Top 10 Best Gift Cards to Buy for Christmas
Whenever Christmas is around the corner, one of many things it means is gift shopping! But let’s face it, finding the perfect gift can be stressful. What if they don’t...
December 13, 2024
6 mins Read
The culture of gifting is deeply ingrained in the United States, and gift cards have become a popular choice. According to a Credit Summit survey, 83% of Americans regularly give gift cards for special occasions.
Most popular Gift cards are generally accepted because of convenience, ease of purchase, and the diverse options they give to recipients. Beyond gifting, they also play a key role in customer loyalty programs.
In this blogpost, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 most popular gift cards in the USA, ranked based on their demand, versatility, and widespread acceptance.
Why are Gift Cards Popular in the USA?
Gift cards are highly popular in the United States due to various reasons. The top factor is the convenience it offers to gift givers and recipients. In 2022, a report by Statista revealed that nearly 50% of consumers in the US claimed they bought gift cards because of how convenient they are.
They are easy to purchase especially digital gift cards. The freedom they offer recipients to choose whatever gift they like which is very valid especially when you don’t know the right gift to give.
Gift cards can be used at a wide variety of retailers and online stores. Due to these reasons, gift cards have become increasingly popular in the US with many retailers now offering them as a payment method.
Top 10 Most Popular Gift Cards in the US
- iTunes Gift Card
- Amazon Gift Card
- Sephora Gift Card
- Walmart Gift Card
- American Express Gift Card
- Target Gift Card
- eBay Gift Card
- Starbucks Gift Card
- Visa Gift Card
- Disney Gift Card
1. iTunes Gift Card
The iTunes Gift Card is a versatile option for both Android and iOS devices, which can be used to purchase music, TV shows, movies, books, games, and more. Its popularity in the U.S. is largely due to its wide range of uses, iTunes gift card is one of the multipurpose gift cards that you decide what to do with it.
As an Apple user, you can use your iTunes gift card to pay for your Apple Music subscription, iCloud storage monthly payment, and Apple Arcade.
2. Amazon Gift Card
Amazon gift card remain one of the top gift cards in the US every year because they can be used to purchase a wide variety of items at Amazon. Items include books, household items, gadgets, and clothing.
One of the most widely used online retailers in the US is Amazon. This contributes to why people see Amazon gift cards as a convenient option. It is also a very good gift card option. If you gift someone an Amazon gift card in the US, there is a high likelihood that it won’t go to waste.
3. Sephora Gift Card
Sephora is a popular beauty and cosmetics store in the United States. They offer a variety of items for sale including makeup kits, hair care products, body cream, skincare, and others.
For people interested in fashion and beauty in the US, a Sephora gift card is a big deal for them. The gift card recipient has the freedom to pick any beauty item at a physical or online store.
Sephora generates approximately $14.5 billion in global sales in 2022, with nearly $7 billion coming from the United States alone.
4. Walmart Gift Card
Walmart gift card is admired by many because of their budget-friendly option. No matter your budget, you can always get one. The minimum reloads option when you used up your Walmart gift card balance is $10.
Another key factor behind Walmart’s popularity is its extensive store network. As of last October, Walmart operated 5,320 supercenters, 3,572 discount stores, 365 neighborhood markets, and 682 convenience stores across the U.S.
For that reason, Walmart gift cards are widely used as a gift option in the US because they are a convenient and easily redeemable option.
5. American Express Gift Card
The American Express Gift Card is a premium, flexible, and secure gifting option, perfect for anyone. It is one of the most versatile and widely accepted prepaid gift cards in the U.S. Unlike store-specific gift cards, which are limited to certain retailers.
Amex gift cards is accepted by various merchants including major retailers and online merchants. They can be used anywhere in the United States to make payments for products and services.
6. Target Gift Card
The popularity of Target gift cards in the United States is due to several reasons. One of them is the trust Target has established among US residents. It’s a famous retail chain that offers different items like groceries, electronics, and clothing.
Additionally, Target Gift Cards never expire, which allow recipients to redeem it anytime they want. It can be used in-store, online, or via the Target app.
7. eBay Gift Card
eBay is a trusted online marketplace in the U.S. that offers a wide range of products. However, eBay gift cards can only be redeemed with a U.S.-registered eBay account and must be used for purchases shipped to a U.S. address.
You can apply up to four eBay Gift Cards per transaction, but once used, they’re linked to your account and can’t be transferred. They can’t be used for bullion, coins, currency, coupons, or other gift cards.
8. Starbucks Gift Card
Starbucks is a leading coffeehouse chain with over 15,000 locations across the U.S. It’s very rare to see someone that doesn’t like caffeine in the US.
Starbucks gift cards make a great appeal to everyone because of the brand’s production of coffee, tea, and food. The brand is known for its good taste and affluence.
Coffee is a staple for many Americans, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t enjoy a caffeine fix, chances are, at least one in ten people is a coffee lover.
9. Visa Gift Card
Visa gift cards are widely accepted by several merchants, restaurants, and retail stores. Its acceptance by many people leads to its widespread use globally, especially in the United States.
Visa Gift Card functions like a prepaid debit card, which allows users to make purchases at millions of locations, both in-store and online, where Visa is accepted.
10. Disney Gift Card
There is a wide range of options when it comes to utilizing Disney gift cards. It can be used to make purchases at Disney stores, theme parks, and on the Disney official website.
Other amazing ways to enjoy a Disney gift card are to use it for Disney cruises, pay for a stay at a Disney resort, and so many more.
Conclusion
These gift cards are popular largely due to the strong reputation of the brands behind them, as the success of these businesses directly influences their gift card demand.
Gift cards have become a huge part of everyday spending in the U.S., the convenience and flexibility they offer is incredible. With so many options available, you can easily choose one as a meaningful gift for your loved ones.
If you have unwanted gift cards, you can also sell them on the Nosh app for Naira, Cedis, or Dollars and get instant payment.
