Why we like it: Lots of people travel with the main purpose of trying their destination’s local food—Universal Yums saves you the airfare. Every month, the service delivers a box of at least five and as many as 18 snacks (depending on which size box you select) from one country. Recent boxes have highlighted lamb and rosemary crisps from the United Kingdom, sweet and spicy fried wheat snacks from Thailand, and dark chocolate with mango filling from the Baltic region—and each comes with a booklet of trivia and games related to the country of the month. As with Bokksu, you can also place standalone orders through the Universal Yums shop.
Availability: Nationwide
Most Variety: Thrive Market
Pros:
- Selection is totally up to the user
- Easy to cancel deliveries (within 30 minutes of placing an order)
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer curated boxes
Why we like it: More a grocery store than a box delivery service, Thrive Market lets you shop its selection of frozen meats and produce, pantry items, and, of course, snacks of every stripe, whenever a craving hits. You can also set up recurring deliveries for specific items. One SELF staffer used the service for a year and loved it: “The subscription is super easy to sign up for and follow—I could cancel a delivery easily and the customer service was lovely,” she says. “I was also super happy with the range of snacks they offer.” Case in point: There are fruit gummies, crackers, meat sticks, and protein bars, to name a few—and lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options.
Availability: Contiguous United States
Note: The cost of each box will depend on what you fill it with.
Best for Charcuterie: Platterful
Pros:
- Highlights artisanal brands and makers
- Gluten-free and vegan options available
Cons:
- Some reviewers found the portions to be lacking
- Pricey
Why we like it: Anyone who loves to graze will enjoy Platterful’s charcuterie kits, which come in two sizes (standard feeds two to four snackers, while large feeds six to eight). In addition to savory meats and cheeses, the kits come with crackers, spreads, and other accompaniments like dried fruits, olives, and nuts (people with nut allergies can request to omit nuts from their order). Charcuterie newbies can even add a wood cutting board to their subscription order.
Availability: Nationwide
Best for Gifts: Cratejoy
Pros:
- Huge variety of boxes
- Streamlined ordering and gifting process
Cons:
- Service can be inconsistent depending on the seller
Why we like it: Got a jerky snob, vegan, or candy fan in your life? You can keep their stashes well-stocked with any of the 59 highly specific snack box subscriptions offered by independent sellers and popular brands through Cratejoy. The site makes it easy to browse and filter its selection based on price, shipping location, and your giftee’s interests, and the boxes themselves come from well-loved brands and small businesses like Vegancuts and Celebrate States. And, when you order through Cratejoy, some brands offer a discount for new customers (like Gusto di Roma, which will take 50% off your first box of its Taste of Italy subscription).
