25+ Last-Minute Gift Ideas to Save the Day

Who doesn’t like the gift of food or rides? When you give someone an Uber gift card, they can use it for either one. There are many designs to choose from and you can add a personal message, too. You can select any monetary amount from $25 to $500, and you can get it mailed to your gift recipient or emailed.

StackSocial specializes in digital items all year long, and it comes in handy for finding a last-minute gift with a ton of subscriptions, software and membership deals. Upgrade your loved one's tech with new apps or services, help a traveler learn a new language or nab cheaper flights, or simply secure a discounted membership to a big-box store for bulk-buying discounts. You’ll also find digital gift cards to Restaurant.com (which includes more than 62,000 restaurants across the United States), a wine shop, movie theaters and much more.

There's almost nothing you can't find on Amazon, which means whoever you gift this to will find something that makes them happy. You can choose from dozens of designs, including some with a video for your gift recipient. The minimum amount you can load on a card is $5 and it goes up to $2,000, so you can send whatever amount you want.

Sure, you can run into your nearest store to grab a gift card, but that works only if you're about to see your recipient in person. If you need one delivered, head to eGifter, which offers a huge selection of electronic gift cards that arrive instantly via email. You can even include an online greeting card, invite others to chip in and add a photo or video for a more personalized touch.

If your giftee loves to shop, then a gift card might be the way to go. QVC offers deals on everything from electronics and kitchen gadgets to fashion, beauty and jewelry, so there's something for everyone. Go for an e-gift card and your gift can arrive in seconds, or schedule it to arrive via email. 

Picking beauty products for someone else can be intimidating (and downright hard), so we're fans of Sephora gift cards. That way, it's a win-win: You avoid the stress of choosing the perfect lipstick shade or face cream, and they get to treat themselves to something they truly want. You can opt for a physical or digital gift card, but digital allows you to add a fun, festive touch with a personalized photo.

There’s a reason why people (myself included) walk into Target for one or two items and leave with a cart full. From electronics and home goods to clothing and food -- and much, much more -- the sky’s the limit. No doubt your giftee will appreciate a Target gift card and choose the exact gift(s) they’d like. The cards come in many fun designs and you can select any amount from $5 to $500. You can also choose how you'd like it delivered: mail, email or text.

Gifting someone a coffee membership is a great gift (especially if you live with them and will get to taste the coffee too). CNET’s David Watsky has tried many coffee subscriptions and he says Atlas’ Coffee Club is the best one for the price. The coffees come from all over the world, from Columbia to Peru to Tanzania. Each shipment also comes with a postcard of the destination and tasting notes, which are fun touches. A three-month subscription usually starts at $60, although it’s on sale now for only $50, which is a great deal. (Six- and 12-month subscriptions are available too, on sale for $94 and $184.)

Bokksu curates a collection of the best snacks from Japan and presents them in a one-time or recurring monthly tasting box. CNET's David Watsky looooves gifting Bokksu to friends and family. Inside the colorful boxes, you'll find a delicious assortment of Japanese snacks like senbei rice crackers and seaweed tempura, along with Japanese candies like yuzu gummies and matcha-strawberry Kit-Kats. What's more, Bokksu includes some info-packed literature explaining a bit about each, including historical and cultural significance. Bokksu boxes start at $40 for one month and are cheaper the more months you get.

Blue Apron is an excellent meal kit delivery service that offers delicious oven-ready meals and easy-to-follow recipes at a decent price. CNET's David Watsky did the math, and the service often costs about the same -- or even less -- than buying all the ingredients at the store yourself. That's why it's our choice for the best meal kit delivery service in 2024. Blue Apron e-gift cards range from $70 to $280.

Do you really need convincing to gift someone an ice cream subscription? Jeni's makes it even easier to say yes with inventive, extra delicious flavors like Maple Soaked Pancakes and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Each shipment contains four pints -- ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt -- often featuring flavors that haven't even been released yet. Subscriptions are available for three, six or 12 months.

If your favorite foodie prefers savory options, look no further than Wildgrain. The company teams up with small, independent bakeries to ship flash-frozen, bake-at-home bread products for homemade quality without the time and effort. Offerings include breads, pasta and pastries -- with plenty of gluten-free options, too. You can buy a loved one a gift card or choose a subscription that can be customized with their favorite baked goods.

For the loved one who has all the "stuff" they could possibly need, consider gifting them something great to watch from the comfort of their own home. With a Paramount Plus gift card, they'll be able to watch exclusives like Landman and 1923 -- along with tons of movies and live sports. Gift cards can be purchased in increments of $25 and redeemed toward a monthly or annual subscription to the streaming network.

I've been a Netflix subscriber for as long as I can remember, so I'm always shocked to find that some folks don't have the service. How else can they stream all their favorite movies and shows? Let's help these people out! Gift cards can be purchased via Amazon or at Walmart, Target and other retailers, and prices vary depending on what plan your gifteee chooses.

Why stop at a single book when you can gift someone a virtually unlimited supply? Audible allows access to thousands of titles each month, so your giftee can enjoy tuning in to audiobooks while exercising, traveling or on the go. A one-month gift subscription costs $15, and your recipient gets one book credit to start them off. You can also purchase three months with three credits ($45), six months with six credits ($90) or 12 months with 12 credits ($150).

Does your giftee have a guitar they've been meaning to learn how to play? Give them a nudge in the right direction with Fender Play. It offers three- to five-minute bite-size lessons to build confidence in beginners, and expands to more intermediate lessons that'll have them playing their favorite tunes in no time. They can choose between learning how to play acoustic and electric guitar, bass and ukulele, and the production quality is so detailed it'll feel like they're learning in person. Currently, you can get a three-month subscription for under $30 on Amazon.

Give the gift of travel with an Airbnb gift card. Cards are only available digitally, but since you can apply the funds toward any booking, it shouldn't be a problem. With Airbnb, giftees can pick their own destination, amenities and length of stay. The card doesn't expire, but it must be linked to their account within 90 days of purchase. Card amounts run from $25 to $2,000 when you purchase directly from Airbnb.

Some people already have everything they want, or they're extra particular about what they like. In those cases, give the gift of an experience that will get them off the couch to try something new. Uncommon Goods offers thousands of live online experiences, including flower-arranging lessons, cocktail-mixing sessions and astrology-chart classes. Experiences start at $20 and go up to $260.

Anyone who wants to dive deep into a topic with an expert will enjoy MasterClass. The online learning service offers over 180 classes taught by A-list celebrities, with new content released each month. You can get into cooking with Gordon Ramsay, poetry with Amanda Gorman, filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, skateboarding with Tony Hawk and more. A standard subscription for an individual costs $10 a month, but is on sale for just $6 a month right now.

Who wouldn't want to be "officially" designated a lord or lady? Buy your giftee a square foot of land in Scotland -- and the accompanying lordship or ladyship that goes with it. Each plot comes with a personalized title certificate (delivered via email within 24 hours) and a unique plot number. This conservation-minded effort also promises a tree planted for every order. Title packs start at $60.

There's still something magical about watching a movie in theaters, especially with all the buttery popcorn and fixings. An AMC Theaters gift card is perfect for families, friends and anyone looking to watch the exciting big-screen releases coming in 2026. Plus, AMC regularly hosts special movie events (like concert films on Imax), which make the gift even sweeter.

If you know someone who's always craved the thrill of breakneck speed, you can give them exactly that. Your giftee can choose to do an open-road tour or a Super Track Experience, which lets you zip around a racetrack with no speed limits. Gift vouchers start at $100.

Come Jan. 1, everyone will be racing to the gym to start their New Year's resolutions of getting into better shape. Help your giftee get ahead of the curve -- and get motivated -- with ClassPass. They can take classes at thousands of studios, gyms and spas, allowing them to bounce from SoulCycle to HIIT to a traditional gym. The variety will keep their workouts novel, helping them stick to their goals.