Causebox Vs. FabFitFun: Which Subscription’s Better?

After seeing endless Instagram ads and influencers touting the latest swag they scored in their subscription boxes, admit it: You’re kind of curious whether they’re worth the cash each month (or quarter). But with all of the options out there, it’s hard to know which one’s worthy of scoring your credit card number. That’s why I’m taking one for the team—you’re welcome, world!—and comparing the two lifestyle boxes currently flooding my feed: Causebox vs. FabFitFun. Which one’s worth the money? Take a look at our breakdown of the two and decide for yourself.

How Causebox & FabFitFun Are Similar:

Both boxes are sent quarterly, featuring a mix of lifestyle products—namely, fashion, beauty and the occasional candle, letter board, or ring holder to spruce up your home. Both promise treasures inside that are worth way more than the price you pay per box (often 3 to 4 times the value, based on the retail price of all items), and both let annual subscribers customize some of the products in their boxes.

What Makes Them Different:

Causebox typically packages its products with a more distinct theme (summer 2019, for example, featured all essentials for a day out in the sun), and its products are all sourced from socially conscious companies that give back. FabFitFun is more of a range of items from all sorts of companies, and you have more customization options with each box.

What’s The Cost of Each?

You can typically find a first-timer’s coupon code to save you money on each. Causebox costs $55 per quarter (or $50 per box with an annual subscription), though with a promo code, you can snag it for 20% off. FabFitFun will set you back $50 per quarter, and you can often get $10 off.

What Do You Actually Get?

Expect to get about 6-8 items from each brand’s box per quarter. To give you a better sense of what’s inside, I’ll compare the Spring 2020 boxes.

What’s Inside FabFitFun’s Spring 2020 Box:

• FabFitFun will send you three out of the following: Thisworks Deep Sleep Moisturizer, Spongelle Black Orchid body wash-infused buffer, Purlisse Watermelon Energizing 2-Minute Polishing Peel, Winky Lux Rainbow tinted lip balm, Chic & Tonic silicone straws (4-pack), Whish Beauty Blue Matcha Restoring Mask, Wander Beauty Mile-High Club Volume and Length Mascara, and/or Avene Thermal Spring Water

• Customization #1: Aria Beauty Luxe Detangling Electroplated Brush, Jabonería Marianella Imperial Jade body oil, Stone Cold Fox tea towels or AVEDA damage remedy daily hair repair
• Customization #2: AG Hair Fast Food leave-in conditioner, Skindinavia The Makeup finishing spray, Lovescript body wash, Speaqua Cruiser Bluetooth wireless speaker, Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Precision Tip liquid liner, Eparé dual salt and pepper mill
• Customization #3: reVive Light Therapy® Glo wrinkle and anti-aging device, DONNI. ribbed sweater coat, Caravan woven rug, Summer & Rose navy diamond tote, West Elm indigo tie-dye bowls, Elemis Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream-Oil 
• Customization #4: Murad® Rapid Collagen Infusion gel, Shoshanna umbrella, Tarte™ Rainforest of the Sea™ H2O hydrating boost, Tarte™ glow highlight & contour palette, 111SKIN Rose Gold Radiance Booster
• Customization #5: Amber Sceats™ Double coin necklace, Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask, WEI Two-in-One Purify and Glow mask collection, Cosmedix Pure C, Green Goo Hibiscus plant-based body scrub

What’s In Causebox’s Spring 2020 Box:

• Bentgo stackable bento box set
• Pixie Mood “Zoe” crossbody bag
• Artisan Direct reusable grocery bag set (5-pack)
• Customization #1: Simple Self Self-Care planner or Jenni Earle Wild + Free Bandana
• Customization #2: Dime volumizing eyelash serum and mascara set or Fosterie layered necklace
• TBD additional products? Causebox’s site suggests there may be more items in this season’s box, but the brand hasn’t released any additional spoilers yet. We’ll update this post as soon as we know more.

Which Subscription Box Is the Better Pick?

I waffle every quarter, because it really depends on your interests and what you’ll actually use. In the summer, I was really down on Causebox, simply because I already owned everything in that season’s shipment. Not those exact products, but they were so generic that I didn’t feel like I needed another sunscreen, tote bag, swimsuit cover-up, or hair ties. They had great stories behind them, sure, but the items themselves weren’t memorable.

This past fall and winter, however, I loved Causebox way more than FabFitFun. Everything seemed more carefully curated and special, and even if I already owned something (like a statement necklace or face oil, for example) the design or features touted made them stand out enough that I couldn’t wait to try them. Right now, spring 2020 is shaping up the same way, though Causebox’s full spring box has yet to be revealed.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. If you’re really into trying new beauty products and serums with a side of lifestyle, try FabFitFun. If you’re more into natural/sustainable wares and products with a story, Causebox might be better for you.