trnd

What's in the box: When you are chosen for a project, you get a brand's product to test, such as food, drinks or beauty items, often with extras to share with friends.

trnd is less a subscription box than a word of mouth marketing community run by TERRITORY Influence GmbH. You register for free, then apply to individual brand projects. If you are selected, you receive products to try and are asked to give the brand your honest opinions and talk about them with friends, family and people online. Recent projects have included Nissin Soba Bags, Mielle hair care and a Coca-Cola loyalty scheme, with places for anywhere from 500 to 3,500 participants per project. trnd runs country sites across much of Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK, so the projects you can join depend on where you live. The appeal is simple: there is no fee, and you get to try new products before most people. The downside is that nothing arrives on a schedule. You only get something when you are picked for a project, and selection is not guaranteed. You are also expected to do some work in return, such as posting reviews, photos or feedback, because that is the whole point for the brands involved. The site does not say how often projects open or how participants are chosen. If you enjoy testing things and do not mind promoting them, it is a fair deal. If you want a reliable monthly parcel, look elsewhere.