Gift-giving season is officially here, and if you’re anything like me, that means it’s one of your favorite and most stressful times of the year. (Shoutout to overthinking!) It can be challenging to choose just one gift or know exactly what your bestie is going to want. Sure, you might know they like books, but should you pick a thriller or the rom-com? The BookTok favorite or a new author’s debut? Or, what if they like makeup and hair care, but you’re not sure what foundation shade or styling products would best suit their needs? Well, allow me to suggest subscriptions as holiday gifts!
Subscriptions help take the guesswork out of gift-giving by placing the power in your bestie’s hands. Whether they’re candle lovers or budding sommeliers, many subscriptions are based around custom quizzes that allow gift recipients to get products tailored to their tastes and needs directly from experts. And the best part is, subscriptions come in a wide range of prices, so you can find one that fits both your friend’s interests and your holiday budget perfectly! Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered with 14 holiday subscription gifts for college students that’ll be sure to impress your besties and roomies.
- Amazon Prime Student Membership
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I don’t know a single college student who doesn’t use Amazon Prime, and for good reason! With fast deliveries, access to Prime Video, exclusive deals, and more, there are so many great ways to use a Prime Student Membership. While you can’t gift membership directly, you can purchase an Amazon gift card that’ll allow your bestie to purchase Prime Student, themselves. The membership is $7.49/month or $69 annually, so you can customize your gift card to fit your budget.
- Therabox
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If your gift recipient is a wellness lover, look no further than TheraBox on Cratejoy. At $39.99 for one month, therapists curate this box for the ultimate relaxation and decompression session. Each delivery includes one happiness activity and seven self-care products such as bath salts, candles, and the like. It’s always great to give people you love a monthly reminder to take some time for themselves.
- Universal Yums
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If your besties love snacks, especially treats from around the world, give them the gift of Universal Yums. Select boxes from the UK, Greece, South Korea, Italy, Pakistan, and beyond. TBH, I got this as a gift for my birthday, and it was one of my favorite presents ever. I just adored trying candy from other countries with my roomies every month. Plans start as low as $17 per month.
- Spotify Premium Student
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After obsessing over my friends’ Spotify Wrapped results, I realized Spotify is a great subscription gift. College students have special access to Premium Student accounts, which include all your favorite songs ad-free, as well as a Hulu membership for just $5.99/month. Like Amazon, you can’t gift the subscription directly, but Spotify gift cards are available for purchase both in-store and online to give to your friends.
- Hulu
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OK, I know I just explained that you can gift Hulu through Spotify, but if your bestie is no longer a college student, you can give the gift of streaming their favorite movies and shows for endless entertainment. Hulu subscriptions start at $9.99/month, but there are also options to bundle the streaming service with Disney+ and ESPN+. Simply purchase a Hulu gift card, and your bestie can take care of the rest. Anyone down for an Abbott Elementary watch party?
- Wine Of the Month Club
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For those of you who are over 21, a wine subscription can be a fun option to try new things with friends! There are so many subscriptions to choose from based on factors like price and your preference for whites, reds, rosés, etc., but Wine Of The Month Club could be a great place to start. The company offers two bottles of wine per month for $39 (plus tax and shipping). Wine subscriptions tend to lean on the pricier end of the spectrum, so just keep that in mind when you’re searching for the best subscription for you. Happy sipping!
- MasterClass
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The only place where you can learn tennis from Serena Williams, modeling from Naomi Campbell, and screenwriting from Aaron Sorkin, MasterClass is the perfect gift for friends who love to learn. With categories spanning from wellness to business to food, there’s something to gain from the best of the best in each industry. An individual membership costs $10/month, billed annually at $120 plus tax, but for a limited time, you can purchase two memberships for the price of one! See their website for additional details. Now, please excuse me while I learn to sing like Christina Aguilera.
- Book of the Month
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I have to admit, “read more” always ends up on my New Year’s resolutions list, but after January, I struggle to maintain my momentum. Help your friends avoid the same fate with subscriptions to Book of the Month! You can purchase three-month, six-month, or 12-month subscriptions for $59.99, $99.99, and $199.99, respectively. Each month, users will be able to select a hardcover or audiobook of their choice from the company’s curated list for a personalized reading experience delivered right to your door.
- IPSY
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Self-described as “beauty’s best-kept secret,” IPSY offers personalized beauty product bundles. The Glam Bag starts at just $50 for three months of deliveries and comes with five deluxe samples (one of which is your choice) for a value of up to $70. If you’re feeling extra generous, feel free to check out the more advanced subscriptions, BoxyCharm and the Icon Box! With brands like Tatcha, Sunday Riley, Charlotte Tilbury, and Glow Recipe, I know what I’m adding to my wish list! Click here for detailed instructions on how to purchase a Glam Bag for your friends!
- Scentbox
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Want to buy your bestie a new signature scent, but not sure if Sabrina Carpenter’s new perfume offering will match their style? Check out Scent Box, a subscription service that allows you to choose one 30-day supply of a designer fragrance per month. With over 750 options, you can gift a three-month subscription for $52.95 and watch those “you smell nice” compliments start rolling in.
- HelloFresh
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HelloFresh makes cooking easy with perfectly-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes great for newbies and seasoned pros alike. Choose from preferences like “Quick & Easy” and “Meat & Veggies” to help with HelloFresh’s recipe recommendations, then create your custom menu of the week, pick a delivery date, and get ready to enjoy some delicious meals. Although you can’t gift a full subscription, gift cards are available to give your friends a taste of HelloFresh. The cheapest option costs $75 and will feed two people with three meals a week.
- Trade Coffee
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Another New Year’s resolution I hear often is to make more coffee at home. With a Trade Coffee subscription, your bestie will receive coffee bags tailored to their personal tastes. A three-bag subscription currently costs $50, so get gifting! Pro-tip: You can also purchase reusable K-cups on Amazon to accompany the coffee bags if they have a Keurig.
- Vellabox
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Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love candles? Help curate a customized candle selection for your bestie by following Vellabox’s short quiz. You’ll start off by selecting a minimum of three scent categories you think they’ll like, or select “Surprise Me!” to have Vellabox choose for you. (Don’t worry, your friend can change their preferences later!) Then, you’ll select what candle size you want to send, and your subscription plan. Plans begin at $12 per month.
- 1-800 Flowers
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Flowers don’t only have to come from your SO! Gift your bestie a fresh bouquet each month with 1-800 Flowers. Just choose the arrangement, frequency, and duration, and you’re all set! Plus, you’ll save 15% off each arrangement for subscribing. (Final cost will vary based on your decisions.) A dozen roses sure sounds nice to me!
