Best virtual gifts for Christmas

Virtual gifts for the entertainment lover

Whether your aunty loves a podcast, your brother is a movie buff, or your little cousin is obsessed with Fortnite, there’s a digital subscription for them all. For the film lover or box set binger, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV all offer cheap gift cards. A Spotify, iTunes, or Google Play gift card is the way to go for the music connoisseur or serial-killer-podcast obsessive. The gamer in your life would appreciate an Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam gift card.

Virtual gifts for the stressed

Is there someone in your life who needs to slow down the pace? Treat them to a Headspace or Calm subscription. Both are meditation apps that offer gift subscriptions that you can send straight from your phone or laptop.

You can purchase a year’s subscription from Calm, or either a one-year or one-month subscription from Headspace. Give it a go and see if they’re a little more Zen over Christmas dinner next year.

Virtual gifts for the good Samaritan

Not everyone is big on gifts or the commercial nature of Christmas. But, you still want to show them that you care. This is where donating to a charity on their behalf will make an excellent gift.

Head over to UNICEF and help a child on your loved one’s behalf for £10. Over at Shelter Box, you can provide help to families facing disaster by buying a blanket for as little as £7, or a children’s coat for £8.

Virtual gifts for the bookworm

Have you got a friend or family member who's always talking about their latest read? An audiobook subscription or a secret read could be right up their alley.

Audible allows you to purchase one month to 12-month subscriptions, ranging from £7.99 right up to £69.99. If the person still prefers the feel of a real book, Mr. B’s books offer a surprise read. Select your recipient’s favourite genre and someone in Mr. B’s knowledgeable team will choose a book for them and send you a gift certificate to share. They’ll then let the recipient know that a surprise book is on its way.

Virtual gifts for the eternal student

We all know that person who’s always learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby. So, why not send them a gift of an online course this Christmas?

Domestika offers creative courses to take online, from crafts to fashion, marketing to app design, illustration to photography. Select from a curated bundle of courses or give your recipient the option of choosing what they'd like to study. The great thing is that no course has an expiration date, so they'll be able to revisit and refresh their learning whenever they choose.

Buyagift.co.uk have a hub of ideas, including online language lessons, cooking classes, and make-up courses. Vouchers are also available for gift experiences such as afternoon tea, a meal for two or a theme park ticket.