20 Easy Ways to Get Free Gift Cards to Your Favorite Stores: Visa, Amazon and More! Without Falling for Scams

If inflation's got you strapped for cash? Fortunately, we complied a list of 20 easy ways to score free gift cards so you can get back to your favorite retailers without busting your budget. 

free gift cards

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. 

Over the past 10 years, I’ve tested dozens of methods apps, rewards programs, and even lesser-known hacks and I can tell you: some are worth your time, and some aren’t.

I’ll walk you through the best ways to get free gift cards, how to maximize your rewards, and how to avoid the traps that waste time or put your personal data at risk.

Here are 20 solid ways to get free gift cards to use anywhere you'd like. 


These Are Our Favorite Apps to Earn Gift Cards

Best for Online Shoppers: Rakuten Rewards
Best for Grocery Shoppers: Fetch Rewards
Best for Surveys: Swagbucks
Best for Gamers: Mistplay
Best for Fitness Enthusiasts: Sweatcoin

The Complete List of Ways to Score Free Gift Cards From Visa, Amazon and More

1. 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. 
Cash out threshold: $3

2. 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.

3. 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. 
Cash out threshold: No minimum amount required

4. 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. 

5. 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. 

6. 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. 
Cash out threshold: $5

7. Join InboxDollars

InboxDollars is another great platform to earn money and free gift cards 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. 
Cash out threshold: $15

8. 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!

9. 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.  

10. 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. 

11. Cash Out with Rakuten Rewards

The popular Rakuten cashback site has launched a new way to earn gift cards with Rakuten Rewards. Cash out minimum is a low $5 and you can choose an Amazon or PayPal gift card. It's a great way to earn cash on the go, or at home.
Cash out threshold: $5.01

12. Scan for Points with ShopKick

With the ShopKick app, you can collect reward points (called “kicks”) when you shop a partner store or one of the 80+ online ShopKick stores. You can also earn points by simply watching videos and other content right from within the app. Download the app and create an account today to get started!
Cash out threshold: $20

13. 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 product in exchange for a free gift card. 

14. 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.

15. Shop Your Favorite Brands on Drop

The Drop app allows you to earn points (for free!) just by shopping all the brands you would regularly shop anyway. To get started, simply download the free app, link your debit card, and start earning points for your purchases that can then be redeemed for free gift cards. It's that easy!

16. Redeem Cashback Credit Rewards for a Gift Card

If you have a credit card, odds are good that your credit card offers cashback rewards on certain, if not all, purchases. If this is the case, you can often grab that cashback earnings and convert it to free gift cards to use at your favorite stores, rather than using it as cash.

17. 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. 

18. 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.

19. Submit Feedback for Points With TellWut

TellWut is a survey site that allows people to participate in product research and online surveys. Whenever you share your opinion about certain products and services, you earn points that can be redeemed for cash and free gift cards. You can even cash out your points for free Walmart, Amazon, or PayPal gift cards.

20. Complete Tasks and Refer Friends with Idle-Empire

Idle Empire is another popular platform that users can join to play games to earn not only cash rewards but also free gift cards, cryptocurrencies, and free game skins. Simply sign up to get started!

What is the Best App to Earn Gift Cards Playing Games?  Mistplay! 

We think Mistplay is the best!  You play mobile games and achieve milestones to earn points and  it's ideal for Android users who love casual gaming.  You can exchange points for gift cards to Amazon, Google Play, and other gaming platforms.

More Creative Ways and Ideas to Earn Free Gift Cards

Getting free gift cards is easier than you think. Many times, it's even fun. Here's a quick snapshot of just some of the ways I have turned points and rewards into cash and free gift cards.

  • Play qualifying games on for points
  • Collecting redeemable points when you shop with free coupon apps
  • Participate in sweepstakes
  • Share honest product feedback
  • Submit product surveys, like through Toluna
  • Watch sponsored content on partner platforms
  • Scan purchase receipts into qualifying apps
  • Shop online through a money-saving browser extension

How to Stay Safe & Avoid Scams While Earning Gift Cards

Now that you know how and where to score free gift cards, let’s talk about the part most people overlook, being SCAMMED! If you’re not careful, a scam could cost you more than you’ll ever make. I’ve been testing gift card programs for years, and I’ve seen everything from shady “too good to be true” offers to fake apps designed just to steal your data.

Here’s how I protect myself and how you can make sure your free gift cards actually end up in your wallet, not in the hands of a scammer.

1. Recognize Red Flags Before You Click

Scams around gift cards aren’t new they’ve been around since the very first rewards programs launched. What’s changed is how slick the scams look today. If it feels rushed or unbelievable, trust your gut it’s a scam.

Watch for these red flags:

  • A site claims you’ve “already won” a $500 gift card without you entering anything.
  • An email urges you to “claim now” before a countdown timer runs out.
  • You’re asked to click a mystery link to redeem your prize.

2. Stick With Verified Apps and Sites

The easiest way to avoid trouble is to only use platforms with a solid reputation like the ones I mentioned above.

Here’s what I do:

  • Check reviews on Trustpilot or Reddit. People are quick to share bad experiences, so you’ll spot shady programs fast.
  • Download only from the App Store or Google Play.
  • Look for real contact info. If a site has no email, phone number, or support, that’s a bad sign.

3. Never Share Financial Information

Legit reward programs won’t ever ask for your credit card or bank info just to give you a gift card. If they do, walk away.

4. Protect Your Personal Info

Many rewards programs ask for your email or basic details, which is fine.

What I do:

  • Use a separate email address just for rewards sign-ups. Keeps my main inbox spam-free.
  • Never share my Social Security Number, driver’s license, or bank info.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on apps that offer it. 

If you like finding free gift cards, you'll also enjoy browsing some of the best free coupon apps for finding deals and sweepstakes in your favorite stores. With coupon apps, you can shop, save, and discover all the best coupons, deals, and savings. Be sure to also join our exclusive Facebook group for even more fun with like-minded freebie friends!

- Vanessa