What to Buy The Best Food Subscription Boxes for Every Kind of Culinary Savant There’s no lack of choice with food subscription boxes. Find out which companies made our list and why. By Marisa Olsen Marisa Olsen Marisa is a food writer with a background in marketing and communications for the arts and restaurant industries. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 29, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: The Good Brigade / Getty Images Who wouldn’t love a subscription box filled with delicious items that spark joy? There’s nothing quite like receiving a shipment chock-full of your favorite artisanal goods delivered straight to your door. Whether you love bacon chocolate, a gourmet meal inspired by the Philippines, Maine lobster tails, “b’day truffles” (if you know, you know), or made-to-order roasted coffee beans directly sourced from Ethiopia, there is a food subscription box for you. We’ve sampled and tasted a plethora of the best food subscription boxes so you can discover your next perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. (And don’t worry — we won’t judge if you don’t feel like sharing.) Best Food Subscription Boxes of 2023 Best for Baking: Red Velvet Best for Meat: Rastelli’s Best for Coffee: Intelligentsia Best for Chocolate: Vosges Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron Best for Smoothies: SmoothieBox Best for Seafood: Fulton Fish Market Best for Kids’ Meals: Nurture Life Best for Tea: Sips by Best for Gifts: iGourmet Best for Cookies: Milk Bar Best for Baking: Red Velvet Red Velvet Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $49 per monthDelivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Monthly Why You Should Try It Red Velvet’s gourmet baking kits let you satisfy your sweet tooth in the best way possible. Pros and Cons Pros Free shipping with subscription Some gluten-free options Gift set options Kid-friendly baking sets available Cons Shipments only arrive Thursdays Cannot accommodate all food sensitivities and allergens Overview If you have dreams of becoming a star baker, try honing your cake-making skills at home with Red Velvet’s baking kits. Once a month, brush off your apron and receive two baking kits with premeasured ingredients, detailed recipe instructions, and helpful techniques and tips. Each recipe has a baking level associated so you can watch (and eat) your progress. (Think sweet delights such as chocolate ganache cupcakes, coconut macaroons, salted caramel brownies, and chocolate cocoa sugar truffles.) Subscribe for a kit that arrives on the first Thursday of every month, or select from a menu of desserts and order à la carte. Red Velvet also has curated gift bundles, dessert kits for dinner parties, and even baking sets geared toward children, so your little one can join in on the fun. Best for Meat: Rastelli’s Rastelli’s Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: Prices vary by protein; pork starts at $8Delivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Weekly and monthly Why You Should Try It Thanks to Rastelli’s, high-quality and sustainably sourced meats are just a click away. Pros and Cons Pros Responsibly raised meat Ability to send gifts to multiple people at one time Resourceful butcher’s blog Large selection of sides and add-ons Cons Must call or email customer service to change or cancel orders Overview For over 40 years, family-run Rastelli’s has been creating a bespoke “farm to butcher to table” experience with hand-cut, quality meats. With close partners and transparent sourcing, Rastelli’s works directly with family-run farms and even has its own state-of-the-art dry-aging facility. The company places an emphasis on grass-fed, organic, and pasture-raised beef, as well as wagyu and private stock meats and organic chicken, lamb, and pork cuts. Additionally, Rastelli’s offers add-on appetizers, sides, spices, rubs, and primal cuts that allow you to practice your butcher skills at home. Rastelli’s features a rewards program that is free to join, and you’ll earn points and rewards on every order and tap into discounts and savings. You can save even more money with an automatic shipment subscription. Once you’ve filled your cart from Rastelli’s vast menu, you can select a shipping frequency of every one, two, three, four, or six weeks. Best for Coffee: Intelligentsia Intelligentsia Coffee Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $12 per itemDelivery Area: 50 statesDelivery Frequency: Weekly Why You Should Try It Find your perfect cup with Intelligentsia’s impressive collection of roasted-to-order coffees. Pros and Cons Pros Roasted to order Free shipping Strong mission-driven company USDA-certified organic Cons Does not offer return policy Overview Sip and sample fresh, roasted-to-order java at home with Intelligentsia. What began as a single Midwestern family-run coffee shop has become a pioneer in the coffee industry, sourcing rare and fine beans from around the world. Intelligentsia sources and selects coffee that is directly traded from coffee farmers around the globe, including Guatemala, Colombia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. New customers start by taking a quiz to understand their coffee preferences and flavor profiles. Then, select from several subscription offerings — Intelligentsia’s choice, the Black Cat Project espresso, classics, seasonals, or “build your own” — and choose your quantity preference and delivery frequency of weekly, or every two, three, or four weeks. And those who live near one of the company’s dozen storefronts can partake in live coffee brewing classes or visit the blog for free brewing inspiration to become your own barista. Best for Chocolate: Vosges Vosges Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: Gifts start at $8Delivery Area: 50 states and CanadaDelivery Frequency: Flexible Why You Should Try It No one does artisan chocolate quite like Vosges, and its selection of truffles, chocolate bars, and gifts is second to none. Pros and Cons Pros Plentitude of gift options Membership rewards Order as frequently as you like Cons Does not offer traditional frequency-based subscription service Overview Vosges Haut Chocolat is recognized as a preeminent artisanal chocolatier with a dedication to crafting some of the world’s most unique and exotic chocolate treats. Creator Katrina Markoff considers herself a “chocolatier and alchemist,” manifesting creative chocolate experiences with thoughtfully sourced ingredients from around the world. From exotic spiced truffles to chocolate bacon bars to seasonal favorites, Vosges presents an array of delightful gifts for any chocoholic, all of which are made without any fillers or preservatives. While Vosges does not offer a traditional subscription — so you may order as frequently as you wish — there are three levels of membership based on spending. Simply sign up (for free!) and earn rewards and savings; the more you spend, the more rewards you receive. Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron Blue Apron Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $8 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Weekly Why You Should Try It Blue Apron lets you dip your toes into the world of gourmet cooking with its ever-changing menu of weekly meal kits. Pros and Cons Pros Variety of add-on market items Wine subscription available Kid-friendly meals Carbon-neutral company Cons Not ideal for those with serious food allergies Overview Blue Apron gives you a chef’s confidence in the kitchen without any extra hassle. Its meal kits arrive at your door with fresh, preportioned ingredients, including sauces, spices, and condiments. Each week, select from an exciting rotating menu filled with internationally inspired meals, and ditch the age-old question of “what’s for dinner?” Experience global culinary adventures, such as hoisin pork belly, chicken and poblano tacos, and shawarma-spiced cod. With several meal preferences, including kid-friendly, chef’s favorites, and veggie-focused, you can keep your whole family happy with enticing comfort-food favorites. Blue Apron also produces fresh-and-ready, prepared meals for easy, mess-free dinners and offers gift cards so your loved ones can enjoy convenient gourmet fare as well. Best for Smoothies: SmoothieBox SmoothieBox Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $3.25 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Monthly Why You Should Try It SmoothieBox sends you all the frozen organic produce you need to make tasty, nutritious smoothies whenever you want them. Pros and Cons Pros Organic ingredients Free shipping Eco-friendly packaging Cons Limited flavor options Smoothies require blending (so you must own a blender) Overview For smoothie fanatics, SmoothieBox is an excellent monthly subscription. SmoothieBox smoothies are composed of organic produce that is picked at peak ripeness and then flash-frozen and portioned in plastic pouches that are easy to store in the freezer. Since the company does the prep work for you, all you need to do is add a liquid of your choice and blend. The service boasts vegan options, and all products are free of added sugar and preservatives. Each shipment contains 20 flash-frozen preportioned smoothie packs, with each pack designed for two servings. Build your own monthly box from six smoothie flavors with options to add on protein, collagen, or nutrient powders. Best of all, shipping is always free. Best for Seafood: Fulton Fish Market Fulton Fish Market Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $114 per month Delivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Weekly and monthly Why You Should Try It One of the leading names in seafood delivery, Fulton Fish Market offers a selection of fish, mollusks, and shellfish that is truly like no other. Pros and Cons Pros Large selection of fish and seafood Sustainably sourced Reward points and subscriber savings Variety of subscription options Cons Shipping costs vary and are pricey Overview Enjoy one of the most celebrated and famous seafood markets without traveling to New York City thanks to Fulton Fish Market’s online seafood market. From dock to door, savor sustainably sourced, professionally cut seafood that ships both fresh and frozen. Select from a plethora of seafood items, including fillet, smoked, and tinned fish; shellfish; prepared sushi; and more exotic fare, such as octopus and caviar. Order à la carte as often as you wish or subscribe to a weekly or monthly plan, which includes savings and plenty of flexibility to meet your seafood needs. Plans include fresh and frozen seafood with options for four to six servings, six to eight servings, or 12 servings. And for the seafood lover in your life, Fulton Fish Market offers gift subscription bundles for three or six months each. Best for Kids’ Meals: Nurture Life Nurture Life Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $6.50 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesDelivery Frequency: Weekly Why You Should Try It With Nurture Life, you can feed your kids delicious, healthy meals without spending all night in the kitchen. Pros and Cons Pros Meals for various eating stages available Organic ingredients Helpful menu search tags and filters Cons Subscription required (cannot order as one-time customer) Overview Dinnertime just got a lot more convenient for busy caretakers and parents thanks to Nurture Life. The company designs freshly prepared, nutritious meals for all stages of eating — from babies to toddlers to children — making meal and snack time easier for everyone. Each week, select from a diverse menu of dietitian-created entrées, finger foods, smoothies, and snacks that are ready to enjoy in minutes. Plans include six, nine, 12, and 15 items per week, and with a bevy of search filters and dietary considerations, your picky child will be satisfied and satiated with thoughtfully composed, nutrient-dense meals and snacks that boast hidden vegetables and proteins. With comfort foods with a healthful twist, such as cauliflower fries, mac and cheese with hidden squash, and chicken dumplings with cabbage and leeks, your little one will be pleased — and you may just want to polish off their plate if there are any bites left. Best for Tea: Sips by Sips by Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $16 per month Delivery Area: 50 states and CanadaDelivery Frequency: Monthly Why You Should Try It Enjoying a night in? Cozy up to a cup of comfort, courtesy of the monthly tea subscriptions from Sips by. Pros and Cons Pros Vast selection of tea varieties and styles Create a personalized profile Membership perks Free shipping with paid subscription Cons Extra fee to ship to Canada Overview From golden turmeric to Moroccan mint green tea to pu-erh vanilla blends, Sips by is an online mecca for teas sourced from all over the globe. Sips by represents hundreds of teas and tea companies, including women-, black-, and AAPI-owned businesses. Design a personalized tea profile based on your preferred flavor and styles, and gain access to thoughtfully sourced international teas that are curated just for you. Find your perfect match using the featured search tags, including tea format (loose or bagged); caffeine level; flavors; tea types and origins; price; and even dietary needs, such as pregnancy-safe and dairy-free. Sips by offers two membership options — a free membership, which lets you browse and shop teas à la carte with rewards points, and the Discovery Tea Club membership, which is a paid model with extra perks, including four monthly teas, complimentary shipping, access to new releases, and special tea events. Best for Gifts: iGourmet Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: Subscription starts at $38 a month Delivery Area: 50 statesDelivery Frequency: Monthly Why You Should Try It Treat your foodie friends to a fabulous gift courtesy of iGourmet’s vast selection of meats, cheeses, and more. Pros and Cons Pros Global gourmet items Flexible subscription Each box arrives with complimentary newsletter Shipping is included in subscription Cons Does not ship internationally Overview Show that special person in your life some culinary love with an elevated gift box from iGourmet, an online food emporium filled with epicurean goods and gourmet treasures. Shop as often as you like without buying a plane ticket and build a shipment with your favorites from the international food menu. iGourmet features delicacies from France, Italy, Mexico, Scandinavia, the Middle East, and more. If you’d rather sit in the passenger seat, select from a curated subscription box menu. With six cheese and charcuterie subscription options — including an international box and a Martha Stewart USA cheese box — you’re bound to find the perfect match. Items are thoughtfully curated and sourced from around the globe and include nearly 900 cheeses. Select from a three-, six-, or 12-month plan with an option to pay as you go to keep things flexible. Best for Cookies: Milk Bar Milk Bar Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: Depends on each month’s offerings; does not discloseDelivery Area: 50 statesDelivery Frequency: Monthly Why You Should Try It With Milk Bar’s monthly subscription, you can enjoy Christina Tosi’s unique and mouthwatering confections from the comfort of home. Pros and Cons Pros Access to small-batch tasty treats Sample new items before they hit the menu Provide feedback to baking team Cons Limited subscription; may need to join waitlist Cannot choose delivery date Overview Originating in New York City, Milk Bar is renowned for its bold, boundary-bending desserts and sweet treats, and boasts a loyal crowd of followers. Getting your Milk Bar fix may not have been so easy in the past, depending on where you reside. But now, it’s time to get your milk glasses ready, because you no longer need to have a New York City address to enjoy the famous Milk Bar treats. Imagine being a part of the research and development baking team of Milk Bar. Well, now you sort of can. With the “First Bite Club Delivered,” you get to taste and test all of the new and upcoming desserts before they hit the menu, right from the comfort of your own kitchen. Choose between a three- or six-month subscription and get ready to sample and provide feedback to the bakery team before the general public comes rushing in for those chocolate chip pancake truffles. And if you’re not ready to commit to the subscription, you can have fun perusing the online bakery menu and have your treats shipped to your door, so you can have your “cake truffles” and eat them too. Final Thoughts With so many unique food subscriptions available, it’s fun to sample and experience delicious foods without having to leave your home or plan a trip. Thanks to a bevy of online subscriptions and purveyors, foodies can enjoy just about anything — from briny oysters sourced from New York City’s preeminent fish retailer Fulton Fish Market to absinthe-infused chocolate truffles from Vosges to hand-butchered dry-aged meat from Rastelli’s. No matter your culinary preference, there is a food subscription box for you. Compare the Best Food Subscription Boxes Company Starting Price Delivery Area Delivery Frequency Free Shipping? Gift Option? Red Velvet Best for Baking $49 per month 48 states Monthly Yes, with subscription Yes Rastelli’s Best for Meat Prices vary by protein; pork starts at $8 48 states Weekly and monthly Yes, with $200 minimum Yes Intelligentsia Best for Coffee $12 per item 50 states Weekly and monthly Yes Yes Vosges Best for Chocolate Gifts start at $8 50 states and Canada Flexible No Yes Blue Apron Best Meal Kits $8 per serving 48 states Weekly No Yes, with gift cards SmoothieBox Best for Smoothies $3.25 per serving 48 states Monthly Yes Yes Fulton Fish Market Best for Seafood $114 per month 48 states Monthly Varies; only in certain geographic areas and with a minimum order Yes Nurture Life Best for Kids’ Meals $6.50 per serving 48 states Weekly No No Sips by Best for Tea $16 per month 50 states and Canada Monthly Yes Yes iGourmet Best for Gifts $38 per month 50 states Monthly Yes Yes Milk Bar Best for Cookies Prices vary; does not disclose 50 states Monthly No Yes Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Food Subscription Box? A food subscription box is a service that ships food or culinary items to your home on a regular basis. Some food subscription services feature boxes that focus on a specific type of food, such as sustainably sourced seafood or organic smoothies, while other food subscription services showcase a variety of items, akin to an online gourmet market. Some subscription boxes place you in the driver’s seat to build a custom box, while other services may offer curated shipments and gift sets. Can a Food Subscription Box Be Sent as a Gift? Many services offer the option to send a food subscription box as a gift. Some services present preselected, curated gift boxes, while other food subscription companies may have you build a tailored box for the recipient. There are even a few food subscription companies that offer gift cards, so your recipient can create a custom experience on their own terms. How Much Does a Food Subscription Box Cost? Food subscription costs vary quite a bit, depending on the service and what it offers. On the lower end, a box may cost $16 per month, whereas, on the higher end, a box may be upward of $100. Price can often depend on the type and quantity of food items. Tea and coffee subscription boxes may cost less than a seafood or meat subscription box. Also, remember that some food subscription services have rewards and incentives, so the more you order, the more you save. Do Food Subscription Boxes Offer Alternatives for Allergies? Many food subscription boxes accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions, such as vegan or gluten-free. However, it’s best to review the ingredient list and try to understand facility and manufacturing practices. Contacting customer service with any questions can alleviate your specific concerns regarding allergies and dietary needs. Methodology Our team of Food & Wine researchers independently reviewed dozens of food subscription boxes. Researchers looked at myriad factors, including the variety of delivery offerings, product type, pricing, sustainability initiatives, shipping fees and time lines, delivery areas, and customer service. After careful review, we identified which food subscription box earned a spot on our list. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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