Sites Like Brookstone: 12 Gadget & Innovative-Gift Retailers Worth Bookmarking
Text
About Brookstone
Founded
1965
USA
Ships to
US
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Brookstone became a website with a memory problem — it still sells gadgets, but the thing people actually loved about it is gone.
What made Brookstone worth a stop wasn't the catalog; it was the airport terminal at 6 a.m., that leather massage chair you'd sink into while your flight boarded, the demo tables of Tempur-Pedic pillows and nap loungers and the wireless speakers set to a volume just loud enough to pull you in. Half the fun was touching things you had no intention of buying — the neck massagers, the sound machines humming rainforest static, the drone spinning above a display. It was a store built for browsing, not buying, and that was the point.
Strip that away and what's left is a fairly ordinary online shop selling Shiatsu massagers and white-noise machines you can find, often cheaper, three tabs over.
The closure of the mall and airport stores didn't just shutter locations; it removed the entire reason to choose Brookstone over Amazon. The online range is narrower now, the prices no longer justified by the experience, and the gadgets themselves rarely feel exclusive. Here's where to shop when you want the same fun-gift energy without the hollowed-out feeling.
What made Brookstone worth a stop wasn't the catalog; it was the airport terminal at 6 a.m., that leather massage chair you'd sink into while your flight boarded, the demo tables of Tempur-Pedic pillows and nap loungers and the wireless speakers set to a volume just loud enough to pull you in. Half the fun was touching things you had no intention of buying — the neck massagers, the sound machines humming rainforest static, the drone spinning above a display. It was a store built for browsing, not buying, and that was the point.
Strip that away and what's left is a fairly ordinary online shop selling Shiatsu massagers and white-noise machines you can find, often cheaper, three tabs over.
The closure of the mall and airport stores didn't just shutter locations; it removed the entire reason to choose Brookstone over Amazon. The online range is narrower now, the prices no longer justified by the experience, and the gadgets themselves rarely feel exclusive. Here's where to shop when you want the same fun-gift energy without the hollowed-out feeling.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Brookstone
1
Sharper Image
Est. 1977
Los Angeles, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want the exact Brookstone catalog vibe elsewhere
The most direct spiritual twin — massage chairs, air purifiers, and novelty tech gifts, also reborn as an online-first brand after its own store closures.
Pros
- Nearly identical gadget-gift catalog
- Strong massage chair and personal-care lineup
- Frequent sitewide discount codes
Cons
- Same closed-store fate as Brookstone
- Quality varies by product line
Visit Sharper Image
Full guide: Sites Like Sharper Image
2
Hammacher Schlemmer
Est. 1848
New York, USA
$$$
pricier
Shoppers hunting the strange, superlative, and impressive gift
America's oldest catalog of the unusual — the place for 'the best' version of things and genuinely odd inventions Brookstone never carried.
Pros
- Famous lifetime guarantee
- 'The Best' testing institute picks
- Genuinely unique, conversation-piece items
Cons
- Prices run high
- Some items feel novelty-for-novelty's-sake
3
Uncommon Goods
Est. 1999
Brooklyn, USA
≈
similar
Thoughtful gift shoppers who want something with a story
B Corp
1% for the Planet
The go-to for clever, giftable gadgets and personalized finds — the 'what do I get someone who has everything' problem Brookstone used to solve.
Pros
- Certified B Corp with ethical sourcing
- Strong personalized-gift selection
- Excellent gift-by-recipient browsing
Cons
- Fewer high-tech electronics
- Some items are small-batch and sell out
Visit Uncommon Goods
Full guide: Sites Like Uncommon Goods
4
Touch of Modern
Est. 2012
San Francisco, USA
≈
similar
Design-minded shoppers who like the treasure-hunt of daily drops
A flash-sale gadget marketplace aimed squarely at men who like slick tech, EDC, and design-forward gifts — Brookstone's demographic, sharper aesthetic.
Pros
- Constantly rotating fresh inventory
- Strong design and gadget curation
- Good deals on flash sales
Cons
- Limited-time stock disappears fast
- Shipping can be slow from third parties
5
The Grommet
Est. 2008
Somerville, USA
≈
similar
Early adopters who want gadgets before they go mainstream
Launches inventive products from small makers before they hit big retailers — the discovery thrill Brookstone's demo tables used to give you.
Pros
- Focus on independent inventors
- Genuinely novel product discovery
- Good storytelling behind each item
Cons
- Inventory rotates unpredictably
- Smaller catalog than big-box rivals
6
Best Buy
Est. 1966
Richfield, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want to touch electronics before buying
For the actual tech gadgets — massagers, headphones, smart-home gear — with the stores, price-matching, and returns Brookstone lost.
Pros
- Physical stores with hands-on demos
- Geek Squad support and warranties
- Strong price-matching policy
Cons
- Less novelty and gift-oriented curation
- Upsell pressure in-store
Visit Best Buy
Full guide: Stores Like Best Buy
7
Brookstone rival Skymall (via Amazon Handmade & Launchpad)
Est. 1994
Seattle, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers who want novelty tech plus Amazon convenience
Amazon's Launchpad surfaces the quirky startup gadgets Brookstone once premiered, with Prime shipping and easy returns on top.
Pros
- Prime shipping and painless returns
- Huge selection of novelty gadgets
- Usually the lowest prices
Cons
- No curation or gift experience
- Quality wildly inconsistent across sellers
8
Homedics
Est. 1987
Commerce, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers specifically after massagers and relaxation tech
The massage-and-wellness core of Brookstone done by a specialist — Shiatsu chairs, foot spas, and the sound machines that anchored the catalog.
Pros
- Massage and wellness specialists
- Often cheaper than Brookstone equivalents
- Widely stocked and easy to service
Cons
- No broader gadget/gift range
- Lower-end plastic build on cheaper units
9
MoMA Design Store
Est. 1932
New York, USA
$$$
pricier
Design lovers buying a gift that doubles as an object
Design-led gadgets and clever gifts with an art-world pedigree — the elevated end of the 'impressive gift' spectrum Brookstone flirted with.
Pros
- Museum-curated design objects
- Genuinely tasteful gift selection
- Exclusive designer collaborations
Cons
- Higher prices
- More decor than functional tech
10
Firebox
Est. 1998
London, UK
$
cheaper
Shoppers hunting funny, memorable novelty gifts
The UK king of novelty gadgets and cheeky gifts — the fun, slightly ridiculous end of Brookstone's DNA turned up loud.
Pros
- Huge range of novelty and gag gifts
- Great for hard-to-shop-for people
- Generally affordable
Cons
- Skews toward gag over quality
- US shipping costs and times
11
ThinkGeek (via GameStop)
Est. 1999
Grapevine, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers buying for gamers and gadget geeks
Gadgets and geeky tech gifts with personality — fills the 'cool electronic gift' niche Brookstone owned for a certain kind of shopper.
Pros
- Fun, personality-driven gadget gifts
- Strong for pop-culture fans
- Approachable price points
Cons
- Now folded into GameStop's catalog
- Inventory shifted since the brand transition
12
Grand & Toy / Brookstone rival Vat19
Est. 2000
St. Louis, USA
$
cheaper
Impulse shoppers who love a great product demo
Curiously awesome products with viral demo videos — the modern equivalent of Brookstone's try-before-you-buy demo tables, online.
Pros
- Entertaining product demo videos
- Wide range of quirky affordable gifts
- Great for gag and novelty buys
Cons
- Heavy on novelty, light on serious tech
- Quality is hit-or-miss on cheap items
For the massage & relaxation core
If you shopped Brookstone mainly for the Shiatsu chairs, neck massagers, and rainforest sound machines, Homedics is the specialist that does exactly this — usually cheaper and easier to service. Hammacher Schlemmer covers the premium end with its lifetime guarantee, and Best Buy lets you actually test headphones and smart-home gear before committing.
For the discovery thrill of the demo tables
The real magic of a Brookstone store was touching gadgets you'd never seen. The Grommet launches inventions from small makers before they go mainstream, Touch of Modern runs daily design-forward drops, and Vat19's demo videos recreate that 'I have to have this' impulse the demo tables used to trigger.
For thoughtful, giftable finds
When you need an impressive gift and Amazon feels soulless, Uncommon Goods (a B Corp) leans into personalized and story-driven picks, MoMA Design Store offers objects that double as decor, and Firebox handles the cheeky, funny end for hard-to-shop-for people.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Want the closest like-for-like swap? Sharper Image is Brookstone's near-identical twin, right down to the massage-chair-and-novelty-tech catalog. Shopping specifically for massagers and sound machines? Homedics does that category better and cheaper. If it's the discovery and demo-table fun you miss, The Grommet and Touch of Modern recapture that treasure-hunt feeling. For genuinely impressive or unusual gifts, Hammacher Schlemmer justifies its higher prices with its testing institute and lifetime guarantee. And if you just want the gadget with fast shipping and no fuss, Amazon Launchpad has the novelty startup tech at the lowest prices — you're simply trading curation for convenience. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Brookstone still in business?
Yes, but only online. Brookstone closed its mall stores after its 2018 bankruptcy and its airport locations shut down as well. The brand now operates as an online-only retailer with a narrower catalog centered on massagers, sound machines, and tech gifts.
QWhat store is most like the old Brookstone?
Sharper Image is the closest match — it sells the same mix of massage chairs, air purifiers, and novelty tech gifts, and it went through a similar shift to online-first retail. For the massage products specifically, Homedics is a strong specialist alternative.
QWhere can I buy Brookstone-style massagers for less?
Homedics specializes in Shiatsu massagers, foot spas, and neck-and-back units, usually at lower prices than Brookstone. Amazon Launchpad and Best Buy also carry comparable massage and relaxation gadgets with easier returns.
QWhat's a good alternative for unique tech gifts?
Uncommon Goods and The Grommet both excel at inventive, giftable products you won't find on Amazon. Hammacher Schlemmer covers the 'impressive and unusual' end, while Firebox and Vat19 handle funny, novelty gifts.
QWhy did Brookstone's airport stores close?
After its 2018 Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Brookstone shut its mall stores and later its airport locations, which had been a major part of its identity. The company was acquired and refocused on e-commerce, which is why the current online range feels smaller than the stores once did.
Our Verdict
The Best Brookstone Alternative For You
Want the closest like-for-like swap? Sharper Image is Brookstone's near-identical twin, right down to the massage-chair-and-novelty-tech catalog. Shopping specifically for massagers and sound machines? Homedics does that category better and cheaper. If it's the discovery and demo-table fun you miss, The Grommet and Touch of Modern recapture that treasure-hunt feeling. For genuinely impressive or unusual gifts, Hammacher Schlemmer justifies its higher prices with its testing institute and lifetime guarantee. And if you just want the gadget with fast shipping and no fuss, Amazon Launchpad has the novelty startup tech at the lowest prices — you're simply trading curation for convenience.