How to Use Vanilla Gift Card on Amazon – Full Tutorial

Have you ever gotten a Vanilla gift card for shopping, only to hit a wall when trying to use it on Amazon? I’ve been there too. It’s not always clear how to add a Vanilla Visa gift card to your Amazon account, or even how to check the balance before you do. I created this guide because I’ve had the same questions: Can I use a Vanilla gift card on Amazon? How do I combine multiple cards? Will Amazon let me split a payment between gift cards and a regular card?

The good news? Yes, you can use your Vanilla gift card on Amazon, but there are a few tricks to make it work smoothly. In this article, you’ll learn how to add your Vanilla gift card as a payment method without getting an error, check your balance before using it on Amazon, and combine Vanilla gift cards using your Amazon account balance. Shall we? 

About Vanilla Gift Cards

Before we jump into using them on Amazon, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what Vanilla gift cards actually are.

Vanilla gift cards are prepaid cards you can use almost anywhere that accepts Visa debit cards, Discover, and Debit Mastercard, and that includes popular online retailers like Amazon. Unlike other gift cards specific to certain stores, like Amazon gift cards, Vanilla gift cards offer the convenience of being used anywhere, making them an excellent choice for gifting. 

You can buy them in stores or online, and they come in both physical cards (plastic, mailed or bought in-store) and virtual cards (delivered by email). They come in denominations usually between $25 to $500, and you can’t reload them once the money’s spent. 

Common Vanilla gift card types include 

• Vanilla Visa
• Vanilla Mastercard
• Vanilla Discover

Benefits of Using Vanilla Gift Cards on Amazon

Using a Vanilla gift card on Amazon is a pretty smart and convenient option, especially if you shop online often. Here’s why:

• Protects your main credit or debit card: If you’re nervous about putting your real card info online or you just want to keep certain purchases private, a prepaid Vanilla card acts like a buffer. You can use it without exposing your bank or personal details.

• Great for budgeting and controlling spending: If you’re trying not to overspend, the fixed balance on a Vanilla gift card helps keep things in check. Once it’s used up, that’s it, no overdrafts, no debt.

• Works just like a credit card: Amazon doesn’t accept “gift cards” in the traditional sense for third-party prepaid cards, but since Vanilla cards are processed like credit cards, you can still use them if you add them correctly.

• Can be converted into Amazon balance: If you have a small balance left on the card, you can add that exact amount to your Amazon gift card balance. This is helpful when you’re trying to combine multiple Vanilla gift cards on Amazon.

• Good backup payment method: Even if you don’t use it as your main card, it’s great to have a Vanilla gift card on hand in case your usual payment method fails or your card gets declined.

Related Article: Where To Buy Vanilla Gift Cards Online: Your Ultimate Guide

How to Add Vanilla Gift Card as a Payment Method on Amazon

When I first got a Vanilla Visa gift card, I assumed I could just type it in like a regular Amazon gift card code. But no, Amazon doesn’t treat Vanilla cards like regular gift cards. Instead, you have to add it like a credit or debit card.

You can use your Vanilla gift card to pay for items directly either on the Amazon website or on the mobile app. Here’s how you’re supposed to go about it, assuming you have activated your gift card and you have an Amazon account. 

How to Use Vanilla Gift Card on Amazon Website

One way to use your Vanilla gift card on the Amazon website is to add it as a payment option. Follow the steps below to do that.

Step 1: Go to Your Amazon Payment Settings

1. Log in to your Amazon account on a browser. 
2. Go to your ‘Settings’
3. Hover over “Accounts & Lists”, then click “Payments.”

Step 3: Add the Vanilla Gift Card as a Payment Method

1. On that payment page, look for ‘Wallet’, and then find ‘Cards & account’ which should be right under it. 
2. Click on “Add a payment method,” then go on to select “Add a credit or debit card.”
   
3. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV from your Vanilla card. 

When entering your Vanilla gift card information, double-check that you’ve entered the 16-digit card number and 3-digit CVV correctly. It’s common for people to mistype numbers or confuse the CVV with other numbers on the card.

1. Use your name and billing address. Make sure to use the ZIP code you entered when registering the card.
2. Finalize the process by clicking on the yellow “Add your card” button. 

Step 4: Make a Purchase

1. Add items to your cart that are equal to or less than your Vanilla card balance.

2. At checkout, choose your Vanilla card as the payment method.

Optional: If your order total is more than your gift card balance, Amazon will reject the card unless you use the trick in the next section (combining Vanilla gift cards via your balance).

How to Use Vanilla Gift Card on Amazon App

If you prefer using the Amazon app, here’s how to add your Vanilla gift card step by step:

Step 1: Add the Card to Your Amazon Account

1. Open the Amazon app.
2. Tap the three-line icon in the lower right corner of the page
3. When you click on this icon, select “Account” from the four options that will be displayed. 
4. On the accounts page, scroll down and tap “Payments.” A new page will come up 
5. From the new page, under “Cards & accounts”, click on the option to ‘+Add’ to add a new payment method. 
6. Choose “Add a credit or debit card.”
7. Enter your Vanilla card info like a normal debit card.
8. Finally, complete the process by clicking on the yellow button that says ‘Add your card’.
   

Step 2: Shop and Use the Card

1. Add items to your cart that don’t cost more than the card’s balance.

2. Go to the checkout and select the Vanilla card to pay.

3. Complete the order, and that’s it.

How to Add Vanilla Gift Card to Amazon Account Balance

Here’s a method I personally recommend, especially if your Vanilla gift card has an odd amount or if you’re trying to combine multiple cards. Instead of using the card directly at checkout, you can load the money from your Vanilla card into your Amazon account balance. This makes the process much smoother.

Why is this better? When you try to add a Vanilla card as a payment method on Amazon, you’re limited. Amazon won’t let you split payments between your gift card and another card. That means your order total has to be less than or equal to the card balance. Plus, if you don’t use the full amount in one go, you might be left with a weird leftover balance that’s hard to spend later.

By loading your Vanilla gift card to your Amazon gift card balance, you avoid all those issues. Amazon will treat it just like cash in your account.

How to Add Vanilla Gift Card Balance to Your Amazon Account

Step 1: Check Your Card Balance First

Go to VanillaGift.com and enter your card details to see the exact amount left on the card. You’ll need this for the next step.

Step 2: Go to Amazon’s Gift Card Reload Page

1. Visit the Amazon website and log in to your account with your details. 
2. When you’re in, navigate to your “Account’ page.
3. On the next page, click on ‘Gift cards’ from the options shown. To locate it, check beside ‘Your Payments’ option or under ‘Your Orders’
4. Proceed to click on the yellow button that says ‘Reload Your Balance’ on the new page that loads. 

Step 3: Enter the Exact Amount on Your Vanilla Car

Type in the exact amount that’s available on your card. Don’t round up the figure, as even being a few cents off can cause it to decline.

For example, if your balance is $23.17, type $23.17, not $24 or $23.20.

Step 4: Add the Vanilla Card as a Payment Method (If You Haven’t Yet) 

If you didn’t add your Vanilla card earlier:

1. Click “Add a payment method” under the payment options.

2. Choose credit/debit card and enter your Vanilla gift card details.
3. The billing address to use for the card will be confirmed by Amazon. Your billing address on your account will do. Click on ‘Save’

Step 5: Complete the Reload

Click “Reload” to add the money from your Vanilla gift card to your Amazon balance. Once it goes through, your funds are ready to use, no restrictions, and you can stack balances from multiple cards this way.

Common Issues and Solutions When Using Vanilla Gift Cards on Amazon

Even when you follow all the right steps, things can still go wrong. I’ve run into some of these problems myself, and here’s what I’ve learned. Below are the most common error messages you might see, what they mean and how to fix them.

“Card Declined”

What it means: Amazon couldn’t process the payment.

How to fix it:

• Make sure the card is activated 
• Double-check that the purchase amount is equal to or less than your card balance.
• If you’re using the direct method, Amazon won’t allow a split payment, so try the indirect method by loading the balance instead.

“Invalid Card Number”

What it means: Amazon doesn’t recognize the card details.

How to fix it:

• Re-enter the 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV carefully.
• Make sure there are no extra spaces or incorrect digits.
• Confirm you’re selecting “credit/debit card” and not trying to enter it as a regular Amazon gift card.

“Geographic Restrictions”

What it means: Some Vanilla cards are limited to U.S. merchants or can’t be used internationally.

How to fix it:

• Make sure your Amazon account is set to the U.S. store (not Canada, UK, etc.).
• Only use Vanilla cards purchased in the U.S. on Amazon.com.

Remaining Balance Doesn’t Cover Purchase

What it means: Your order costs more than the balance on your Vanilla card.

How to fix it:

• Use the indirect method to load the exact remaining balance to your Amazon account.
• Or buy a lower-priced item that’s within the card’s available amount.

Card Not Accepted at Checkout

What it means: Amazon rejected the card as a payment option.

How to fix it:

• Try adding the card manually in the “Payments” section under “Accounts & Lists.”
• Make sure the billing ZIP code is set correctly.

Also Read: How To Check Vanilla Gift Card Balance: A Simple Guide for Managing Your Funds 

Frequently Asked Questions about Vanilla Gift Cards 

1. Do Vanilla Gift Cards expire?

Nine years after the purchase date, the card itself expires, but the money in it doesn’t. In the event that your card expires with money still on it, Vanilla will issue you a replacement with your money in it. 

2. Is there a limit to the price of a Vanilla Gift Card I can buy?

The value of Vanilla gift cards ranges from $10 which is the minimum amount, to $500 which is the maximum amount. You can buy your Vanilla gift card on Nosh.

3. Can I use my Vanilla Gift Card in stores asides from Amazon?

Yes, you can use your Vanilla gift card in any store where they accept Visa debit cards and Mastercard. If you choose not to use your gift card as a payment option, you can sell it for quick cash ovn Nosh.

4. How much is a $100 Vanilla Gift Card in Nigeria?

Currently, a $100 Vanilla gift card is worth N35,000 in Nigeria at the rate of 350. You can always use a gift card rate calculator to check this. 

5. How do I check my Vanilla Gift Card Balance?

Visit the Vanilla Gift’s balance checker page to know your available balance. The site will prompt you to enter your card details.  

6. Why is my Vanilla Gift Card not working on Amazon?

You might not be able to use your Vanilla gift card to pay for items on Amazon if what you are buying is more than the value of your gift card. To avoid this, ensure the total price of your items is less than the gift card value. Better still, follow the steps discussed above to load your gift card balance into your Amazon balance.

Final Thoughts on Using Vanilla Gift Card on Amazon 

Once you know the right steps, using a Vanilla gift card on Amazon is actually pretty easy. If you ever get stuck, go back to the basics: Check your balance first, use the indirect method to avoid limits and combine cards, and double-check for common errors if something doesn’t work

Now that you’ve got the full tutorial, go ahead and use that Vanilla gift card without leaving money on the table. If you don’t know where to get it from, you can buy Vanilla gift cards on Nosh.

 Nosh is a platform where you can securely buy and sell gift cards at the best rates whether you’re in Nigeria or Ghana. To get started, sign up on the website or mobile app.