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Best Gift Cards of 2021; Choose Like a Boss

Gift cards are designed to make gift-giving easier by eliminating the need to consider the recipient’s preferences for specific products that he or she may already own. However, not all gift cards are made equal, which may explain why billions of dollars’ worth of gift cards have gone unused in previous years, despite gift cards being the most popular type of present for the 14th year in a row in 2020. In this article and today on EZ PIN blog we introduce best gift cards of 2021 so you can choose professionally.

We compared the 50 most popular selections across five major categories in order to help you find the best gift cards of 2021 for every occasion: birthdays, holidays, graduations, and so on. At the end of this article, you are able to answer the following questions:

  1. How popular the cards are;
  2. How much of a discount you can get when purchasing them;
  3. How much you can sell them for;
  4. How well the store is liked;
  5. Shipping fees.

Best Gift Cards of 2021

Gift Card

WalletHub Score Gift Card Popularity Rank Shipping or Purchase Fees Average Buyer Discount Average Resale Value ($100 gift card) Retailer Rating (out of 5)
Cracker Barrel Gift Card 45 48

$0.00

6.81% $72.09 3.43

Starbucks Gift Card

70 5 $0.00 5.75% $76.97

3.36

Dunkin Donuts Gift Card

35 18 $0.00 3.42% $57.54

3.32

Chick-Fil-A Gift Card

50 14 $0.00 N/A $76.75

3.27

Target Gift Card

65 4 $0.00 3.04% $79.90

3.26

Rei Gift Card

55 22 $0.00 5.53% $76.08

3.18

Whole Foods Gift Card

55 36 $0.00 6.73% $81.56

3.12

Chipotle Gift Card

45 27 $0.00 3.53% $77.32

3.09

T.J. Maxx Gift Card

45 40 $0.00 4.99% $75.63

3.07

iTunes Gift Card

50 8 $0.00 0.50% $70.50

3.03

Burger King Gift Card

31 45 $1.95 2.77% $72.22

2.98

Nike Gift Card

45 34 $0.00 2.28% $80.94

2.86

Old Navy Gift Card

40 46 $0.00 5.92% $73.00

2.82

Sephora Gift Card

45 11 $0.00 1.87% $79.10

2.76

McDonald’s Gift Card

50 16 $0.00 6.50% $79.54

2.76

Olive Garden Gift Card

45 24 $0.00 5.03% $71.30

2.74

Nordstrom Gift Card

45 28 $0.00 5.63% $77.77

2.73

American Express Gift Card

50 7 $3.95 N/A $90.00

2.63

Amazon Gift Card

40 1 $0.00 N/A N/A 2.58

Taco Bell Gift Card

25 26 $2.40 0.98% $74.27

2.58

Netflix Gift Card

55 12 $0.00 3.29% $80.23

2.57

Red Lobster Gift Card

35 38 $0.00 7.99% $66.83

2.55

Texas Roadhouse Gift Card

45 25 $0.00 5.47% $71.71

2.53

Google Play Gift Card

50 9 $0.00 3.23% $72.13

2.52

Hobby Lobby Gift Cards

28 33 $1.00 N/A $72.39

2.49

Wawa Gift Card

40 49 $7.99 2.29% $82.01

2.40

Best Buy Gift Card

50 15 $0.00 1.44% $81.28

2.39

Subway Gift Card

35 30 $0.00 6.75% $68.63

2.38

Applebee’s Gift Card

35 43 $0.00 8.67% $69.01

2.33

Michaels Gift Card

36 39 $1.95 5.37% $71.27

2.30

Disney Gift Card

55 10 $0.00 1.63% $80.25

2.28

Costco Gift Card

40 41 $0.00 N/A $83.68

2.20

Etsy Gift Card

45 21 $0.00 N/A $86.80

2.20

Apple Store Gift Card

40 37 $0.00 0.75% $80.66

2.14

Home Depot Gift Card

45 13 $0.00 1.00% $77.67

2.12

Macy’s Gift Card

40 23 $0.00 1.83% $79.20

2.12

American Airlines Gift Card

40 50 $4.95 4.73% $81.23

2.10

Walmart Gift Card

60 3 $0.00 0.63% $82.82

2.05

JCPenney Gift Card

35 47 $0.00 4.38% $73.84

2.05

Ikea Gift Card

45 29 $0.00 7.00% $78.83

2.01

eBay Gift Card

51 6 $0.00 0.49% $88.00

1.97

GameStop Gift Card

46 17 $0.00 5.39% $78.21

1.96

Kohl’s Gift Card

36 32 $0.00 3.63% $77.84

1.95

Lowe’s Gift Card

36 31 $0.00 3.02% $78.84

1.92

Chili’s Restaurant Gift Card

37 44 $1.95 10.18% $68.87

1.75

Cabela’s Gift Card

36 42 $0.00 9.06% $73.70

1.51

Mastercard Gift Card

36 19 $3.95 0.00% $87.27

1.50

Ticketmaster Gift Card

36 35 $0.00 7.04% $73.48

1.46

Fandango Gift Card

61 20 $0.00 18.85%

$71.98

1.17

Visa Gift Card 50 2

$3.95

0.00% $88.93 N/A

Best Tips for Getting the Best Gift Card

Time off from work and school; an overweight, bearded out-of-towner breaking into homes through the chimney; tone-deaf neighbors singing at your doorway; feasting; and, of course, gift cards are all things we can bank on throughout the Christmas season. This time of year, they’re everywhere, and for good reason: people adore them.

Given that your gift card approach, particularly in terms of money, can make or break the holiday season, we’ve produced a list of 10 terrific gift card success suggestions. You’ll find them listed below. Use caution when shopping!

Look for a Discount

Because gift cards are more like currency than retail products with traditional product margins, you might conclude that sales and savings don’t apply to the gift card industry. That isn’t the case, as the best gift cards may often be purchased for less than their face value.

Avoid Card-Network Gift Cards

Gift cards from Visa, Mastercard, and Discover may appear to be equivalent to cash because they may be used everywhere, but they aren’t. While businesses profit from the sale of their gift cards right away, these card-network gift cards profit through fees. So, if you want currency’s adaptability, why not use cash instead? It will undoubtedly be less expensive. That’s why we didn’t include any gift cards from card networks in our list of the best gift cards of 2021.

Don’t Confuse Gift Cards & Prepaid Cards

Gift cards and prepaid cards are entirely different beasts, despite the fact that they are frequently placed next to each other in stores. Gift cards are intended to be used only until the balance on the card has been depleted. Prepaid cards, on the other hand, are reloadable and intended to replace a checking account with a debit card. Prepaid cards also have a variety of fees attached to them. As a result, giving one instead of a gift card may result in the receiver receiving less value than you meant.

Beware Loyalty Cards

Non-reloadable prepaid cards (also known as gift cards) obtained through a loyalty, prize, or promotional program might expire without penalty due to a legal gap. Normal gift cards, for example, do not expire until five years after they were issued. As a result, it’s critical to double-check that you’re buying/receiving legitimate gift cards, as well as to read any fine language that may apply.

Resale is Always an Option

Another point in finding the best gift cards of 2021. You’re not out of luck if you don’t use a gift card or if the receiver doesn’t care for it. You can either sell it or trade it with a friend or family member on a gift card exchange.

When in Doubt, Just Give Cash

While cash may appear less personal than a gift card, it removes all guessing from the equation and is the most adaptable gift someone can offer. Plus, you might be able to provide more value to your receiver without having to worry about shipping costs or shopping trips.

Buy Gift Cards with Rewards

The majority of credit card reward programs allow you to exchange your points/miles for gift cards from a range of big merchants. In many circumstances, this type of redemption method will provide you with more value than redeeming for cash.

E-Gift Cards are Great in a Time Crunch

E-gift cards have grown in popularity in recent years, and expanded mobile capabilities is expected to encourage even more use this Christmas season. That’s good news for time-crunched consumers who wish to avoid the shipping fees charged by many major retailers for physical gift cards purchased online.

Avoid Using Gift Cards as an Excuse to Overspend

Two-thirds of consumers spend more than the face value of their gift cards when redeeming them. This is most likely due to the same psychological issue that causes people to spend more money using credit cards than with cash: the money appears less real. While gift cards can help to defray the cost of significant purchases, you should be extremely mindful of your spending while using one to avoid incurring additional costs.

Final Words

Buying and selling gift cards are very much appreciated by companies on recent years, because they are a fast and practical solution to enhance business. EZ PIN has evolved and extended its products portfolio to meet the demands of all of its consumers and clients since launching its first office in 2009. EZ PIN has a wide range of gift cards and game cards. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, get instant digital distribution, superb customer service, and supreme payment comfort!

EZ PIN hopes you enjoy Best Gift Cards of 2021 article.