We Tested 19 Online Flower Delivery Services to Find the 6 Best Options
Inexpensive bouquets, floral subscriptions and next-day delivery.
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I absolutely love receiving a beautiful bouquet — whether for my birthday or just because — and I know many others feel the same way. However, if your loved one lives far away, choosing the right online flower delivery service is essential to ensure their arrangement arrives on time with fresh, high-quality blooms. Whether you're sending a large romantic bouquet of long-stem roses or a unique mixed floral arrangement for Mother's Day, the delivery should be in great condition, include the advertised blooms and last for about a week.
Growing up with a mom who's a florist, I've always had a deep passion for flowers. This love of florals naturally drove me to lead the testing of online flower delivery services when I joined the Good Housekeeping Institute over three years ago. During that time, I tested 19 different online flower delivery services, collaborated with over 30 consumer testers and surveyed hundreds of additional testers about their experiences. Read on for my top recommendations for every style, budget, timeline and occasion after months of testing. You'll also find comparison images of each arrangement tested in our Lab: The first photo shows how the bouquet arrived, while the second captures its condition after a week of testing.
Delivery zone: All 50 states
Our consumer testers were fans of Bouqs' thoughtful and stylish packaging, and I appreciated that the bouquets included instructions on keeping the flowers fresh for as long as possible. The best part? Even after a week, all testers noted no sign of wilting. In fact, The Bouqs Co.'s arrangements lasted longer than any similar bouquet we tested. An overwhelming majority of our survey panel reported having a great experience with Bouqs, from the excellent customer service to the beautiful appearance of their bouquets.
How it performed in testing: I was impressed with how well the arrangement I ordered (pictured here) matched the advertised imagery. "They are still as bright and cheerful as they were the day after they arrived," said one tester who purchased the Wild About U arrangement. Other testers mentioned how easy the website was to navigate. I've also tested many bouquets from Bouqs over the last couple of years, including their subscription service, and have always received a beautifully-arranged bouquet in great condition.
Delivery zone: All 50 states and 195 countries worldwide
Not only are the bouquets from 1-800-Flowers significantly less expensive than those offered by its competitors, they still arrived looking fresh and beautiful in our Lab evaluations. In addition to bouquets, 1-800-Flowers offers house plants and gift bundles, including roses and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
1-800-Flowers is also one of the most popular services in America, according to a survey of over 200 GH+ community members. Most notably, consumers talked about how easy and convenient this flower delivery service is, with many commenting on its moderate pricing.
How it performed in testing: The affordable bouquet we received from 1-800-Flowers was in great condition and lasted a week. One consumer tester did note that their plant arrived damaged but that the company quickly resolved the issue once the tester reached out. "The second plant was even prettier than the pictures," they said. "I was happy they were willing to replace the plant with a new one." Another tester noted that the arrangement didn't look exactly like the photo online; however, the website notes that the color assortment may vary based on availability.
Delivery zone: Lower 48 states
With Urban Stems, you can purchase beautiful arrangements à la carte or subscribe to their subscription service, whether you want fresh blooms at home continuously or are looking for a gift idea. Choose from three plans (Classic, Seasonal or Luxe) and how often you would like to receive flowers (weekly, biweekly or monthly). Every plan includes a vase, but the Seasonal and Luxe plans come at a higher price tag, given the premium florals. You can modify, cancel or pause your subscription at any time.
How it performed in testing: Urban Stems performed well in our Lab testing, with high scores for delivery, instructions and appearance. The floral arrangement lasted the whole week of testing but was ready to be thrown out afterward. Consumers also loved their deliveries. "The quality of the flowers was excellent and held up perfectly throughout the entire week (and a few days past that)," said one tester. "The arrangement looked beautiful and smelled divine! These are definitely more of a 'premium' pick compared to other delivery services I've tried, from the super thoughtful packaging to the flower quality."
Urban Stems can run pricey, but they do have a section dedicated to discounted bouquets, plants and gifts. Plus, they offer best-selling arrangements for next-day delivery if you're a bit late in ordering.
Delivery zone: All 50 states and Canada
If shopping local is important to you, Teleflora offers flowers that are 100% arranged and delivered by local florists, so you're supporting small businesses by shopping through the brand's website.
How it performed in testing: The hand-delivered bouquets from Teleflora had a high wow factor, with lovely-looking flowers arranged in a pretty vase. However, one consumer tester noted that while they loved their arrangement, they wished they could have picked the vase and that care instructions had been included. Another was surprised that the peonies in their bouquet were swapped for roses but was still happy with the results. "The color was spot on, so it wasn't a big issue," they said. "I went back to the website and saw a disclaimer that does say flowers will be replaced based on availability."
Delivery zone: All 50 states
There's no denying the convenience of ordering flowers online from Amazon. In fact, Amazon Prime members can get fresh blooms delivered from dozens of brands with free two-day shipping.
How it performed in testing: While we still have to test more of the brands offered on Amazon, we did Lab and consumer test Floral Compass, whose arrangements arrived quickly and in good condition. They provide floral arrangements that are relatively affordable as well, but they don't offer the widest selection.
Amazon reviewers also like florals created by the Country Living magazine and Colour Republic brands. "Sent as a birthday gift [and] arrived in wonderful condition. Although not fully bloomed, once watered, they bloomed within two days," said one recipient. We have found that many of the flower delivery brands on Amazon offer a smaller selection of floral arrangements.
Delivery zone: Lower 48 states
Farmgirl Flowers offers unique flower arrangements in a signature burlap bundle, from rare rose varietals to hard-to-find seasonal blooms. Farmgirl also has a free ship shop, different subscription offerings and fun gift add-ons like a box of gourmet chocolates or a soy wax candle.
How it performed in testing: In Lab testing, the roses arrived a little bruised, but after a few days of opening, they were absolutely stunning and smelled sweeter than any other arrangement tested. The roses were packaged nicely and came with detailed instructions, though they did have a lot of thorns, so be careful as you unbox. One consumer tester who worked as a professional florist for years said, "The flowers were quick to arrive, less than 12 hours after ordering. The packaging was well thought out and effective in protecting the tender blooms, and the instructions were clear. Plus, the roses were drop-dead gorgeous!"
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Farmgirl Flowers
Others we tested
- Fresh Sends: We were impressed with their stylish packaging, and while the flower selection is smaller, popular options like roses and their signature bouquet, "The Send," are available. Shipping fees are on the higher side.
- Amelia's Flowers: This service's arrangements stood out with their thoughtful design and vibrant, wildflower aesthetic. However, we found less variety in this service than in others we tested.
- Venus et Fleur: Offering roses and other florals treated to last an entire year, we found the roses to be vibrant and beautiful in fragrance. The arrangements are at luxury price points, though.
- Ode a la Rose: When testing this service, GH staffers couldn't stop commenting on the gorgeous presentation of their arrangments. The wow factor does come at a steep price, and we didn't receive any care instructions.
- Laura Ashley Flowers: Testers appreciated the included care tips and protective packaging that kept blooms in good condition en route. However, we didn't find the website easy to navigate when ordering flowers.
- Bouquet Box: This flower delivery service provides everything you need to build your own floral arrangement at home. However, only one arrangement option is available each month, and we found that assembling the bouquet took some time.
- Bloomsy Box: After seven days of testing, our Lab's arrangement still looked nice. One consumer tester's delivery took over a week, and another tester's arrangement was supposed to be colorful but a completely white bouquet instead.
- Postal Petals: Another great option if you like to DIY your own bouquets. We didn't find that all our blooms were delivered in the best condition.
- FTD Flowers: If you're looking to order flowers designed by a local florist, this is a good option, but we didn't find the company's attention to detail to be as good as that of competitors.
- Pro Flowers: This service is more affordable than others we tested; however, some testers noted that their arrangements didn’t fully match the imagery shown on the website.
How we test online flower delivery services
Our Lab analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested 19 online flower and plant delivery services since 2022. In that time, we've evaluated 57 arrangements, enlisted 38 consumer testers and received surveys from 475 GH+ members nationwide for their valuable insight into flower delivery services.
We put bouquets through rigorous in-Lab testing and at-home consumer testing, judging each service on a list of criteria that includes delivery time, initial appearance and longevity.
Lab testing: We order pink roses (if available) in a clear glass vase from each service, paying extra for the vase if needed. Upon arrival in our Lab, we inspected the packaging to ensure the flowers were safely secured during delivery. We also evaluate the packaging to see if it was gift-worthy or a headache for the recipient (as shown here).
Consumer testing: We conduct consumer testing for all services to see how the flowers arrive in real homes and how long they last. For anonymity and to test out how easy it is to order online, all testers order directly from flower delivery services on their own with a provided gift card. Consumer testers can order any flower bouquet or plant that appeals to them.
Bouquet evaluation: Bouquets from flower delivery services are often given as gifts, and the sender does not necessarily see what actually arrives. If the flowers are not as attractive as what is pictured online or wither or droop soon after arrival, they can be a disappointing present.
In our testing, we evaluate all bouquets' appearances on arrival to see how they compare to their online photos and what condition the petals, stems and leaves were in (as shown here)
Florists delivered some bouquets, while others were shipped directly from a farm or warehouse. While most services provide detailed instructions, very secure packaging, flower food and vases, others aren't ideal for giving as a gift and require a lot of work to put together.
Longevity: A floral delivery should last at least a week without wilting, but that isn't always the case. We tested for longevity in our Lab to see how long flowers lasted and if they wilted gracefully or needed to get thrown away immediately.
Pro tip: Flowers are very temperamental, and sometimes a company cannot control how they are delivered or damaged in the mail. Always reach out to the company if you're unhappy with your results. Most flower delivery services will send a floral replacement if you are unsatisfied with your delivery.
What to look for when shopping for flowers online
✔️ Appearance: Ordering blooms online from a flower delivery service requires trust that the arrangement you will receive or send to a loved one is exactly what is pictured on the website. If an arrangement doesn't look how it was supposed to, we recommend contacting their customer service team. From our thorough testing, we stand by the appearance of the arrangements from the services on this list.
✔️ What are you trying to say: Most flower delivery service websites have categories where you can select arrangements specifically designed for a birthday, holiday or special occasion. Utilize the website to determine which arrangement style is best for your loved one.
✔️ Delivery method and speed: Some flower services have their arrangements delivered by local florists in your area, usually without any packaging. Other services ship directly from a farm or floral warehouse with lots of packaging to keep flowers secure. If you need flowers at the last minute or want flowers that arrive on a specific date, look for websites that offer easy scheduling.
✔️ Budget: Sending flowers can be expensive. Know your budget before purchasing, look for sales around the holidays and remember that some services don't include free shipping (and shipping fees can be as much as $25 a bouquet). Some flower delivery services also offer bouquets in three different sizes; you can select a smaller bouquet if you're on a budget or go all out for a special occasion with an extra-large arrangement.
✔️ Packaging and customization: Most flower delivery services offer the option to include a card with a short note, but other services also provide more customizations like colored ribbon, balloons or chocolates. Receiving flowers is special, but if you want to make it extra special for your recipient, look to see how it will be delivered (florist vs. mail), packaged (vase vs. wrapped bouquet) and if you can customize the experience.
Top five tips for keeping flowers fresh
We interviewed Hudson Valley-based florist, Sasha Allison, for her top tricks and tips for ensuring your floral arrangement lasts longer.
- "Give them a good cut with sterilized clippers. You should cut them at an angle; this way, they will absorb more water," says Allison. A 45-degree angle cut on most flower stems ensures that the entire stem's surface area is in contact with the water for maximum hydration.
- "Take off all dead leaves and dead petals. For roses, take off the stiff petals on the outside of the flower," instructs Allison, "I like to take off all of the leaves, so the energy from the water goes straight to the flower."
- "Water should be crystal clear, and there should be no leaves below the waterline," says Allison. "You should be able to look at the water and say, 'Could I drink that?' This also starts with the vase that you're using. It should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized; otherwise, bacteria from a previous arrangement could shorten the life of your new, beautiful arrangement."
- "Place in cold water. The most important aspect of keeping your flowers fresh longer is the temperature you keep them," instructs Allison. "General guidelines are: Cut flowers should be stored at 34 to 38°F, while tropical flowers and orchids should be stored at 55 to 60°F. If you cannot put them in a cooler or a refrigerator (or simply want to enjoy your flowers on your kitchen table), then you can add ice cubes to the water."
- "Some people use flower food; I personally have not found it to make a difference either way," says Allison. Our analysts use flower food in our testing if a flower delivery service provides it, and we have noticed better longevity on some blooms.
Remember that floral care varies from bloom to bloom, so you should consult your online flower delivery services' care instructions before arranging your bouquet.
When should you order flowers around major holidays?
Depending on the flower delivery service, we recommend ordering flower arrangements for a major flower holiday like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day at least two to three weeks prior. Placing your order far enough ahead ensures that you get the best selection of available arrangements and a favorable delivery date. We also recommend securing a delivery date that's a few days before a major holiday, just in case of a delay in delivery.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Eva Bleyer is the reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute. Eva tests and writes about all things home, kitchen gear, culinary products and beyond. Eva has tested over 19 flower delivery services at Good Housekeeping and hopes to test even more companies.
Eva’s mom is a professional florist, and she grew up playing in the walk-in flower cooler while her mom was working. Eva has a wealth of knowledge in plant and flower varietals, building arrangements, gardening and farming, thanks to her mom and agricultural classes at New York University. Eva loves visiting botanical gardens and farms in her free time and arranging beautiful bouquets for her dining table.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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