The gift that keeps on charging you

Picture this. You buy your favorite person one of those fancy smart bird feeders for Christmas. He sets it up, downloads the app and then sees this delightful pop-up: “Want to know which birds are visiting? That’s $9.99 a month.”

Seriously?

Now your $150 gift is basically a $25 plastic seed tube unless he pays a subscription. Welcome to the growing mess of HaaS, short for Hardware as a Service. It’s turning great gifts into bills.

🧱 It’s ‘brick-ware’

Tech companies don’t want a one-time sale. They want a recurring revenue stream. That’s why so many devices lose their core features the moment you stop paying.

• Fitness rings won’t show your sleep score without a $6-per-month subscription.
• Smart photo frames won’t display your pictures unless someone pays for the “Plus” plan.
• Security cameras stop recording without the cloud plan.

If you’re giving tech this year, pay attention. Some of the worst offenders include:

• AI gadgets: Smart pins, wearable AI tools and AI “companions” are useless without paid data plans.
• Pet tech: GPS collars and smart feeders hide the real features, like “where is my dog right now?” behind a paywall.
• Fitness gear: Even smart dumbbells want a monthly subscription to count your reps. I made the mistake last year of getting Ian a smart boxing system. The monthly subscription was $49.99. Yea, I sent that back.

Another thing, if a gadget seems too cheap, there’s a reason. That $35 4K security camera isn’t a deal. It’s bait. You’re not buying hardware. You’re signing someone up for a service.

✅ The ‘smart gifting’ checklist

Here’s how to protect yourself before you wrap something you’ll regret.

1. Read the fine print. Look for warnings like “Subscription Required” or “Cloud Plan Needed.” They’re often buried somewhere in the product’s description.

2. Check what stops working without a subscription. If the main selling point disappears, skip it.

3. Budget the real cost. A $300 gadget with a $70 annual subscription means your gift costs $370 the first year.

4. Look for lifetime options. Some apps and services offer one-time “lifetime” pricing. If you’re gifting tech you know they will use, this is a great choice.

5. Consider who you’re giving it to. If they hate subscriptions already, this is a guaranteed flop.

🧐 So, what are my choices?

I know you’re going to want to know that. So here are 10 great tech gifts that work right out of the box, no subscriptions, no hidden surprises, no monthly bills. 

1. Trackers for their stuff. Toss one in a car, luggage, wallet or wherever: Apple AirTag (17% off, $24) or Tile Pro Bluetooth tracker (29% off, $25)
2. A Bluetooth speaker. This one’s lightweight, waterproof and runs for 30 hours on a single charge: Tribit StormBox Flow (33% off, $60)
3. New reading buddy. The backlighting lets them read into the night without waking anyone up. Kindle Paperwhite ($160)
4. More than a floor lamp. It syncs to Alexa and floods their room with millions of color options. Govee floor lamp (40% off, $60)
5. Pocket-size power. Takes their phone’s battery from dead to a 60% charge in about 25 minutes. INIU portable charger (20% off, $24)
6. For creative kiddos. Let them doodle for hours on a tablet that has a no-blue-light screen. Flueston LCD writing tablet (15% off, $17)
7. A mug with brains. Adjustable heat levels keep tea, cocoa or morning coffee at the perfect temperature. Nextmug self-heating coffee mug (23% off, $100)
8. Their digital-age planner. Reusable pages and a scan-to-save system keep them organized. Rocketbook Flex reusable notebook (39% off, $32)
9. Cut the cord. Plug it in once, and they’ll enjoy wireless CarPlay or Android Auto every drive: Wireless CarPlay adapter ($36)
10. Affordable peace of mind. Sharp 1080p video, night vision and an optional subscription (not required). Wyze Cam ($30)

Give something they’ll enjoy, not something they’ll owe.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Tags: Android, Apple, gifts, portable charger, security