Our categories enable you to make your selections based on what you’re in the mood for, the favorites of your household, or specific dietary preferences (such as dairy-free). Some of these brands also run specials for new customers, making it even harder to resist. Whether you prefer more eclectic flavors like cinnamon roll or have more simple tastes like strawberry, there’s something for everyone.
Best Ice Cream of the Month Clubs
Best Overall: Goldbelly Best for Families: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Best for Gourmet Ice Cream: McConnell’s Best for Keto Diet: Nick’s Swedish Style Ice Cream Best for Vegan/Non-Dairy: Frankie & Jo’s
ProsDifferent shipments of flavors and brands every monthFree shipping on most orders ConsRequires a minimum three-month commitment for $90 per monthCannot customize brands or flavorsGoldbelly is kind of a clearinghouse for all kinds of food brands—it brings local and regional favorites to your doorstep, no matter where you live. You’ll be guaranteed a premium ice cream experience from top creameries around the country, but the catch is that you can’t choose which brands come your way. If you’re looking for some variety, reliability, and quality for the price, it’s hard to beat. ProsMore than 40 flavors, including non-dairy onesCertified B Corp companyMilk and cream sourced from Ohio grass-grazed cows ConsThree-month minimum subscriptionCan’t select your flavorsShipping is extraSure, you can get Jeni’s at many local grocery stores and mass merchandisers, but can you really get Jeni’s? There are so many flavors available that you probably have never seen (let alone tasted) all of them if you’ve only bought the brand from the grocery store. The odds are good that you and your family will find something in that box of four pints to savor and argue about. What kid wouldn’t like buttercream birthday cake ice cream, while mom or dad dig into coffee with cream and sugar. The family foodie can get behind a pint of lemon and blueberries parfait. And anyone with a sweet tooth in your house might enjoy skillet cinnamon roll pint or sweet cream biscuits and peach jam. There isn’t a bad flavor in the bunch of them. If you don’t want to continue the subscription after the three months are up and you’ve found new favorites, you can create your own shipment online, including a range of dairy-free flavors. Four pints in a shipment will cost you $199 for three months, $389 for six months, and $759 for 12 months. Shipping is extra which starts at $13 and goes up to $50 (for Alaska and Hawaii). ProsSpecial access to flavors when they launchMilk from grass-fed cowsVery dense with high butterfat ConsHigh price for only 3 pints per monthCan’t customize flavors McConnell’s knows a few things about ice cream. Its ingredients are simple and as unprocessed as possible. The milk comes from grass-grazing cows on partner family farms. And the ice cream is strikingly dense. Most brands contain around 14 percent butterfat and almost 50 percent air, but McConnell’s packs in 18 percent butterfat and only 10 percent air. The difference results in super creamy ice cream. McConnell’s is also committed to using ingredients you can pronounce and doesn’t contain any gums, starches, thickeners, or stabilizers. If you join the company’s pint of the month club, you get three different flavors which include limited editions and scoop shop exclusives. Sign up for three- ($195), six- ($389) or 12-month ($780) increments. McConnell’s prices include shipping via UPS to the lower 48 states and Hawaii. ProsLow sugar ice creamBoth traditional and vegan flavorsMore than two dozen flavors ConsShipping is only free on subscription orders over $75This Swedish brand makes ice cream with sweetness derived from plant-based substitutes such as stevia, erythritol, and soluble corn fiber. It’s keto-friendly and some flavors are even vegan. The flavors are rich and the taste is sweet like traditional ice cream, without the aftertaste that plant-based sugars can sometimes impart.Although Nick’s is available in many stores, you can’t always find what you want. The price for a build-a-box subscription and delivery is comparable with what you’d pay in the store. If you’re not sure what to choose, Nick’s makes it super easy to decide. Just opt for Nick’s bundle instead, and choose vegan, best sellers, or choklad (that’s chocolate, naturally) selections, among other options. ProsCompletely plant-basedCreative flavorsCertified B Corporation ConsVery expensive shippingFrankie and Jo’s mission is to “radically shift the way you think about ice cream.” The flavors are surprising—not necessarily because they’re completely plant-based (lots of coconuts, cashews, and oats here)—but because of the sheer high-level innovation in their ingredients. You might not taste nutritional yeast, mushroom powder, or collagen in these vegan ice creams, but they’re incorporated seamlessly into the likes of flavors such as golden milk, mint brownie, and jamocha chaga fudge, among others. Shipping is a $20 flat rate in all lower 48 states for orders in packs of 4, 6 or 8. The shipping process is zero-waste, a factor that weighs into the cost.
How Do Ice Cream Subscriptions Work?
Each month, you’ll receive a specified number of pints of ice cream shipped to your doorstep. In some cases, you can select the flavors, although some don’t permit that. Some also have minimum commitments of three months.
How Much Do Ice Cream Subscriptions Cost?
Ice cream subscriptions vary in price, from $59.95 per month to $199 for three months and beyond, depending on the brand and the number of pints being shipped.
Are Ice Cream Subscriptions Worth It?
If you seriously love ice cream and want to try new varieties and brands, it’s worth it. Besides, who doesn’t like getting something decadent like ice cream in the mail? They also make really sweet gifts for friends and family. Subscriptions are fun if you’re bored with the selection of frozen novelties at your local grocery store, don’t live near a great homemade scoop shop, or if you fall in love with a brand while traveling. We have to admit, getting ice cream delivered from a shop you went to on vacation would be pretty cool.
