25 great gifts under $25 people will actually use

When it comes to giving a good gift, it's really the thought that counts. Meaning you don't have to spend too much to show someone you care about them. There are tons of popular and top-tested items for under $25 that people will love and use for years to come. Make sure to get your holiday shopping done early this year to avoid any shipping mishaps.

Here at Reviewed, we've spent the entire year testing and sifting through products, so we know when something is worthwhile, even when it's on the inexpensive side. Below, you'll find 25 gifts under $25 that will work for most people's budgets.

Just make sure to get your orders in soon though. Many top-rated products may sell out the closer we get to the holidays.

1. For the one who's always asking for a charger: Anker Astro E1

We could all use a little juice now and then, so a portable charger makes a great gift for anyone. Plus, you don't have to spend too much on a great one. Your giftee will love this one from Anker, which is candy bar sized and offers a full charge to their iPhone before needing to be recharged itself.

Get the Anker Astro E1 Portable Charger at Amazon for $21.95

2. For the breakfast lover: Dash Mini Waffle Maker

Mini waffles are better than regular-sized ones. They're much easier to dunk into syrup and really elevates your breakfast aesthetic. The Dash Mini Waffle Maker is one of the best waffle makers we've ever tested, and your giftee will love whipping up waffles for one with it.

Get the Dash Mini Waffle Maker at Bed Bath and Beyond for $12.99

3. For the one who's working from home: SmartDevil Small Personal USB Desktop Fan

Now that we're working from home all the time, we've been feeling the heat—literally. The SmartDevil Small Personal USB Desktop Fan is pretty small for a fan, but will still cool down your giftee who tends to overheat. It won't crowd their desk and is easily powered via their laptop.

Get the SmartDevil Small Personal USB Desktop Fan at Amazon for $14.99

4. For the one who loves to nap: Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

If your giftee loves to catch those mid-day ZZZs, they could use a sleep mask to block out light (and her family she's quarantined with). After testing it, our editor said the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask is "like having personal blackout curtains for your eyes," which is why we named it the best contoured sleep mask we've ever tested. Because it's contoured, absolutely no light will sneak in, meaning they'll have sweet dreams no matter the time of day.

Get the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask at Amazon for $13.95

5. For the one who needs to stay hydrated: Brita Filtering Water Bottle 

Whether your giftee is an athlete or just loves sweating it out at the gym, they should have the best water bottle to keep them hydrated. We found the Brita Filtering Water Bottle to be portable, versatile, durable, and well-designed. The straw is also fitted with a filter that reduces chlorine and keeps your water fresh for up to two months. The best part? It's just under $25.

Get the Brita Filtering Water Bottle at Amazon for $24.94

6. For the one who likes their hair up: Invisibobble

Straight, curly, thin, or thick—the Invisibobble hair tie is ideal for all hair types, making it an ideal stocking stuffer for anyone on your holiday shopping list who's rocking long hair. The coiled hair ties are waterproof, won't break or damage most hair types, and, most importantly, don't leave a crease behind like other hair ties might.

Get the Invisibobble Original Traceless Spiral Hair Ties at Amazon for $4.99 

7. For the one who needs to relax: InnoGear Upgraded Diffuser

Sweet and calming scents can help your giftee relax after a stressful holiday season—and they might appreciate an essential oil diffuser to do so. This one from InnoGear is one of our favorite aromatherapy diffusers and can run relaxing scents like lavender and eucalyptus for up to 11 hours. It's not too expensive, which means you can throw in some essential oils for them as well. 

Get the InnoGear Upgraded Diffuser at Amazon for $14.99

8. For the one who loves competition: Codenames

If you haven’t heard of it yet, Codenames is about to be your favorite go-to board game on game night. Codenames is a team-based word association game. Gameplay is simple—one player gives their team a single word clue and the number of cards on the board that clue pertains to and then they must figure out which cards they could be. It’s a simple, fun, and entertaining game that only gets better the more you know your teammates.

Get Codenames at Amazon for $11.42

9. For the one who needs their caffeine fix: Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

If Starbucks is your giftee's second home—a.k.a they're addicted to their daily cup of joe—they'll love this cold brew coffee making gadget. We chose it as the best cold brew coffee maker of the year because it was not only the easiest to use, but it also made the best-tasting coffee.

Get the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon for $22.20

10. For the one who prefers tea: Manatea Silicone Tea Infuser

If your giftee likes to end their day cozied up with a cup of tea, then they need a good tea infuser. The Manatea is not only adorable and punny, but it's the best tea infuser we've ever tested. Even though it may look like a gag gift, it fits snugly on mugs and doesn't let any leaves slip out, which they'll enjoy while sipping their favorite loose leaf tea.

Get the Fred & Friends Manatea Silicone Tea Infuser at Amazon for $9.90

11. For the one who drops their phone: Popsocket

Popsockets are the perfect phone accessory as they can be popped in or out to create an easy carrying handle or stand. This makes talking on the phone, FaceTiming, taking photos, watching YouTube, and anything else you might need your phone for much easier. Each one is swappable, so you can get a bunch of different tops to mix and match.

Get the PopSockets PopGrip at Amazon for $9.97 

12. For the one with cold hands: Harrms Touchscreen Gloves

If your giftee loves texting, but hates exposing their digits in the winter, then they need a pair of touchscreen gloves. These ones from Harrms happen to be the best touchscreen gloves we tested at Reviewed. Not only are they super warm, but all 10 fingers are touchscreen compatible and we had no issues using our phones with them.

Get the Harrms Touchscreen Leather Knitted Cuff Gloves at Amazon for $24.99 

13. For the home chef: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

Anyone who's getting into cooking lately will surely appreciate a cast iron skillet. Why? Well, it's the cookware that can do it all. You can use them on the stovetop, in the oven, on the grill—you can even use it to cook over a campfire. Plus, they create a sear that seriously upgrades whatever you're making. Lodge makes our favorite affordable cast iron skillet. It's only $20 but will last for years to come. 

Get the Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12 Inch. Cast Iron Skillet at Walmart for $24.92

14. For the eco-conscious one: FinalStraw

Like the name implies, the FinalStraw may be the last straw your giftee ever needs. It conveniently folds up into a container that attaches to a keyring—a.k.a. they'll never be without a reusable straw. For this reason, we named it the best reusable straw on the market, and anyone who's passionate about the state of the environment will appreciate it.

Get the FinalStraw at Amazon for $19.95

15. For the egg aficionado: Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

The Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is perfect for anyone who has difficulty cooking eggs or claims they don't have enough time to make breakfast—even while they're working from home. This egg cooker makes breakfast a cinch can soft boil, hard boil, scramble, and poach—all in one machine. Plus, we tried it and it actually works. It's the perfect gift for a college student in a dorm or anyone who wants to free up burner space when they're making Sunday brunch.

Get the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker at Amazon for $19.99

16. For the one who can never find their keys: Tile Mate

If your recipient is always late because they can't find their keys, get them the Tile Mate so they can finally put an end to their forgetfulness. The Tile Mate is so popular because it easily attaches to their most commonly forgotten items. The next time they lose their keys, they can just use an app to ping the Tile and quickly find them to actually meet you on time.

Get the Tile Mate at Amazon for $24.99 

17. For the one who loves selfies: QIAYA Selfie Light Ring

Whether they've been mastering TikTok dances or are always trying to find the best lighting for their photos, a ring light will ensure they always have perfect lighting for selfies. With three light settings, this one from QIAYA can brighten up self-portraits taken at night or in a dark room. The light is rechargeable, simply clips to the top of a phone, and is small enough to carry in a backpack, purse, or pocket.

Get the QIAYA Selfie Light Ring at Amazon for $12.99

18. For the jetsetter: Dr. Meter Digital Luggage Scale

Though we're not traveling as much, any chronic over-packer would still appreciate a luggage scale, and the Dr. Meter Digital Luggage Scale is the best one we've ever tested. To use it, simply turn it on, attach it to the handle of your luggage, and lift. Since it only weighs about 3 ounces, you’ll never even notice it in your bag until you need it. And, unlike your scale at home, it will accurately measure all weight within a few decimal places.

Get the Dr. Meter Digital Luggage Scale at Walmart for for $13.99

19. For the sentimental one: A personalized calendar

There's nothing more personal than gifting a family member a calendar filled with pictures of you and the fam. Plus, you don't even have to spend too much on one. With services like Shutterfly or CVS Print, you can upload your own photos for a calendar and arrange them on colorful backgrounds, then customize your creation for each month starting at $15.

Get a personalized calendar from Shutterfly starting at $24.99

20. For the lipstick lover: Wet-n-Wild Liquid Catsuit Lipstick

Matte lipsticks are all the rage for glam girls, but Reviewed found that you don't have to break the bank to rock the style. If your giftee loves makeup, the Wet-n-Wild Liquid Catsuit Lipstick held up as the best in our testing and is under $5 to boot. We tested the bargain brand out and found it to be a smooth lip color that comfortably lasts all day.

Get the Wet-n-Wild Liquid Catsuit Lipstick at Amazon for $4.98

21. For the one who loves makeup: Milani Highly Rated Volume Mascara

You don't have to spend too much to give your recipient the gift of great lashes. The Milani Highly Rated Volume Mascara costs less than $10 and is the best drugstore mascara we've ever tested. It gives incredible length and volume for a fraction of the cost of high-end brands.

Get the Milani Highly Rated 10-in-1 Volume Mascara at Amazon for $7

22. For the one who loves to bake: Rachael Ray Yum-o! Oven Lovin' Loaf Pan

The Rachael Ray Yum-o! Oven Lovin' Loaf Pan is perfect for those who are addicted to banana bread and pumpkin loafs. It landed in the top spot in our testing for a reason. With a nonstick surface, this pan will ensure that her sweet and savory dishes come out perfectly for family and friends. The firm handles with silicone inserts are easy to handle, and the pan is safe up to 500°F.

Get the Rachael Ray Yum-o! Oven Lovin' Loaf Pan at Amazon for $11.99 

23. For the one with an aesthetic: Tiled Margot Monogrammed Mug

With a French bistro-inspired tile design, this is one mug that's almost too pretty to relegate to the back of a kitchen cabinet. Your coffee- or tea-drinking friend will love sporting one with their initial, so much that they may permanently display it on their desk or in their coffee station at home. For an extra special touch, take a peek inside and there is an even more detailed design.

Get the Tiled Margot Monogram Mug at Anthropologie for $14

24. For the one who love fun socks: Happy Socks

Socks make a great gift and they don't have to be boring. Happy Socks offers all sorts of hilarious socks like taco-themed boxes, corgi-lined socks, and even a collection of Disney socks. If your giftee loves showing off her favorite socks, you can’t go wrong with these fun, customized pairs.

Get Happy Socks starting at $16

25. For the one who goes on long drives: Anker PowerDrive Speed 2 with PowerIQ 2.0 Car Charger

If your giftee loves road trips (and uses their phones navigation to do so), then they need a car charger. Anker's car charger can charge two devices at the same time. It's compatible with iOS phones and tablets, as well as certain Android device models.

Get the Anker PowerDrive Speed 2 with PowerIQ 2.0 Car Charger at Amazon for $17.99

See USA TODAY for our complete guide to the best gifts under $25 of 2021