The Best Cheese Subscription Boxes Ship You the Crème de la Creameries

Murray’s Cheese is the best overall for cheese subscription boxes

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Photo composite of various cheeses

Simply Recipes / Designed by Amelia Manley

There's probably never been a better time to sign up for a cheese subscription box than right now. For one, there's a wonderful surge of small-scale cheesemakers across America who are using locally sourced milk to make creative, world-class cheese. Meanwhile, European producers continue to produce legendary fine cheeses.

Subscribing to regular shipments of cheese curated by expert cheesemongers lets you try excellent cheeses you may not yet know about, plus cheese subscription boxes are also a reliable way to support independent cheesemakers and creameries, both established and emerging. We found plenty of fine choices you can trust to get more top-quality cheese in your life.

Best Cheese Subscription Boxes of 2023

  • Best All-Around: Murray’s Cheese

    Murray’s Cheese

    Murray’s Cheese

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $63–$113 per month, depending on subscription 
    Frequency: Monthly 
    Types of cheese: U.S. and international

    Why You Should Try It
    The variety of cheese subscriptions Murray’s Cheese offers, plus its decades of experience selecting cheese for customers, makes it a trusty go-to for many cheese subscription options, whether for yourself or gifting.

    Pros
    Lots of choices for subscriptions
    Options for subscription length

    Cons
    Expensive

    Overview
    Murray’s Cheese has been around since 1940, starting out in New York City’s Greenwich Village and eventually branching out to multiple locations in the city. It is also known for its virtual and in-person classes. Because education is central to its mission, Murray's selects cheeses for subscriptions in a manner that will teach you something.

    Want just cheese? The Classics Club ($63 per month) sends you three to four selections a month with a range of origins (domestic and international), textures (buttery to firm), and intensities. The Cheesemonger Club ($75 per month) offers a slightly rarer fare.

    But for those who’d like something more exciting, try the Perfect Pair of the Month ($85 per month), which pairs two cheeses with two accompaniments, such as preserves or salami. There’s even a cheese board of the month ($113) with three to five cheeses, one to two charcuterie items, and one to three accompaniments, plus a cutting and serving guide.

    One caveat: You’ll pay slightly more for the same amount of cheese with these clubs than you would for some other subscriptions offering cheeses of the same quality. But if you want a good variety of cheese subscriptions to browse over in one spot, Murray’s is the place.

  • Best for American Cheeses: Saxelby Cheesemongers

    Saxelby Cheesemongers

    Saxelby Cheesemongers

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $100 per month
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of cheese: U.S. cheeses

    Why You Should Try It
    There are many world-class American-made cheeses that cheese lovers overlook because they just don’t know about them. Saxelby Cheesemongers advocates for small American cheesemakers and gives them the spotlight they deserve.

    Pros
    Spotlight on artisan American cheeses
    Cheese knife and cheese journal in first shipment

    Cons
    Not the cheapest choice

    Overview
    A cheese subscription from Saxelby is a thrilling schooling in what’s happening in American cheesemaking today. There’s a perception in America that fine cheeses must come from Europe or emulate European styles as closely as possible, but American cheesemaking has very much come into its own in the past few decades.

    Cheesemonger Anne Saxelby opened her shop in New York’s Essex Market in 2006 to offer the best cheeses of America’s artisan cheese renaissance, focusing on cheesemakers in the Northeast and Midwest. With a subscription, you’ll receive only cheeses from those regions.

    You get three cheeses with each shipment in the basic cheese club, totaling 1.5 pounds. For monthly deliveries, you can choose between a month-to-month subscription as well as three-, six-, and 12-month subscriptions. There is also the option for a quarterly subscription where you will be billed every three months and receive four shipments during the year. In addition to their cheese club, there is also a cheese and chocolate club. Both clubs, regular and with chocolate, have a base price of $100 a month, but you'll save a few dollars each month if you choose a commitment beyond month to month.

  • Best Variety: Curdbox

    Curdbox

    Curdbox

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $49.95 per month (plus $10–$15 for shipping)
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S. and international

    Why You Should Try It
    Curdbox’s monthly boxes are entire experiences with fun monthly themes, offbeat pairings, curated playlists, and plenty of extra information that take cheese subscriptions way beyond a few cheeses plopped on a board.

    Pros
    Adventurous pairings
    Fun themes
    Collaborations with chefs and artisan producers

    Cons
    Not for those who only want to receive cheese
    Monthly frequency is the only option

    Overview
    Talk to any cheesemonger and they’ll tell you that storytelling is half their job. Curdbox takes storytelling through cheese to a new level. It’s the monthly cheese subscription box that grew out of Jenn and Matt Mason’s Brookline, Massachusetts, cheese shop Curds & Co. Since a subscription makes the personal connection of traditional in-person cheese mongering impossible, they looked to other ways to assemble an experience.

    The variety is in its playful themes. Each box includes three cheeses (about .75 pounds total) and three creative pairings that play off that month’s theme. Past themes include Fireside Glow (booze-infused cheeses), Sugar Mama (cheeses and sweet pairings from women producers), and Too Gouda to Be True (three types of Dutch goudas). Every month, there’s a Spotify playlist and one or more blog posts telling you about the cheese, plus often offering wine or beer pairing ideas.

    This box is best for adventurous budding cheese lovers who don’t want to be bothered assembling the components of a clever cheese board themselves.

  • Best for International Cheeses: Zingerman’s Artisan Cheese Club

    Zingerman’s Artisan Cheese Club

    Zingerman’s Artisan Cheese Club

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $200 for 3 months, $395 for 6 months 
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of cheese: Mostly European, with one month from USA

    Why You Should Try It
    Those who want to travel Europe via international cheese will get solid schooling through Zingerman’s club, which covers all the classics.

    Pros
    Good sampling of iconic European cheese
    Generous 1.5-pound amounts
    Three cheeses from one country per shipment

    Cons
    No month to month option
    Just cheese, no pairings

    Overview
    There are cheeses we hear about our whole lives, it seems, but perhaps have never truly experienced from their origins: Spain’s Manchego, Gouda from the Netherlands, Mimolette of France. Through solid selections of cheese classics that have stood the test of time, Zingerman’s Artisan Cheese Club gives a tour of foundational European cheeses for both those new to cheese appreciation and those yearning for a taste of their old favorites.

    If you want to get acquainted with the world of cheese one country at a time, this is the club. Each month spotlights three cheeses from a single country (starting off with Italy and going from Parmigiano Reggiano to Fontina to Taleggio). And they total a generous 1.5 pounds or more, for weeks of tasting and primo snacking. There are three- and six-month subscriptions, with the latter slipping in a trio of U.S. cheeses, but who can say that’s a bad thing?

    Zingerman’s started out in 1982 as a deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and eventually grew into an emporium of fine foods from all over the world. The shop has its own cheese cave, and cheese tastings have been a popular fixture there for years. 

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  • Best for California Cheeses: Cowgirl Creamery

    Cowgirl Creamery

    Cowgirl Creamery

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $110 + $15 for shipping per quarter
    Frequency: Quarterly
    Types of Cheese: California, USA

    Why You Should Try It
    California was at the front of the American artisan cheese rebirth, and you can try selections from renowned Cowgirl Creamery as well as their friends in thoughtfully curated boxes.

    Pros
    A great opportunity to experience fine American-made cheeses
    Selections are chosen to match the season

    Cons
    Not for those seeking geographic variety
    No substitutions

    Overview
    Sometimes it’s gratifying to really dig your heels into a cheese with a sense of place. Not far north of San Francisco, Cowgirl Creamery has made award-winning cheeses in tiny Point Reyes Station since 1997 and celebrated Marin and Sonoma Counties’ dairy industries by using pasture-based cow’s milk. It is a Bay Area institution committed to promoting other like-minded cheesemakers and food producers.

    Cowgirl Creamery offers a quarterly cheese club that focuses on California cheeses from both their creamery and others. Each quarter they choose several cheeses that fit the season. The box also includes food accompaniments and a cheese knife. For each cheese a wine pairing is suggested along with suggestions for additional food accompaniments.

    This does not appear to function like most clubs. Each quarter you'll have to separately purchase the selection when it's released. The cost is $110 plus $15 for overnight shipping. You'll receive one shipment with everything described above. While it can be annoying to have to purchase separately each quarter, this allows you to try it out without commitment.

  • Best for Charcuterie Lovers: Cured & Cultivated

    Cured & Cultivated

    Cured & Cultivated

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $60 or $115 per month plus shipping
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S. and international

    Why You Should Try It
    For those who prefer cured meat with their cheese, Cured & Cultivated’s well-chosen selections of cheese and charcuterie balance classic pairings with cheeky creativity.

    Pros
    Cheeses and meats from multiple origins
    Charcuteries are as interesting as the cheese

    Cons
    Not many visual examples for building your board
    Shipping not included

    Overview
    Cured and Cultivated, based in Paso Robles, California, gained a reputation for making the kind of elaborate grazing tables and cheese and charcuterie boards you see all over social media. Its Cheese & Charcuterie Club keeps a steady focus on pairing an eclectic range of cheeses with artisan cured meat, something that’s hard to find in other cheese subscriptions.

    Each month includes three cheeses and two charcuterie selections for the main club. There is also the smaller option of the individual's club which contains two cheeses and one meat. You can subscribe for three or six months, or you can opt for a one-time shipment. One month you’ll be enjoying duck prosciutto and Finish-style bread cheese, and another it’s speck from Italy, chewy salami from California, and a clothbound Devonshire Red. If building your own picture-perfect board is what you had in mind, use Cured & Cultivated’s photos of its boards as inspiration, though there’s no specific how-to.

  • Best for Cheese and Wine Pairings: Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club

    Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club

    Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $43.95 per month (plus $15 for shipping)
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S. and international

    Why You Should Try It
    If enjoying cheese at your house also means enjoying wine, the club offerings from this company can help supply both of those things.

    Pros
    Estate-bottled, limited-run wines
    Freedom to design your own club

    Cons
    Wines aren’t selected to go with the cheeses
    Not available in all states

    Overview
    There aren’t a ton of subscriptions out there that offer solid offerings of both cheese and wine. Luckily, with the Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club, both the cheese and wine are of equal caliber. The catch is they aren’t actually picked out as a pairing.

    That’s because this subscription is really two separate subscriptions. First, you can choose your cheese subscription: the Original ($43.95 per month) or the Rare ($59.95 per month). Both charge an additional $15 for shipping. With each shipment, you get three different cheeses totaling 1.5 pounds. Selections range from a basic French brie to Italian sheep’s milk Fiore Sardo.

    You can then choose a wine subscription from their sister company if you desire to also buy wine. There are four options ranging from $41.95 to $77.95 per month plus shipping. Since they are separate subscriptions, the wines you get aren’t specifically paired with that month’s selection of cheeses, so these subscriptions are for cheese and wine lovers who aren’t persnickety about everything being perfectly matched. Think of it as a game of chance—another element of the experience.

    You can also purchase the subscriptions together using their design your own club feature. This lets you plan ahead of time the shipments you will receive each month, giving you increased flexibility. You can choose one or multiple clubs each month. For example, you could get only wine one month, wine and cheese in another, and just cheese in other months. They also have cigar and chocolate clubs that you can add in as well.

    Interstate shipping laws for alcohol vary. The wine club is not available in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Utah, and parts of Michigan. Keep in mind that deliveries of wine require the signature of someone 21 or older. The cheese club is available everywhere except Alaska and Hawaii.

  • Best for Customizable Cheese Boxes: Cheese Grotto

    Cheese Grotto

    Cheese Grotto

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $59.99 per shipment (plus shipping)
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S.

    Why You Should Try It
    A passion for small-scale cheesemakers and boots-on-the-ground knowledge of them makes Cheese Grotto stand apart.

    Pros
    Focus on American artisan cheesemakers
    Option to include pairings as well as to exclude types of cheeses

    Cons
    Shipping costs extra

    Overview
    True cheese geeks may have heard of Cheese Grotto not as a cheesemonger, but as a product itself: It’s a patented cheese storage box made of natural materials that lets you keep cheese unwrapped in a manner that allows it to breathe and extends its shelf life. Think of it as a mini cheese cave.

    But Cheese Grotto also sells cheese, and its subscription is dedicated to supporting American artisan cheese. Each selection highlights an American cheesemaker. Cheeses included could come from California, New York, Wisconsin, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or other states.

    The demands of running a small eCommerce business with artisan foods often make customization for subscriptions difficult, but The Cheese Grotto allows for a fair amount of customization. This includes adding food pairings, flavored cheese and cows milk cheeses, among other options. All of this can be done on the ordering page.

    Their main subscription is the Curated Box which which has the option of month to month ordering. You can also choose to order the Curated Box in packages of three, six, or 12 months at a time which saves you a bit of money on the monthly cost. The final option is the Meet The Makers quarterly club. Each quarter you'll receive a large shipment of multiple cheeses. There is also a Zoom link for a conversation with the makers of those cheeses.

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  • Best for Gourmet Cheese: iGourmet

    iGourmet

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $57.80 per month
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S., European

    Why You Should Try It
    Whether it’s American, Italian, or French and made with cow’s, goat’s, or sheep’s milk, iGourmet offers a comprehensive selection for cheese lovers that lives up to its namesake.

    Pros
    Wide selection of cheeses from the United States and Europe
    Three-, six-, and 12-month subscription plans
    Variety of small and large producers

    Cons
    No free shipping
    Selection may feel overwhelming

    Overview
    If you are looking for cheese that falls outside of your run-of-the-mill selection, iGourmet is your go-to stop. In the online store, you can shop based on country of origin, type of milk, texture (hard or soft), and whether or not there are flavors or inclusions (like herbs or truffles). The expansive inventory includes both American and European cheeses, such as Dutch, British, German, Scandinavian, Greek, and Swiss. 

    Two of iGourmet’s popular subscriptions, International Cheeses and Connoisseur’s Cheeses, come with three to four cheeses plus two gourmet pairings. You can order these every month, or prepay for three-, six-, or 12-month subscriptions. If you want to send a non-subscription gift, there are ample ways to do that, too. And many of your cheese-adjacent needs can be met here, such as utensils, snacks, and boards.

  • Best for Gifting: Harry & David

    Harry & David logo

    Courtesy of Harry & David

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $114.99 for 3 months
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S.

    Why You Should Try It
    When it comes to food-related gifts, Harry & David has thought of just about everything. The company is a long-running stalwart offering award-winning and gourmet cheeses along with food and wine pairings.

    Pros
    Plenty of selections at different price points
    Shipping included in some orders
    Gifts available for almost every occasion

    Cons
    Mostly American cheeses
    Can't customize gifts

    Overview
    Harry & David excels with the details when it comes to food gifts. The company is known for its beautiful gift baskets filled with everything from fruit to wine to chocolates, and it boasts a number of food subscriptions that send its high-end foods to customers on a regular basis. While Harry & David doesn’t offer a cheese club per se, its food and cheese clubs are sure to please any epicurean, whether it’s Wine and Cheese, Fruit and Cheese, or Fruit, Wine, and Cheese. 

    The selections change monthly so you’re always surprised, with seasonal pairings like an aged cheddar with apples and a robust Cabernet for November, and a Pinot Noir in summer with cherries and brie. You can sign up for subscriptions in three-, six-, nine-, and 12-month increments.

  • Best for Vermont Cheese: Jasper Hill Farm

    Jasper Hill Farms

    Jasper Hill Farms

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $110 per box
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S.

    Why You Should Try It
    A favorite among chefs and cheese enthusiasts, Jasper Hill brings its highly coveted, award-winning, farm-fresh Vermont cheese and accouterments to your doorstep every month.

    Pros
    Excellent, high-quality cheese
    Some exclusive contents in cheese club boxes
    Shipping is included

    Cons
    Only one cheese box available for subscription
    No control over contents

    Overview
    It’s hard to get much fresher than ordering a cheese right from the source, and if it’s Vermont cheese you seek, Jasper Hill Farm is your best bet. Jasper Hill uses a traditional French style of cheesemaking whose aim is to preserve the precision and procedures involved in the process, in order to produce a superior product. With Jasper Hill’s Cheese Club, you’ll receive a different monthly selection based on what’s being made on the farm. 

    The club delivers at least three cheeses and three food pairings like jams, crackers, and spreads. If you prepay for three or more months of deliveries at one time, you can receive 10 percent off the total cost. If you’re not into a cheese box delivery every month, Jasper Hill has several other cheese gifts that you can order on a seasonal or one-off basis—or even as a gift.

  • Best for Small-Batch Cheese: Mouth

    Mouth Small Batch Products logo

    Mouth

    Key Specs
    Starting Price: $76 per month
    Frequency: Monthly
    Types of Cheese: U.S.

    Why You Should Try It
    This online gourmet food emporium offers a monthly subscription with small-batch cheeses and fun accompaniments.

    Pros
    Combo of cheeses in each box representing small batch American producers  
    High-quality selections
    Shipping is included

    Cons
    Can’t see the cheese options in advance
    Only two subscription choices available

    Overview
    Mouth’s motto is “Small Batch, USA Made,” and one cursory look at the company’s website will verify that claim. From charcuterie to chocolate to pickles, Mouth highlights the best of the best when it comes to artisan American food producers. 

    With its Cheese of the USA subscriptions, you’ll receive monthly shipments of three small-batch cheeses, along with tasty pairings like jams, crackers, and more. Potential options include a cheddar from Vermont, an award-winning sheep’s milk cheese from New York, and a farmstead goat cheese with herbs from Indiana. (But keep in mind that you won’t know what you’re receiving ahead of time—it’s a leap of faith.) Mouth also sells one-off gift boxes for a variety of occasions, whether that’s a housewarming party, a birthday, or even just a “thank you.”

Final Verdict

Cheese subscription boxes are a novel and convenient way to introduce you to cheeses you may have not encountered before. Oftentimes they include an educational component, allowing you to build your confidence with cheese pairings and filling you in on how the cheeses were made. They can also be a direct or indirect way to support independent cheesemakers and cheesemongers. Overall, we recommend starting your cheese subscription box search with Murray’s Cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Do Cheese Subscription Boxes Cost?

In many cases, cheese subscription boxes are not an incredible value on the face of it. You are paying for cheese, but also an experience and convenience: expert curation of cheeses and accompaniments, plus packaging, shipping, and thoughtful extras like tasting notes and suggested pairings. If you just want a giant wedge of a special cheese without any bells or whistles, you may be better off placing one-time orders from a favorite online cheesemonger or cheesemaker.

Shipping is included in the monthly cost of many, but not all, cheese subscription boxes.

Are Cheese Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Once you experience the difference between mass-produced cheese and small-scale artisan cheese, it’s hard to go back to the generic stuff. For those who want to savor exceptional cheeses and don’t have access to a cheesemonger, a subscription box provides you with a curated selection that you can delight in. There’s also a component of discovery and learning. A good cheese subscription is a special experience in a box. But if you just want cheese for everyday cooking, stick to the grocery store.

If you live in a city with a fabulous local cheesemonger or creamery, skip the mail-order subscription and support them in person. You won’t have to pay for shipping, and your local cheesemakers and cheesemongers need you in order to keep making their wonderful products. Some of them offer their own subscriptions with local delivery or a pickup option.

What’s the difference between a cheesemaker, a cheesemonger, and a creamery? A cheesemaker makes cheese. A cheesemonger not only sells cheese but offers education about where the cheese came from and how to best enjoy it. And a creamery is a place where dairy products are made into things like cheese or butter; oftentimes they have a retail space (brick and mortar or virtual) as well.

What Comes in a Cheese Subscription Box?

The contents of a cheese subscription box vary, depending on the subscription you go for. Most often they include a small variety of cheeses, though some offer only one cheese a month. Accompaniments like crackers, charcuterie, and nuts are part of many cheese subscription boxes. Almost every box includes tasting notes with information on the selections, and plenty also come with suggestions for wine or beer pairings.

How Are Cheese Subscription Boxes Packaged?

Most cheese subscription boxes are shipped with gel packs to keep the cheese cold. If you plan on going away for a period, contact the company to see if you can change your delivery date. Sometimes the gel packs melt, but as long as the cheese in the box is in good shape, melted gel packs are not a problem. When you get your shipment, unbox it and refrigerate the cheese and any other perishables.

When your cheese arrives, it may smell quite strong. Remember that cheese is a living thing, and it’s natural for it to smell pungent after it’s been in a small package without air circulation for a few days. Once you open the box, the strong smell should become much less pronounced after a bit.

Methodology

While there are many noteworthy cheese delivery services, we chose the ones to spotlight by considering their passion, experience, and knowledge about cheese. Selection, customer satisfaction, and the structure of the subscription were also carefully weighed.