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AD info | The Estrid subscription was gifted to me by the brand, the FFS subscription was paid for with my own money. As always, any opinions presented in this post are honest and my own.
If you’re planning on making the switch from disposable razors to reusable ones, there’s a good chance you’ve been searching for the best razor subscription service to use. There are plenty out there but Estrid and FFS Beauty seem to be the most prominent… at least they’re the brands I’ve come across most often!
After starting my reusable razor journey with Estrid last year, I’ve fully ditched the disposable ones and can firmly say I wouldn’t go back! BUT, I was interested to see how other razor subscription services would stack up, which is why I decided to give FFS a go too.
I’ve got a full Estrid razor review here and an FFS review here too, but if you’re keen to see a comparison, keep reading!
What’s in each starter kit?
The starter kit from each brand is really similar. The only difference is that the FFS kit comes with a plastic blade cover which you can slide on and off when you need to use the razor. The Estrid blades also come in a plastic case, which I guess you could use as a cover, but I’m not sure it’s intended to be used this way so I haven’t included it!
| FFS | Estrid |
|---|---|
| 1 metal handle 2 six-blade razor heads 1 blade cover 1 shower holder | 1 steel handle 2 five-blade razor heads 1 shower holder |
How does each subscription work?
With both razor subscription services you start by choosing your desired handle colour, then you pick how often you want to receive your replacement blades. Estrid gives you the option to receive new blades every second month, every third month or every fourth month. FFS allows you to pick between receiving new blades every month or every two months.
Signing yourself up to a razor subscription might sound a bit intimidating, especially if you’re not sure how often you’ll need your blades replaced, so it’s great that both Estrid and FFS allow you to make changes to your subscription whenever you like. At any point, you can pause it, change the frequency, or cancel it entirely. FFS even allows you to swap out your usual blade delivery for some of their other body products (like their shave balm) at no extra cost!
Packaging
The Estrid razor is hands down the winner when it comes to the packaging. Their starter kit comes in a letterbox-friendly pink box, with the razor components organised into separate paper pouches. You also get a free sheet of stickers which I think is a really cute idea! Overall, it just feels really exciting to unbox!
The FFS razor kit comes in a similarly-sized box, but for some reason the packaging feels a little bit lacking. The cardboard insert doesn’t seem to hold the components in place and there’s no manual (like there is with the Estrid razor). I do, however, like that you can hold on to the box to send your old razors back to FFS for recycling, and I assume the packaging is simple to cut down on waste, so I think it’s great in that respect!
Winner: Estrid
Razor appearance
From a purely aesthetic view, I prefer the way the Estrid razor looks. The design is just a bit more fun and unique, which sets it apart from your standard disposable razor. They offer more choice in colour too. FFS periodically changes up their razors. Their candy shop range, for example, contained some really cute pastel handles (which had equally adorable names!), but these were only limited edition and the current selection is smaller 😭
Winner: Estrid (though this one is definitely down to personal preference!)
The ins and outs
THE RAZOR HEAD
Honestly, I think it’s the razor cartridges that really set these reusable razors apart from their disposable counterparts. Most disposable razors have only two or three blades; the Estrid razor cartridges have five blades, and the FFS ones have six. This means you get a really close shave with both razors.
What I also like about the Estrid razor is that it has soap all around the blade which means you can use it without shaving gel if need be (though I do recommend using a shaving cream or lotion if you can). The FFS razor has a thin strip of soap attached but I wouldn’t say it’s enough by itself to shave with.
Winner: It’s a tie
THE HANDLE
Both the FFS and Estrid razor handles are pretty weighty which I feel gives you more of a controlled shave than a plastic disposable razor. At a glance, the handles look pretty much the same – they’re both made of metal and they both have a rubber strip on the underside for grip. The main difference is that the FFS rubber pad is shaped to fit your fingers, making it slightly more comfortable to hold.
Winner: FFS
THE SHOWER HOLDER
Quality-wise, the Estrid shower holder is undeniably better. It’s made of steel so it matches the razor and it feels sturdy too. Unfortunately though, it seems like the holder is too heavy to support the weight of both itself and the razor, so it often ends up popping off the wall. Leaving the razor on the side of the bath isn’t an option either as the soap ends up going everywhere if you do!
The FFS shower holder is made of plastic and is therefore MUCH lighter. Initially, I wasn’t too keen on it, it definitely doesn’t look as fancy as the Estrid one. But I actually find that it sticks onto the wall really well and is able to take the weight of the razor (which is the most important thing!).
Winner: It’s a tie
For the full rundown on these subscriptions, don’t forget to check out my Estrid starter kit and FFS Beauty razor trial kit reviews!
Sustainability
Though Estrid’s razors are designed in Sweden, they’re not actually manufactured there. According to the Estrid website, the blades are made in the US, while the handles and wall mounts are produced in China. Considering Estrid exclusively ships to countries within Europe, this obviously makes the carbon footprint quite high. They have partnered with Flexport.org to offset their carbon emissions, but the website doesn’t say too much about this so it’s hard to get an idea of how much of an impact this has made.
As for FFS, most of the razor parts (and other products) are manufactured in the UK, the only exceptions being the razor blades (which are made in Germany) and the wax strips (which come from Spain). They also only sell to the UK, so this makes the carbon footprint from shipping smaller in comparison. On top of this, FFS plants trees with every subscription purchased and runs a recycling scheme for old blades.
Winner: FFS
Price
Both FFS and Estrid offer razors, and razor subscription plans, at a really affordable price point so I wouldn’t say one is more expensive than the other, it just depends on what you’re planning on buying.
If you’re looking to make a one-time purchase, the Estrid Starter Kit at £9.95 is slightly cheaper – the FFS equivalent is £14.
As a razor subscription service, however, the FFS Razor Kit comes out on top. Estrid’s subscription starter kit is £7.95, while the FFS kit is £4.95. FFS often do special offers for their razor subscriptions too, which means you get some freebies thrown in when you buy.
Winner: It’s a tie
Delivery
When you subscribe to FFS or Estrid, your razor starter kit and replacement blades are delivered free of charge. FFS promises to deliver your order within 3-5 working days, whereas Estrid’s website says it takes about 3-9 working days for your order to get to you.
Winner: FFS
Overall thoughts
I really love both of these razor subscriptions services… but for different reasons. For me, it feels like FFS is really focused on the product, while Estrid is more focused on the overall shaving experience. Estrid wins in terms of things like packaging and aesthetics, but when it comes to the actual efficiency of the razor, FFS slightly takes the lead.
I like that the FFS razor head is smaller and more flexible. I also don’t have to worry about it falling off my wall as much as I do with the Estrid one. I find that the finger-shaped indents on the rubber pad make the FFS razor really comfortable to hold, and price-wise it’s one of the best value razor subscription services out there. I’ve even recommended it to my mum and sister and now it’s the only razor they use!
I still think the Estrid razor is great and I use it all the time, but I do think that the FFS razor fits my preferences a little better.
Have you tried either of these razor subscription services? Would you be more tempted to try the Estrid razor or the FFS razor? Let me know which one sounds best to you!
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