Subscription boxes are the gift that keeps on giving—and for long-distance couples, they're a brilliant way to create shared experiences month after month. Whether you're looking to surprise your partner with their new favorite thing or find matching boxes you can both enjoy together, we've found the absolute best options.
This comprehensive guide reviews the top 10 subscription boxes designed specifically for long-distance relationships (or perfectly suited to them). We've tested many of these ourselves and researched hundreds of reviews to bring you honest recommendations with real pricing, shipping details, and what makes each one special.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us create more free content for the long-distance community.
Why Subscription Boxes Are Perfect for LDRs
Before we dive into the specific boxes, here's why subscriptions work so well for long-distance relationships:
- Consistent Connection: Monthly deliveries mean regular reminders of your love
- Shared Experiences: Many boxes can be enjoyed together virtually or in parallel
- Low Effort, High Impact: One purchase creates months of surprises
- Discovery Together: You both get to try new things and share your reactions
- Anticipation Building: Waiting for each month's box becomes something to look forward to together
The 10 Best Subscription Boxes for Long Distance Couples
1. LoveBox - The Original Connected Message Box
Price: $99-$129 (one-time purchase) | Shipping: Worldwide
While not technically a "subscription," the Lovebox is a one-time purchase that creates an ongoing connection. Send unlimited messages and photos to this wooden heart-shaped box that spins when a new message arrives. Your partner opens it to reveal your message on a color screen.
Best For: Couples who send messages throughout the day
Why We Love It: The physical spinning heart adds a magical touch to digital messages. It's permanent, beautiful, and becomes a daily ritual.
Shop Lovebox2. Paired Premium - Relationship App Subscription
Price: $8.99/month or $59.99/year | Platform: iOS & Android
Paired Premium transforms the free Paired app into a comprehensive relationship tool. Get daily questions, quizzes about your partner, expert relationship advice, and over 1,000+ conversation starters designed to deepen intimacy.
Best For: Couples who want to deepen emotional connection
Why We Love It: The daily questions give you something to discuss every day, and the insights help you understand each other better across the distance.
Try Paired Premium3. Atlas Coffee Club
Price: $14/shipment (+ shipping) | Frequency: Every 2 weeks, monthly, or bimonthly
Each delivery includes freshly roasted coffee from a different country, plus a postcard with brewing tips and information about the origin. Order two subscriptions so you can "travel the world" together each morning with your coffee.
Best For: Coffee-loving couples who want to share morning routines
Why We Love It: Having matching morning coffee creates a shared ritual even when you're apart. Plus, the educational component gives you something to discuss.
Explore Atlas Coffee4. Winc Wine Subscription
Price: $13-$23 per bottle | Frequency: Monthly (customizable)
Take a taste preference quiz, then receive personalized wine selections each month. Order matching subscriptions and schedule virtual wine tasting dates where you both try the same wines together over video chat.
Best For: Wine enthusiasts who want sophisticated virtual date nights
Why We Love It: Perfect for creating classy virtual date experiences. The personalization means you'll actually like what you receive.
Join Winc5. CrateJoy - "Couple's Box" Options
Price: $30-$50/month (varies by box) | Frequency: Monthly
CrateJoy hosts several LDR-specific subscription boxes including "Date Night In" boxes with activities, games, and treats for virtual dates, and "Adventure Challenge" couples editions with scratch-off date ideas.
Best For: Couples who want ready-made date night activities
Why We Love It: Takes the planning out of virtual dates—everything you need arrives in one box.
Browse CrateJoy Couples6. Universal Yums
Price: $16-$36/month depending on box size | Frequency: Monthly
Receive 5-7+ snacks from a different country each month, complete with a trivia booklet. Order two subscriptions and have a "snack date" where you try everything together over video chat and compete on the trivia.
Best For: Adventurous eaters who love trying new things
Why We Love It: The trivia element makes it interactive and fun. You're essentially traveling the world together through taste.
Try Universal Yums7. Book of the Month
Price: $16.99-$18.99/month | Frequency: Monthly
Choose from 5+ newly released books each month. Both subscribe, pick the same book, and start your own two-person book club. Discuss chapters over your regular calls or in a shared reading journal.
Best For: Book lovers who want shared intellectual experiences
Why We Love It: Reading the same book creates natural conversation topics and gives you a shared world to live in together.
Join Book of the Month8. Craft Beer Club / Beer of the Month
Price: $40-$50/month | Frequency: Monthly
Receive 12 craft beers (4 styles, 3 each) from small breweries across the country. Order matching subscriptions and have virtual "beer tasting" dates where you rate each one together.
Best For: Beer enthusiasts 21+ who want to explore craft brewing together
Why We Love It: The variety means you always have something new to discuss. Perfect for Friday night video calls.
Explore Beer Subscriptions9. MasterClass Duo Subscription
Price: $120/year for Duo plan | Platform: Online streaming
Access to 180+ classes taught by world experts in cooking, writing, photography, music, and more. The Duo plan lets you both access different classes or take the same one "together" on your own schedules.
Best For: Couples who want to grow and learn together
Why We Love It: Learning together strengthens your bond. You can take cooking classes and then make the same meal on video chat, or learn photography and share your results.
Try MasterClass10. FabFitFun (Her) + Bespoke Post (Him)
Price: FabFitFun $55/quarter | Bespoke Post $45/month
Get matching seasonal subscription experiences: FabFitFun delivers $200+ worth of beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products quarterly. Bespoke Post sends curated boxes of gear, apparel, and goods for men monthly. Unbox together on video chat.
Best For: Couples who want personal surprises plus a shared unboxing ritual
Why We Love It: You each get products you'll love individually, but sharing the unboxing experience creates a fun virtual date activity.
Comparison Chart: Find Your Perfect Subscription
| Subscription | Price/Month | Best Feature | Virtual Date Friendly? | Gift Option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lovebox | $99-129 (one-time) | Daily physical connection | Always on | Yes |
| Paired Premium | $9/mo | Relationship building | Yes - daily | Yes |
| Atlas Coffee | $14+ | Morning routine ritual | Yes - mornings | Yes |
| Winc Wine | $13-23/bottle | Sophisticated dates | Perfect | Yes |
| Date Night Box | $30-50 | Ready-made activities | Designed for it | Yes |
| Universal Yums | $16-36 | Interactive fun | Highly | Yes |
| Book of the Month | $17-19 | Deep conversations | Ongoing discussions | Yes |
| Beer Club | $40-50 | Tasting experiences | Perfect | Yes |
| MasterClass | $10/mo (annual) | Growing together | Shared learning | Yes |
| FFF + Bespoke | $45-55 | Unboxing fun | Yes - unboxing | Yes |
How to Choose the Right Subscription Box
Consider Your Budget
Subscription costs add up over time. A $50/month box equals $600/year—make sure it fits comfortably in your budget. Consider starting with a 3-month commitment to test it out before going annual.
Think About Your Partner's Interests
The best subscription aligns with what your partner already loves or wants to explore. Don't send a wine subscription to someone who doesn't drink, or a book box to someone who never reads.
Match or Gift?
Decide whether you want matching subscriptions (both get the same thing) or if you're gifting them their own unique subscription. Matching works best for creating shared experiences; individual subscriptions work for personal interests.
Frequency Matters
Monthly boxes create the most consistent connection, but quarterly boxes can be more special and substantial. Consider your communication rhythm and what would feel most meaningful.
Check Shipping Areas
If you're international, verify the subscription ships to both locations. Some US-only boxes (especially alcohol) can't cross borders legally.
Creative Ways to Make Subscription Boxes More Special
1. Synchronized Unboxing
Schedule a video call when you know the boxes have both arrived. Open them together, sharing your reactions in real-time.
2. Create Rituals
If it's a coffee subscription, text each other every morning as you brew your matching cups. Wine subscription? Friday night virtual tastings become your standing date.
3. Document the Journey
Keep a shared journal or photo album of each month's box. Rate items together, share favorite moments, and create a record of this chapter of your relationship.
4. Add Personal Touches
Include a handwritten note with the first box explaining why you chose this subscription and what you hope you'll experience together.
5. Use It as Countdown Content
Track shipping together, build anticipation, and let the arrival of each box mark the passage of time until you're reunited.
Budget-Friendly Subscription Alternatives
If the subscriptions above stretch your budget, consider these DIY alternatives:
- Netflix Party/Teleparty: Free browser extension to watch shows together (with existing Netflix subscription)
- Spotify Duo: $12.99/month for two Premium accounts with a shared playlist feature
- Create Your Own: Send each other a "mystery box" monthly with $20-30 worth of items you curate yourself
- YouTube Premium Family: $22.99/month for up to 5 people, ad-free watching together
- Audible Family Plan: Share audiobooks and "read" together during commutes
Gifting Tips for Subscription Boxes
When to Gift
Subscription boxes make excellent gifts for:
- Birthdays (gift a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription)
- Anniversaries (month-long reminders of your love)
- Just because (surprise them with months of joy)
- Holidays (the gift that extends beyond one day)
- After visits (ease the post-visit blues with something to look forward to)
How to Present It
Don't just send a receipt! Create a thoughtful presentation:
- Design a custom "coupon" or certificate announcing the subscription
- Make a video explaining why you chose this subscription
- Send a "preview item" related to the subscription with a note about what's coming
- Create a countdown calendar showing when each box will arrive
Cancellation and Flexibility
Before committing, check each subscription's policies:
- Can you skip months? Important if you'll be visiting in person
- Easy cancellation? Avoid subscriptions with difficult cancellation processes
- Pause options? Useful if you're closing the distance soon
- Prepaid vs. monthly? Prepaid often saves money but requires upfront commitment
International LDR Considerations
If you're in different countries, subscription boxes become trickier but not impossible:
Best Options for International Couples:
- Digital subscriptions: Paired Premium, MasterClass, Spotify, etc. work anywhere
- Region-specific subscriptions: Each person subscribes to available options in their country
- Amazon Subscribe & Save: Available in many countries, create custom recurring deliveries
- Cratejoy: Filter by international shipping availability
Shipping Cost Reality Check:
International shipping can double or triple subscription costs. Do the math before committing. Sometimes sending a care package yourself quarterly is more cost-effective than monthly international subscriptions.
Final Thoughts
The best subscription box for your long-distance relationship is one that fits your unique situation, interests, and budget. Whether you choose a sophisticated wine club for virtual date nights, a daily connection through Lovebox messages, or matching coffee subscriptions for shared mornings, the key is consistency and intentionality.
Subscription boxes transform the pain point of distance into an opportunity for ongoing surprises and shared experiences. Each delivery becomes a reminder that even though you're apart, you're still very much together—growing, exploring, and enjoying life as a team.
The miles between you might be many, but with the right subscription, you'll have something to connect over every single month.
Ready to Start?
Pick one subscription from this list that resonates with your relationship. Start with a 3-month trial to see how it enhances your connection. You can always adjust, add more, or try something different—the journey of discovery is part of the fun.
Looking for more ways to stay connected? Check out our guides on best tech gifts for long distance couples and most romantic LDR gifts.