Do you enjoy shopping at your favorite stores? Of course, you do! But what if you could shop there for free? Well, the good news is that you can, thanks to free gift cards. Yes, you read that right - free gift cards that you can use to splurge on your most-wanted items without spending a dime of your hard-earned cash.
According to Bankrate, nearly 47% of U.S. adults have at least one gift card, store voucher, or store credit that they have yet to use. If this percentage isn’t shocking enough, the total accumulated value of these unused gift cards might be even more staggering—this equals about $23 billion dollars of unused cash nationwide.
With these insights, it seems as though spending gift cards is more difficult than obtaining them! Fortunately for those not currently part of the 47% sitting on an unused gift card, saving money at your favorite stores couldn’t come easier. Here are 20 solid ways to get free gift cards to use anywhere you’d like.
In this article, we'll spill the beans on how to score those coveted free gift cards with ease. Whether you're a shopaholic or just love the idea of getting something for nothing, read on to discover the secrets of gift card magic.
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1. Online Surveys and Rewards Programs
One of the easiest ways to snag free gift cards is by participating in online surveys and rewards programs. Many companies are willing to reward you for sharing your opinions, testing products, or simply using their services. Websites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollars offer points or cash that you can redeem for gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks. It's a win-win – you get to voice your thoughts, and they reward you with free shopping sprees.
Join Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular rewards program that allows points to be earned (known as SB) by completing various online tasks and activities. These points can then be redeemed for free gift cards from a wide range of stores and retailers. To get started, simply create a free
Swagbucks account and begin completing surveys.
Play Games for Points on MyPoints
Similar to Swagbucks,
MyPoints allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for free gift cards. This can be done by simply shopping your favorite grocery stores and retailers through their website, completing surveys, and playing online games and trivia. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can turn them into cash with free gift cards to Sephora, eBay, Starbucks, Target, and more.
Complete Surveys on KashKick
KashKick is another great survey site that allows you to earn points that you can turn into free gift cards by completing surveys and playing games. You can begin earning money by simply creating a free account and opting for any of the available point-earning activities.
Become a Survey Junkie
As the name implies,
Survey Junkie is a community-based survey site that enables millions of users to share their product feedback in exchange for points. Once your surveys have earned you enough points, you can redeem those points for cash via PayPal or as free e-gift cards. Simply join Survey Junkie to get started.
Join InboxDollars
InboxDollars is another great platform to earn money and free gift cards from if you’ve got extra time for games and surveys. In fact, Inbox Dollars has paid out more than $80 million in cash and free gift cards since 2000. Unlike the other similar platforms, however, InboxDollars earns you instant actual cash for your actions, not points.
Check Out LifePoints
LifePoints is similar to Swagbucks and KashKick, except that it gives users the ability to share their opinions about future products, not existing ones. This helps product manufacturers to know in advance what features work or don’t work, and what customers actually want from their products. In exchange for sharing your feedback, LifePoints awards you points that can be redeemed for free gift cards. You even get 10 points just for signing up!
Play Sponsored Games for Points on Mistplay
Gamers, rejoice! With
Mistplay, not only can you have a great time playing and discovering new fun games, but you can earn rewards for playing. So far, the platform has given away $60 million in cash rewards and free gift cards to major retailers like Xbox, Amazon, and Google Play. If you like to game, Mistplay is a great option for earning some cash while you do so.
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2. Cashback Apps and Websites
Cashback apps and websites are a shopper's best friend. Platforms like Rakuten (formerly Ebates), Honey, and Ibotta offer cashback on your online and in-store purchases. When you shop through their links or scan your receipts, you earn cashback that can be transferred to your PayPal account or redeemed as gift cards. It's like getting paid to shop! Plus, these apps often run promotions where you can earn extra cash or bonuses.
Cash In on Cashback on Ibotta
With
Ibotta, you can submit receipts for your everyday purchases from your favorite grocery stores, convenience stores and even online retailers and receive cashback in exchange. Once enough cashback has accumulated, you can “cash out” your earnings in exchange for a cash deposit or a free gift card.
Get Fetch Rewards
With
Fetch Rewards, you can submit pictures of your receipt for nearly everything. From restaurant meals and delivery services like DoorDash to cleaning products and popular grocery brands, Fetch Rewards gives you points for every receipt that you scan in. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for cash or free gift cards.
Add the Honey App Extension to Your Browser
If you shop online a lot, the
Honey app extension is a must-have for your browser. By installing it to your browser, Honey is able to scan each retailer’s website for exclusive deals, sweepstakes, coupons, and savings automatically. It then alerts you to anything that is available, and with a simple click of a button, it applies those deals to your session. Then, with Honey’s Gold Rewards program, any Gold points earned through your purchases can be redeemed for free gift cards.
Cash Out with Rakuten Insights
The popular
Rakuten cashback site has launched a new way to earn gift cards with Rakuten Insights Survey Panel. Cash out minimum is a low $5 and you can choose an Amazon of PayPal gift card. It's a great way to earn cash on the go, or at home.
Download ReceiptPal
With ReceiptPal, you not only can scan your paper receipts for points, but you can also link your email or Amazon account and get points for online transactions as well. Then, you can redeem your points for free gift cards to your favorite retailers.
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3. Loyalty Programs
If you have a favorite store, chances are they have a loyalty program that offers freebies. Sign up for these programs and watch the rewards roll in. Many stores provide members with exclusive offers, discounts, and, you guessed it, free gift cards.
Sephora, for instance, gives its Beauty Insiders gift cards during their birthdays. So, check if your go-to shops have loyalty programs and join them ASAP.
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4. Credit Card Rewards
Some credit cards offer rewards in the form of points or cashback that can be converted into gift cards. If you're responsible with your credit card usage, this can be a great way to accumulate points and get free gift cards. Just make sure to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
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5. Referral Programs
Many companies have referral programs where you can earn free gift cards by inviting friends and family to join their services. Whether it's a food delivery app, a streaming service, or an online marketplace, refer a friend, and you both get rewarded. It's a fantastic way to share the love and reap the benefits.
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6. Social Media Contests and Giveaways
Keep an eye on your favorite brands' social media accounts. They often run contests and giveaways where you can win gift cards. Participating is usually as simple as liking a post, tagging a friend, or sharing content. Your chances of winning might be higher than you think.
Search Instagram Hashtags for Giveaways
If there are certain brands or products you really love, searching their social media pages and hashtags just may land you a free gift card or giveaway. This is because brands are always trying new and creative marketing techniques to advertise new products or offer trials or flash deals. You can also try searching generic giveaway hashtags, like #giveaways, #contest, and #freebies, to see what kind of deals are trending.
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7. Gift Card Promotions
Be on the lookout for gift card promotions from retailers themselves. Some stores offer free gift cards when you purchase a certain amount of merchandise or during special events like
Black Friday. These promotions can be a golden opportunity to stock up on gift cards for future shopping sprees.
PRO TIP: Trade In for a Retail-Specific Gift Card! If you have a generic gift card that you’ll never use, some stores will allow you to exchange unwanted cards for a card to their specific store. While this isn’t exactly a free gift card, it is a nice exchange option that can prevent free gift cards from collecting dust.
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8. Share Honest Feedback for a Platform You Use
If your favorite brand uses its own app for e-commerce, or if you shop through another app retailer, like Poshmark, sharing your feedback about the platform could be mutually beneficial. If you’ve noticed something that could be improved or that you wished the brand would implement, reach out to their customer support section and tell them. Sharing your honest insight just might earn you a product in exchange for a free gift card.
In conclusion, getting free gift cards to your favorite stores is not a pipe dream; it's a reality waiting for you to seize. With a little effort and creativity, you can score these precious gems and enjoy guilt-free shopping. So, go ahead and treat yourself to that well-deserved shopping spree – your wallet will thank you!