Simplify Your Life With These 27 Monthly Subscription Services

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As TV on-demand services have flourished, all sorts of companies are beginning to offer subscription services to meet a variety of specialized needs. Do you spend way too much on games, books, or music? Do you need a way to get around town, but can't afford a bike? Wardrobe a tad drab? There's a service for each of these.

Before we delve into the types of services you might want to check out, it's important to know the difference between subscription boxes and subscription rental services.

Subscription boxes are a service where you can sign up to pay a flat fee to purchase a variety of items. The items are bulk ordered by the company for cheaper than you can purchase them individually. The boxes are usually themed and the individual items in the boxes are often unknown until the box arrives. (See also: The 10 Best Monthly Subscription Box Services)

Subscription rental services are services where the buyer pays a flat fee for access to the service. The main difference between a box and a rental is that the subscription rental doesn't give the individual ownership of any items offered by the plan.

Below are 27 types of subscription services you might want to check out.

Games

Gaming, whether it's video games or board games, can be an expensive hobby. Board games can run anywhere from $10 to $100 each. New video games are typically around $60. Game enthusiasts might be able to save money by signing up for a monthly subscription.

1. & 2. PlayStation and Xbox

Both PlayStation and Xbox have monthly rental subscription services that grant players access to free games on their consoles for $9.99 each month.

3. OnePlay

OnePlay is a monthly rental subscription service that grants access to 2000+ PC video games for $9.99.

4. GameFly

GameFly is a monthly rental subscription service that allows gamers to play one or two games at a time for $15.95 or $22.95, respectively. New games are delivered once the old game or games are returned.

5. & 6. Board Game Bento and Hasbro Gaming Crate

Board Game Bento and Hasbro Gaming Crate are subscription boxes that run $50 per month. Board Game Bento, in particular, promises $80 of value in their $50 subscription box. The boxes can be a stellar way to add a variety of games to your collection for a slightly lower price.

7. Board Game eXchange

Board Game eXchange is a rental subscription service that allows individuals to receive a shipment of rental games every two months. Depending on the subscription, the subscriber will receive two to 12 games in the package.

8. NetMeeples

NetMeeples is another rental subscription service that ships rented games to subscribers each month. Subscriptions tend to run anywhere from $10 to $50, depending on how many games you want each month.

Books

Reading and listening to books can be a very expensive hobby for avid bookworms. When free books won't do, individuals can save money by signing up for a book subscription service.

9. & 10. comiXology and Marvel Unlimited

comiXology and Marvel Unlimited are comic book subscription services that allow readers to read hundreds of free comics each month for $5.99 and $9.99, respectively.

11. & 12. Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Scribd

Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Scribd are subscription services that grant access to a library of books and audiobooks for avid readers to enjoy. The books in the services can be a tad limited. This is more of a service that grants access to dozens of slightly less popular titles and older classics with a few gems thrown in occasionally.

13. Other book boxes

You can also find dozens of paper and e-book subscription boxes online. A few paper book subscription boxes to check out include: Book of the Month, OwlCrate, Powell's Indiespensible.

Movies

Do you desire to go to the movies, but just can't stomach the high price of movie theater tickets? There is a movie pass subscription service that could save avid moviegoers a lot of money.

14. MoviePass

MoviePass allows individuals to pay one flat monthly fee of $9.95 to see a movie at the theater every twenty-four hours. The price of the service differs by location based on the regional cost of tickets.

It can lead to a far cheaper movie going experience, but there are a few downsides that might limit the appeal of this service.

• You can only see each movie one time.

• There probably won't be 28 to 30 movies per month that you're dying to see.

• The service doesn't cover the cost of 3D, Imax, or VIP 21 tickets.

Transportation

Car or bike ownership can be an expensive investment. Alternate transportation (bus, train, or subway) is not always convenient.

Transportation subscription services have cropped up in big cities and have slowly been expanding into less populated regions.

15. Canvas

Canvas is a month-to-month car subscription service available in the San Francisco Bay Area. The service allows individuals to choose a car, a mileage package, and when the vehicle will be delivered to them.

16. FlexDrive

FlexDrive is a car subscription service located in Atlanta, Austin, and New Jersey. The service allows individuals to rent a car on a weekly or monthly basis.

17. YOYO

YOYO is another car subscription service located in the San Francisco Bay Area. This particular service has a yearly membership fee and regular payment plans that are based on the type of car selected.

18. CitiBike

CitiBike is a New York City-based bike sharing service that allows individuals to sign up for a subscription plan for one-day, three-day, or yearlong service plans. The plans allow members to take out bikes for an unlimited number of 30 or 45-minute rides.

19. Unlimited Biking

Unlimited Biking is another NYC-based bike subscription service. The service offers plans that allow the rider to take the bike out for one to four hours per day.

Clothing

Dressing fashionably can be expensive. There are dozens of subscription boxes and rental services to help individuals who would like to cultivate a diverse, trendy wardrobe for a fraction of the cost. You'll own every item you decide to keep from these boxes. A few examples of boxes to get you started are Five Four Club, Stitch Fix, and Le Tote.

If you want the ability to really diversify your wardrobe, I'd recommend looking into a clothing rental subscription service. How does it work? The service sends the subscriber a few pieces of clothing and accessories. Once the subscriber is tired of them, they return them, and new pieces are delivered.

20. Parcel22

Parcel22's subscription allows individuals to 'rent' three garments and two accessories at a time for $49.99 per month.

21. Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway's subscription allows individuals to rent three designer garments at a time.

Food

Eating healthy is a time-consuming process. Finding recipes, buying the food, and preparing the meals, can take hours that a lot of us just can't spare. Grocery delivery services and meal prep boxes are one solution to help busy professionals and families eat well without dedicating an exorbitant amount of time to cooking and shopping.

22. AmazonFresh

With this subscription, you'll get free deliveries on AmazonFresh orders over $50. (Amazon Prime membership is included with this subscription as well.) AmazonFresh offers prices lower than most delivery services and has an unrivaled selection of products. They can even deliver items from local shops and restaurants. (See also: 21 Fresh Food Delivery Services That Can Save You Big)

23. Farm Fresh to You

Get fresh, seasonal and organic products delivered to your doorstep. Farm Fresh to You works with local farms and bring you the best of the season's produce. You can customize your box and even pick and choose from specific items if you'd prefer not to be surprised (although that's the most fun). (See also: 6 Ways Having Your Groceries Delivered Can Save You Money)

24. Crate Chef

Crate Chef is a monthly box of specialized ingredients, cooking tools, and recipes. This service sends out one themed box every month and allows subscribers to skip boxes that they have no interest in.

25. Freshly

Freshly is a cooked meal subscription that delivers four to 12 fresh meals to your door every week. The service allows individuals to choose between 30 different dishes per week. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

26. & 27. Hello Fresh and Plated

HelloFresh and Plated allow individuals to choose meals, receive the ingredients, and recipes in insulated boxes each week. Both services come with easy to follow cooking instructions. Different plans are available based on the number of servings per delivery and the number of recipes delivered per week. (See also: Are Meal Prep Subscription Boxes Worth It?)

Life can be expensive. Dozens of little purchases can easily snowball into a high monthly budget. Netflix-style subscription and rental services can, if chosen carefully, slash your monthly expenses.

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