. Boxes start at $26.50 per box.
23. A Birchbox subscription
If their relationship to makeup is like Ron Swanson's to tools, opt for Birchbox. If they're interested in beauty but have never been inside a Sephora, go for Birchbox too. Boxes start as low as $17 per month, but if they'd prefer to pick out their own stuff, a Birchbox gift card still gives them access to way more makeup than they'd find in a store. Plus, Birchbox frequently offers discounts on premium brands that Ulta and Sephora rarely discount.
24. A Quip membership
Everyone should be replacing their toothbrush every three months, but it's easy to forget to buy a new one that often. Electric toothbrush subscription services do it for you; plus, swapping brush heads is better for the environment than throwing a whole disposable toothbrush away. Quip's chic design combines the shape and control of a manual toothbrush with the vibrating power of an electric one. A membership is $20 per year ($1.67/month).
25. FabFitFun
FabFitFun is like having a birthday four times a year. Once every three months, eight to 10 full-sized products arrive at your door, and it's really nice stuff. The variety is impressive: Boxes could contain anything from hair and makeup products to exercise gear to blankets and other cozy items. A gift card can be applied to a subscription itself ($219.99 annually), member-exclusive sales, or single purchases directly from the website.
26. A Headspace subscription
Meditation apps have become an increasingly popular way to de-stress, sleep better, and get a better grasp on mindfulness in general. Headspace has hundreds of guided meditations anchored toward everything from stress and anxiety to productivity and exercise, providing an excuse for much-needed breaks throughout the day to get back into the right headspace. Gift a three-month subscription for $38.99 or $69.99 for one year.
27. A Craftsy membership
Think of Craftsy (formerly Bluprint, but now back to the original name after the mysterious closing of Bluprint in May 2020) as MasterClass for people who could spend three hours in Hobby Lobby. This artsy service offers over 1,500 video classes teaching everything from embroidery to macaroon baking to floral arrangements led by industry professionals. (Fabric supply kits are no longer available for purchase.) Gift a membership for $113 for the whole year.
28. Subscription boxes for kids
Keeping kids busy on Saturday can be a task, let alone busy for multiple months at home. Kid-friendly subscription boxes pick up where TV leaves off, offering hours worth of hands-on activ