Home subscriptions can save you time, money, and energy. From meal kits to toilet paper, subscriptions are available for everything you need at home.
Subscriptions are most beneficial when saving you time and energy, particularly when you need something constantly.
If you buy something regularly, particularly if you have favorite brands, consider checking whether you can subscribe, either directly or through an online marketplace. It may be cheaper and easier than repeatedly buying one-off.
Subscriptions can come with many clear benefits: automatic shipments, free delivery, discounts typically ranging between 10% to 20%.
We list some common and popular home subscription options to keep you well-stocked with the things you need.
Many online markets offer grocery and essentials shopping on subscription, enabling you to receive everyday essentials at regular intervals.
If finding the time or ability to go shopping is challenging, a grocery subscription can be essential. Whether it’s bread, fresh fruit and veg, pantry staples, or toiletries and cosmetics, these online marketplaces have you covered.
“My husband and I have always hated grocery shopping,” said Victoria Torrez, Healthline marketing manager. “Once we tried Instacart, our lives changed. It has saved us so much time. It’s also helped us save money since we are not buying random items not on our list!”
Perhaps the most popular type of home subscription, meal delivery services can save a huge amount of time and energy on grocery shopping, meal planning, and preparation.
You can choose from prepared meals, which are pre-cooked and just require heating, or meal kits, which provide pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to follow. Some brands offer both.
Subscriptions are often available for everyday drinks such as coffee, milk, or juice. If you go directly to your favorite brand for a subscription rather than buying from the supermarket or grocery store, you’ll likely get better discounts, free shipping, and other perks such as early access to new products.
Laird offers a wide range of innovative coffee blends using mushrooms. For premium brands offering unique products that may not be available in grocery stores, a subscription is usually the best way to keep a regular supply.
For many people, toiletries and cosmetics come with brand loyalties or specific requirements. This can make subscriptions useful, as you can keep a regular supply of your preferred personal hygiene products, with the bonus of free shipping and discounts.
One key product to consider is deodorant. Editor Alice said: “Before I subscribed for deodorant deliveries, I would buy from a lot of different brands with varying results. Once I found a sustainable deodorant that actually worked, I stuck with it. The subscription meant I was never scrambling to buy something that wasn’t worth my money.”
Daily skin care is important, whether you have a 12-step routine or get along with just some moisturizer. If you’re looking for cosmetics subscriptions, the Healthline team highly recommends sustainable brand UpCircle.
Plus points include multiple delivery frequencies, so you can customise the subscription to suit your actual usage needs. This kind of flexibility is worth considering for any subscription, alongside the option to skip and pause deliveries.
Perhaps one of the most essential household items, a regular subscription to toilet paper can save you a lot of hassle. Subscriptions also make it easier to manage supply, so you’re never racing to grab a pack before you run out, or piling boxes up before you’ve finished using the first.
Editor Bethany Grayland-Leech said, “We subscribe from the company called WGAC because the toilet paper is eco-friendly and cheaper than other branded toilet roll.”
From hand soap refills to dishwasher tablets, multisurface sprays to laundry detergent, getting your cleaning products via subscription can help keep your home spotless.
Many innovative brands offer subscriptions for household cleaning products, including sustainable options, such as liquid refills in eco-friendly packaging or dishwasher tablets or sheets.
Healthline editor Chelsea Logan said, “I really like Blueland for plastic-free dishwasher tablets and hand soap.”
Catherine Conelly, also an editor, seconded the Blueland recommendation. “I love their dishtabs! I also like to put certain cleaning products and random household items on subscription. Things I know I can’t get in stores. I also like that this keeps it somewhat separate from my grocery bill, preventing me from going to Target to run errands and then buying extra stuff I don’t need.”
Clean Cult is another standout sustainable cleaning products brand offering convenient subscriptions.
If remembering to order your medication is a challenge, or you have multiple medications, automated renewals and deliveries can be a lifesaver.
“Calm has been handy for me,” said Alice. “A 3-minute meditation in the morning or before bed can really clear my head.”
There’s a subscription service for almost everything these days. When considering the best home subscriptions for you, it’s worth thinking about what would really improve your life.
For pet owners, subscriptions for food, treats, and toys can be a huge timesaver.
Editor Jill Campbell said: “We have deliveries of food and cat litter scheduled at the right intervals so we never run out. Automatic shipments of pet supplies from Chewy are a lifesaver. It’s so much easier to have 50-pound bags of litter delivered to our door than to lug them home from a store!”
Naomi Wilde agreed that “pet food deliveries are essential.” Editorial Director Siobhan Deremer echoed with the Chewy recommendation. “Chewy’s customer service is also SO lovely. Their site and app make things super easy.”
Other popular recommendations from the Healthline team include entertainment subscriptions. From Spotify for music, podcasts, and audiobooks, to Netflix and Hulu for TV shows and films, these were considered household essentials.
Some things to consider before taking a subscription include:
- Flexibility: Is it possible to change the frequency of payment or deliveries? Do you have an option to pause or skip the subscription?
- Cost: Is the price fixed? Is there a price increase after the first payment? Are pricing tiers available to suit different budgets?
- Value: Does the subscription come with a discount? Is there free shipping? Are there any other unique benefits over purchasing one-off?
- Cancellation: How easy is it to cancel? Is the cancellation policy clear?
It’s also worth considering how you’ll manage subscriptions. If you have many subscriptions at once, it’s possible to lose track of your outgoing spending. Keeping notes of your subscriptions, the cost, and the frequency may help prevent unnecessary overspending.
Home subscriptions can be a huge time saver, keeping you stocked up on your everyday essentials without the hassle of running to the store and hauling supplies home.
A good subscription can save you money through discounts, free shipping, and by preventing wasted purchases. It’ll also give you peace of mind and provide something genuinely useful.
You can get subscriptions for almost every essential in the modern home. From groceries to skin care, deodorant to house plants, you’re sure to find a game-changer for your everyday needs.