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:
- How popular the cards are;
- How much of a discount you can get when purchasing them;
- How much you can sell them for;
- How well the store is liked;
- 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.
