Raising Kids Big Kids Teens 19 Best Subscription Boxes for Teens Who Love Makeup, Video Games, and More Our top pick, FabFitFun, lets subscribers choose half of the items in their box. By Amanda Prahl Updated on March 16, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: FabFitFun The best subscription boxes for teens can be fun, affordable ways for them to explore their interests. Subscription boxes curate best-of items in a particular niche, whether that’s books, clothes, collectibles, beauty products, or something else entirely. With regular deliveries of new and trendy themed items, these truly are gifts that, quite literally, keep on giving. Choosing the best boxes is largely a matter of taste. Most subscription boxes focus on one or two areas of interest, so what’s “best” for one person might not even interest another. The most popular subscriptions are usually the ones that offer a range of products and take individuals’ preferences into account, providing the most personalized, custom experience possible. 4 Ways to Connect Better With Your Teen 19 Best Subscription Boxes for Teens in 2023 Best Overall: FabFitFun Best for Clothing: Stitch Fix Best for Jewelry: Rocksbox Best for Perfume: Scentbird Best for Learning: Babbel Best for Food: Thrive Market Best for Teen Girls: Strong Selfie Best for Menswear: Menlo Club Best for Gaming: Gamefly Best for Crafting: Home Made Luxe Best for Makeup: Ipsy Best for Skincare: Curology Best for Candles: Vellabox Best for Books: Book of the Month Best for Teens with a Sweet Tooth: Candy Club Best Variety: Quirky Crate Best for Comics: World’s Finest: The Collection Best for Nail Care: Orly Color Pass Best for Stickers: Stickii Best Overall: FabFitFun FabFitFun Key Specs Average Price: $55 per quarterly boxFree Shipping? Yes (for continental U.S.)Types of Products: Beauty, fashion, fitness, wellness, home, and tech Pros & Cons Pros Products cover a wide range of niches Personalized curation Additional perks to membership Cons More expensive than many others Seasonal, not monthly, deliveries Why It’s a Top Pick For its variety, customization options, and quality, FabFitFun comes out as our top pick overall. Rather than only offering items in a single niche, the subscription service curates items across a wide variety of categories, from beauty and fashion to lifestyle and tech. Each box contains between four and eight items, including both curated selections by the editors and items that you can choose yourself. Membership also includes exclusive access to video content (workouts, cooking, DIY), community connections, sales, and more. FabFitFun offers two subscription levels: annual prepay and seasonal (quarterly). Annual subscribers get a slight price reduction, as well as unlimited customizations and early access to customization and add-on options. Although boxes only arrive seasonally, rather than monthly like many other subscriptions, teens will love the ability to put more of their personality in their boxes, and the items included are often from quality, recognizable brands like Dr. Brandt, Michael Kors, and West Elm, alongside up-and-coming companies. Best for Clothing: Stitch Fix Stitch Fix Key Specs Average Price: $20Free Shipping? Yes Types of Products: Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing Pros & Cons Pros Personalized picks from a stylist Free shipping and returns Styling fee credited toward purchase Cons Some items are very expensive Accuracy of curation varies Why It’s a Top Pick Teens are at the age where they’re truly developing their personal sense of style. Stitch Fix allows them to explore and experiment without taking up a ton of closet space or spending money on purchases they later regret. The service allows you to try practically unlimited clothing items, curated personally for you by stylists based on their expertise, trending items, and the feedback you give them. Stitch Fix offers boxes focused on menswear, women’s wear, and children’s, all in a relatively wide range of sizes. With each box, you decide what you want and what you don’t want. The only payment you put down initially is a styling fee, which is converted into purchasing credits and applied to items you wish to buy. You can send back the rest for free—but you'll get a 25% discount if you purchase everything in your box. Automatic deliveries can be scheduled on a variety of cycles. Best for Jewelry: Rocksbox Rocksbox Key Specs Average Price: $21 per monthFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry Pros & Cons Pros Unlimited new jewelry sets Customized based on preferences Monthly fee can apply to purchases Cons Pay extra to actually purchase pieces Trendy styles over classics Why It’s a Top Pick Teens with an eye for trendy jewelry will love Rocksbox, the subscription service that lets them try an unlimited supply of the latest accessories. Unlike many other subscription boxes, this one is a rental service, rather than a purchase one. For a flat monthly fee, subscribers can rent as many three-piece sets of jewelry as they like. Sets are sent one at a time in glamorous, luxurious packages for the most satisfying unboxing experience. You can keep each set for a few days or a few months, then send it back in a prepaid envelope, and then get a new set sent to you. Selections are made based on your selected preferences, as well as the feedback you leave your stylist after each delivery. If you love something and want to keep it permanently, subscribers can purchase pieces too. The $21 monthly fee will be credited toward the purchase, and you just pay the remainder out of pocket. Subscribers will also get member-exclusive access to a full store of trendy, designer jewelry, in a variety of colors, finishes, and designs, marked down from average retail price. Best for Perfume: Scentbird Scentbird Key Specs Average Price: $16.95 per monthFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Perfume Pros & Cons Pros Wide variety of scents In-depth info to learn about perfume Refillable, sustainable bottles Cons Not full-size perfumes Can’t customize choices Why It’s a Top Pick For any teenager with a love for exploring perfume and cologne, Scentbird is the perfect subscription to let them try out a variety of new scents and develop their personal taste. When you first sign up for the subscription box, you’ll choose a starter scent from among their bestsellers. The initial scent arrives in a small, refillable case holding an 8mL bottle. Each month, you’ll get a new mini-bottle filled with the Scentbird scent of the month. Scentbird is a pretty simple subscription service to use; there are no customizable choices, just one price point, and it’s easy to cancel anytime. The website does include plenty of in-depth information about each scent of the month, breaking down each fragrance by its notes and offering suggestions for other scents you might like. You can also purchase full-sized bottles of your favorite scents through the main Scentbird store since the subscription bottles are more like samples with only approximately a month’s worth of sprays. Best for Learning: Babbel babbel.com Key Specs Average Price: $7.45 per month (for annual subscription)Free Shipping? Not applicableTypes of Products: Language classes Pros & Cons Pros User-friendly language learning techniques Options for live and prepared lessons Great discounts available Cons Short-term subscriptions cost more Can feel like “lessons” instead of “fun” Why It’s a Top Pick If your teenager is looking for ways to challenge themselves and learn something new, Babbel is definitely the way to go. The classic language-learning company has gone way beyond old-fashioned “language tapes” and school-style lessons. Instead, it’s an interactive, vibrant subscription service that allows users to expand their horizons and learn on their own schedules and according to their own styles. Whether your teen dreams of traveling the world or just is fascinated by languages, Babbel has the resources to help them achieve their personal language goals. Users can use the Babbel app and choose from an unlimited array of convenient lessons, which are created by native speakers and language and education experts; the app currently offers lessons in 14 different languages. Babbel also offers a slew of interactive, “real-life” content to make learning more fun and practical. Subscriptions start at $14.95 for a single month and decrease in monthly price when you prepay for three-month, six-month, annual, or lifetime plans. Best for Food: Thrive Market Courtesy of Thrive Market Key Specs Average Price: $5 per month (billed annually)Free Shipping? Yes (for orders over $49)Types of Products: Groceries and frozen food items Pros & Cons Pros Wide selection of products Easy to edit and customize Healthy, sustainably sourced products Cons Membership is access—products bought separately Does not offer fresh produce or dairy Why It’s a Top Pick For teens embracing their creativity in the kitchen, a Thrive Market subscription can give them the boost of inspiration they’ve been looking for. Whereas many other subscriptions are based on the products themselves, Thrive membership is like a price club membership: you pay to access its curated stock of products, often at a discount from the retail prices. Thrive Market offers a variety of food delivery solutions to match your lifestyle needs. You can place individual orders whenever you want, as well as create recurring shipment boxes to take care of your staples, on your schedule; the only major items you can’t get are fresh dairy, eggs, and produce. The online grocery store also allows you to filter for a variety of dietary needs, including organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, and others. For any teen with an interest in cooking and healthy eating, a Thrive membership can be a great gateway to developing their skills and taste. Best for Teen Girls: Strong Selfie Strong Selfie Key Specs Average Price: $36 per monthFree Shipping? NoTypes of Products: Jewelry and accessories, desk accessories, wall art, beauty, snacks Pros & Cons Pros A variety of items in each box Includes handwritten, personalized note Focus groups with real teen girls Cons On the pricier side Can’t customize items Why It’s a Top Pick With products approved by focus groups of regular tween and teen girls, Strong Selfie is dedicated to finding fun, uplifting products to fill its monthly subscription boxes. The company offers two different boxes, one geared at tween girls from ages 8 to 12, and the other designed to appeal to teen girls aged 13 to 17. Every box contains several items and might include anything and everything: jewelry and fashion, hair accessories, stationery and desk accessories, wall art, beauty products, healthy snacks, and more. Although the contents of the box cannot be customized beyond picking between the two age group options, subscribers can include a personal note to the box’s recipient, which will be handwritten by Strong Selfie staff. Shoppers can also purchase whole, themed boxes separate from monthly subscriptions. Pricing starts at $38 per month for a monthly subscription and decreases to $36 per month for a three-month prepaid membership and $34 per month for a six-month prepaid membership. Best for Menswear: Menlo Club Menlo Club Key Specs Average Price: $60 per boxFree Shipping? Yes (for continental US)Types of Products: Contemporary menswear, athleisure wear, footwear Pros & Cons Pros Curated based on personal style preferences Includes discounts on Menlo House site Easy customer service access Cons No returns other than size exchanges Cannot personally select items Why It’s a Top Pick Menlo Club pulls together curated, seasonal apparel from a variety of top menswear, footwear, and athleisure brands. Each box includes two to three items, chosen for you by the stylist team based on your personal style preferences by taking a style quiz. For monthly subscribers, the usual proportion is two monthly boxes of athleisure wear, and two months of footwear, and the remaining eight boxes contain an array of contemporary menswear items such as pants, blazers, hats, and more. Subscribers can choose between a monthly box or a seasonal (quarterly) box, each with approximately the same number of items and the same cost per box. Membership also includes special discount offers to shop in the Menlo House online store. There are no outright returns allowed, but the company does allow for size exchanges and has easy-to-use live chat for customer service. Apparel sizes start at a size small (waist 28 to 30 inches, chest 39 to 41 inches, sleeve 25.5 inches) and go up to size XXXL (waist 44 to 47 inches, chest 56 to 59 inches, sleeve 28 inches), and shoes range from a U.S. men’s size 7 to 15. Best for Gaming: GameFly Gamefly Key Specs Average Price: $23 monthly, plus tax (two games)Free Shipping? Yes Types of Products: Video games and movies Pros & Cons Pros Several pricing tiers to fit any budget Games compatible with most systems Choose your own products Cons Subscription is rentals; buying costs extra Inconsistent availability Why It’s a Top Pick For teens with a love of video games but a limited budget, GameFly gives them the chance to try out plenty of trendy and classic games without committing to a massive, expensive library. Where many of these subscription services involve purchasing items, GameFly works differently. Your subscription gets you between one and four rental titles per month, depending on the tier (the $23 tier, flagged as its most popular, allows renting up to two titles monthly). If you like them, you can purchase them for an additional cost. Once a subscription begins, users are encouraged to fill out a profile and create a queue of games they’d eventually like to rent, which they can receive, play, and then mail back to get their next games. The selection is large and covers games for pretty much all of the most popular gaming systems. However, since it is a rental service, availability is limited by how many copies are circulating and how many other users have requested the same games. Still, it’s a fun way to get to try out plenty of new games without committing to expensive purchases. Best for Crafting: Home Made Luxe Home Made Luxe Key Specs Average Price: $30 per monthFree Shipping? Yes Types of Products: Arts and crafts Pros & Cons Pros Craft types vary month to month Written, photo, and video instructions Can skip months if desired Cons No customization options Some crafts are very simplistic Why It’s a Top Pick Teens who love to craft have often aged out of the kid-oriented kits found on craft store shelves, but they’ll love the creative projects from Home Made Luxe. Each month, subscribers receive a complete kit with everything they need (aside from basic supplies like glue or scissors) to produce a beautiful project that can then be used as home decor. Different kits feature different techniques, including embroidery, knitting, painting, wood crafts, wall art, and more. Each kit also comes with instructions in three complementary formats: written, photo, and video, so learners of all styles can follow along and successfully create their projects. Although there are no options to customize or choose the contents of each month’s box, the company does preview each box ahead of time with the option to skip a box as well. You can also purchase individual kits on the website, expanding the options available for crafty teens to learn new skills and make fun projects. Best for Makeup: Ipsy Ipsy Key Specs Average Price: $13 per monthFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Makeup, skin care, hair care, and other beauty products Pros & Cons Pros Customized for your preferences Affordable base subscription Wide variety of products Cons Choosing items costs extra Might miss out on “choice” window Why It’s a Top Pick Ipsy offers makeup and beauty aficionados the chance to try out a wide range of products from high-quality brands, all at an affordable monthly price. Each month, subscribers receive a Glam Bag filled with five deluxe sample-size products, chosen based on their recorded preferences. You can choose one item per month during a particular window of time prior to your box shipping. For more control or more product, you can upgrade to one of the two deluxe subscriptions at $28 per month or $58 per quarter. For $28 monthly, you’ll get five full-size products, three of which you can personally choose. And for $58 quarterly (added to a monthly subscription), you’ll get eight full-size products, three of which you can choose and curated by beauty experts and celebrity partners. With a particularly strong selection of makeup from the hottest brands, Ipsy is one of the best beauty boxes for anyone excited to try out the latest makeup trends. Best for Skincare: Curology Curology Key Specs Average Price: $60 every two monthsFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Skin care products Pros & Cons Pros Custom products Dermatologist-created formulas Targets concerns including acne Cons Only a few standard products Costs extra for multiple items Only ships bimonthly Why It’s a Top Pick Teens are at an age where they’re dealing with a lot of skin changes, all while deciding what products and approach they prefer and work for them. The highly customized, dermatologist-backed products from Curology can help any teen find skin care that works for them. Its signature offering features customized prescription formulas, developed in consultation with dermatologists to address individuals’ unique concerns, progress, and more. With an ingredient-centric approach, Curology is a great way for teens to learn about creating a basic skin care routine and how different products can work differently for them. Along with the custom serums, Curology also offers the ability to add moisturizer, cleanser, and other products to create a full skin care routine. These are not included in the initial subscription cost, and there are only a few items to choose from, but they’re designed to work well with the other products for an easy routine. Best for Candles: Vellabox Vellabox Key Specs Average Price: $22 per monthFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Candles and home decor accessories Pros & Cons Pros Customized to your scent preferences Surprise bonus item monthly Reusable, themed packaging Cons Scent throw is very mild Can’t choose your items Why It’s a Top Pick For teens who want to create a beautiful, great-smelling ambiance for their space, Vellabox is the perfect fit. Every month, subscribers receive a box with one of the three candles of the month (based on your scent preferences), plus a bonus item and a curated playlist. All candles are made by expert artisan makers and are guaranteed to be clean-burning, free of common toxic chemicals, and made with cotton wicks. Even the packaging (themed for each month) is eco-friendly and reusable. Vellabox offers three tiers of subscriptions: the Lucerna ($12 to $18, 4oz candle, 25-hour burn time), the Ignis ($22 to $28, 8oz candle, 50-hour burn time), and the Vivere ($29 to $38, 16oz candle, 80-hour burn time). If you find a scent you love, you can purchase individual candles from the online store. With coordinating gift items and playlists, it’s the perfect subscription to create a personalized “vibe” in anyone’s living space. Best for Books: Book of the Month Book of the Month Key Specs Average Price: $17 per monthFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Hardcover books Pros & Cons Pros Can pick your book from the month’s list Free to ship and to skip months Easy to add multiple books Cons Can’t order multiple copies Skews towards big-name bestsellers Why It’s a Top Pick Reading is "in" again, and Book of the Month is here to keep readers up to date with the latest, buzzy titles. Every month, choose one book from among five to seven new hardcover releases across a variety of genres. Additionally, subscribers have the opportunity to purchase up to two more books each month (for an added cost), either from the month’s selections or past picks. Y.A.-specific titles are included, along with several genres of adult fiction. While the books offered each month include a wide variety, curated by book lovers to cover as many tastes as possible, BOTM also understands that subscribers might not find something they love every month. For that reason, it’s totally free to skip a month if none of the chosen titles appeal to you—and you won’t get charged for that month. Plus, BOTM offers little perks for long-time subscribers, including discounts and bookish merchandise that readers of all ages will love. Best for Teens with a Sweet Tooth: Candy Club Candy Club Key Specs Average Price: $30 per monthFree Shipping? NoTypes of Products: Candy Pros & Cons Pros Wide variety of selections "Love your candy" guarantee Big-brand and artisan candies Cons Fairly small jars Can’t choose your own items Why It’s a Top Pick Anyone with a sweet tooth will be drawn to Candy Club, the subscription service dedicated to introducing you to a huge variety of creative and colorful candies. Each monthly box contains a set of six small (6-oz) jars based on your chosen candy profile: “mostly sweet” or “mostly sour.” The company offers a “love your candy guarantee,” offering to replace candies that you don’t like, although the details of the guarantee are not spelled out on its website. The treats included in Candy Club boxes range from classic sweets you know and love to more creative, artisanal candies. Although you can’t select your individual candies for the subscription box, you can go back and purchase more of your favorites at any time. Renewals happen automatically, so keep a close eye on your calendar if you’re planning on canceling at any point. Best Variety: Quirky Crate Quirky Crate Key Specs Average Price: $37 per monthFree Shipping? NoTypes of Products: Fashion accessories, socks, wall art, stickers, keychains, pins, and more Pros & Cons Pros Variety of item types Can skip a month at no cost Can also buy past boxes and items Cons No free shipping Can’t choose items Why It’s a Top Pick Sometimes, all a gift box needs to be is fun, and that’s exactly what Quirky Crate provides in its monthly boxes. Built around a theme (past themes include things like “Here Comes the Sun,” “Flower Power,” and “Weekends Forever”), each box includes six to nine items. The specifics vary from month to month but include items such as purses, socks, pins, art prints, wall hangings, writing tools, desk accessories, stickers, keychains, and more. Subscriptions start at $40 for a one-month subscription, and you can earn small discounts for longer prepaid subscriptions, going as low as $36 per box for a yearlong subscription. You can also choose a smaller “Quirky Post” subscription, which contains just three items (a pin, a pair of socks, and a surprise item) for approximately $13 per month. If you find an item you love, you can also browse the brand’s regular shop to purchase individual items—and a limited number of past boxes—separately. Best for Comics: World’s Finest: The Collection World's Finest Key Specs Average Price: $49 (quarterly)Free Shipping? NoTypes of Products: Comics-themed apparel, home decor, collectibles, and other accessories Pros & Cons Pros Exclusive, official DC merch Variety of items in each box Earn rewards points Cons Can’t purchase individual items Can’t purchase past boxes No free shipping Why It’s a Top Pick With a catchy name to match its comics-themed products, World’s Finest: The Collection is a quarterly subscription box for any and all DC Comics fans. Each quarter, subscribers receive a box filled with officially DC-licensed merchandise. Boxes are themed around some of the most iconic characters, storylines, and events from DC history and feature memorabilia including apparel, artwork, desk and fashion accessories, collectibles, and more. The exclusivity of the box merchandise is both a positive and a negative. On the one hand, it feels more special to get a product that isn’t sold anywhere else, and that can make it more valuable for collectors. On the other hand, it can be frustrating to be unable to purchase another of a favorite item or a past box with a theme you love. Best for Nail Care: Orly Color Pass Orly Key Specs Average Price: $36 quarterlyFree Shipping? YesTypes of Products: Nail polish and nail care Pros & Cons Pros Fresh, trending, seasonal selections Includes surprise bonus items Free of 10 common toxic chemicals Cons Can’t customize selections Can’t choose bonus items Why It’s a Top Pick When it comes to keeping up with nail trends, Orly Color Pass is one of the best subscriptions out there. Choose from a quarterly subscription ($36 per box) or prepay annually ($119 for four boxes), then sit back and wait for a selection of six carefully selected, trendy nail polishes to land on your doorstep just in time for each season. While you can’t choose your own polishes, each box is chosen to include the top picks for each season by Orly’s beauty experts, and subscribers get to view the seasonal palettes before the public. Orly’s nail polishes aren’t just beautiful, they’re also sustainable. The company uses formulas that are free of 10 of the most common chemicals found in traditional nail polishes, making them more environmentally friendly and suitable for sensitive skin or nail beds. Each box also includes a bonus item, making it a great all-around beauty box as well as an ideal gift for nail polish fans. Best for Stickers: Stickii Stickii Key Specs Average Price: $12 per monthFree Shipping? NoTypes of Products: Stickers and stationery Pros & Cons Pros Can choose between three styles Easy to swap style preferences Can skip months for free Cons No free shipping Why It’s a Top Pick For teens who love to express themselves in ways big and small or are avid journalers, Stickii is a fun, cheerful subscription featuring creative stickers and stationery each month. When you initially subscribe, you’ll choose between three styles for your box theme: Cute, Vintage, or Pop. Each month, Stickii reveals spoilers for all three packs, and you can easily change your preferences to get the pack you want. Make sure to pay close attention to deadlines to make sure you input your choices in time. Each Stickii shipment comes with seven sticker sheets, three pieces of stationery, and one storage insert. If you see the spoilers for a given month and don’t like any, you can also skip that month and not pay, as long as you go into your account and request to skip by the monthly deadline. It’s a relatively low-cost and low-pressure subscription that still manages to be a lot of fun. Final Verdict Choosing among the best subscription boxes for teens means sifting through a large number of options, each with its unique perks and styles. Some focus on just one or two items per shipment, while others send jam-packed boxes for each shipment. Ultimately, FabFitFun’s expert curation and customization options make it our top pick overall. FabFitFun offers quality products, along with options to personally select items to better suit each individual recipient. Plus, a subscription includes bonus membership perks, meaning you get more for your dollar every time. Why Parents Should Encourage Their Teens To Play More Frequently Asked Questions What is the most budget-friendly subscription box for teens? If you’re looking for the most affordable subscription boxes, look for the subscriptions that offer fewer items or items at a lower price point. Among our picks, subscriptions like Book of the Month, Stickii, and Babbel are some of the lowest-cost subscriptions. If price is a concern, it’s also worth considering a quarterly subscription; while the price per box may be higher, several boxes that are on quarterly cycles include more in their boxes and, when broken down, may actually cost less per month than some monthly subscriptions do. How often do subscription boxes get delivered? Subscription boxes get delivered on a variety of timetables and are based on the individual company. The most common schedule is a monthly subscription, but several boxes are on quarterly cycles. A handful of others, primarily those that involve renting items rather than purchasing outright, have more flexible schedules based on when you return the previous set of rentals. How do you choose a subscription box for your teen? When picking out which subscription box to gift your teen, keep their interests front and center. Consider whether they’d prefer a box that is laser-focused on one niche, or whether they’re more interested in trying a wider variety of items. Look for boxes that offer more customization or choices to ensure a better fit for your individual teen, and be sure to keep your budget in mind. 20 Questions to Help You Bond With Your Teen Methodology To find the best subscription boxes for teens, our team researched more than 30 services. Companies were evaluated based on the following criteria: Subscription priceNumber of subscription plansNumber of items per boxItem varietyTarget audienceShipping costsAvailable discountsCustomer serviceCompany reputation Subscriptions that offer multiple plans at different price points and the option to handpick items performed particularly well, as did services with free shipping and positive customer reviews. Companies with limited delivery capabilities did not make it past the initial research stage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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