They're the Digital Generation (a.k.a. iGen or Gen Z), so it's no surprise teenagers are big fans of digital subscriptions. As long as their heads are buried in their smartphones anyway, we have the best premium apps available for download that make the most of their screen time. Still not convinced you can pull out a smile? We went through the sea of digital subscription options out there, from gaming to TV, music to meditation - we've got the best premium digital apps for hard-to-please teenagers no matter their interests.
Best Digital Subscriptions for Teens
1. Humble Bundle
Buying video games gets expensive at $60+ a pop, especially when your teenager has the entire game beaten in a week. That's where Humble Bundle comes in. The brand curates digital video games, giving you access to games from brands like CapCom, SEGA, and more for discounted prices. Their Humble Choice subscription lets subscribers choose from 10 different curated PC games every month plus offers access to DRM-free and Humble Bundle Store discounts.
The Cost: $12 per month. Subscribe here.
2. Disney Plus
The Disney streaming service is so much more than shows for little kids. With Star Wars movies and Marvel shows like WandaVision and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., episodes of ABC shows and of course their favorites from childhood, Disney Plus is as much for the teen set as it is their younger siblings. Create up to seven profiles within one Disney Plus account so your teen can stream what they want without your favorites clouding the mix. The brand also offers the ability to add on teen favorites like ESPN for an additional fee.
The Cost: $6.99 per month. Subscribe here.
Check out our Disney Plus details to learn more!
3. Headspace
Stress isn't just an adult problem — as much as 45 percent of teens say they're stressed "all the time," and guess where they're turning for help. Yup, digital spaces. Headspace is one of the best known apps for managing anxiety with mindfulness activities, meditation, and more to help subscribers learn to manage their feelings. They even offer plans with a student discount.
The Cost: $9.99 per month for student plans. Subscribe here.
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Check out our Headspace details to learn more!
4. Crunchyroll Premium
Anime and manga fans can get their fill with a Crunchyroll Premium subscription and never run out of something to watch. The streaming service already has more than 1000 titles and 30000 episodes of anime available for free, but a Premium subscription unlocks unlimited access to the entire Crunchyroll library — and the ability to get new anime TV episodes as soon as an hour after their debut in Japan.
The Cost: Subscription tiers range from $7.99 to $14.99 per month. Subscribe here.
5. YouTube Premium
Formerly known as Music Key and later known as YouTube Red, this subscription service from YouTube (yup, that YouTube) removes the ads from videos and gives subscribers access to premium YouTube Originals programming produced in collaboration with the site's creators plus access to YouTube Music Premium, even offline. YouTube Premium allows teens to download their favorite videos, beauty tutorials, and YouTube stars to watch anytime, anywhere, even when they don't have WiFi.
The Cost: $11.99 per month Subscribe here.
6. Switch Online
Nintendo has sold more than 80 million units of the popular Switch console, and the momentum doesn't seem to be slowing down. Powered by the likes of Animal Crossing and the ever-popular Pokemon games, the Switch is a bona fide hit — and a Switch Online subscription gives teen players access to online play so they can play against their friends; cloud play; member-only discounts; and more. A Switch Online membership with an Expansion Pack even gives subscribers access to Nintendo 64 games.
The Cost: $3.99 a month or $19.99 for an individual plan. Adding an expansion pack costs $49.99 for an annual plan (monthly plans not available). Family plans are also available. Subscribe here.
7. XBox Game Pass
Does your teen prefer the XBox over the Switch? With XBox Game Pass, teens get unlimited access to a game library of more than 100 games on their XBox console as well as on PC and their phone, plus discounts on more games, online multiplayer gameplay, free games, and more. The Game Pass includes the brand's XBox Live Gold — the service that allows for multiplayer gaming online — as well as access to EA Play, the Electronic Arts-specific gaming subscription (usually $4.99 per month).
The Cost: $14.99/month. Subscribe here.
8. Canva Premium
Give them a leg up on designing for TikTok or their Insta feed with a subscription to Canva, a graphic design platform that offers access to thousands of stock images and has easy templates and designs for social media creators plus video editing tools. Made so you don't need much graphic design or photography experience to create pro-quality results, the brand offers a lot of its services for free, but Premium unlocks more than 100 million stock images, 100GB of cloud storage, and even the ability to schedule and post to social media.
The Cost: $119.99/year. Subscribe here.
9. Literal
Do you know a teen who loves to read? The Literal app takes books and reformats them so they read like social media chats for a modern twist on reading! A subscription gives you access to an extensive catalog of books including classics from Jane Austen and more modern books.
The Cost: $15/month. Subscribe here.
10. Spotify Premium
The digital music app gives subscribers access to millions of songs for free, but a Spotify Premium membership ups the ante with the removal of ads, unlimited "skips" on songs you're not digging, the ability to download songs to listen when you're not connected to data, and more. Student plans are available and also give subscribers access to Hulu and Showtime.
The Cost: $4.99 per month for a student plan or $15.99 per month for a family plan. Subscribe here.
What are your favorite digital subscriptions? Let us know in comments, and check out these out for more ideas:
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