How I Get Free Gift Cards: 15 Real Methods That Work
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Earning or receiving an entirely free gift card is like getting permission to buy life's little luxuries. Here are a few tips and tricks for finding free gift cards online.
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Free gift cards aren’t just a fun perk — they can help cover real expenses, from groceries to gas to streaming. But with so many apps promising easy rewards, it’s hard to know which ones actually deliver (and which are a waste of time).
We put more than 50 platforms to the test — from survey sites and receipt scanners to apps that pay you for selling your data 😳. Some paid out within a day. Others? Total duds.
Here are the 15 methods that actually worked — so you can turn your spare minutes into swipeable gold.
What to Know Before You Start
- Free doesn’t mean effortless. Most methods take time, consistent effort, or passive access to your activity or data.
- Gift card choices vary. Amazon, Visa, and Apple cards are common — but not every app supports every brand.
- Watch for scams. Avoid sites that request banking info, fees, or sensitive details.
- Use a separate email. Offers add up quickly. A dedicated inbox helps you stay organized and avoid clutter.
- Stack apps for faster rewards. Pair Fetch + Swagbucks or Pogo + Upside to speed things up.
- Know your time’s worth. If it takes 45 minutes to earn $2, that’s not “free” — your time’s worth more.
15 Real Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards
Whether you’ve got five minutes or a few hours each week, these are the tools and tactics that actually paid us — with gift cards to Amazon, Apple, Visa, and more.
1. Take online surveys
Sharing your opinion is one of the most accessible ways to earn free gift cards — no special skills required. Platforms like Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie award points for completing short surveys on products, ads, and current events.
In our test, one of our editors earned $7.41 in just a few hours on Branded Surveys, including a 100-point ($1) sign-up bonus. Most surveys take 5 to 15 minutes, and once you reach 500 points, you can cash out for gift cards to Amazon, Apple, Target, and more.
Active users can qualify for Branded Elite, a bonus program that offers extra points, streak rewards, and monthly payout boosts. While it won’t make you rich, consistently answering surveys during downtime can add up to real value over time.
Related: 18 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys (Up to $50/hr)
2. Scan receipts from everyday purchases
I used to toss receipts without thinking — now I check them for hidden value. With Fetch, you earn points by snapping a photo of your grocery, gas station, or retail receipt. If it’s itemized and recent, it usually qualifies — no need to clip offers in advance.
New users can take advantage of the MY2000 bonus code, which awards an extra 2,000 points (worth about $2) as soon as you scan your first receipt.
On a Target run, DollarSprout writer Jen Smith scanned a receipt for baby supplies and received 6,000 points — the equivalent of a $6 gift card. In some cases, she’s even earned up to 12,000 points ($12) on a single pack of diapers.
Gift card redemptions start at just 3,000 points ($3), with popular options including Amazon, Apple, Visa, and Target. Prefer something more passive? CoinOut gives you a few cents per receipt — no offers to activate or brand restrictions. It’s slower, but dead simple.
3. Earn cashback while shopping online
If you’re already shopping online, Pogo makes it easy to earn passively. Just link your debit or credit card and it automatically tracks purchases in the background — no offers to activate, no extra clicks. Points can be redeemed for gift cards or free PayPal cash.
For bigger purchases or consistent cashback, Rakuten is a longtime favorite. I’ve personally earned $984.08 since 2016 — mostly on household purchases, a new laptop, and travel bookings.
Rakuten pays out quarterly (via PayPal or check), and rewards stack fast during double cashback events. Just be sure to activate the offer before checkout — purchases won’t track retroactively.
Related: 13 Best Cash Back Apps to Earn Rewards in 2025
4. Complete offers and app trials
Offerwalls are usually more hype than substance — but Freecash was a rare exception. Over two weekends, we completed 9 tasks and earned $205.85 — including a game milestone, several paid surveys, and three sign-up bonuses.
Some high-paying tasks included a $10 deposit — but we earned it back (and then some) from FanDuel, DraftKings, and Crypto.com. Others — like trivia apps and quick polls — were 100% free and credited in minutes.
Freecash uses a coin system (1,000 coins = $1), and you can redeem earnings via PayPal, crypto, or gift cards. With a mix of surveys, signup perks, and milestone bonuses, it’s possible to earn $10–$50/month — or more with consistent effort.
Scrambly is a simpler alternative — with app downloads, email signups, and a $1 payout minimum, it’s great for low-effort wins.
5. Get rewarded for grocery runs or retail purchases
Apps like Ibotta and Upside reward you for gas, groceries, and errands you’d be running anyway.
Ibotta has been one of our go-to cashback apps for years. In a recent test, we earned $25 and cashed out in under a minute. “Any item” rebates (no brand restrictions) and midweek bonuses made it easy to earn without changing habits.
You’ll need to add offers before shopping, but the variety — including ‘any brand’ deals — makes it easy to find ones that match your list. We keep a few bonuses in progress and scan as soon as we’re back in the car to stay consistent.
There’s a $20 minimum for gift card cashout, but if you shop regularly — or refer friends ($5 bonus per referral) — hitting that target is realistic within a few weeks.
Upside is a solid gas-focused alternative. Just check in at a participating station through the app, pay with a linked card, and cash back is applied automatically. Rewards vary by location, but offers often range from 10¢ to 25¢ per gallon — with occasional promos boosting rates even higher.
Related: 12 Apps Like Ibotta to Earn Cash Back at Grocery Stores
6. Play mobile games and earn
Ever spent an hour playing mobile games and thought, “Well, that was fun — but a little pointless”? With apps like WorldWinner and Mistplay, it doesn’t have to be.
WorldWinner lets you compete for real money in skill-based games you’ve probably seen in TikTok ads — like Solitaire, Bejeweled, and Bubble Shooter. You can start with free matches, but most tournaments have a small buy-in — and top players can win anywhere from $5 to $50 per session depending on volume and skill. It’s available on both desktop and mobile, which makes it easy to play however you want.
Mistplay is a slower burn, but good for Android users who want something passive. You download games through the app, then earn points the longer you play. Gift card redemptions start at around 1,500 points (about $5), and while earnings aren’t fast, they’re consistent — especially if you rotate games with higher XP multipliers.
Related: 21 Game Apps and Platforms with Real Cash Prizes
7. Watch videos or ads in your downtime
Got 10 minutes to kill while dinner cooks? Some apps will reward you just for watching short video playlists — usually a mix of news snippets, trivia, or sponsored clips. It’s not high-paying, but if you’re already glued to your phone, you might as well let it earn something.
Swagbucks includes a video-watching option among its many ways to earn. Points stack slowly — around 1 to 3 cents per session — and you’ll need to tap the screen occasionally to keep things running. Still, for passive downtime, it’s easy enough.
In our test, Megan, our editor-in-chief, earned a few bucks just by letting playlists run in the background during chores. “I didn’t even realize it had added up — I was just folding laundry.”
Related: 12 Legit Ways to Make Money Watching Videos
8. Read emails or browse sponsored content
It might sound too simple, but some platforms will literally pay you to open marketing emails or view slideshows filled with ads. The catch? You’re trading time and clicks for pennies — usually 1 to 5 cents per action.
InboxDollars is one of the longest-running programs offering this kind of reward. You’ll get daily emails with subject lines like “RewardMail” or “PaidContent” — open them, click the included link, and that’s it. Others involve scrolling through short content carousels (think tabloid-style headlines or product lists). New users do get a $5 bonus just for signing up.
It’s not a moneymaker, but it is brain-dead simple. You can knock out a few between tabs at work or while waiting in line, and the points do stack slowly over time.
Megan also earned $8 in her first week of casually clicking through — not bad for a task that requires no real effort.
9. Walk into stores or scan product barcodes
Most apps make you shop to earn — but some reward you just for showing up. With certain passive income apps, you can rack up points by walking into stores or scanning product barcodes — no purchases required.
Shopkick is one of the few that pays for these low-effort tasks. You’ll earn “kicks” for entering partner stores, scanning featured items on the shelf, or watching a short video. On a single trip to Target or CVS, you might pocket 50 to 100 kicks just by scanning a few product labels.
The rewards stack faster if you link a card and shop, but that part’s totally optional. If you’re already out running errands, it’s an easy way to turn your steps (and spare time) into a free gift card. Use the code DSFIVE when you sign up to get a 1,250-kick bonus (worth $5) after your first 5 in-store scans or walk-ins.
10. Refer friends to get high-value gift cards
Referral links don’t usually scream “free money,” but some are surprisingly generous, especially if you’re already using the service.
A few standouts:
- Xfinity: Earn up to $500 per year when friends sign up for eligible services. Once their account stays active for 90 days, you get a Visa Prepaid Card — the amount varies based on what they choose.
- Arcadia Resorts: Refer someone to attend a 120-minute vacation club presentation, and you’ll get a $50 Visa gift card. If they join, you score an extra $500 credit toward future travel.
- Sling TV: Share your link and get a $15 service credit when a friend signs up. It’s not a traditional gift card, but it can cover a month of streaming.
These aren’t high-volume earners, but if you’re already a customer, it’s easy money for one-time effort.
11. Sell your unused internet data
You might not realize it, but your extra bandwidth has value. Companies will pay to tap into your unused data connection — and if you have a stable internet setup, it can become a hands-off side hustle.
Apps like Honeygain work by routing small bits of your unused bandwidth through a secure network used by businesses for market research, content delivery, and fraud prevention. Most days, we didn’t even notice it was running.
For us, this method turned into a slow burn that paid off big: I’ve earned over $6,000 in the past five years by letting a data-sharing app run in the background on a spare laptop. It’s not glamorous, and the payouts aren’t instant. But if you’re not using your full internet capacity anyway, why not let it earn something?
Another option: Pogo offers smaller but steady rewards for sharing anonymized behavioral data. It’s lighter-weight and mobile-friendly — we’ve earned $1 to $3 a week in gift cards just by keeping it installed.
Related: Make Money Selling Your Data with These 13 Legit Apps
12. Install browser extensions that find deals
We didn’t expect to earn a gift card just for clicking “apply coupon” — but here we are.
Browser extensions are one of the laziest ways to earn rewards online. Once installed, they automatically apply promo codes, track price drops, and sometimes even offer cashback or gift card points on qualifying purchases — no extra clicks required.
In one two-week test, we earned $14.68 on Coupert from everyday online shopping — no effort beyond installing the extension. Coupert also awards “gold” points for purchases, which can be exchanged for gift cards to Amazon, Target, and more.
The savings aren’t huge, but they’re consistent — especially when stacked with cashback apps or credit card rewards. Just be mindful not to run multiple extensions at once (like Coupert and Rakuten), or you risk canceling out your earnings.
13. Link store accounts or loyalty cards
Store loyalty programs can quietly earn you rewards just for shopping like normal. Many track your purchases automatically and offer points, personalized deals, or digital gift cards — no receipt scanning or coupon clipping required.
A few popular programs:
- Target Circle
- Starbucks Rewards
- CVS ExtraCare
- Kroger Plus
- Walgreens Balance Rewards
- Albertsons Just for U
- Walmart Rewards
Each store runs things a little differently — some offer instant discounts, others reward you with gift cards after you hit spending thresholds.
14. Trade in used items for gift card codes
That bin of DVDs, used phone, or box of random books? It might be worth more of that plastic currency than you think. Trade-in platforms like Decluttr let you skip the hassle of listing, packing, or negotiating — just scan, ship for free, and get paid.
For example, we had an old Samsung Galaxy S7 sitting in an office drawer collecting dust. Decluttr offered us $24, covered shipping, and paid out via PayPal gift card code the same day the phone was inspected. We also scanned a few older books and DVDs and were surprised to get another $30+ in quotes for items that hadn’t been touched in years.
If you’ve got tech or media collecting dust, it’s one of the fastest ways to turn clutter into gift cards you can actually use.
15. Join legit research or usability testing platforms
If you’re willing to answer questions, test products, or even track your health, research platforms will pay you for your time — often in gift cards or digital cash.
Prolific is one of the most trusted options for academic-style studies. You’ll find everything from psychology experiments to social science research, often funded by real universities. Most tasks take just 5–30 minutes and pay $1 to $10 — but high-paying multi-session studies also pop up.
For a more hands-on experience, platforms like Trymata (formerly TryMyUI) offer usability testing gigs. You’ll explore new websites or apps while sharing your feedback, usually for $10–$20 per test.
DollarSprout co-founder Jeff Proctor once joined a six-week nutrition study at Virginia Tech. “It was a great experience but very involved,” he said. “I had to check in every day to get weighed, choose my meals, and get several blood and urine samples taken.” His compensation? A $500 gift card and all meals provided.
Related: 15 Legitimate Places to Participate in Paid Research Studies
Other Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards
These won’t necessarily buy you a latte tomorrow, but they do work — especially if you’re already scrolling Instagram, using a rewards card, or don’t mind waiting a bit for the points to stack up.
- 💳 Redeem credit card points. If you have a rewards card from Chase, Amex, or Capital One, chances are you’re sitting on points you can redeem for gift cards to Amazon, Target, and more. It’s not “free” in the strictest sense, but if you’re paying off your balance each month, it’s a smart way to get extra value from your normal spending.
- 🎁 Enter gift card giveaways. Brands and influencers often give away $25–$100 gift cards on Instagram, especially around holidays or product launches. Follow hashtags like
#giveaway,#contest, or#freebiefridayto discover them. Just be cautious — real giveaways never ask for payment to claim a prize. - 🧠 Play trivia games or answer polls. Apps like Tally or Swagbucks Live run real-time trivia contests where you can win points redeemable for gift cards. The prizes are small, but they’re free — and the games usually take just a few minutes.
- 🌐 Use search-to-earn programs. Microsoft Rewards gives you points just for using Bing. Set it as your default search engine and you’ll passively rack up enough points for a $5–$10 gift card every month or two. It’s a great set-it-and-forget-it strategy.
- 📸 Join brand ambassador programs. Have a public Instagram or TikTok, even with a small following? Many brands offer gift cards in exchange for tagging them, creating short videos, or writing product reviews. Look for open campaigns on platforms like Upfluence, Aspire, or Octoly.
- 📚 Join local reward initiatives. Some public libraries, city governments, or nonprofits offer gift cards as part of summer reading challenges, recycling programs, or health initiatives. It’s hyper-local, but worth checking your city or library website — especially for students, parents, or teachers.
How to Maximize Your Gift Card Earnings
We’ve tested dozens of apps over the years — and while none will make you rich, the right strategy can turn spare minutes into a steady stream of gift cards. Here’s what actually worked for us:
#1. Stack apps that play different roles.
We ran Pogo (passive), Fetch (receipt scanning), and Freecash (offerwall bonuses) at the same time. Since they don’t compete for the same actions, it was easy to earn from all three — without doing much extra.
#2. Rotate every 2–4 weeks to avoid burnout.
When one app slowed down or hit diminishing returns, we’d switch to a new one with a sign-up bonus. It kept things fresh — and helped us unlock $10–$20 promos we would’ve otherwise missed.
#3. Focus on high-value offers only.
We skipped low-paying surveys and waited for $5+ referral deals or limited-time tasks (like install-and-play games on Freecash). One weekend, a DraftKings sign-up promo paid $40 in under 30 minutes.
#4. Create a separate “offer inbox.”
A dedicated email helped us spot bonus alerts fast — and avoid missing payouts buried under spam. Gmail filters or a burner inbox work great for this.
#5. Keep it lightweight and daily.
We didn’t grind. Just scanned our receipts, checked for promos, and knocked out 1–2 tasks while waiting in line. Some months, that meant $30 to $50 in gift cards without even trying.
Final Thoughts
We’ve tested just about every “free gift card” trick in the book — and while some were duds, plenty actually worked. A few minutes here and there won’t make you rich, but over time, the right apps and habits can quietly offset real expenses.
The best part? These tools aren’t just for extreme couponers or spreadsheet nerds. Once you’ve got your system in place — a couple apps, a dedicated inbox, and a few minutes of attention each day — the rewards start to feel automatic.
Here’s one more pro tip: keep a $10–$25 gift card on standby for last-minute birthday gifts, groceries in a pinch, or those awkward white elephant parties. It’s a small financial buffer, and one you can build entirely from spare time.
Free money might not be life-changing, but it can definitely make life easier.
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