Thorntons Top Alternatives and Competitors in 2026
Posted on |
Home › Comparisons › Thorntons Alternatives and Competitors
By Mohamed Zaki · Researched and updated November 8, 2026 · Coupons Scout may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Looking for the Thorntons top alternatives and competitors? Thorntons is a well-known UK chocolate brand for gifts, hampers and personalised treats sent by post straight to the recipient’s door, but Hotel Chocolat, Lindt UK and Montezuma’s each shine in different ways. We compared all four on range, gifting options, delivery, returns and rewards, using the brands’ own pages as of October 2026, so you can pick the right shop in a few minutes.
Quick Answer
Thorntons is our pick for chocolate gifts, hampers and personalised treats posted direct to someone’s door, with express UK delivery. Choose Hotel Chocolat for regular drinking chocolate subscriptions, Lindt UK for Pick and Mix boxes (see the pricing page) and rewards, and Montezuma’s for organic, palm oil free chocolate.
Best for: Thorntons suits UK shoppers who want to send a chocolate gift, hamper or personalised treat by post for birthdays, exams, Christmas or work.
Key Takeaways
- As of October 2026, the top Thorntons alternatives in the UK are Hotel Chocolat, Lindt UK and Montezuma’s.
- Thorntons is our pick for chocolate gifts sent by post, with express UK delivery within 2 working days of dispatch, excluding Mondays and bank holidays.
- As of October 2026, Hotel Chocolat offers drinking chocolate subscriptions every 1, 2 or 3 months with free standard UK delivery and advertises 10% off your first order.
- Lindt UK currently lists Pick and Mix boxes, a subscription box and free delivery above a minimum order value; see the pricing page for current prices.
- Montezuma’s currently lists a Vegan Chocolate Taster, a bar multibuy and free UK delivery above a minimum order value; see the pricing page for current prices.
Thorntons Top Alternatives and Competitors at a Glance
| Brand | Best for | Main products | Returns | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorntons | Chocolate gifts and hampers sent by post | Chocolate gifts, hampers, personalised gifts | Exchange, refund or credit note may be available if saleable | 4.1/5 |
| Hotel Chocolat | Drinking chocolate subscriptions and curated boxes | Chocolate collections, drinking chocolate, Velvetiser | No Excuses Guarantee; refunds within 14 days of cancellation | 4.4/5 |
| Lindt UK | Custom Lindor boxes and chocolate subscriptions | Lindor truffles, Pick and Mix, subscription hampers | 14-day cancellation; return postage paid by customer | 4.5/5 |
| Montezuma’s | Organic, palm oil free British chocolate | Bars, truffles, gift sets, bundles | 14 days to cancel plus 14 to return, unopened (UK) | 4.3/5 |
From the pricing page of each brand on November 8, 2026. Taxes and regional prices can change the total.
Winners by Category
- Best for personalised chocolate gifts by post: Thorntons (gifts, hampers and personalised treats delivered to the door).
- Best for drinking chocolate subscriptions: Hotel Chocolat (deliveries every 1, 2 or 3 months, free standard UK delivery).
- Best for build-your-own boxes: Lindt UK (Pick and Mix boxes; see the pricing page).
- Best for organic and vegan chocolate: Montezuma’s (palm oil free, Soil Association organic certification).
Why Look for a Thorntons Alternative?
Do You Want Chocolate on a Regular Schedule?
Thorntons focuses on one-off gifts, hampers and personalised treats. Hotel Chocolat runs drinking chocolate subscriptions that deliver at regular intervals, with free standard UK delivery, and you can cancel or pause up to midnight the day before the next delivery. Lindt UK also lists a discounted Chocolate Subscription Box; see the pricing page.
Do You Want to Build Your Own Box?
Lindt UK’s Pick and Mix service lets you fill boxes of truffles or bars, with flavours from extra dark to vegan milk chocolate. Boxes range from a small heart box to a large Selection Box; see the pricing page. Note there is a minimum order, so combine items if you only want a small box.
Do You Prefer Organic or Palm Oil Free Chocolate?
Montezuma’s says its chocolate is palm oil free and made with pure, natural ingredients in Chichester, and it partners with the Soil Association for organic certification. Its range includes the Absolute Black 100% cocoa bar, organic Fitzroy 74% dark chocolate and vegan tasters.
Do You Want Rewards on Every Order?
Free MyLindt membership at Lindt UK gives a welcome offer and vouchers as you spend, up to a yearly limit. Hotel Chocolat offers free sign-up to VIP.ME rewards. With Thorntons, check our Thorntons coupon page for current offers before you pay.
How We Compared the Thorntons Alternatives
We read each company’s own pricing, feature, help and policy pages on November 8, 2026, and scored each tool on five points:
- Gift range: boxes, hampers and personalised gifts each brand lists.
- Personalisation: messages and custom gifts each brand offers.
- Value: listed prices, sales and bundle offers on each brand’s own pages.
- Policies: returns, warranty and guarantee terms on each brand’s policy pages.
- Shipping: delivery terms and free shipping rules each brand publishes.
Scores reflect this research, not a sponsorship, and no company reviewed this article. Where we earn a commission, it never changes the ranking.
How Much Do Thorntons and Its Alternatives Cost?
Chocolate prices depend on the box, size and season, so the table shows one example product per shop as listed on its own pages in October 2026. Thorntons and Hotel Chocolat did not state item prices on the pages we read, so check the brands’ websites for current figures.
| Brand | Example item | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Thorntons | Continental dark chocolate | See the brand’s website |
| Hotel Chocolat | Everything Curated Collection | See the brand’s website |
| Lindt UK | Lindt Chocolate Subscription Box | £36.00 (regular £40.00) |
| Montezuma’s | Starlight Express Gift Box | £29.99 |
Calculated from the prices shown on the brand pages on November 8, 2026. Taxes and regional prices can change the total.
1. Thorntons: Best for Personalised Chocolate Gifts by Post
Best for: UK shoppers sending chocolate gifts, hampers and personalised treats by post · Starting price: see the brand’s website · Our score: 4.1/5
Thorntons is a UK chocolate brand that sells chocolate gifts, chocolate hampers and personalised gifts online, with delivery by post direct to the recipient’s door, according to its website. The range on the pages we read includes Continental dark chocolates, such as a cocoa and hazelnut centre with cocoa shavings, Alpini hazelnut praline and Espresso dark chocolate. The site also lists gift ideas for teenagers, good-luck gifts for exams or interviews, Christmas gifts, and corporate treats for team thank-yous, client gestures and large events.
Item prices were not stated on the pages we read, so check the brand’s website for current prices as of October 2026. Its help centre says express UK deliveries arrive within 2 working days of dispatch, excluding Mondays and bank holidays. Where goods can be returned in their original, saleable condition, the company says an exchange, refund, second-purchase discount or credit note may be available. A free UK delivery threshold was not stated on the pages we read, so check the basket before paying. See Thorntons coupons.
✅ What We Like
- Chocolate gifts, hampers and personalised gifts in one shop
- Delivery by post direct to the recipient’s door
- Express UK delivery within 2 working days of dispatch
- Gift ideas for exams, interviews, Christmas and teenagers
- Corporate gifting for teams, clients and events
💡 Things to Consider
- Prices were not stated on the pages we read, so check the brand’s website
- Express delivery excludes Mondays and bank holidays, so order ahead
- Returns depend on goods being in original, saleable condition
2. Hotel Chocolat: Best for Drinking Chocolate Subscriptions
Best for: drinking chocolate fans who like flexible subscriptions and a no-quibble guarantee · Starting price: see the brand’s website · Our score: 4.4/5
Hotel Chocolat is a chocolate brand selling boxed chocolates, collections, drinking chocolate and the Velvetiser hot chocolate maker. Its UK site lists the Everything Curated Collection, which mixes mellow, dark and high-cacao, and tipsy genres, made in the United Kingdom with cocoa from Ghana and West Africa. Drinking chocolate subscriptions deliver every 1, 2 or 3 months from a library of hot and cold recipes, including a Chilli Dark Hot Chocolate refill made with 70% dark chocolate. The company also offers free chocolate samples in its stores.
UK prices in pounds for individual items were not stated on the pages we read, so see the brand’s website. As of October 2026, the UK site advertises 10% off your first order and free sign-up to VIP.ME rewards. Subscriptions include free standard UK delivery, and you can cancel or pause up to midnight the day before the next delivery; a Velvetiser subscription on a 6- or 12-month term can save up to £50, the company says. Its No Excuses Guarantee covers purchases if you are not 100% happy or an important delivery date is missed.
✅ What We Like
- No Excuses Guarantee if you are not 100% happy
- Subscriptions every 1, 2 or 3 months with free standard UK delivery
- Cancel or pause up to midnight before the next delivery
- 10% off your first order on the UK site
- Free VIP.ME rewards sign-up
💡 Things to Consider
- UK item prices were not stated on the pages we read, so check the brand’s website
- Velvetiser savings need a 6- or 12-month subscription
- Subscription changes must be made before midnight the day before dispatch
3. Lindt UK: Best for Build-Your-Own Chocolate Boxes
Best for: shoppers who want build-your-own Lindor boxes and rewards on every order · Starting price: Pick and Mix boxes from £10 (150g heart box); Lindt Chocolate Subscription Box £36.00 (regular £40.00) · Our score: 4.5/5
Lindt UK is the British online shop for Lindt Swiss chocolate, which the brand says has been crafted by Lindt Master Chocolatiers since 1845. The shop lists 208 products, including Lindor truffles, Choco Wafer and a Pick and Mix service where you build boxes of truffles or bars, with flavours ranging from dark 90% to vegan milk chocolate and some flavours exclusive to Pick and Mix. Personalised options include a 500g Gold Bunny tin holding up to 40 Lindor truffles, plus corporate gifts with personalised sleeves.
As of October 2026, Pick and Mix boxes start at £10 for a 150g heart box and run to £198 for a 4.5kg Selection Box, while the Lindt Chocolate Subscription Box is listed at £36.00 against a regular £40.00. The minimum order is £20, standard 3-5 day delivery costs £4.95 and orders over £50 ship free. Free MyLindt membership gives a 10% welcome offer and a £5 voucher for every £50 spent, up to 3 vouchers a year. The terms give consumers 14 days to cancel, with postal returns at the customer’s cost.
✅ What We Like
- Pick and Mix boxes from £10
- Free standard delivery on orders over £50
- Subscription box at £36.00 instead of £40.00
- MyLindt: £5 voucher per £50 spent, up to 3 a year
- Personalised boxes, tins and corporate sleeves
💡 Things to Consider
- Minimum order of £20, so combine items
- Standard delivery is £4.95 below £50
- Postal returns are at your own cost within 14 days
4. Montezuma’s: Best for Organic and Vegan Chocolate
Best for: fans of organic, palm oil free British chocolate and vegan options · Starting price: Vegan Chocolate Taster £12.50; Starlight Express Gift Box £29.99 · Our score: 4.3/5
Montezuma’s is a British chocolate maker that says its bars, truffles and gift sets are made by the sea in Chichester. The brand describes its chocolate as palm oil free and made with pure, natural ingredients, and it partners with the Soil Association for organic certification. The range includes the Absolute Black 100% cocoa bar, organic Fitzroy 74% dark chocolate, a Grand Chocolate Truffle collection of 25 handcrafted truffles (350g), vegan tasters, bar collections, discounted chocolate bundles and corporate gifting with a £1,000 minimum order.
As of October 2026, listed prices include £12.50 for the Vegan Chocolate Taster and £29.99 for the Starlight Express Gift Box, plus a 5 for £15 bar multibuy (the Absolute Black bar is excluded). Standard delivery is £4.95, next day is £7.50 when ordered before 2pm Monday to Thursday, and UK orders over £50 ship free. UK customers can cancel within 14 days of receiving their chocolates and return them within a further 14 days, unopened and in original packaging; faulty items should be reported within 30 days.
✅ What We Like
- Palm oil free chocolate, the brand says
- Organic range certified with the Soil Association
- 5 for £15 bar multibuy
- Free UK delivery on orders over £50
- Clear 14-day cancellation for UK customers
💡 Things to Consider
- Returns must be unopened, so check your order before opening
- Return postage is paid by the customer unless faulty
- Corporate gifting needs a £1,000 minimum order
How to Choose Between Thorntons and Its Alternatives
Who Are You Buying For?
Thorntons lists gift ideas for teenagers, good-luck gifts for exams or interviews, Christmas gifts and chocolate hampers, all posted to the recipient’s door. Lindt UK offers personalised options such as a 500g Gold Bunny tin holding up to 40 Lindor truffles. Hotel Chocolat suits hot chocolate fans, and Montezuma’s suits vegan and organic shoppers.
How Much Will Delivery Cost?
Lindt UK charges for standard delivery and ships free above a minimum order value. Montezuma’s charges for standard delivery, offers a paid next-day option when ordered before the afternoon cut-off Monday to Thursday, and ships UK orders free above a minimum order value; see the pricing page. Hotel Chocolat subscriptions include free standard UK delivery. Thorntons did not state a free delivery threshold on the pages we read, so check the basket before paying.
How Fast Do You Need It?
Thorntons says express UK deliveries arrive within a few working days of dispatch, excluding Mondays and bank holidays, so order a little earlier for a weekend birthday. Montezuma’s paid next-day option (see the pricing page) needs an order before the afternoon cut-off, Monday to Thursday.
How Do Returns Work?
Hotel Chocolat’s No Excuses Guarantee covers purchases if you are not 100% happy or an important delivery date is missed. Thorntons says an exchange, refund, second-purchase discount or credit note may be available for goods in original, saleable condition. Lindt UK gives 14 days to cancel, with postal returns at your cost. Montezuma’s gives UK customers 14 days to cancel and a further 14 days to return unopened items.
Do You Need Corporate Gifts?
Thorntons lists corporate treats for team thank-yous, client gestures and large events. Lindt UK offers corporate gifts with personalised sleeves, and Montezuma’s offers corporate gifting with a minimum order value, which suits larger orders.
Can You Save with a Coupon?
Yes. Our Thorntons coupons page lists current codes and offers; click Get Code so the discount is applied. Hotel Chocolat advertises 10% off your first order, and Lindt UK gives a 10% MyLindt welcome offer.
Final Thoughts
For most UK shoppers who want to send chocolate gifts, hampers or personalised treats by post, Thorntons is a strong fit, with express delivery and a wide gift range for exams, Christmas and work. If you want regular hot chocolate deliveries, try Hotel Chocolat; for build-your-own Lindor boxes (see the pricing page) and rewards, try Lindt UK; and for organic, palm oil free chocolate, try Montezuma’s. Read our Thorntons review for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Thorntons alternatives?
Currently, the top Thorntons alternatives in the UK are Hotel Chocolat (regular drinking chocolate subscriptions), Lindt UK (Pick and Mix boxes; see the pricing page) and Montezuma’s (organic, palm oil free chocolate).
Which chocolate shop offers free UK delivery?
Currently, Lindt UK and Montezuma’s both ship UK orders free above a minimum order value, and Hotel Chocolat includes free standard UK delivery on subscriptions. A Thorntons free delivery threshold was not stated on the pages we read.
Is Thorntons or Lindt UK better for gifts?
Thorntons suits gifts, hampers and personalised treats posted to the recipient’s door, with express delivery. Lindt UK suits build-your-own Lindor boxes (see the pricing page) and personalised tins, such as a Gold Bunny tin filled with truffles.
Which alternative is best for vegan chocolate?
Montezuma’s currently lists a Vegan Chocolate Taster (see the pricing page) and says its chocolate is palm oil free. Lindt UK’s Pick and Mix also includes vegan milk chocolate flavours.
What are the return policies?
Hotel Chocolat offers a No Excuses Guarantee. Thorntons says an exchange, refund or credit note may apply for saleable goods. Lindt UK and Montezuma’s give UK customers 14 days to cancel, and Montezuma’s requires unopened items returned within a further 14 days.
Are there Thorntons promo codes?
Yes. Our Thorntons coupon page lists current promo codes and offers. Click Get Code on the page so the discount is applied at checkout.
About the author: Mohamed Zaki, Founder & Chief MarTech Strategist, Coupons Scout. Mohamed Zaki is the founder of Coupons Scout and leads how the team finds deals and researches the software behind them. He focuses on marketing technology, automation tools and ways to pay less for them.
Editorial note: this article is based on research of brand product pages, help centers and policies, last checked November 8, 2026. Scores are our editorial opinion. Coupons Scout may earn a commission from some links, which never changes our rankings.
Sources
Brand pages we used for this article, checked November 8, 2026. Prices and plans can change, so confirm on the brand’s own website before you buy.
- Thorntons en
- Thorntons 21186094163986 What is the Thorntons returns or ex
- Thorntons 21210058142098 Delivery
- Hotel Chocolat uk
- Lindt UK homepage
- Lindt UK terms and conditions
- Montezuma’s homepage
- Montezuma’s terms and conditions montezumas chocolates?srsltid
- Montezuma’s terms and conditions montezumas chocolates?srsltid
