Gift cards have become a popular option for people to buy things, give thoughtful gifts, or manage their spending. The gift cards give flexibility and convenience for both gift card givers and receivers. You can use the gift cards for online shopping, gaming, or dining. This guide will cover everything you need to know about gift cards, from how they work to how you can collect them.
What Are Gift Cards?
A gift card is a prepaid card that comes with a specific amount of money, which can be used to make both online and offline purchases. For example, you can buy online Amazon Gift cards, and add the balance to your Amazon Pay Wallet. After that, use the wallet balance to pay for your orders.
Similarly, you can add a Google Play balance using Google Play gift cards or redeem codes. You can use Play Store balance to buy games, apps, movies, in-game items, and songs on the Play Store.
The best feature of gift cards is that your recipient can choose the item he wants to buy from a specific store, website, or service. Gift cards can be physical (plastic cards you buy in-store) or digital (e-gift cards sent via email or text). There are many gift cards that are in physical form and you can use them directly during checkout at offline shops, stores, malls, or supermarkets.
You can buy gift cards in different denominations, and there is a specific range of denominations depending on the brand. For example, Amazon, Flipkart, and Google Play offer gift cards in multiple denominations (minimum 10), while others like Starbucks or BookMyShow have fixed options.
Why Are Gift Cards So Popular?
Gift cards are becoming popular because they offer flexibility and simplicity. Here’s why people prefer gift cards:
- Personalization: Allows the recipient to choose what they want.
- No expiry in some cases: Many gift cards do not expire, so any hurry to redeem them.
- Safe for online shopping: They protect users from sharing sensitive banking details.
- Wide availability: Available in both physical and digital formats.
- Fast Payments: Unlike debit or credit cards, there are no hassles or delays in payments.
How Do Gift Cards Work?
When you buy a gift card, you are asked to fill it with a certain amount of money. After activating, you can send the cards as a gift. The recipient can use the card to shop either online or in stores. Here’s how the process works:
- Purchase a Gift Card: You can buy a gift card from retail outlets, websites, or even mobile apps.
- Use the Card: When the recipient wants to buy something, they enter the gift card code (for online use) or swipe the card (for in-store purchases).
- Balance Check: They can check their remaining balance by visiting the brand’s website or calling customer service.
- Partial Payments: If the total bill exceeds the balance on the gift card, the user can pay the remaining amount using another payment method.
Types of Gift Cards
There are two primary types of gift cards, each with its specific purpose:
- Closed-Loop Gift Cards: These can only be used at the specific store or brand that issued them. Examples include:
- Amazon Gift Card
- Flipkart Gift Card
- Big Bazaar Gift Card
- Starbucks Gift Card
- Zomato Gift Card
- Myntra Gift Card
- BookMyShow Gift Card
- Open-Loop Gift Cards: These can be used at any store or website that accepts specific payment networks, such as Visa or Mastercard. Examples include:
- Visa Gift Card
- Mastercard Gift Card
- American Express Gift Card
- Rupay Gift Card
- Prepaid vs. Reloadable Gift Cards: Prepaid gift cards come with a fixed balance and cannot be recharged. With reloadable gift cards, you can add more funds after the initial balance is spent. Brands like Walmart and Paytm offer reloadable gift cards.
E-Gift Cards vs. Physical Gift Cards
- Physical Gift Cards: These are physical cards that look like credit or debit cards and are available in stores. You can give them as gifts by handing them over in person.
- E-Gift Cards: These are digital gift cards that come with a code. They can be sent via email or messaging apps. Virtual gift cards are preferred by many because they are last-minute gifts since you don’t need to wait for shipping.
How to Choose the Right Gift Card
Choosing the right gift card depends on the occasion and the recipient’s preferences. Here are some tips:
- For online shoppers: Gift cards from Amazon, Flipkart, or Paytm are great options.
- For fashion lovers: Gift cards from Myntra, Ulta, or Zara are ideal.
- For foodies: Swiggy, Zomato, or DoorDash gift cards are perfect for people who love dining or ordering groceries online.
- For gamers: Google Play, Steam, Xbox and PlayStation gift cards are ideal for gaming enthusiasts.
- For entertainment: Netflix, Audible, and Spotify gift cards are great for movie lovers and music fans.
Uses and Benefits of Gift Cards
As I said, gift cards can be used for various purposes, here are some multiple benefits:
- Used For Gifting: Gift cards make the perfect gift for birthdays, festivals, or anniversaries. The recipient has the freedom to choose what they want.
- Budget Planning: Many people use gift cards to control their spending. If you load ₹2000 on a gift card, it ensures that you cannot spend more than that amount.
- Security: When using gift cards for online shopping, you do not need to enter your bank or card details. This protects you from potential fraud.
- Rewards: Some gift cards offer cashback, rewards, or discounts. For example, you can use a Flipkart gift card during a sale to get extra cashback.
- Corporate Benefits: Many businesses give gift cards like Amazon, Flipkart, or Paytm cards as rewards to employees or clients. It’s an easy way to appreciate their efforts.
How to Get Free Gift Cards
There are several apps to get free gift cards and also some websites, and communities. Below are some of the best methods you can explore:
- Survey and Reward Apps: Many apps reward their users with gift cards for completing free surveys or performing simple tasks. Some popular ones include:
- Swagbucks: Earn points by answering surveys, watching videos, or shopping online. Use your points to purchase gift cards like Amazon, Flipkart, or PayPal.
- Google Opinion Rewards: Answer quick surveys and earn Google Play gift cards.
- Toluna: Participate in surveys and online polls, and earn gift cards for brands like Flipkart, Amazon, and Paytm.
- Watch Videos and Earn: You can use many earning apps that reward you for playing games and watching videos. Popular options include:
- InboxDollars: Earn rewards for watching videos and playing games, and redeem them for different gift cards from top brands.
- AppKarma: Complete offers and play games to earn points, which you can redeem for gift cards like Amazon, Google Play, or iTunes.
- Play Games and Earn: Gaming apps also offer free gift cards in exchange for playing games and earning points. Some well-known apps are:
- Mistplay: Play mobile games and earn points that you can redeem for gift cards like Steam, Google Play, or Xbox.
- HQ Trivia: Answer trivia questions and win cash prizes, which can be redeemed for PayPal or gift cards.
- Daily Login Rewards and Tasks: Some apps and websites give users daily login bonuses or rewards for completing tasks. Over time, these rewards can accumulate and be exchanged for gift cards. For example:
- FeaturePoints: Earn points for downloading apps and completing tasks, then exchange them for gift cards.
- PrizeRebel: Complete small tasks like watching videos, answering surveys, and getting gift cards from brands like Amazon, Google Play, or Visa.
FreeGiftZone: This is an all-in-one app from FreeGiftZone. This app gives away free Google Play gift cards, Amazon pay gift cards and more. You can get these rewards by watching ads, completing surveys, playing games, installing apps through the app, referring the app to others and logging into the app daily.
We have also categorised our freely given gift cards on our website:
- Entertainment Gift Card
- Finance Gift Cards
- Food Gift Cards
- Gaming Gift Cards
- Shopping Gift Cards
- Tech Gift Cards
- Cashback Apps: Cashback apps are the apps that give you cashback for shopping online. You can use the cashback to get gift cards of your choice. Some popular apps are:
- Rakuten: Earn cashback on purchases and redeem it as gift cards for brands like Visa, Amazon, and Walmart.
- CashKaro: Earn cashback for online shopping and get gift cards for Flipkart, Paytm, and Amazon.
- Join Telegram Groups, Facebook Communities, and WhatsApp Groups: Many communities on social platforms like Telegram, Facebook, and WhatsApp have many groups to earn or trade gift cards. These groups also share updates on promotions, giveaways, and contests where users can win free gift cards. Some popular communities are:
- Telegram Groups: Search for Telegram groups specific to gift card giveaways, like Amazon Gift Card Giveaways or Flipkart Deals. These groups frequently share gift card codes, offers, or methods to earn gift cards.
- Facebook Groups: Communities on Facebook, like Gift Card Exchange India or Free Gift Cards & Coupons, allow users to participate in giveaways, trade gift cards, or learn about new earning opportunities.
- WhatsApp Groups: Many WhatsApp groups are dedicated to sharing discount codes, contest links, and special promotions related to free gift cards for brands like Flipkart, Amazon, and Zomato.
- Join Forums and Discussion Boards: Forums are a great place to find deals, participate in giveaways, or get advice on earning free gift cards. Some popular forums include:
- Reddit (Subreddits): Subreddits like r/beermoneyindia, r/GiftCardExchange, and r/Freebies are active communities where community members share tips, tricks, and methods to earn free gift cards for brands like Amazon, PayPal, and Flipkart.
- Online Forums: Forums such as Slickdeals and MyDealz have dedicated sections to share everything related to gift card offers, deals, and freebie opportunities.
- Twitter and Pinterest: These are also two popular platforms to find tips, tricks, discounts and even opportunities and giveaway options to earn free gift cards.
- Brand-Specific Communities and Official Channels: Many brands have their own communities where they engage users with contests, referral programs, and rewards. These are excellent places to earn or win free gift cards:
- Flipkart SuperCoins: Earn Supercoins through purchases. Use these coins to purchase gift cards.
- Zomato Pro Community: Participate in exclusive contests and earn Zomato gift cards.
- Amazon Pay Rewards: Amazon often runs promotions where users can earn rewards or gift cards by doing actions like adding money to their Amazon Pay wallet, scanning QR codes or referring friends.
How to Redeem Gift Cards
Every brand has its own redemption methods. However, one common step is that all brands have their redemption website, where you just need to enter the gift card details to transfer the amount from the gift card to your account wallet. Some gift cards can only be used while checking out.
- Online Redemption: While shopping online, choose the option to pay using a gift card. Enter the gift card number and PIN (if required), and the amount will be deducted from your total bill.
- In-Store Redemption: For physical gift cards, give the card to the cashier at checkout. For digital cards, show the code on your phone or print it out for scanning.
Where to Buy Gift Cards
If you want to buy a gift card, there are several trusted platforms where you can make the purchase. Most brands have their own gift card stores to buy, whereas many websites sell all popular gift card brands in one place.
- Amazon: Provides gift cards for itself and other brands like Netflix, Spotify, and more.
- Flipkart: Sells gift cards for clothing, groceries, and services like Myntra, BigBasket, and Swiggy.
- Paytm: Provides digital gift cards for various services like mobile recharges, Google Play, Netflix, and Uber.
- Google Play Store: Sells gift cards for apps, games, and in-app purchases.
- Walmart: Gives reloadable and prepaid gift cards for use in stores and online.
- PayPal: This is a platform where you can buy gift cards from all popular brands like Target, Walmart, Apple gift cards, etc
How to Check Gift Card Balance
Before making a purchase, it’s important to check how much balance is left on your gift card. You can check the balance of a gift card in the following ways:
- Website: Visit the official website of the brand and enter your gift card number to check the balance.
- Customer Service: Call the customer service number provided on the back of the gift card to inquire about your balance.
- In-Store: Visit the brand’s physical store, and the cashier can check the balance for you.
Scams to Avoid and Tips for Safe Use
As gift cards are becoming more popular, scammers are also targeting them. Here are some important points to consider for safe use:
- Avoid using fake gift card generators. They don’t work and are scams.
- Never click on links from spam emails offering free gift cards.
- Always purchase gift cards from trusted platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and official websites.
- Don’t share your gift card PIN or card details with anyone.
- If you receive unknown calls or messages asking for your personal details, do not respond.
- Do not call any unknown number that you receive in an unknown email.
The Future of Gift Cards
Gift cards have evolved over the years, and their popularity is set to grow even more. With the rise of digital wallets, cryptocurrencies, and mobile payments, gift cards are becoming easier to use.
More people are opting for digital gift cards, and businesses are offering creative ways to reward their customers with gift cards. From shopping, gadgets, fashion and entertainment to dining and gaming, gift cards will continue to play an important role in our everyday lives.
Conclusion
Gift cards are a simple, flexible and practical tool for giving as gifts, shopping and budgeting. You can use gift cards to buy for yourself or give gifts to others. With the rise of digital platforms, gift cards will always help us in small or big ways. Just make sure to use them wisely, avoid fraud and enjoy the features and convenience they provide.
