How to give a good gift when you can’t see the person *in* person

Knowing how to give a good virtual gift — good as in more personal than a Visa gift card — is a key life skill. Whether it’s due to physical distance or social distancing, there will always be a loved one who you aren’t able to celebrate with IRL (or a loved one whose birthday you forgot, and now you need a last-minute gift).

Digital gifts and subscription boxes are gifts that keep on giving. In a time when everyone is trying to stay home, a grocery delivery or electric toothbrush membership can alleviate some stresses of public outings, while a new streaming service offers new binge-watching content for FaceTime movie dates.

The fact that these gifts are delivered online or with a recurring delivery to their door means you won’t have to rely so hard on timely shipping. Here are a few of our favorites:

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:

• Peacock ($4.99/month for Comcast subscribers, $9.99/month for everyone else): NBC’s long-awaited streaming platform is finally making its debut. It’ll be home to The Office (leaving Netflix in Jan. 2021), Parks and Rec (leaving Netflix in Oct. 2020), Hell’s Kitchen, and more, plus new shows like Dr. Death and Tina Fey’s Girls5Eva. There’s also a free version that has a decent selection of content, but that’s not exactly a gift, is it?

• HBO Max ($14.99/month): Launched in May 2020, HBO Max is HBO’s streaming service solution that finally puts an end to those confusing app names. Now that HBO Go is gone, HBO Max is home to HBO originals like Westworld and Succession (everything that was on Go has been transferred over to Max), non-HBO content like Rick and Morty and Friends, a ton of movies, and HBO originals like the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, coming in 2022.

• Shudder ($4.95/month): Horror junkies who have already tackled Netflix’s hit-or-miss library 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 theatres — but that blow mainstream disappointments (like The Curse of La Llorona) out of the water. 

Walmart’s solution to Amazon Prime competition is officially open for sign-ups. It’s no “free two-day shipping” situation, but the unlimited free delivery (some products are even eligible for same-day delivery) that comes with Walmart+ is still legit — especially for just $12.95 per month. Other perks for your friends who make way too many trips to Walmart each week include Scan & Go and fuel discounts.

Flowers as a last-minute or long-distance gift is only cliché if you let it be. UrbanStems is an online flower delivery service that puts a modern twist on its floral arrangements with thoughtfully-chosen color schemes and vases outside of traditional glass. The bouquets blow away anything you could find in the flower section at Whole Foods, but we’re particularly psyched on the farmhouse chic wreaths and dried bouquets that’ll last for months. Prices range from $65 to $175. 

That one skill that your loved one always talks about wishing they had is probably the theme of a MasterClass online course. 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 so much more. For a limited time, you can get two annual memberships for the price of one, which goes for $180.

Testing out different styles without committing to a piece that could end up collecting dust is a rare opportunity presented by clothing subscription services. For the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie stans, Nuuly is an $88/month service that offers rental pieces from sweaters, to dresses, to jeans, from all of those brands — pieces that would definitely be more than $88 if they were purchased IRL. If they find something that they don’t want to part with, they can buy it.

(StitchFix is a similar deal, but with a $20 styling fee and only three days to decide if you want to keep or buy the clothes.)

Fitness obsessives aren’t missing margarita happy hours during social distancing — they’re missing the gym and studio classes being open. You can gift the next best thing by paying for a virtual gym subscription: ClassPass (starting at $9 per month) has taken things online with over 2,000 live and on-demand workout classes from instructors across the country. Workout options range from yoga, to HIIT, and everything in between.

The PlayStation 5 — what once seemed like a phantom console that would never come — finally has a release date. On the same day that Sony announced Nov. 12 as the big day, pre-orders also went live (and are already sold out for the time being). The gift of a PlayStation Plus Collection subscription is where you come in: It’s a PS5-exclusive version of PlayStation Plus that allows subscribers to download and play a library of PlayStation 4 classics whenever they want. The price has yet to be confirmed, but people are predicting somewhere between $9 and $20 per month. 

If the timing there is too uncertain, the gift of PlayStation Plus for $59.99 a year is still a must to play with friends online. Xbox gamers would definitely appreciate a few free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($44.99 for three months, plus three months for free).

The online Nintendo Switch market is a volatile one. But if you know someone who happened to snag one as social distancing entertainment or just already had one, a $20 yearly Nintendo Online subscription will let them play Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Fortnite, and more with friends. 

Trader Joe’s on a weekend is always a mess, but trying to grab the last box of organic pasta off the shelf during a pandemic is just plain chaotic. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that focuses on organic groceries, fresh meats and seafood, and shelf-stable options (as well as natural home and beauty products) at wholesale prices. Like Costco, everyone needs a membership to shop there: An annual membership goes for $59.95 (billed $5 monthly) or you can opt for a monthly membership for $9.95 per month.

One doesn’t have to be a graphic designer to get a ton of use out of Photoshop — it’s 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 per month for photography basics like Lightroom, $20.99 per month for Illustrator, and more plans for Dreamweaver, interior design, and more. 

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. For a limited time, you can give a lifetime subscription for $199 (that’s $100 off).

Whether we’re in the midst of social distancing or not, it’s just nice to have wine on hand for emergency 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.

Trying new recipes is fun. Trying to plan 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 then receive pre-portioned ingredients for those meals right to your door. These can be tweaked depending on dietary restrictions (like gluten-free or vegan) and how many people are eating. Portions can be as low as $4.99 each when you sign up for at least three months.

Team Tidal is like the elite club that no one wants to pay for 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 $9.99 per month and bumps up to $19.99 per month for Premium.

The idea of using clues to escape a fake locked room within a time limit is fun. Sure. The knowledge that there’s an entire horror movie based around getting stuck in one is not as fun. The Escape the Crate subscription box on Cratejoy brings the problem-solving adrenaline of an escape room to their home and is a 2019 winner of a Best of Cratejoy award. Boxes ship bimonthly with a new theme and clues each time, and you can use code TIGER to get 10% off the first box.

Gifting to someone who’s the makeup version of Ron Swanson with tools? Birchbox. Someone who’s never been inside a Sephora? Birchbox. Gift subscriptions start at $45 for three months — but if someone would prefer to just pick out their own stuff, a Birchbox gift card still gives them access to way more makeup than they’ll find in a store. Plus, Birchbox frequently offers discounts on premium brands (like Benefit and Amika) that Ulta and Sephora rarely discount.

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 remember to do it for you, and 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. Prices range from $25 for plastic or $40 for metal, and the $5 refills come every three months.

FabFitFun is like having a birthday four times a year. For $179.99 once every four months (or $49.99 for one box), eight to 10 full-sized products arrive at your door, and it’s really nice stuff. Boxes could surprise you with anything from hair and makeup products, to exercise gear, to blankets and other cozy items. Each box is themed based on the time of year, and members can choose three to five items in their box each season.

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 monthly subscription for $12.99 per month or a year for $69.99.

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 $7.99 per month or $79.99 for the whole year.

Keeping kids busy on one Saturday can be a task, let alone multiple months at home while social distancing has schools closed. Kid-friendly subscription boxes pick up where TV leaves off, offering hours worth of hands-on activities to do alone or with parents each month. Our favorites include learning about other countries with Little Passports, making math and science fun with KiwiCo, or organic (and very colorful) baking with Foodstirs.

The quest for effective, natural household products shouldn’t require a trip to some expensive, organic store. The Grove Collaborative has one of the best online selections of eco-friendly cleaning, baby, pet, and bath brands like Mrs. Meyers and hello. You don’t have to subscribe to shop here, but the $19.99 per year VIP membership gets free scheduled shipments every month versus a usual flat rate of $4.99 for shipping.

(Personal anecdote: I live in NYC and, surprise, had roaches in my first two apartments. I got Aunt Fanny’s Roach Remedy from the Grove Collaborative and it worked 100 times better than any mainstream brand I’ve ever used.)

A subscription to Amazon Audible expands one’s entertainment options far past music, whether it’s for a boring commute or as background noise while working from home. $15 for one month, $45 for three months, and so on gets your gift recipient access to three audiobooks per month plus 30% off all other selections. Titles are virtually limitless, read by talent like Michelle Obama and Jonathan Van Ness.

Being in a book club with strangers across the country is probably the dream for the bookworm you know. That’s essentially what Book of the Month is: The company’s judges (including up-and-coming authors themselves) feature five must-reads each month, and the subscriber gets to decide which one(s) they want based on synopses and reviews from other readers. Give a gift subscription starting at $49.99 for three months, and use code TAKECARE to get your first book for $9.99.

Shopping for premium cuts of meat or decent seafood can get as expensive as just going out to eat. Omaha Steaks offers choice cuts, packages of burgers, really nice filet mignon, and more in larger portions and at better prices than the local store, delivered to your door in vacuum-sealed packaging. Meal boxes, family portions, and sides like au gratin are also available, and everything comes with easy-to-follow instructions (even for people who are definitely not meat connoisseurs).

Anyone who thinks that their Starbucks go-to is the pinnacle of coffee is about to be blown away by the menu at Atlas Coffee Club. Each month, Atlas spotlights a few sustainably-farmed coffee beans from a specific country as “Coffee of the Month” options, and these are available in monthly subscriptions from 15 to 60 cups. Imagine spending less than $30 to have two cups of coffee per day for an entire month.

Indoor plants are an easy solution for loneliness not only because they can take a space from drab to homey, but because it just feels good to take care of something. The Sill’s Potted Plants for Beginners subscription eases you into the ropes of plant parenthood by sending one easy-care potted plant for $35 per month.

Do your grandparents need someone to mow their lawn? Does your friend need help moving? Task Rabbit connects you with local people offering freelance help for everyday tasks, from fixing WiFi to moving your entire living room set to a new apartment. Prices usually start at around $50 depending on the service, and Taskers are available to chat and answer questions before you decide who to hire.

28. An Uber or Lyft gift card

The gift of not having to walk in the rain or take public transportation with heavy groceries is a godsend. Though half of your crew might be working from home right now, they’ll be thankful to have some free rides when things go back to normal. (Uber gift cards can also be used on Uber Eats.)