This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.
Holiday shopping was stressful enough before the pandemic, but this year’s expected supply chain shortages will only make matters worse for procrastinating shoppers.
In addition to helping you stay cozy at home as the weather gets colder, choosing a TV and movie streaming service, like Netflix, Hulu or Disney Plus, are easy last-minute options that can arrive by email and won’t go out of stock. Whether you purchase a gift card in-store or online, the service should have a dedicated section to redeeming gift card codes when your loved one wants to activate the subscription.
Netflix? Disney Plus? There are dozens of streaming services that make quick and easy gifts.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Before you go this gift-giving route, there are a few things to think ahead about. 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 most popular (and most niche) services you can give to family and friends this year:
Netflix
Best original shows
Netflix
Streaming veteran Netflix — like Hulu — offers gift cards online or in-store through retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target and Kroger. Netflix offers three subscription tiers — Basic ($9 per month), Standard ($14 per month) and Premium ($18 per month).
Netflix is packed with movies, shows, documentaries and original content. With a subscription, you can also check out mobile games on the Netflix app for no extra charge.
See at Amazon
Hulu
Best for TV show fans who’ve cut the cable cord
Hulu
You can purchase physical or digital Hulu 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 ($7 per month) and ad-free basic Hulu ($13 per month). You can also subscribe to Hulu Plus Live TV ($65 per month) or ad-free Hulu Plus Live TV ($71 per month).
Hulu houses a huge catalog of movies, shows, documentaries and original content.
See at Best Buy
FIND THE PERFECT GIFTUnder $50Under $100Under $250Under $500Allallmomsdadsgrandparentsfitnesstravelersteenspreteenstechgamingkidshomefoodies67 results
LG C1 OLED 65-inch
$1,797 at Amazon
The Mirror
$1,495 at Mirror
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
$1,166 at Amazon
Dell G15
$1,100 at Best Buy
HP Pavilion Aero 13
$1,000 at HP
MacBook Air M1
$1,000 at Best Buy
Vizio MQ7 65-inch
$1,000 at Amazon
iPhone 13 Pro
$999 at Apple
TCL Series 6 TV 65-inch
$999 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
$925 at Amazon
Lenovo Yoga 7i (2-in-1)
$850 at Best Buy
iPhone 13
$799 at Apple
DJI Minin 2 Fly More Combo
$600 at Amazon
Arcade1Up Arcade Machine
$600 at Best Buy
Google Pixel 6
$599 at Amazon
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
$530 at Amazon
TCL Series 4 TV 65-inch
$529 at Amazon
iPad Mini 2021
$500 at Best Buy
Xbox Series X
$499 at Amazon
iPhone 11
$499 at Apple
Sony PlayStation 5
$499 at Amazon
Apple iPad 2021 (9th generation)
$470 at Amazon
Nintendo Switch OLED
$429 at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 7
$399 at Best Buy
Apple Watch SE
$269 at Amazon
Sony WF-1000XM4
$250 at Walmart
Theragun Mini
$199 at Amazon
Atlas Tea Club
$199 at Atlas Tea Club
Fitbit Charge 5
$179 at Amazon
Madewell Transport Tote
$178 at Madewell
Perfect Pot
$165 at Our Place
Bose SoundLink Flex
$150 at Best Buy
Coravin Wine Preservation System
$150 at Target
Apple AirPods 3
$150 at Amazon
Illy Y3.3 Espresso and Coffee Machine
$149 at Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite 2021
$140 at Amazon
Best of Dylan’s Candy Bar Gift Basket
$100 at Dylan’s Candy Bar
EarFun Air Pro 2
$80 at Amazon
Disney Plus Gift Subscription
$80 at Disney
Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker
$79 at Amazon
Letterfolk Customizable Tile Mat
$75 at West Elm
Mosaic Plant-Based Meal Delivery
$70 at Mosaic
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
$69 at Amazon
Echo Dot with Clock
$60 at Amazon
SteelSeries Arctis 1
$50 at Amazon
Crown & Paw Pet Canvas
$50 at Crown & Paw
Nintendo eShop Gift Card
$50 at Amazon
JBL Go 3
$50 at Amazon
Lunya Silk Sleep Mask
$48 at Lunya
Botley 2.0
$47 at Amazon
Biolite TraveLight 135
$40 at Biolite
Blockaroo Blocks
$40 at Amazon
Trade Coffee Subscription
$40 at Trade
Roku Express 4K Plus
$39 at Amazon
Parks Project Candle
$36 at Parks Project
ThisWorx Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner
$36 at Amazon
Wyze Cam v3
$36 at Amazon
Lenovo Smart Clock
$35 at Best Buy
Hydro Flask
$35 at Hyrdo Flask
Five S Kneading Massager
$35 at Amazon
Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion Board Game
$32 at Amazon
Lego Speed Champions Corvette
$30 at Amazon
Lodge Cast-Iron Grill Pan
$20 at Amazon
Spanish-style Wine Glasses
$20 at Amazon
Croissant Light
$19 at Amazon
Lite-Brite
$13 at Target
Fox in the Forest
$12 at Amazon
Disney Plus
Fun for the whole family
Disney
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 is currently offering a one-year gift subscription offer for new subscribers. A Disney Plus subscription normally costs $8 per month or $80 annually, but the service is offering a special that’ll charge you only $2 for your first month. The deal runs through Nov. 14. You can also check out the Disney Plus bundle, which includes Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for $14 per month.
See at Disney Plus
Showtime
One of the most generous free trials around
Showtime
Showtime, a more direct competitor to HBO, 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.
Most recently, Dexter: New Blood, a continuation of the original series starring Michael C. Hall, premiered on the service. A Showtime subscription usually costs $11 per month, or $99 annually, but the service is running a limited-time special to pay $4 per month for your first four months after a free trial. You can also bundle Showtime and Paramount Plus for $12 per month after a 30-day free trial.
Paramount Plus
A classic TV fan’s dream
Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus, formerly CBS All Access, 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.
You can purchase a Paramount Plus gift card in-store or online through retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, Sam’s Club and more.
See at Best Buy
Britbox
Netflix for British telly
Screenshot by CNET
Bribox is one of my favorite niche streaming services. You can 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 $7 per month or $70 annually after a seven-day free trial.
You can give a one-year subscription of Britbox this holiday season with just a few clicks on the website.
See at Britbox
Broadway HD
Broadway shows from the comfort of your couch
Screenshot by CNET
No more breaking the bank buying theater tickets or scouring the dark corners of the internet for a bootleg. BroadwayHD includes musicals, Broadway classics, Tony Award winners, Shakespeare, ballet and more.
You can give one month of BroadwayHD for $12 or an annual subscription for $130.
See at Broadway HD
Rakuten Viki
The ultimate service for K-Drama fans
Screenshot by CNET
Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime have plenty of Korean dramas (my heart personally hasn’t recovered from Netflix’s Crash Landing on You), but if you’re looking for a dedicated service for Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese shows and movies. You can watch Viki for free with ads, or subscribe to Viki Pass for $50 per year or Viki Pass Plus for $100 per year. Viki Pass unlocks more shows and movies, presents content in HD quality without ads, as well as first access to exclusives, originals and more.
Unfortunately, the service doesn’t have gift cards anymore, so if you want to buy a Viki Pass for a loved one, the best way is to buy a prepaid cash card for the recipient to put toward the subscription.
See at Rakuten Viki
Apple TV Plus
Great original TV shows everyone is talking about
Apple
Apple TV Plus — Apple’s $5 per month streaming service — has released some popular exclusive shows like Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Dickinson and Schmigadoon. The service also has original documentaries and movies like Finch, starring Tom Hanks, Coda, and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.
There’s not a dedicated Apple TV Plus gift card, but you can purchase a regular Apple gift card that the recipient can put toward their subscription.
See at Apple
Met Opera on Demand
A night at the opera without leaving the house
Screenshot by CNET
In a similar vein to BroadwayHD, the theater-goer in your life might enjoy a subscription to Met Opera on Demand. The service includes full-length operas like Madama Butterfly, Die Walküre, Aida, Carmen, and more. Met Opera on Demand also includes a Live in HD series, which adds new titles every month.
Give your loved one a one-year Met Opera on Demand subscription for $150 through its website.
See at The Metropolitan Opera
Sundance Now
Great for true crime fans
Sundance Now/Screenshot by CNET
Sundance Now offers collections of award-winning dramas, thrillers, documentaries, true crime, international movies and more. The service is a great spot to explore high-quality, off-the-beaten-path titles like One Million American Dreams, God’s Own Country, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry, and more.
The service costs $7 per month or $60 annually after a seven-day free trial. Sundance Now doesn’t offer subscription gifting, but you can always buy a prepaid cash card for the recipient to put toward the subscription.
See at Sundance Now
Shudder
For those who celebrate Halloween year-round
Momentum Pictures
Just because stores have swapped out Halloween decor for Christmas trees doesn’t mean scary movies should be shelved too. Shudder is the ultimate streaming service for horror movie fans. With a subscription, you can watch classics like Children of the Corn and Carnival of Souls, as well as Shudder Originals, sci-fi, creature features, psychological thrillers and more.
A Shudder subscription costs $4.75 per month after a seven-day free trial. Like some of the other services on this list, it doesn’t offer a dedicated gift card, but you can buy a prepaid cash card for the recipient to put toward the subscription.
See at Shudder
Criterion Channel
For the film buff in your life
Criterion
The film buff in your life will love a subscription to the Criterion Channel.The service includes more than 1,000 classic, contemporary, art-house, international and independent films. With a subscription, you can check out films like Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, An Affair to Remember, Bride of Frankenstein, Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, Paris is Burning, Frances Ha and more.
You can order a gift subscription to the Criterion Channel on its website. Choose a one-month subscription for $11, all the way up to a year for $100.
See at The Criterion Channel
Crunchyroll
For the die-hard anime fan
Crunchyroll
You can find a good selection of anime on other streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, but Crunchyroll is a well-known hub for manga, games, news, as well as popular anime shows like Attack on Titan, Bleach, My Hero Academia, Death Note, Inuyasha and more. You can use Crunchyroll for free, but the Premium tier unlocks an ad-free, HD-viewing experience across multiple devices. In addition, you’ll get early access to anime titles within about an hour of the original broadcast in Japan, as well as discounts on DVDs and more.
Crunchyroll offers three premium tiers — Fan ($8 per month), Mega Fan ($10 per month) or Ultimate Fan ($15 per month) after a 14-day free trial. You can gift a premium subscription tier through the website.
See at Crunchyroll
Read more about which streaming service to cancel to save the most money, the best streaming services of 2021 and other great gifts that won’t run out of stock.
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