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These gifts for freelancers are perfect for holidays, special occasions and “just because”
As a full-time freelancer, I’m often disappointed with the internet’s gift suggestions for self-employed individuals. Sometimes, I wonder if the authors of these articles have ever freelanced a day in their lives. We can do better than that, internet! That’s why, this year, I decided to create my gift-giving guide.
Below you will find a list of gift ideas for freelancers, self-employed individuals, and work-from-homers. Written by, a self-employed freelancer who works from home. You’re welcome. Each of the following suggestions is either an item I already own, have gifted to other freelancers, or it’s an item that’s currently on my wishlist. The list is sorted by price from low to high.
Some of my favorite gifts for freelancers from the list are items I personally own including the oversized mousepad, the collapsible coffee cup, the wireless mic, the blue light-blocking glasses, the Zoom mic, and the Bostanten backpack.
| Price | Gift | Best for … |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | AirPod Hooks | Freelancers who complain about AirPods falling out of their ears. |
| $12 | Mini Keyboard Vacuum | Freelancers who eat lunch at their desks far too often. |
| $12 | Monitor Memo Board | Freelancers with a Post-It note obsession. |
| $13 | Multi-Port USB Cable | Freelancers who have a lot of devices to manage. |
| $13 | Oversized Mouse Pad | Freelance graphic designers (trust me on this one). |
| $14 | Collapsible Coffee Cup | Freelancers on the go who love their coffee. |
| $15 | Blue-Light Blocking Glasses | Freelancers dealing with eye strain. |
| $19 | A Pocket Tripod | Freelancers on the go who love to watch movies and shoot reels. |
| $19 | Mug Warmer | Freelancers and coffee addicts. |
| $19 | Charging Bricks | Freelancers who never seem to be able to keep their devices charged. |
| $21 | Desktop Space Heater | Cold-natured freelancers. |
| $21 | Clip On Ring Light | Freelancers who need a small/portable ring light solution. |
| $20 | Desk Shelf | Freelancers in need of some organization. |
| $21 | Wireless Bluetooth Mic | Blossoming content creators. |
| $25 | Cable Organization Boxes | Freelancers who have way too many cables on their desks. |
| $29 | Tripod Desk | Freelancers who need a truly portable workspace. |
| $34 | Clear Dry Erase Board | Freelancers who appreciate the art of analog note-taking. |
| $38 | Yeti 30oz Rambler | Freelancers who like to keep their beverages cool all day long. |
| $39 | Mini Desk Fan | Hot-blooded freelancers. |
| $69 | Starter Podcast or Zoom Mic | Freelancers who record podcasts, youtube videos or just take a lot of Zoom calls. |
| $71 | Ring Light | Freelancers who understand the importance of good lighting. |
| $111 | The Ember Mug | Pro-level coffee addicts who need a mug warmer they can control from their phone. |
| $129 | Laptop Backpack | Stylish freelancers. |
| $89 | A Portable Monitor | Freelancers who hate leaving their dual (or tri) monitors at home. |
| $349 | Collective Subscription | Freelancers who hate doing their taxes. |
| $599 | Zuri Office Chair | Freelancers looking for the ultimate computer chair. |
Disclaimer: Listed prices are subject to change and only reflect pricing at the time of original publication.
1. AirPod Hooks – $10.99
It seems like just about everyone has given into the AirPod craze as of late. But a few unfortunate souls discovered that their uber-expensive AirPods just don’t fit their ears as they would have liked. Myself included. I once had a $300 AirPod fall out of my ear on a flight and NEVER FOUND IT. But now
you and I can easily remedy this problem by attaching an ear-hook! I just wish I had known about these things before that ill-fated flight.
2. Mini Desk Vacuum – $12.98
I’m sure whoever said vacuums didn’t make a great gift has never seen this cute little thing. The second I discovered this gem I immediately ordered one for my husband – the King of Keyboard Crumbs. Or would that be more of a gift to myself? Eh, let’s not get caught up on the details. This nifty little wireless battery-powered vacuum is only 3” tall and 3” wide, is relatively quiet, maintains a surprisingly strong suction and comes in a variety of cute colors.
3. Monitor Memo Board/Phone Holder – $12.99
Look, technology is a great thing. But many of us freelancers are still old school when it comes to note-taking. Especially UX and graphic designers. Give the gift of freeing up some desk space with this clever little sticky note monitor memo board and combo phone holder (also great for Zoom calls).
4. Multi 3-in1 USB charger – $13.99
Long gone are the days of looking for, packing or organizing multiple charging cables. This 10-foot multi-charger features a USB C, Micro USB and Lightning Connector and will work on most Android and Apple devices.
5. Oversized Leather Mouse Pad – $13.99
Loved by gamers and designers alike – the day you turn your entire desk into one giant mouse pad – you’ll wonder how you ever lived your computer life trapped inside a little square. Mouse outside of the box.
6. Stojo Collapsible Coffee Cups – $14.95+
This one is ideal for freelancers on the go. Stojo is a brand that’s well known for their BPA-free lead-free dishwasher-safe collapsible cups and bowls (both pictured above). These handy little coffee cups are available in three different sizes – 12oz ($14.95), 16oz (19.95), and 24oz ($24.95) and each collapses to a height of about 2-3″ when not in use (depending on the size) which can easily be thrown into a laptop bag or carry-on. These cups are available on Amazon.
7. Blue Light Glasses (set of 2) – $15.98
In my humble freelancer opinion, one can never have too many pairs of blue-light-blocking glasses. I keep two pairs around the house – one on the bedside table that allows me to maintain my awful nighttime death-scrolling habits without turning my eyes into sandpaper, and the other at my desk. Some people swear blue light blockers don’t help. I call these people Liar McLiar faces. I don’t care what they say, when I go without, my eyes are burning within minutes. This set of two is giftable either as a pair or as individual stocking stuffers.
A Pocket Tripod
I love a good portable tripod for watching videos, taking reels or even just taking selfies. I’m going to recommend two brands for this particular stocking stuffer since I think the type you’ll prefer depends on your phone preferences. I own both but find myself using the first more often than the second.
The favorite is the Kenu Stance Mini, currently available on Amazon for $19. The benefit is that it will work with literally any phone case. The drawbacks are that it only works with lightning port Apple products and that you can’t charge your phone while you’re using the stand.
My backup recommendation is the Geometrical Wallet Sized Stand for $35 on Amazon. This stand flattens down to the size of a thick business card and will fit in most wallets. It also comes with a multitude of adapters to fit virtually any phone. However, none of the adapters worked with my ultra-thick Bandolier case so I can only recommend it for those who aren’t using cases like mine. Note: My Bandolier case is so thick it doesn’t accommodate most phone-holding accessories. So if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t normally have that issue – this stand will probably work fine for you.
9. Mug Warmer – $19.99
I’m personally not a big coffee drinker, but this little stocking stuffer never disappoints the coffee lovers in my life. I purchased this for my mother (who also works from home) last Christmas and she uses it every single day. And the best part is, unlike its more expensive counterpart, The Ember Mug, it’s almost $100 less and you can use it with almost any mug you already own.
10. Portable Charging Bricks (Set of 2) – $19.99
You’ll never have to worry about running out of battery power again with this portable charging brick. Just charge the brick, throw it in a bag and go. It is capable of charging your smartphone from dead to full battery two to three times on a single charge. It’s also backed by 24/7 customer support and an 18-month warranty. Plus this particular duo comes in a variety of fun colors. Gift it as a set or as separate stocking stuffers.
11. Desk Space Heater – $21.37+
I adore my desk-sized mini space heater. It takes up almost no space, uses very little electricity, and does the job. Plus it’s stinking cute and comes in a variety of colors.
12. Desktop/Clip-On Ring Light – $21.99
If a full-sized ring light is either a little too rich for your blood or too large for your small space, consider this clip-on alternative. This clip-on ring light easily attaches to most monitors, iMacs and laptops. This one also makes a great stocking stuffer.
13. Desk Shelves – $20+
This is a great little trick to keeping your desk organized and/or nicely decorated sans the annoying installation process that normally comes with shelf solutions. This cute little shelf comes in a variety of colors and sits neatly on top of your desk at just under 16”x16”.
14. Wireless Mic for your iPhone – $21.99
Smartphones are capable of capturing incredible footage nowadays. But poor audio quality, at least for me, always seems to be an issue. That is until I discovered this amazing bluetooth mic. It’s plug-and-play. There’s no fancy software download or app required. You simply attach the receiver to your phone, and clip the mic to your shirt and just like that you’re not only looking like a pro – you’re sounding like one too.
15. Cable Organizer Boxes (set of 2) – $25.59
Speaking of desk organization, you can never have too many of these handy little cable management boxes. They come in multiple sizes and colors complete with cable ties and are large enough to fit most USB hubs and adapters. This particular gift idea comes in a set of two. I use two: One on my desk, and one to hide my husband’s grotesque amount of TV cables.
16. Tripod Desk – $29.99
While I can’t say I’d ever use this as a primary desk, I can’t tell you how many times this portable desk solution could have come in handy while working remotely or on a workcation. Plus, it can double as a projector stand.
17. Acrylic Clear Dry Erase Board – $34
White dry-erase boards are so last year. Step up your note-taking game with this completely clear Acrylic Note Board. This noteboard comes with a white dry-erase marker but you can also use any standard chalk marker.
18. YETI Tumbler – $38+
As a non-coffee drinker, I tend to prefer cold drinks during the day. And nothing keeps your drinks cooler than this 30oz YETI tumbler with an upgraded MagSlider lid (for easier opening/closing). Since purchasing this YETI for myself three years ago, I barely drink out of anything else. I rarely leave home without it. My husband refers to it as my “ba ba”. It has essentially become the cup version of my security blanket. I can load this sucker up with iced tea, leave it overnight, wake up in the morning, and the ice will still be there the next day. I don’t understand what kind of sorcery was involved in the creation of this cup. Perhaps it’s best if we don’t question it. Just know that everyone needs YETI tumbler in their life.
19. Mini Desk Fan – $39.99
For those who are more hot-natured, consider picking up a cute little vintage desk fan instead of the aforementioned desk heater.
20. The best starter podcast (or Zoom) mic ever – $69.99
Whether you want to step up your Zoom game or step up your content creation, this affordable studio-quality mic is a game-changer. And you can use your choice of either USB/XLR. AND it’s plug and play. No fancy installation of software is required. I remember hearing my voice on a recording the first time I used this mic vs my regular internal mic. I sounded like a grown-up. Like a professional. I love this mic. And it loves me. You’ll have to rip this mic from my cold dead hands.
21. Ring Light – $71.18
Every work-from-home professional needs one of these in their home office for those constant Zoom calls. It’s guaranteed to instantly transform your workspace into a mini studio-quality video environment. This also makes a great gift for Twitch streamers.
22. Ember Smart Mug – $111.02+
If you do want to upgrade your coffee warming game – I’d like to introduce you to The Ember Mug. The Ember Mug is a wireless, app-controlled heated coffee mug. But at this price tag, you might want to reserve this one for the real coffee addicts in your family or friends group. When in doubt, stick with the previously mentioned Mug Warmer.
23. Bostanten Leather Laptop Backpack – $129+
For those who appreciate fine-quality genuine leather goods, you might want to take a look at Bostanten. I personally own the Vrba Laptop Backpack Purse (pictured above) and wrote a full review on the product here. It features some of the softest leather I’ve ever felt for a laptop backpack and sturdy comfortable straps that won’t dig into your shoulders or leave a mark. And here’s the best part – it also fits my 15.6″ MacBook Pro. At the time of this writing, women’s Bostanten laptop bags range between $129-$199. The Bostanten brand is available on Amazon.
24. Portable Monitor – $89.99
My husband actually owns this portable monitor and loves it. He can’t stand to be away from his dual monitor setup when he’s on the go. And now he never has to be. He can take it with him! This little guy instantly transforms your on-the-go setup into a dual-screen remote work dream. You’ll feel like you never left your home desk. And it’s currently ranked as Amazon’s #1 best seller in the portable monitor category.
25. Collective Subscription – $349/mo
Alright, I’ll admit, it’s unlikely that you’re going to purchase this one for someone else as a gift. This one is really if you’re shopping for yourself. But this subscription service is ideal for freelancers and solo-entrepreneurs that hate doing their own taxes and bookkeeping and have been looking for a mind-blowing “set it and forget it” solution. I’ve blogged about this service and reviewed them extensively if you want to read more about them here.
26. Zuri Office Chair – $599.00
And finally, we have the most expensive item on our list – my all-time favorite computer chair. Look, I get it, to drop $400 on someone means you must really love them. And I promise, if you buy that person this chair, they will really really really love you back. I’ve had a lot of computer chairs in my freelance career and really put them through the wringer. This chair is mostly genuine leather, soft, adjustable and ultra-comfortable. It also reclines. It’s by far and beyond the best office chair I’ve ever owned – and it looks super sleek and modern. If this particular style doesn’t strike your fancy, Zuri Furniture makes several similar options, all just as high-quality as the next. Your tush will thank you.
Do you have any clever gift ideas you think I should add to this list? Or do you own any of the above-mentioned items? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.