- Streaming services make great last-minute gifts
- Consider if the recipient has a streaming device
- Here are some of the best streaming gift subscriptions to give:
Shopping for other people isn’t always easy. There may be times you end up procrastinating and before you know it, it’s the day of your sister’s birthday or your best friend’s housewarming party and you don’t have a gift. Luckily, there are countless last-minute gift options, including the gift of streaming.
Yes, that’s right — you can absolutely gift Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, and even Disney Plus. Not only will a streaming service help your loved ones stay entertained at home no matter what, but it’s also the gift that keeps on giving.
Whether you buy a gift card online or in-store, many of the most in-demand services have a dedicated section for redeeming digital gift card codes so that your loved one can activate their subscription when they’re ready to sink into the couch and take in some excellent original programming or revisit their favorite movie.
Netflix? Disney Plus? Streaming services make quick and easy gifts. Before you buy a streaming gift card, there are a few things to consider. Your giftee will need a streaming device or smart TV to enjoy the service. (If they don’t have one, congratulations! You’ve stumbled into another gift idea. CNET can help you navigate affordable, quality streaming devices and smart TVs.)
In addition, once the gift card or gift subscription runs out, naturally, access to the service does, too. If they want to keep using the service, they need to add a credit card for payments.
Here’s a list of some of the best streaming service gift subscriptions you can give to family and friends this year, from popular choices to some more niche products for people with particular viewing sensibilities:
- Netflix — offers gift cards online or in-store through retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target and Kroger. Netflix offers three subscription tiers — Standard ad-supported ($7 per month), Basic ($10 per month), (Standard ($15.49 per month) and Premium ($20 per month).
- Hulu — offers physical or digital gift cards through retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, Walgreens, Kroger and PayPal. Hulu has a few different subscription tiers to choose from like basic Hulu ($8 per month) and ad-free basic Hulu ($15 per month). You can also subscribe to Hulu Plus Live TV ($70 per month) and Hulu Plus Live TV without ads ($82.99 per month). Hulu Plus Live TV now includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
- Disney Plus — offers new releases like Shang-Chi, classic Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel movies, as well as Disney Vault movies, fun documentaries and plenty of TV shows. Disney Plus doesn’t have gift cards, but you can give a one-year gift subscription offer for new subscribers.
- Showtime — includes award-winning shows, movies, documentaries, pay-per-view fights and more. You can get a Showtime gift card at multiple retailers like Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, CVS, GameStop, Walgreens, Walmart and more. Showtime also offers gift cards for its online store, but those gift cards can’t be applied to a streaming subscription.
- Paramount Plus — includes content from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV and the Smithsonian Channel, as well as sports content from the NFL, SEC and more. Paramount Plus’ basic plan is $5 per month after a seven-day free trial. You can also upgrade to Premium for $10 per month after the free trial. Paramount Plus also houses Showtime content, so users can choose the Essential with Showtime bundle or Premium for $12 per month after the free trial. Essential includes ads and doesn’t include access to CBS.
- Britbox — check out original content like The Long Call, riveting mysteries like Luther, The Fall, Poirot, classic comedies like Keeping Up Appearances and the Vicar of Dibley, dramas like Downton Abbey and MI-5 and so much more. Britbox costs $8 per month or $80 annually after a seven-day free trial.
- BroadwayHD — includes musicals, Broadway classics, Tony Award winners, Shakespeare, ballet and more.
- Viki — a dedicated service for Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese shows and movies. You can watch Viki for free with ads, orupgrade to a subscription for $4.99 per month or $49.99 annually to get rid of ads and gain access to exclusive content.
Overall, a streaming service gift subscription is a great option for a last-minute gift that’s both thoughtful and practical. Consider the recipient’s preferences and viewing habits before choosing the service, and make sure they have a device to enjoy it on. Happy streaming!