Virtual gifts are not only ideal for last minute shoppers, aka procrastinators, but are also the best option to consider environment wise. No trees cut, no transport vehicle involved, no packages to handle, and certainly no return or restocking fees. And "a gift that exists on a screen or as an activity isn’t going to add to the recipient’s collection of clutter". It is all a win-win deal. Which digital presents to get? This post features some helpful options which hopefully can help you make your mind.
1. eBooks
Most online bookstores include the option to buy eBook versions. For instance, Amazon Books allows you to use the option 'Buy for others' to send eBooks as gifts. Barnes & Noble has a similar feature called 'Buy as Gift'. Besides gifting individual ebooks, there is also the option to gift a subscription-based service which provides access to tons of ebooks and podcasts covering various genres.
This is indeed the perfect gift for the bookish in your gifting list. Kindle Unlimited is definitely my favorite in this regard. It offers unlimited access to over 3 million titles, unlimited audiobooks, and with the free Kindle app readers can read on any device anytime anywhere.
Kindle Unlimited costs $9.99 per month and also offers prepaid subscription packs of 6 or 12 months usually with discounts. There is also a free one-month trial to test the service before you buy the subscription.
2. Audible
Audible is one of my favorite apps that I have been using religiously for the last three years. I have over 400 audiobooks in my library which I would listen to when working out, cooking, driving, in waiting rooms, and in any other situation where I would have periods of what I call dead time.
Give your loved ones or friend an audible gift membership and let them access thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible originals. There are different membership options you can purchase: a single month ($15), 3 months ($45), 6 months ($90), or 12 months ($150).
When you buy a Premium Plus gift membership, "Amazon will send your gift recipient an email on the day you choose along with redemption instructions, or allow you to print and give it directly based on the option you select."
3. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is a subscription based service that offers a wide variety of benefits which include fast shipping and delivery, exclusive deals, access to several services, among others. Amazon Prime offers a 30-day trial after which you can get one of these plans: Prime Monthly for $14.99 per month, Prime Annually for $139 per year, or Prime Student Monthly for $7.99 per month.
Among the services you can access through your Prime membership are:
Photo credit: amazon.com
- Prime Video: Offers access to exclusive Amazon Originals, movies, and TV shows.
- Prime Video Channels: Allows you to watch TV shows and movies from various channels including Discovery+, Paramount+, EPIX, NBA League Pass, and STARZ channels. No cable required ($4.99–$14.99/month for Prime members).
- Amazon Music: Access and listen to a huge catalog of songs and podcasts without ads. You can listen offline and in HD audio (starts $8.99/month with Prime)
- Prime Gaming: Get free games and access in-game content for your favourite games across all available devices.
- Amazon Photos: As a Prime member you get unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB for video storage.
- Amazon Kids+: Provides kids access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, educational apps and games on compatible devices.
- Prime Reading: Access and read a wide variety of eBooks, popular magazines, comics, and audiobooks.
Photo credit: amazon.com
- Amazon First Reads: Offers Prime members early access to "an editorially curated selection of new books one month before they officially publish".
- Books with Audible Narration: This service is available through Kindle app and Audible app.
4. Premium Apps
Paid apps can make a perfect digital present. From games to language and music learning, the app store has tons of awesome premium apps to gift your special ones. Apple Store makes it easy to gift paid apps using the share button but there is also the option to buy gift cards to use towards buying apps on both Apple App store and Google Play store..
5. Video Streaming Services
How about gifting your loved ones or friends an entire year of family-friendly movies and TV shows? Here are some good streaming services to consider:
A- Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video subscription provides you access to thousands of popular movies, TV shows, sports, and Amazon Originals (e.g., The Boys, The Marvelous, Mrs. Maisel, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan). Prime Video subscription costs $14.99 per month after the 30-day free trial.
B- Netflix Netflix gift cards can be used to pay for Netflix or to offer as a present. Gift cards do not expire but are non-refundable. "You can use a gift card purchased in a different country as long as the gift card is in the same currency as your Netflix bill."
C- Disney PlusDisney+ gift subscription allows you to offer a one year of Disney+ stories, movies, and TV Shows from Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, among others. The subscription costs $119.99 and can only be redeemed by new Disney+ subscribers and in the country in which they are bought.
Photo credit: disneyplus.com
6. Airbnb gift cards
Airbnb gift cards are ideal for the holiday season when everybody is on the go. You can get an AirBnb gift card online (or in a physical location such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc). These cards can be used for any stay, Experience, or Online Experience on Airbnb. Gift Cards bought in the United States can only be redeemed by users who live in the United States. Airbnb gift cards do not expire.
7. Online Learning gift cards
Offer somebody the gift of learning and help them develop new skills and competencies through on-demand videos and online classes taught by world leading experts, performers, artists, entrepreneurs, instructors, among others. MasterClass is one of these wonderful learning platforms that you may want to consider in your gifting options.
Photo credit: masterclass.com
MasterClass offers courses taught by famous people. For instance, Hilary Clinton teaches the power of resilience, Melinda Gates teaches impactful giving, Christina Aguilera teaches singing, Samuel L. Jackson teaches acting, Steve Martin teaches comedy, Serena Williams teaches Tennis, and many more.
Each class in MasterClass includes on-demand-videos that you can watch at your own pace anywhere anytime. A MasterClass membership for one individual account costs $20 per month.
8. Language learning gift cards
If you have a friend or a family member who is learning or about to start learning a new language, your gift to them can be a gift subscription to Rosetta Stone. This is a language learning platform that offers courses in over 20 languages covering language learning lessons from beginner to advanced levels.
The service offers different types of subscriptions. You can either purchase a gift subscription for learning an individual language (starts at $7.99 per month) or you can get unlimited access to all of the platform's services for a lifetime subscription which costs $179.
Photo credit: rosettastone.com
9. YouTube Premium Subscription
I have been using YouTube Premium for three years and definitely no plans to stop the subscription any time soon. YouTube ads drive me nuts. As a premium user, you get an ads-free YouTube viewing experience plus several other perks including millions of songs in YouTube Music without ads, the ability to download songs and videos to your device for offline listening/watching, play music while you use other apps, and many more. YouTube Premium subscription costs $11.99 after the 30-day free trail and there is a discounted version for students which costs $6.99 per month.
10. PayPal Gift Cards
PayPal gift cards are versatile cards that you can purchase online and email to your giftee to use on various brands and services. Popular PayPal gift cards include Apple Gift Card, Domino's Pizza gift card, DoorDash gift card, Google Play gift card, UberEats gift card, Walmart Gift Card, The Home Depot eGift card, Target giftcard, and many more. Paypal gift cards start at $25.
This post originally appeared in Educational Technology and Mobile Learning ( www.educatorstechnology.com ).
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