These Digital Gifts Can Be Ordered Online (and Delivered Instantly for Any Holiday Celebration)

Gift Guide

Short on time or wrapping paper? Consider one of these thoughtful digital gifts

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We’ve all been there. You have one foot out the door, heading to a white elephant party, Secret Santa, Hannukkah celebration, or Christmas Eve dinner… and suddenly, you realize you’re missing one thing (and no, it’s not your keys). A gift. Whether you procrastinated or your memory just slipped, don’t panic. There are plenty of fantastic digital gifts that don’t require any physical delivery.

At a Glance: The Best Digital Gifts to Buy Online

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 giftee 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.

The Best Digital Gifts to Buy Online

We’ve found the best digital gifts for any holiday celebration that you can get right now. If you need to order a gift online fast, these digital gifts will deliver just what you (and your person) are looking for.

For the Learner

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, Kris Jenner, Kevin Hart, Stephen Curry, and hundreds more.

For the Traveler

If they’re an avid traveler (or just need a little 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 put towards an Airbnb experience.

for the foodie

If there’s a foodie in your life, or honestly, just someone who hates cooking and would rather order delivery than deal with dishes, DoorDash is the ideal online gift. They can choose any cuisine they’re craving — from Italian to Mexican and Japanese — and have it sent to their home in typically 15 to 45 minutes (though timing varies by restaurant and location).

for the sweet tooth

We love 1-800-Flowers for a lot of reasons. You can get same-day bouquets delivered to just about anyone in the country, for nearly any holiday, and at a reasonable price compared to similar brands.

Another big reason we’re fans is that they don’t just sell flowers; they also offer plenty of options for giftees with a sweet tooth, with our top pick being Cheryl’s Cookies. Choose from a variety of selections, including this cookie assortment available for under $50, and send them something that feels a bit more personal than a gift card.

for the reader

Book of the Month Club makes the ideal gift for any book lover — especially those who don’t want to spend hours searching for their next great read or feel like they’ve already been through everything. The service offers three gifting options: three, six, or twelve credits. Once recipients redeem their gift code, they can choose from a special selection of books each month, and their pick will be delivered straight to their door.

For the Cook

Give them the gift of home cooking with a gift card to FreshDirect. A digital card gives access to over 15,000 fresh foods and pantry items that they can order at their fingertips. FreshDirect gift cards, delivered electronically, are the easiest way to buy a loved one dinner — and breakfast, lunch, and snacks, too.

for the stressed-out

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.

For the Coffee-Lover

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 scheduled day. 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 the info, and you’re good to go. Uncommon Goods will send an email with the video call link before the class begins.

For the (Audio)book Worm

Once you get into audiobooks, you’re not sure what you were doing before. If your person 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. It can be used 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 for your giftee — or you just want to send 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 giftee regular samples of high-end colognes and perfumes, and lets them try more than they normally could by buying new ones. Plus, new subscribers go through a fun quiz that matches them with certain scents.

Yes, flowers make a great gift for anyone. 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 person 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.

Want to really spoil someone? Get them on a plane somewhere fun. You can buy 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 Favre 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. It makes a great gift for sports fans or anyone who’s always struggling to find their content.

ClassPass is a great general gift because your person 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 their hobbies or tastes are, Etsy is sure to have plenty of unique items that they’ll love. The site has everything from sports memorabilia 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’s 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 recipient 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 person, an Amazon gift card is probably the safest gift there is.

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