After promising yourself you wouldn’t leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute, here you are. But don’t worry, not all Christmas gifts need to be physically delivered. We’ve found 12 quick and easy 'no delivery' Christmas presents for your loved ones to beat the December 25 deadline.
These presents don’t need to be shipped, so whether the person you are buying for is a book lover, a gamer or a binge-watcher, there’s a range of gift ideas below to suit a range of budgets, and better yet, you won’t look guilty of a last-minute Christmas buy.
Gift cards
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Our first recommendation is an easy one – a gift card. While it might feel a little rushed or impersonal, a gift card gives them the gift of choice, and it’s a nice way to ensure they’ll get something they actually like – isn’t that what really matters? When it comes to choosing a store for the gift card, a safe bet is somewhere with plenty of options such as Amazon or The Iconic. These can be ordered as late as Christmas morning, and delivered straight to the recipient’s inbox.
• Buy a gift card from Amazon
• Buy a gift card from The Iconic
AncestryDNA kit
If you’re looking for a gift that doesn’t feel entirely last-minute, an AncestryDNA kit could be genuinely special. The DNA kits can help your loved one trace back their heritage, and may even connect them to long-lost relatives (or help solve cold cases). The results from AncestryDNA kits can link your genetics to a specific geographic region, and provide insight as to why your ancestors might’ve moved from place to place with historical context.
AncestryDNA kits are on sale for Christmas, with prices starting at AU$85 (AU$44 off).
Disney Plus
Disney Plus has something for everyone and can keep the family happy all year round. You’ll get access to Disney’s entire library, along with movies and TV shows from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and National Geographic.
Disney Plus also includes Star, which adds more adult-oriented shows and movies to its collection. This is a streaming service that’s growing beyond its niche for Marvel fanatics and childhood nostalgia, and it’s available for AU$13.99 a month, or AU$139.99 a year.
Read our full Disney Plus review
Binge
Binge is the home of HBO in Australia. It’s where you’ll find classics such as The Wire and The Sopranos, and more recent hits including The White Lotus, Succession and much, much more.
But there’s more to Binge than HBO – there’s also mega film franchises including Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and loads more. A seven-day free trial is available, after which you can get started from AU$10 a month.
Read our full Binge review
Kayo Sports
If your loved one is a sports fanatic, then Kayo is the gift that keeps on giving. With access to over 50 sports live and on demand, Kayo has your last-minute Christmas gift sorted.
The 'one' package gives you a single screen to stream from, and costs AU$25 a month (following a seven-day free trial). The basic tier will get you two simultaneous streams for AU$30 a month, while the premium package gets you three for AU$35 a month, keeping practically everyone in the house happy.
Read our full Kayo Sports review
Readly
Readly gets you thousands of magazines at your fingertips for a small monthly subscription fee, and we think it’s excellent value at AU$14.99 a month. We’ve found the service very easy to use, and while you’ll be giving up the feel of flicking through pages, it’s at a killer price that can’t be beat (and you get your first month free as well).
Alternatively, if you want the real deal, you can head to techmags.com.au and subscribe to any of our sister publications, including APC, Australian Guitar, ProPhoto and so much more, in all their glossy glory.
Read our full Readly review
Xbox Game Pass
There’s one sure way to please any Xbox gamer, and it’s with a Game Pass subscription. A membership will unlock over 100 game titles from the Xbox library, ready to play on Microsoft’s console or PC.
You’ll also be among the first to get access to the latest releases from Xbox Game Studios on the day they come out, which is very nice indeed. Prices for either console or PC start at AU$10.95 a month, while an Ultimate subscription gets you access to both console and PC for AU$18.95 a month.
Right now, you can get your first 14 days of Xbox Game Pass (PC) or Game Pass Ultimate for just AU$1.
Read our full Xbox Game Pass review
PlayStation Plus
If the gamer in your life has a PS4 or PS5, a PlayStation Plus membership will allow them to play games for both consoles online. You can add new games to your collection every month, and if you subscribe to PlayStation Plus Extra, you’ll get access to hundreds of games in the Game Catalogue.
There are three tiers available on the PlayStation Store: Essential, Extra and Deluxe. A 12-month subscription to the Essential tier costs AU$95.95, while the Extra plan jumps up to AU$169.95 for an annual subscription, and a 12-month Deluxe subscription will cost you AU$196.95.
• Go to PlayStation Store to sign up now
Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus
Kindle and Kobo are the two biggest ereaders out there, and both come with their own ebook subscription services.
In fact, you don’t even need a Kindle or a Kobo to access their libraries, as you’re able to download either service’s app on a smartphone or tablet to get access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks.
You can get a 30-day free trial of Kindle Unlimited (then AU$13.99 ongoing) or Kobo Plus for AU$13.99 a month.
Audible
If your loved one is an avid reader but doesn’t have the time to curl up with a good book, gift them with a subscription to audiobooks instead. Not only do famous voices bring books to life, there’s a plethora of exclusive podcasts available too. You only need the free Audible app on your smartphone or tablet to get started, and after your first 30 days free, a subscription is AU$16.45 a month.
Magazine subscriptions
If your loved one enjoys reading something physical, consider signing them up for a magazine subscription as a last-minute gift idea. We’ve got to shout out a few of our expert colleagues, who also write for various tech, gaming, photography, AV and guitar magazines in Australia. Take a look at all the titles our colleagues are writing in at techmags.com.au.
Groupon
Groupon is a site where you can buy experiences for your loved ones, and almost always at a discounted rate. You’re able to buy anything from five-star hotel stays to dancing classes, tequila tastings, ghost tours and movie passes for the whole family on Groupon, so there’s truly something for everyone. If you’re utterly stumped on what to buy this Christmas, Groupon is a good shout.
