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The Best Subscription Boxes of 2020: Readers' Choice Awards
Each year, MSA asks for our readers to pick their favorite subscription boxes across dozens of categories. From big brands to rising stars, we are excited to share our community's picks in the 2020 Subscription Box Awards!
Maybe you’re looking for a subscription to make your life easier, or a box to explore the latest in beauty and lifestyle trends. Perhaps you're shopping for the perfect gift, or you're looking to treat yourself. No matter who you're shopping for and why, our list of award-winning subscription boxes features dozens of hand-picked community favorites. Want more? Check out our MSA Editors' picks to explore more categories, too.
Browse Subscription Box Winners by Category
Subscription Boxes for Every Person
For Women: FabFitFun
FabFitFun ($49.99) is a quarterly lifestyle box that includes top trendy picks for the season– everything from beauty products, skincare, fun accessories, and new wellness products with a total retail value of at least $200. Members also get great discounts on add-on products through their Edit Sale, and can customize some items in each box.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I was really blown away by the quality of FabFitFun when I tried it for the first time this year. I can see why it's so popular. I love the variety of products, the quality, and the customization options." - Amy in KC
For Men: Bespoke Post
Bespoke Post ($45) is the perfect subscription box for people who have everything. They release new boxes each month that have the goal of introducing you to something new - a better way to shave, a stylish take on barware, a new hobby, and more. Subscribers choose which box they prefer, or can skip the month entirely. Bonus: it's easy to gift, too!
What Readers Are Saying:
“Every product I've gotten from Bespoke has been phenomenally crafted and is affordable. I've been with Bespoke for almost two years now and I use the products in my monthly boxes almost EVERY DAY!" - Adam
For Teens: Ipsy Glam Bag
Ipsy Glam Bag ($12) sends 5 makeup and beauty products (full and sample-size) in a cute new makeup bag each month. It's a fun and affordable way for teens to experiment with new looks build a beauty routine. (See the full list for some ideas for teen boys, too!)
What Readers Are Saying:
“My teen daughter is obsessed!" - Mommabear459
For Kids: KiwiCo
KiwiCo (starting at $19.99) features monthly hands-on STEAM projects for kids of all ages, from 0 to 16+! Each crate targets a different age range, with activities customized to your child's interests and capabilities to make every monthly box a fun and educational experience.
What Readers Are Saying:
“My kid loves this and I’ve been impressed with all of the monthly projects.” – Shana Atwood
Clothing Subscriptions & Personal Stylist Services
Best Personal Stylist Service: Stitch Fix
StitchFix ($20 styling fee) is a personal styling service with options for women, men, and kids. Take an in-depth survey on size, style, and pricing, and your stylist will hand-pick clothing and accessories just for you. Keep what you love and return what you don't.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Somehow everything always fits…even jeans! And the attention to style for each person is phenomenal. Me and my 3 sisters all use it and now so does my mom, aunt, and two teenage nieces!” – Jenny
Women's Clothing: Rachel Zoe Box of Style
Rachel Zoe Box of Style ($99.99) is our second-place winner, and features $400 worth of Zoe and her team's favorite fashion, beauty and lifestyle items for each season. You can expect gorgeous jewelry and accessories, cosmetics, beauty products, and other luxurious items in each quarterly box.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Best quality of items for a luxury box." - Amanda Harb
Jewelry: Rocksbox
Rocksbox ($21) is a jewelry rental service where you can check out 3 pieces at a time, and swap them whenever you want with free shipping both ways. Build a wishlist of pieces or be surprised by a stylist's selection– and use your $21 credit each month to put towards any items you decide to keep forever.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I started a subscription to Rocksbox about 6 months ago and so far I’ve only sent one necklace back and have kept everything else. Great service!” – Laurie
Men's Clothing: Style Plan by Frank And Oak
Style Plan ($25 styling fee) by Frank And Oak in second place curates a monthly selection of their modern, on-trend and sustainable clothing based on your personal style. Get a preview before shipping to make changes or skip if needed; only pay the $25 fee if you keep nothing.
What Readers Are Saying:
“C’est trois bon.” – Marlon Ferreira
Kids Clothing: kidpik
Kidpik is a clothing box just for kids (sizes 4-16). Each box contains 7 items including apparel, shoes, and accessories designed to complete multiple mix and match outfits. Pay only for what you keep, with no styling fee and free shipping and returns. Previously only for girls, kidpik now features clothing for boys, too!
What Readers Are Saying:
“This brand is very functional and fashionable. I recommend it to all of my friends who have kids." - Katie
Beauty Boxes
Best Overall Beauty Box: BoxyCharm
BoxyCharm ($25) excites subscribers every month with on-trend finds at an affordable price. Each box contains 5 full-size products, including eyeshadow palettes, blushes, lip colors, skincare, beauty tools, and more. Ships to US and Canada.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I have no idea how they do it! So much amazing stuff and so reasonably priced." - Karol
Best for Makeup: Ipsy
Ipsy ($12 to $50) is one of the most popular beauty box brands of all time, with a range of options depending on your budget! Each monthly box comes with a mix of high-end and drugstore beauty, skincare, and more. We love Ipsy Glam Bag Plus ($25, pictured above), which features 5 full-sized products in each delivery, plus a new makeup bag.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Much of the day to day makeup I reach for came in an Ipsy Glam Bag bag, and their new add-ons system makes it easy to pick up makeup in shades I like from brands I want to try” - Jennifer
Best Skincare Products: BeautyFIX
BeautyFIX ($24.95) is a monthly box from Dermstore.com that sends incredible-quality, esthetician-approved skincare items each month. You can expect over $100 in retail value in every box, including hydrating serums, nourishing creams, anti-aging solutions, and the occasional makeup surprise.
What Readers Are Saying:
“BeautyFIX has the best skincare products. They send a mix of sample and full size; and a mix of high-end and middle-of-the-road!" - LisaJo
Subscription Boxes for All Budgets
Under $15: Allure Beauty Box
Allure Beauty Box ($15) is a monthly box from the editors of Allure Magazine, featuring a mix of deluxe and full-size samples from mostly high-end beauty brands. Recent boxes have included some of the hottest names in the skincare game: Sunday Riley, Caudalié, Drunk Elephant, La Mer, Glow Recipe, and more!
What Readers Are Saying:
“Hands down, the BEST value for the money!" - Angela
Over $50: POPSUGAR Must Have Box
POPSUGAR Must-Have Box ($75) is a quarterly assortment of style, wellness, and beauty essentials curated by the editors of POPSUGAR.com. With a retail value of over $250 per box, it’s like getting a gift from your most trend-savvy friend every season.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I can always find something I like in the quarterly boxes. It is such a good mix of really nice products I didn’t know I might like/need/want.” – Jody
Food & Drink Subscriptions
Best Snack Box: Universal Yums
Universal Yums (starting at $15) sends a delivery of snacks and candies from a different country each month, along with facts about each and a scorecard for tracking your favorites. It's a fun way for armchair travelers and curious eaters to "snack like a local"!
What Readers Are Saying:
“Our family loves this box! It's so exciting to discover a new country every month." - Gintare
Best Weekly Meal Kit: Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh ($8.74-$9.99 per serving) serves up classic, crowd-pleasing flavors, plus a few fun twists. We love that their ingredients come bundled by recipe, so that you can easily take them from the fridge to the countertop and get started.
What Readers Are Saying:
“First (and only) box subscription I use. It is great!” – Sherry
Best Wine: Winc
Winc (Starting at $13/bottle) offers members monthly recommended wines based on their preferences and ratings for past boxes. Use their suggestions or pick anything you want from their catalog, and easily skip months online if needed.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Lovely wines, great customer service!" - Foggy
For Tea: Sips by
Sips by ($15) ships you a monthly selection of 4 teas from well-known and up-and-coming brands curated to your preferences, with 15+ cups in each box. Ships free in the US.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I have discovered some great teas. Enhanced my love for tea." - Sherri
For Coffee: Bean Box
Bean Box (Starting at $19) works with small-batch, independent roasters, so you can be sure you’re getting thoughtful, high-quality blends in every box. Choose from light, medium, dark, and decaf roasts, choose whole bean or ground, and get ready to see which of their 712+ varieties will find their way to your mug!
What Readers Are Saying:
“Tastes so delicious." - Maria
Subscription Boxes For Pets
For Dog Owners: BarkBox
BarkBox ($29) has unique themes each month, and comes filled with quirky toys, treats, and grooming products picked for your dog based on their size.
What Readers Are Saying:
“My pups love destroying the plushies and I’m actually framing some of the artwork from the paper inner wrapping to hang in the dogs’ favorite room.” – Ali
For Cat Lovers: Meowbox
Meowbox ($22.95) features everything from treats and catnip to squeaky toys and fun accessories to pamper your feline friends. Plus, every box sold donates food to a shelter cat.
What Readers Are Saying:
“The themes are so precious! I love that they have items that are specifically made for the box. I also feel safe feeding my kitty the treats that they send out, because they are always super high quality." - Brianna S.
Boxes For All Interests
For Home: Bespoke Post
Bespoke Post ($45) is known for its high-quality home and tech offerings, each curated around a monthly theme. Choose from a selection of curations or skip the month altogether. Past deliveries have included items such as cutting-edge earbuds and speakers, pocket knives, plants, fragrances, and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Great home goods and tech for men and women.” – Jess
For Avid Readers: BOTM
Book of the Month ($14.99) offers a curated monthly selection of 5 new hardcover books for subscribers to choose from including new releases, non-fiction, young adult, and more. Pick which title you’d like to receive on the first of the month, or let Book of the Month choose for you!
What Readers Are Saying:
“This is my favorite subscription of all time and the only one where I get multiples of a box. The choices are on point and for new hardback copies the prices are often cheaper than even the ebook version." - BC2
For Stationery: Cloth & Paper
Cloth & Paper (Starting at $18) brings quality and curation together for planner addicts! Whether you like to plan your work day or your home life, they have several options to choose from, featuring beautiful writing instruments, stationery, planner products, and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“My wellness is Cloth and Paper. Getting organized and planning helps to keep me peaceful and relaxed.” – CSPThePlanner
For Fitness: Fabletics
Fabletics ($49.95) is a reader-favorite source for trendy athletic gear and athleisure fashions. Shop their monthly collections and use your VIP membership to pick anything in their current catalog, or skip the month altogether. Shop their members-only sales for amazing deals on leggings and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Receive things I actually like.” – Jessica Valdez
For Crafts: Doodle Crate
Doodle Crate ($19.95) is a crafty subscription box for ages 9+ from KiwiCo. Each shipment is filled with all that's needed to make a new creation, with projects like watercolor calendars, clay pencil holders, and masks. Be sure to check out the full list for more recommendations for crafters of all ages!
What Readers Are Saying:
“Great for family fun." - Mommabear459
Best Pop Culture: Pusheen Box
Pusheen Box ($43.95) is definitely a contender for cutest quarterly subscription box ever. Each seasonal box features exclusive Pusheen merch you can't find anywhere else, including apparel, collectibles, home goods, and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Always squeeee filled! Pusheen Box has THE . CUTEST . THINGS . EVER!!" - Beth F.
For Adults-Only: Heart & Honey
Heart & Honey ($69.99) is an approachable lifestyle box with a sexual health and wellness focus, filled with a variety of items from toys to beauty and gifts.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Incredible curation! An absolute adventure opening every box." - Beth
Subscription Box Gifts
Gifts For Women: Causebox
Causebox ($54.94) is a quarterly lifestyle box that our readers love, thanks to its beautiful curation and great value! Each box is packed full of unique and ethically-made brands that we don't typically see in other subscriptions. Boxes include beauty, wellness, fashion, home, and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“I always loved getting this box. Very practical items with benefits to support good causes.” – Lulu Dupon
Gifts For Men: SprezzaBox
SprezzaBox ($28) is a monthly accessories box for dapper guys. Each box includes 4-6 practical menswear items including ties, tie clips, pocket squares, socks, and more.
What Readers Are Saying:
“Overall my favorite men’s sub in terms of practical men’s accessories, comfy socks, and value for cost.” – Jennifer
Gifts for Kids: MEL Science
MEL Science (Starting at $24.90) has two monthly subscriptions: MEL Kids for 5+ and MEL Chemistry for 9-14. Both are tailored to each age range with science experiments, DIY kits, and an interactive app to make STEM learning even more engaging.
What Readers Are Saying:
“The lessons are always so thorough, the box is well organized with easy to follow instructions and all of the official lab equipment makes this feel like a science class in a box!" - Brandi
Check Out Past Readers' Choice Award Winners
See the #1 picks for Best Boxes of 2019, 2018, and 2017, or browse more lists below:
Written by MSA
Comments (516)
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I really love FabFitFun for make up & skincare! Their products are simply amazing. I also sometimes use Hello Fresh and Blue Apron cause they are fast and convenient but my fav Food Box is Eattiamo: it comes every month with delicious Italian products and are useful pantry staples in this period.
Wanna try meow box some day.
Thank you for doing what you do Liz. You are a huge inspiration. Stay safe during these difficult times. Jenny
I have already voted. But in retrospect, I wish, the award voting would take place beginning December 31. I unfortunately, have had some negative experiences with the holiday sub boxes and it would have strongly impacted my voting and my voting choices. In fact there are 3 boxes I voted for that I would not have voted for, epic fail season, and a box is only as a good as the busiest holiday. So disappointed.
Which ones would you NOT suggest?
owlcrate
I love Bombay and Cedarand it’s my overall Favorite! Hello Fresh is a great food box. Other favs are Boxycharm and Luxe, Ipsy and plus, Stitch Fix, Scentbird, BOTM, and Grove. I have tried lots more too and am quite the sub box addict!!! I just love getting those boxes in the mail or at the door!!! If I had to name one I would really want to try it’d be Heart and Honey. What would I want to win? ANY!!!!
I really have been wanting to try Hello Fresh
Fabfitfun is definitely my favorite!
I’d love to get free boxes, so guess I need to start a blog. Please email me all the details on how to start.
i love boxy charm allure and ipsy both reg and glam bag i tried sephora they dont give those cute little bags anymore just a plastic bag and the samples are super duper small even the birchbox is the same glossy box is ok ive wanted to try fabfit fun and the cat lady box especially
I currently am loving FabFitFun! Just started my second year with them. And Ipsy is also a cheaper way to try products before purchasing full size items. I would ABSOLUTELY love to try the cause box, kiwi crate for my little and The Wordy Traveler for my Wanderlust soul!
I totally love FFF! I am absolutely obsessed! I just got my first box and all the beauty products were awesome. I definitely am keeping this subscription!
I love Boxy Charm! Also have loved and had Ipsy for 3 years. This will be the first month for Ipsy plus. I’ve always wanted to try FFF!
I love my Boxy charm,Ipsy and Fab,Fit and fun.I would love to try Pop Sugar!
I’d love to try a Breo box. Each spoiler has me drooling with desire.
FFF is my fav but I might try Sunday Riley’s if I win!
My favorite subscription box is FabFitFun, but I want to try both Causebox and Boxycharm eventually!
Boxy Charm, Ipsy & Fab Fit Fun are my favorites
I live Fab Fit Fun and Box of Style !!
I have been wanting to try Boxy Charm and ipsy glam bag plus!!
Wow, thank you ladies so much for giving everyone this opportunity! I shared everywhere I could!
Out of all the boxes I’m getting right now (which are the only ones I’ve tried) I’d have to say Beautyfix by Dermstore is my favorite!!! I really think more people should know about this box!!! My other subscriptions include, ipsy, allure, glossybox and waiting on my first glam bag plus and spring fab fit fun!!! Its truly my addiction now thanks to you ladies and I mean that in the most awesome way!!! There are so many more boxes I’d love to try, always looking for that next unbelievable deal you guys have the best coupons ever!!! I got 20% off a year of glossy!!! Thank you again so much! Cheers to the winners and never paying retail!!!
I’d love to try Causebox!
Sadly the only one in our house that gets a subscription box is my dog Gibbs, he gets a Bark Box.
My two favorites are FFF and Causebox, but I really want to try a couple others.
My current favorite subscription box is Heart+Honey, though I’d LOVE to try FabFitFun
Out of the winners, I’d most like to try Rachel Zoe Box of Style or Heart and Honey
fitfabfun!!!
I honestly love my ipsy, birchbox, and sisley paris subscriptions. They’re all such great deals and I love getting the opportunity to try out so many fun products every month! I’m such a sucker for skincare products hah
I’d like to try either fab fit fun or the Rachel Zoe box!
I wanna try and of the fashion boxes. As well as the beauty one’s.
I think ipsy is my favorite subscription box. I did like Allure for some time, and Birchbox is nice, as well as Sephora. The newer bigger ipsy sub with 5 full size products and no makeup bag I think my be my new favorite soon though. May will be the first month I am trying it.
Ipsy
I’d love to try Boxyluxe and FabFitFun!
I would try fab fit fun, pop sugar, and winc!
I love FabFitFun because I think they put so many great things in their boxes.
I’d really like to try the PopSugar box because so many people rave over it!
My favorite is Owlcrate.
I have tried multiple boxes but I would go with the BeautyFix box by Dermastore because that is the only box I have yet to try. Or I would get the POPSUGAR Must Have It! Box.
I love boxycharm or ipsy glambag plus the most and would love to try either the new Sunday riley box or tonymoly subscription box
So many great opportunities. I love the looks of causebox, coastal and wine. But would love to win one for my son in the military like shave club, graze or gentleman’s club. Thanks!!!
I love Boxycharm!
I would like to try winc.
I am searching for the perfect box for me and my lifestyle; still looking! I haven’t got the opportunity to try one yet😭 hoping to begin one within the next month.
Would love to try OwlCrate!