Quick Answer: Best overall: Murray's Cheese Explorer's Club (about $70 a month, free shipping). Value: Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club (from $45.95). Easy gift: Zingerman's, $250 for 3 months.
Our top picks
We compared price, how much cheese you get, shipping and how easy each is to give.
All 7 picks
Prices are from each club's site or 2026 reviews; check them at checkout, especially around the holidays.
Best overall
Murray's Cheese Explorer's Club
- Plans
- 3, 6 or 12 months
- Pieces
- ½ lb each
- Shipping
- Free
Why it's here: Taste of Home tested it and named it best overall in 2026.
Watch out: You can't choose ship dates; the first box goes out the month after you buy.
Why we picked it (sources)
Taste of Home named it Best Overall (Taste of Home). Murray's lists the plans, ½ lb pieces and free shipping (Murray's).
Best value
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club
- Cheeses
- 3 per box
- Weight
- About 1½ lb
- Shipping
- $20
Why it's here: The lowest monthly price for a full-size box, and My Subscription Addiction's top pick.
Watch out: Shipping adds $20 a box.
Best for beginners
Harry & David Fruit and Cheese Club
- Plans
- 3, 6, 9 or 12 months
- Box
- 1 cheese + 1 fruit
- Shipping
- $7.99
Why it's here: Simple, approachable, and you can see what's coming each month.
Watch out: Only one cheese per box, and listed prices vary.
Why we picked it (sources)
Taste of Home named it Best Budget (Taste of Home); My Subscription Addiction lists from $134.99 for 3 months (MSA).
Best American cheeses
Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Club
- Box
- 3+ cheeses with pairings (2020)
- Flexibility
- Skip or cancel anytime
- Keeps
- 2+ weeks refrigerated
Why it's here: Straight from the Vermont farm that makes the cheeses, with releases you can't buy elsewhere.
Watch out: The current price isn't shown on the shop page.
Why we picked it (sources)
Jasper Hill describes the club and shipping (Jasper Hill, FAQ); a 2020 review found a full, generous box (Reviewed).
Best splurge
Cheese Grotto Monthly Subscription
- Cheeses
- 3, about 1½ lb
- Shipping
- Express, included
- Prepaid
- 3, 6 or 12 months
Why it's here: A big, polished gift, and the recipient is never billed.
Watch out: Pairings cost extra, and boxes ship only on Tuesdays.
Why we picked it (sources)
Cheese Grotto lists $99 a month and the prepaid options (Cheese Grotto), and explains gifting (Cheese Grotto).
Best with pairings
Di Bruno Bros. Cheese Pairing 101 Club
- Cheeses
- 3–4 per box
- Extras
- Accompaniments, crackers
- First box
- Adds a bamboo board
Why it's here: Every box arrives ready to serve, and the first one includes a board.
Watch out: Shipping is extra under $149.99.
Why we picked it (sources)
Di Bruno lists the plans and contents (Di Bruno Bros.) and a prepaid gift version (Di Bruno Bros.).
Best short gift
Zingerman's Artisan Cheese Club
- Cheeses
- 3 per box, 1½+ lb
- Plans
- 3 or 6 months
- Gift
- Printable club card
Why it's here: It ends on its own, you pick the arrival date, and the card prints at home.
Watch out: Paid upfront, with notes but no accompaniments.
Why we picked it (sources)
Zingerman's lists $250 for 3 months and $495 for 6 (Zingerman's). Cheese Professor called it the straightforward favorite (Cheese Professor).
How to choose a cheese club gift
- Compare the total, not the monthly price. Shipping runs from free to $20 a box.
- Three months is the sweet spot for a gift: long enough to feel generous, and most clubs offer it.
- Order for Christmas by early December. Several clubs ship the first box the month after you buy, and some ship only on set days.
- Add a board and a knife set to the first box: see our best charcuterie boards and cheese knife sets.
More ideas in our charcuterie gift guide.
Cheese club questions
How much does a cheese of the month club cost?
From about $46 a month plus shipping (Gourmet Cheese of the Month) to about $70 (Murray's, free shipping) and $99 (Cheese Grotto, express shipping included). Zingerman's is $250 for a prepaid three months.
How is the cheese kept cold in shipping?
Clubs ship overnight or express in insulated boxes with ice packs. The packs may thaw by arrival; refrigerate the cheese as soon as it lands.
How long does shipped cheese last?
At least two weeks wrapped in the fridge, per Jasper Hill. Cheese Grotto says its boxes are best eaten within two to three weeks.
Can you give a one-month cheese club?
Not everywhere. Murray's dropped its one-month plan. Zingerman's and Cheese Grotto sell prepaid three-month gifts, and Di Bruno offers recurring monthly plans you can cancel.
When should I order a cheese club for Christmas?
By early December. Murray's ships the first box the month after purchase, Cheese Grotto ships only on Tuesdays, and Zingerman's lets you pick the delivery date.
How we picked these, and sources
Picks come from Taste of Home's 2026 tested ranking, My Subscription Addiction's October 2026 roundup, Tasting Table (Tasting Table) and Cheese Professor, plus each club's own page. Cowgirl Creamery's club is also worth a look (Cowgirl Creamery). We don't earn a commission from these clubs. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Taste of Home: best cheese of the month clubs
- My Subscription Addiction: best cheese of the month clubs
- My Subscription Addiction: Gourmet Cheese Club review
- My Subscription Addiction: Harry & David club
- Tasting Table: best cheese subscription boxes
- Cheese Professor: best cheese subscriptions
- Reviewed: Jasper Hill cheese club
- Murray's: cheese clubs
- Zingerman's: Artisan Cheese Club
- Cheese Grotto: monthly subscription
- Cheese Grotto: subscription gift
- Di Bruno Bros.: Pairing 101 Club
- Di Bruno Bros.: club gift
- Jasper Hill Farm: shop
- Jasper Hill Farm: FAQ
- Harry & David: monthly clubs
- Cowgirl Creamery: monthly club
For one-time gifts, see the best charcuterie gift boxes and our gift guide. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
Gift idea to go with a club: the best cheese paper and cheese storage.
