Subscription boxes have become such a big craze lately, and who could be surprised? You receive what’s effectively a care package each month filled with surprise goodies. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to find one worth giving a try. Well, have no fear – let’s take a look at some of the best subscription boxes out there.
1. The Pill Club
What You Get: Birth control, extra bonus goodies
Monthly Price: FREE (or low-cost if you don’t have insurance)
Got ovaries?
Let’s start with one of the best ideas ever – birth control delivered straight to you. The Pill Club is run by an actual honest-to-god clinic, and all you have to do is go online, get a prescription, and it’ll be sent to you. They have options including the pill (obviously), patch, ring, and even emergency contraception. They even toss in additional goodies like chocolate and other surprises, so you’re guaranteed a pleasant surprise each month.
Best of all, it’s free! As long as your insurance provider covers birth control, you don’t have to worry about paying a cent. It’s the most hassle-free way to get your birth control. (Bonus points: if you’re under your parent’s insurance and don’t want them to know, you don’t have to tell them. They also deliver to anyone 12 or older.)
And if you’re not covered by insurance, no sweat – the out-of-pocket cost is $15/year plus the cost of the birth control itself. If you’re not sure how much it’ll cost you, you can text in anytime and get a quote for your own needs.
2. PageHabit
What You Get: A book in the genre of your choice w/ annotations, access to an online book club, letter from the author, bookmarks, other goodies
Monthly Price: $29.99 + $4.99 shipping
If you’re a bookworm like me, you’re going to love this. Not only does PageHabit pick an awesome book each month, but they put the effort in to create an experience for you. You get to be part of an online community with other devoted book fanatics, and the books come with written annotations and letters from the authors themselves, so you get all the inside scoops that you wouldn’t otherwise get.
As an added plus, every month you receive a box, they donate a chunk of the proceeds to help fun children literacy. So you’re doing good and getting a sweet deal.
PageHabit too expensive for you? Don’t worry, I got you covered…
3. Book of the Month
What You Get: A book in the genre of your choice
Monthly Price: $14.99
For those of you who love reading but can’t afford PageHabit’s hefty price tag (I feel you), you’ve got to check out Book of the Month. For half the price, you get a curated novel (hardcover, of course). Sure, you don’t get the extra goodies, but the book selection is always on point, and shipping is free. Book of the Month has some extra prestige in that they’ve been around for nearly a century, but they’re definitely in touch with the times – they run contests on Instagram, for one.
For an extra $9.99 a month, you can even throw in an extra book of your choice. This month I added John Green’s new novel, Turtles All The Way Down, but they have a wide selection of bonus books for you to explore, from classics to new releases.
They usually have some sort of promo running where you can get your first month for free (the current promo code is FREEBIE), so go ahead and check them out.
4. Graze
What You Get: A selection of 8 tasty, healthy snacks every two weeks
Monthly Price: $27.98 ($13.99 per box) + shipping
Okay, I’ll bite (ha). These snacks are tasty. When you sign up with Graze, you get to answer all these questions about what flavors you like or don’t like, and from those preferences, they curate a selection of nutritious snacks to send you. You can even customize them if you don’t like the selection they choose.
You get a free sampler box, too, to check them out. You’ll have to pay for shipping, but they only charge $1, so it’s worth it. This is by far my favorite snack subscription box.
5. EarFleek
What You Get: One pair of surprise earrings
Monthly Price: $3.49
Love earrings? EarFleek is for you. You get to pick from one of 3 styles (or if you can’t pick, they can choose randomly for you) and they’ll send you one pair of earrings a month. The earrings are typically super cute, and given how low EarFleek costs compared to most subscription boxes, there’s almost no harm in experimenting.
Shipping is free to the U.S., too, so that’s definitely a plus!
6. ElleBox
What You Get: A selection of organic menstrual products, plus other goodies
Monthly Price: $29.99 (or get the $10.99 option)
By now you’ve probably heard of period subscription boxes. If you’ve been thinking about getting one, I recommend giving ElleBox a try. All of the products are 100% organic, and you get 16 pads and/or tampons a month. There’s a basic box for $10.99 a month, but if you can set aside the money, I totally suggest going all out and getting the $29.99 option, which includes tea, chocolate, and two bonus gifts.
If you or someone you know is just starting their period, they even have a customized option, the Tween Box, which includes deodorant, a face mask, and a helpful guide.
They also run a contest each month, so if you want to win a free year, you’ve got a chance! Either way, shipping is free.
7. Sun Basket
What You Get: Ready-to-cook healthy meals + recipes
Price per Meal: $11.99 (it’s cheaper if you order from the Family Menu)
You’ve probably seen an advertisement or sponsorship for Blue Apron at some point, the delivery service that sends you pre-measured ingredients and a recipe so you can cook at home without having to worry.
If you thought that sounded good, you should check out Sun Basket.
In my opinion, the food options are more interesting. They have more dietary options, including vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, and so on, so it’s worth a look. As a bonus, all the food is sourced ethically and sustainably, and unlike Blue Apron, it’s all organic.
You should be able to find a good promo deal online after a quick search. The promo running right now is $35 off.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, the second-best option, in my opinion, is Hello Fresh which, for $9.99 per meal, is priced the same as Blue Apron.
8. Loot Crate
What You Get: Comic books, merchandise, collectibles, etc.
Monthly Price: $15.99 + shipping
If you consider yourself an avid fan of pop culture, or better yet, a geek, then this is the crate to check out. Each Loot Crate contains all sorts of things for fandoms ranging from Rick & Morty to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Marvel and beyond. You could find anything in them, from branded ice trays or lunch boxes to t-shirts to Funko pops.
If your tastes and interests are a little more specific, then no worries – there are even boxes specific to different categories, including Harry Potter, Minecraft, Sanrio, and so on.
Honorable Mentions
Hello Ms. CEO
This subscription box actually hasn’t  rolled out yet, but it looks super promising. Hello Ms. CEO (tagline: “for women who run the world”) will be sending out office supplies, accessories, stationary, and more useful products and deals each month for female entrepreneurs. The focus is entirely on female empowerment and professional development, which is a cause I can totally get behind.
Fairy Loot
From what I’ve heard, Fairy Loot is like PageHabit but specifically for YA Fantasy. Each box comes with one book, several goodies (including personalized letters and book plates from the author), and some fairy dust for good luck. You also get connected to a reading buddy. The experience is bound to be magical – but at a price. The cost of the box itself converts to about $30/mo, and shipping to the U.S. is about $18.
Calm Box
The Calm Box is a super great box that is packed with things like candles, stuffed animals, snacks, books, cards, etc. It’s meant to promote mindfulness and relaxation. At over $30/box, though, I haven’t had a chance to really check it out without breaking the bank.
New Hobby Box
I haven’t been able to look into New Hobby Box yet, but the premise seems really interesting: with each box, they send you everything you need to start a new hobby like needle threading or lock picking. If you’re looking to try something new but don’t have the time to commit (or aren’t totally sure what you want to try, for a monthly cost of $29.99, this could just be the way to go.
Image Credits: Logo from Pixabay; article images from Bustle, Hello Subscription, 2 Little Rosebuds, The Love Bungalow, Crate Joy, Angel List, The View from Great Island, Loot Crate, HelloGiggles