It happens to the best of us: We procrastinate gift shopping and end up scrambling for the same Valentine’s card, flowers, and chocolate combo from the grocery store. Luckily, there are dozens of great digital gifts that don’t require any physical delivery.
As the name suggests, the best digital gifts can be ordered online and delivered instantly — and you won’t have to worry about shipping or things selling out. Many of these e-presents are gift cards and subscriptions to popular services, and you have the option to e-mail them directly to your Valentine or print them out and give them as a card. Other top digital gifts are for experiences, letting your recipient choose exactly what they want — and how they want it.
The Best Digital Gifts
We’ve found the best digital gifts you can get right now. If you need to order a gift online fast, these digital gifts will deliver just what you — and your loved one — are looking for.
Let your Valentine get up close and personal with some of the world’s most famous newsmakers and artists through a subscription to MasterClass, an online learning platform that taps everyone from celebrities to CEOs for on-demand classes you can take from home. The platform has classes from Metallica, Nas, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, and classical musician Yo-Yo Ma.
If your Valentine is an avid traveler (or maybe he needs motivation to take a trip), consider a gift card to Airbnb. The gift card can be used for one of Airbnb’s thousands of stays, or they can put the card towards an Airbnb experience.
Give someone the gift of home cooking with a gift card to FreshDirect. A digital card gets them access to over 15,000 fresh foods and pantry items that they can order all at their fingertips. FreshDirect gift cards, delivered electronically, are the easiest way to buy a loved one dinner — and breakfast, lunch, and snacks, too.
Few gifts are better than a healthier mind. Headspace has done just that for thousands of users, helping people meditate, fall asleep, and manage anxiety. Their audio experiences are very well-produced and quick, offering an easy intro to meditation for anyone.
There are lots of coffee subscription services out there now, but Trade is one of the best. They have a few gifting options, all of which set up deliveries of coffee on your Valentine’s schedule. Plus, with Trade, your giftee will actually get coffee they’re likely to enjoy, instead of a random selection.
The Chef & The Dish lets anyone learn how to cook authentic, regional food from a professional chef. Your giftee’s lesson will be taught over a video call, and a Kitchen Assistant will contact them before the lesson to run through a shopping list and provide tech support. The Chef & The Dish allows you to explore food from 16 different regions of the world, including Brazil, Peru, Japan, the Caribbean, and America.
Uncommon Experiences offers digital classes on astrology, music, cooking, and even mindfulness, all taught by experts. All you have to do is pick the date, fill in your Valentine’s info and they’re good to go. Uncommon Goods will send an email with the video call link before the class begins.
Once you get into audiobooks, you’re not sure what you were doing before. If anyone you know hasn’t been converted yet, send them a subscription to Audible. The audiobook leader (owned by Amazon) offers a giant library of titles with high-quality audio and a great interface. Subscriptions start at just $15 a month.
Stubhub gift cards are an easy option that shows some thought. They can use it for just about any ticketed experience, be it a concert, a sports event, or a play — all booked through one of the most trusted ticketing platforms around.
If you can’t be there to cook with your Valentine — or you just want to send them a special, one-of-a-kind treat — get them a gift card to Grubhub. They’ll be able to order whatever they want to their door, thanks to you.
It’s hard to find the right fragrance for your character and occasion, which is why we love Scentbird. The service sends your Valentine regular samples of high-end fragrances (cologne or perfume) and lets them try more than they normally could by buying new ones yourself. Plus, new subscribers go through a fun quiz that matches them with certain scents.
Yes: You can give flowers as a gift. But, if you can’t drop them off yourself, you can always turn to The Bouqs. The straightforward service, seen on Shark Tank, helps make flower delivery easier and better for both parties.
We didn’t think the dessert world could be shaken up until Milk Bar came on the scene. The bakery — famous for its any-time-of-year birthday cake — specializes in elevated, fun takes on classic desserts, and they deliver nationwide. If your Valentine has a sweet tooth, a gift card from Milk Bar is a great alternative to chocolate.
Here’s a gift that can be truly valuable to your giftee: a Rosetta Stone subscription. Whether they’re planning a trip abroad or just looking to pick up a new language, Rosetta Stone can help them get there.
Shopping for gamers can be tough if you’re not a gamer yourself. If you don’t know what games your Valentine already owns, it’s best to send them this digital PlayStation Store gift card. They can redeem it for whatever game or service they choose, on their own time.
Want to really spoil someone? Get them on a plane somewhere fun. You can buy them tickets yourself if you know exactly where they want to go and when, but we recommend getting a digital gift card instead, such as this one from Delta.
Cameo does require some lead time (so delivery isn’t instant), but it’s worth the wait. The clever service lets you pay celebrities to record a short, personalized video for a loved one. You’ll see big celebs like Brett Farve and Kevin O’Leary, as well as smaller stars (with a smaller price tag) like Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and David Arquette (Scream).
We’re in an odd era of TV right now where cable is antiquated and too expensive for what you get, but most big streaming services still don’t provide live sports and events. The fix? A live TV streaming service like DirecTV Stream. It makes a great gift for sports fans or anyone who’s always struggling to find their content.
ClassPass is a great gift because your giftee can use it for just about any wellness-related activity. They can check out a new fitness class — from boxing to cycling to yoga — or they can use the gift card for a spa treatment or meditation class.
No matter what your loved one’s hobbies or tastes are, Etsy is sure to have plenty of unique items that they’ll love. The site has everything from jewelry to decor to fan-made merch, and many of these items are handmade by real artists.
Boatsetter is basically Airbnb for (you guessed it) boats. The site has a ton of vessels for rent — both captained and up to you to man — ranging from affordable to ultra-luxurious. It’s great for vacations or use in your hometown body of water.
Amazon Music has some great playlists and stations that music fans will love. Plus, it’s fully integrated into Alexa and other Amazon products for easy navigation (especially with smart homes).
Walmart+ offers a ton of benefits — from early access to sales to free shipping and same-day delivery. If your Valentine shops at Walmart, this is a great way to upgrade their daily routine — and save them some money in the long run.
This one isn’t exactly a “digital gift,” but it’s all digital on your end. Minibar will let you deliver alcohol to someone in 30 to 60 minutes, in most cases, so you can send that present right at the last minute.
If you really don’t know what to get your Valentine, an Amazon gift card is probably the safest gift there is.
Enjoyed this article? There’s a lot more where it came from. Gift your loved one a subscription to Rolling Stone here.
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