15 Unique Ways to Get Free Gift Cards

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Want to know how to get free gift cards online You’re in the right place.

As digital wallets become more popular and we use cash less frequently each year, free gift cards are becoming a more common payment method for everyday tasks that we complete online.

Some of the most popular brands are Amazon, Target, Sephora, and good old pre-paid Visa credit cards.

How to Get Free Gift Cards By Doing Tasks

If you want gift cards for free, here are several easy ideas you can try.

1. Survey Junkie

gift cards you can earn on survey junkie

Another way to earn free gift cards is to take paid online surveys. Some survey companies will reward you with straight cash. However, others will let you receive gift cards.

A reputable survey company to consider is Survey Junkie.

With Survey Junkie, you can cash out your points for gift cards once you receive 1,000 points ($10 value).

You can share your opinion on various topics ranging from politics or shopping habits to what you eat for your meals.

2. MyPoints

MyPoints is another rewards site that will help you earn a gift card for free.

MyPoints will give you points for activities such as:

  • Taking online surveys
  • Searching the net
  • Taking the time to watch videos
  • Trying to play games
  • Taking advantage of deals

And there’s more. They’ll also give you points when you shop online through the site.

MyPoints will give you points when you shop with coupons as well. You can earn 50 points for each coupon you print out and redeem. See the website for details.

Once you have the minimum points, you can trade your MyPoints for gift cards to your favorite retailers.

3. Swagbucks

If you know anything about rewards programs, you’ve probably heard of Swagbucks. Swagbucks has been giving out free gift cards online for over 30 years.

Here’s how it works. You earn points (called Swagbucks) by completing various online activities.

Some of the options for online activities you can choose from include:

  • Taking the time to watch videos
  • Browsing the web
  • Taking online surveys
  • Playing games

One cool thing about Swagbucks is that they pay out when you earn as little as $1. This is a new feature that has been added recently.

Swagbucks has paid over $550 million dollars in gift cards and cash to date.

Bonus: If you’d rather have cash, you can exchange your Swagbucks for a PayPal cash deposit instead of getting a gift card.

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars will pay you for small tasks that you currently do or even for other activities that require little time.

You can get paid for:

So far, InboxDollars has paid over 50 million dollars in prizes. Besides, they pay with cash or with gift cards.

One downside is that the minimum payout is $30, higher than most online survey sites. However, you do get a $5 bonus just for signing up.

5. instaGC

instant gift card store on instagc

Like other platforms in this section, instaGC lets you earn gift cards online (and other rewards) through the most common method of completing paid survey opportunities.

You can also earn by watching videos, shopping online, and surfing the web.

There are over 350+ redemption options for gift cards, and you can begin receiving gift cards with only a $1 balance!

Also, all gift cards are instantly received, which means once you redeem your points for one, there’s no wait! You’ll immediately receive the gift card code details.

Bonus: instaGC has an option for you to send your earned gift cards to a friend or family member as well. What a great way to surprise or help out a loved one!

Earn Free Gift Cards From Your Everyday Purchases

Whether you purchase items online or in-store, some apps will reward you for your purchase that you can redeem as free gift cards. See the most popular options below.

6. PayPal Honey

Honey is another cash-back app that allows you to earn Amazon gift cards.

The app has a cash-back rewards program called Honey Gold that can give you 0% to 100% cash back at select stores.

Unlike other cash-back portals that give a flat rate on your entire purchase, the reward rate with Honey is a mystery.

After completing the purchase at a participating retailer with Honey, you will find out if any purchased products are eligible for cashback that can be redeemed for an Amazon gift card.

In short, Honey will find the best price whether you earn Honey Gold points or not. But Honey Gold points award amounts are anyone’s guess.

7. Ibotta

If you use an app like Ibotta (available on both iOS and Android) to save extra money on groceries, you can turn those rewards into gift cards.

By shopping at one of 341 participating merchants and snapping a picture of your receipt, Ibotta will give you cash on select activated before checking out.

You can also earn cash back when you spend at other online partners like iTunes, Groupon, Jet, and Boxed.

Once you have accumulated $20 in rewards, you can receive payment in your PayPal account, Venmo, or gift cards from Best Buy, Amazon, or Starbucks.

In addition, you can now have your Ibotta funds transferred directly to your bank account.

8. Rakuten

Okay, Rakuten works a bit differently than some of the other sites here. But you can still use the site to receive free gift cards.

Rakuten is a cash-back shopping portal. When you sign up for Rakuten using the link below in the box, they’ll give you a signup bonus after you make your first purchase.

After that, you’ll earn additional dollars every time you shop and buy online using the Rakuten shopping portal. Rakuten partners with over 2,000 stores, making it easier for you to earn money.

Each store offers a cash-back bonus through Rakuten for every purchase you make. The cash-back bonuses can range from 1% to up to 40% of your purchase.

They’ll either pay you via PayPal cash or by gift card.

9. Drop

Drop is one of the most flexible sites for earning free gift cards fast. It is possible to earn reward points while you take surveys, play games, or refer friends.

However, you’ll earn the most points with Drop after completing in-app shopping offers.

And you don’t have to wait for offers. You can do almost all your online shopping with Drop due to the app’s partnership with over 500 retail partners.

However, we recommend keeping purchases within your predetermined budget to avoid spending just to earn.

Don’t have a budget? Check out these great budgeting apps to help you get started. That being said, Drop will save you money when you shop.

In addition, you can earn 5,000 Drop points for the first ten friends or family members you sign up with your referral code.

Drop points can be redeemed for gift cards at popular retailers such as Amazon or Starbucks. They cannot be redeemed as a direct deposit to your bank account.

Other Ways to Get Free Gift Cards

Here are some other unique ways to get gift cards for free.

10. Fetch Rewards

Did you know you can get gift cards just for taking pictures of your receipts? Yes, it is that simple with Fetch Rewards.

Just add the Apple or Android app to your phone and start earning points towards gift cards.

The app is super easy to use. To earn points, simply take a picture of your receipts. The app gives you bonus points towards inviting friends (typically 4,000) and buying specific products.

Roughly 1,000 points is equal to $1.

11. Gift Card Granny

If you buy discounted gift cards online, you should check out Gift Card Granny. With their rewards program, you earn points for free gift cards fast.

In addition to earning points for each gift card you buy, you can receive five points daily by reading their daily newsletter and downloading their Chrome browser extension.

You can earn even more points if you have a coupon or gift card deal to share with Gift Card Granny.

What also makes Gift Card Granny unique is that they search the price listings of other gift card discounters like Raise and Giftcard Zen.

Not only does Granny give you points for shopping, but she finds the best deals for you as well.

Since its inception, this program has changed drastically and has become more of a search engine than a direct route to getting discounted gift cards.

However, you can still use the site to earn free physical or digital gift cards.

Related article: 12 Ways to Get Free Apple Gift Cards

12. Amazon Trade-In

Trade in your old technology, books, video games, and belongings to Amazon Trade-In to receive Amazon gift cards.

You will know if Amazon is willing to buy your items by searching product listings. A trade-in box with the current value will be displayed if they are looking to acquire used inventory.

Amazon will also browse your purchase history and show you the potential trade-in value of qualified items on their trade-in screen.

Even items you didn’t buy at Amazon can be exchanged for digital gift cards.

Shipping is free for all the items you trade into Amazon, and you will receive a payment within ten business days from the date they receive your shipment.

13. Shopkick

Shopkick is a rewards app for shopping activities (both online and in-person). It is available on Android and iOS. Get a $5 new user bonus using the code WALLET5.

Shopkick lets you earn rewards both online and in-store. To earn online, visit your favorite store through the Shopkick portal.

When you make your purchase, you will earn points (called “Kicks”) through an online partner for each purchase you make. You can also earn Kicks by watching videos or learning about new products.

When shopping in-store at Shopkick partner stores, you can earn Kicks when scanning certain products’ barcodes.

Note that gift cards redeemed via Shopkick have a higher point value than you’ll find with some other GPT sites.

14. BookScouter

Selling used textbooks for in-store credit (similar to a gift card) can be an easy way to maximize your profit if you still have future textbook purchases.

One site to check out is Bookscouter to sell your old books. Just use the site’s buyer comparison site to get the most for your used textbooks.

Bookscouter allows you to take in-store credit instead of cash for your textbooks. Then, you can use your in-store credit to buy more textbooks.

Bonus: The site’s in-store credit payouts are higher than their cash payments.

15. Request Gift Cards as a Gift

Another way to get free gift cards is to just ask for cards.

Gift cards are an easy answer to give people who want to know what to give you as a gift for Christmas or your birthday.

As part of your wish list, ask your friends and family for gift cards and share with them some of the places where you usually spend your money.

That way, you might not receive gifts you won’t use or gift cards to an obscure restaurant or store you will never visit.

This helps you avoid having to “re-gift” unwanted gift cards to one of your other friends.

It might feel inappropriate to suggest gift cards as a gift, but many gift-givers appreciate you making their lives easier by asking for this simple and easy-to-get gift.

Related: How To Turn a Visa Gift Card Into Cash

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions about earning free gift cards? These answers might be able to help.

How many free gift cards can I earn?

There’s no limit to the number of free gift cards you can earn. However, some sites may set individual limits on earnings.

How long does it take to earn a gift card?

It depends on which sites you use, what activities you complete on that site, and more. Visit each site for specific details.

Are the free gift cards physical or virtual gift cards?

Some sites pay by virtual gift cards and some by physical gift cards. See each site for details.

Will my gift cards expire?

Each free gift card has its own user requirements. See the FAQ section on each website or read the fine print when you get your free gift cards.

Summary

Getting free gift cards can be a great way to save money. You can get gift cards to big box stores like Walmart and use them to get free groceries.

You can use your gift cards to give as gifts or to buy gifts you need to buy. Or you can sell your gift cards for cash. There’s no limit to the number of ways you can earn free gift cards.

Nearly anyone can earn points toward free gift cards by taking surveys on their phone or browsing the net in their spare time.

So, if you’ve got free time, think about using that extra time to get free gift cards!

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53 Comments

  1. Great list of ideas. Thank you for putting this together. It’s a shame that the… “People” above can’t take the time to actually read and take your advice. makes me want to smash my head against the keyboard. Nothing is ever totally free its gonna cost either, money, time, or effort.. besides I’d rather do even a little something & feel like I at least earned something makes me appreciate everything that much more, and like a contributing member of society. I don’t usually ever comment but I felt that your efforts were being dismissed and you were being disrespected by so many loafs with their lazy hands out. So I’m sorry for the above comments that dont give you the credit you deserve. Know that your talent & time is not going un noticed. Thank you again for this list a few sites I had never used I’m going to go check them out as well as more stuff on this site. Take care!

  2. MobileXpressions is a great app to earn free gift cards! You just install it on your phone and let it run in the background – that’s it!

  3. Is there a place to find free steam gift cards?? I need $180 for a friend can anyone help?

    1. Research through the suggestions in the list! Some of them could offer Steam gift cards!

  4. I have the same issue most the sites are saying Nigeria is banned.

    1. Iā€™m sorry to hear that. I know some of these sites are trying to expand their availability to more and more countries. I hope you find something that can work for you!

  5. Most of these sites don’t work in my country. I live in Nigeria. Swagbucks and InboxDollars also don’t work. I need a legit site that works worldwide. Thanks.

    1. That’s too bad that they don’t work in Nigeria. However, we do have lots of other posts about ways to make money or get free gift cards on this site. Check them out. Maybe you’ll find something that works for you.

  6. Hi. SurveyMonkey is great! I had forgotten about after getting my new phone this past year (it was a gift from a family member so I could talk to an in-law who had to be moved to a nursing home. Her health deteriorated to such an advanced degree she couldn’t be cared for at home with out more help than any of us could afford). Over the years, I’ve used them and instead of doing the gift cards, I had all my earnings donated to the school that provided my transportation, room, board, meals, and service dogs these last 25 years! It hasn’t been a whole lot of money, but I’ve earned enough that they’ve received a few hundred dollars from me over the years. I wish I could do more for the school that has done so much for me, but I’m in a rural area with no public transit, which is why I spent so many years telecommuting until my health went too far south to allow me to work. Every dime they get is well worth it and the school’s administrators stretch every dime!

    1. Thanks for mentioning this as another survey option. I’m glad you’ve also had success with them. It sounds like the school has appreciated what you’ve given back.

  7. I use Swagbucks religiously. Over the last several years, I’ve used their redeemable Visa gift cards to pay bills such as my cell phone, internet, and even the power bill! These earned gift cards have saved my cooked goose more times than I can count. I wouldn’t wish disability or the autoimmune diseases and damages they’ve caused to me on anybody, even my worst enemy. The constant scrambling to pay bills, cover medicine co-pays, and even buy groceries is horrible. Give Swagbucks a shot. I highly recommend Swagbucks. It’s legit and easy to use with options enough for everyone to benefit.

    1. I’m glad Swagbucks has been so helpful to you, although sorry to hear of your health issues. Thank you for posting of your Swagbucks successes and for your opinions. We appreciate you sharing!

  8. Guys, try out SurveyMonkey to earn free Amazon gift cards. I redeemed $15 so far. This actually works and itā€™s not a scam.

    1. Thanks for mentioning that as another way to get gift cards. šŸ™‚

  9. I’d like to get a Swagbucks gift card. Hi, Deacon. Can somebody help me to get that?

    1. Sign up for Swagbucks using the links in this post. Then, complete their surveys, etc. to get one. šŸ™‚

  10. Luraemorgan says:

    Extra cash can always help at the end of the month.

    1. Yes, that’s true. It also helps during the middle of the month! Thanks for dropping by to comment.

  11. You should add TreasureTrooper to this list! They’ve been around since 2005. Gift cards aren’t instant, but it’s perfect for people who like to save them up. You can get them like Swagbucks for completing offers, only TreasureTrooper actually pays you when you finish. šŸ˜‰

    1. I’m glad to hear you found an app you like that pays you well! Thanks for mentioning them. šŸ™‚

  12. I would like to have a gift card, please.

    1. Try using the links in this post to get one. I wish you luck!

  13. Jeremy Paddock says:

    Swagbucks is trash! I ordered a gift card and it never came. They took my points, but I never got the gift card. I’ll stay with Very Dice!

    1. Did you double check your spam folder of your email? Some companies send electronic gift cards rather than physical ones. Also, if you haven’t contacted them about it you should try to do so. I hope you can get the situation resolved.

  14. Jackie Amos says:

    Where are you suppose to pick up the $1000 gift card that my friend won? He filled out questions and it said he won a $1000 card, but we haven’t seen anything. I also won a $1000 card, so they said. I was filling out my email address and then everything disappeared and I was on Facebook. I tried to find where I was suppose to be, but can’t find it anywhere. Mine was a game. I spun a wheel and the jackpot was a Walmart card. What a great deal, I thought. But it was not so. ????

    1. Well, it depends on what game you were playing. If you know what the game was or what website you were on, I would send them a message about it. However, it kind of sounds like you might have been scammed.

    2. Lois Faith says:

      I received a survey from Amazon (I thought) to receive a $100 Amazon gift card. I filled out page after page, and finally they said I was almost “there.” The next thing they showed was a trial for some marketing product I never heard of.

      Never heard from them again. Does Amazon every check these fraudulent schemes?
      I am very disappointed, as Amazon is my favorite, and I use them all the time.

  15. Saskia Park says:

    I really want to know how to get free WiFi and free Xfinity WiFi and free gift cards as well. ????????????????ā€ā™€ļø????ā€ā™€ļø

    1. For free gift cards, use this post. We may have some others you can check out as well. For WiFi, we have a post to get cheaper WiFi hotspot plans as well as ways you can get internet free. I think it’s great that you’re looking for ways to be frugal! Every little bit that you can save in your budget lets you pay off debt and invest for your future!

  16. Christopher says:

    I really need a gift card.

    1. Then this post is for you! I hope you get one! šŸ™‚

      1. Okay sounds good

  17. Ayani Dargin says:

    Thanks. I will try to follow them and I hope I get a gift card.

    1. I hope you do too! Thanks for dropping by to comment.

  18. I just wanted to get my family a gift card.

    1. Then this post is for you! It has several ways you can do that.

  19. Jodie Wiggins says:

    I would like to win a free $100 Amazon card without going to store to get one.

    1. Try some of these ideas and you may get one! I hope it works out for you.

      1. Christine says:

        Hi, Iā€™m Christine. How do I get a free gift card?

      2. Hey Christine! Check out some of the ways suggested above. Best of luck!

  20. Harlene sullivan says:

    I am less fortunate and I need these gift cards. They will come in handy for the holidays so I can enjoy myself over the holidays. I don’t like sitting nowhere and be isolated over the holidays. It’s not healthy and it’s not good. It is always good to be out there to enjoy yourself, spend time with people, and have good holiday spirit in your heart. That is why I need a couple of gift cards, and I hope this is real. I hope this is not a scam. This year I’m going to pray on this. I hope it works out for me.

    1. It’s not a scam. I wish you luck in trying to reach your goals to get a couple of gift cards.

      1. Did you find any?

  21. daniella flores says:

    These are some awesome ways to get free gift cards. I have never heard of them before! My favorite way has got to be Ebates, though. Thanks for sharing! I have so many new apps and stuff to try now. šŸ™‚

    1. That’s great to hear! I hope some of them pay off for you!

  22. How can I get gift cards? What site has them?

    1. Josh Patoka says:

      All of these are legitimate. I personally use Ebates and Microsoft Rewards on a frequent basis. Swagbucks is another fun way if you want to get paid for doing what you might already be doing online.

      1. Thanks for the insight

      2. I love it

    1. Josh Patoka says:

      Wow indeed! I’m glad you stopped by, and I hope you can begin earning more free gift cards soon!

  23. This is really an amazing post of free gift cards. You can also visit Instant Forex Support Forum.