Subscription boxes: which ones offer good value for money?

Considering buying a subscription box as a gift but spoilt for choice? Lily Canter has tried five subscription boxes and reveals whether they offer value for money.

Subscription boxes have become more popular this year as small businesses have increasingly made and delivered 'experiences' to enjoy at home.

With so much uncertainty remaining around COVID-19 restrictions, these boxes can offer a valuable alternative to events in real life.

I have tested five subscription boxes to see if they offer value for money and whose Christmas list they might end up on.

These boxes have been ordered from highest score to lowest (then by price if any subscription boxes have the same score).

Box42

This date night box ended up being my clear favourite despite being the one I was most sceptical about. It offered three hours of entertainment and everything had been meticulously thought through.

Each month is based around a different theme and includes non-alcoholic drinks perfect for cocktail mixers, tasty snacks and three activities.

We experienced the Tuscan Pottery box, which came with a detailed leaflet to guide us through the evening.

A QR code seamlessly linked to an acoustic guitar playlist, a selection of pottery videos and Italian Pictionary clues. We also had enough air-dry clay for two, plus paint and glaze.

We had also been sent a suggested menu in advance, which included a meat and vegetarian option. The box even contained a scented candle to set the mood and a clever tablecloth that doubled up as a Pictionary drawing pad and pottery mat.

As a couple, it was refreshing to do something other than cook a meal and watch a film. It was also a great relief to have everything planned out for us.

As a result, we had a relaxed evening, giggling, letting off steam and exploring our inner child. We felt giddy drawing on the tablecloth and our pottery figures were equally immature.

Overall, it was a great night in.

Price: £33 a month

Perfect for: Your best mate and their partner

Score: 10/10

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Not Just Nibbles

This box really appealed to me because it helps children to explore foods from around the world. And I was not disappointed.

Each month, a different cooking kit arrives with activities to help little ones (and adults) learn about a country and its culinary culture.

The box is filled with facts, stickers, crafts and most importantly dry ingredients to cook up an adventurous and nutritious meal.

We received the Peru box, which came with detailed instructions on how to prepare vegetarian Peruvian burgers and sweet potato fries.

We simply had to supply the perishable items which we already had like garlic, spinach, sweetcorn and parsley, and combine them with dry ingredients, including the extremely pungent cassava flour.

My five-year-old loved colouring the map of the world, while my eight-year-old relished getting his hands sticky rolling the burger mix. They were also delighted/horrified to discover guinea pigs are a Peruvian delicacy.

If anything, there was too much content in the box and we didn't quite get round to doing everything.

But making the food and reading about Peru easily filled a Saturday afternoon and they loved getting involved in the cooking.

My eldest, who admittedly is a bit of a foodie, wolfed the meal down, whilst the youngest would only eat the sweet potato fries, but he did try a piece of the burger (which his brother swiftly finished).

I think this is a fantastic way for children to explore new foods, but I don't think every fussy eater will be completely converted.

Price: £11.99 to £13.99 a month

Perfect for: Families

Score: 9/10

Friday Night in a Box

On a cold winter's evening, there really is nothing better than having a hot bath or a steamy shower and putting your feet up with a cheeky glass of wine.

This pamper box encapsulates our desire for indulgence at the end of the week and aims to recreate the spa experience in our own home.

The first thing that hits you is the amazing smell.

Each box is filled with sensuous soaps, scrubs and treatments plus a miniature bottle of something alcoholic and a sweet treat.

My shower box (there is also bath version) included a mini bottle of Prosecco, bake at home brownie mix, moisturising face mask, turban hair towel infused with coconut oil, apricot show scrub, scented candle and a cube of shower steamer.

I was very impressed with the quality of most of the products (except the candle which had little scent) and my skin was positively radiant after the scrub and mask.

I also liked that I had items to keep and use again like the hair towel which has become an indispensable post-shower tool. It was lovely having a bottle of bubbly just for me and the brownies were dairy-free.

I did feel there was perhaps a missed opportunity to make this a more eco-friendly box because although most of the items were packaged in cardboard there were some products wrapped in plastic.

But overall, it was an experience I would happily repeat each month.

Price: £25 a month

Perfect for: Your sister or close friend

Score: 8/10

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The Little Mud Club

This wasn't quite the box I was expecting but did come with plenty of ideas for having fun in the garden and beyond.

It is essentially a detailed booklet filled with suggestions of outdoor activities such as building an elf house, making ice decorations and going on scavenger hunts.

The winter pack comes with seeds and stickers and there are opportunities to engage in The Little Mud Club online community. It has an environmental focus and mixes fun, dirty activities with an ecological message.

The booklet is bright and easy to follow and each of the activities could easily fill a winter's morning.

I was anticipating a box with tools but quickly realised this is more of a traditional magazine subscription.

That is reflected in the price which is reasonable given the many activities listed. Whether this is suitable for you really depends on your creative nature.

For someone like me who does not have an imaginative bone in their body, I was delighted to be given detailed instructions on how to humanely trap and identify moths and how to make a frozen Christmas decoration.

The kids also enjoyed being allowed to roll down wet, muddy hills and bring home as many sticks as they liked.

Price: £10 a month

Perfect for: Families with young children

Score: 7/10

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TeaPro

This was less of an experience and more of a selection of four interesting teas, and the box relies on the subscriber to read a lot of information.

The first box comes with a clever tea infuser glass and I did find myself enjoying a glass every day. But depending on your penchant for tea, you could find yourself left with unused tea leaves if you take dislike some flavours.

Each month is a different theme, and one I experienced was Black & Yellow.

While I loved the rich flavours of the black teas from Rwanda and Fiji, I could not stomach the light Chinese yellow teas. Fortunately, my husband was happy to drink them.

Each box contains four teas in 10g to 15g bags so there is plenty to keep you going through the month. There is also a tasting wheel and booklet giving information on the processing and history of the teas.

What is lacking is information on caffeine content and whether different milks are appropriate for the various teas or if they should all be 'black'.

You can sign up to a five-day email course with your subscription and there is some further information on the social media channels.

But I think to really lift the experience element of this box, it required a live tea tasting to join or a QR code leading to YouTube videos explaining how to interpret the tasting wheel.

This is a great product for those interested in global teas but is not necessarily an interactive experience.

Price: £18 a month

Perfect for: Tea enthusiasts (I bought a one-off box for my dad)

Score: 7/10

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Please note all of the featured boxes can also be purchased as a one-off gift, but the price may be different to the monthly fee.