Free Gift Cards: 21+ Legit Ways to Earn Real Rewards in 2025

And in this post I’ll share real, legitimate ways to earn gift cards without the scams. This guide is built from my years of experience.

Method 1: Get Paid for Your Opinion on Survey Sites

This is one of the most classic and flexible ways to earn free gift card codes online.

For me personally, the very first few free Amazon gift certificates I earned online were through paid surveys and rewards sites like MyPoints and Ipsos.

These platforms partner with market research companies (although some of them like iPsos are actually part of big market research companies themselves) that need direct consumer feedback on new products, services, and ad campaigns.

In exchange for your time and opinions, they reward you with points that you can easily redeem for the gift cards you actually want.

Obviously, you won’t get rich, but you can absolutely earn a consistent stream of $10, $25, or even $50 gift cards each month in your spare time.

My Top Picks for Survey & GPT Sites

Below are my most trusted and reliable picks.

Swagbucks

The biggest and most popular rewards site. You earn points (called SB) for surveys, watching videos, shopping online, and even searching the web.

Survey Junkie

This is your best bet for a simple, no-nonsense survey experience. You build a profile, they match you with surveys, and you earn points.

MyPoints

A long-running and trusted site that rewards you for shopping, taking polls, and watching videos.

Toluna

A well-known market research community that rewards you with points for taking surveys on products and brands.

Ipsos i-Say

A legitimate survey panel from a global market research company. It’s a trusted way to earn points for your opinion.

InstaGC

As the name suggests, this site is built for getting gift cards instantly. You earn points for watching videos, shopping, and searching the web.

Branded Surveys

A popular platform focused on market research surveys that rewards you with points you can redeem for gift cards or cash.

Method #2: Turn Your Shopping Receipts into Gift Cards

This is probably the easiest and most consistent way to earn rewards that you can also redeem for gift cards for your favorite stores.

We all buy groceries and other stuff, right?

Those receipts you usually throw away are actually valuable. Companies want to understand what people are buying, and they are willing to pay you for that data.

You can use that to your advantage. All you have to do is (after installing the free apps), take pictures of your grocery and retail receipts.

Just for doing that, you get points that you can turn into gift cards.

It’s really that easy!

The Best Receipt Scanning Apps

I’ve tested a lot of receipt scanning apps and shared my finding in our guide to free gift card apps.

Now here are some of my favorite receipt scanning apps that pay you.

Ibotta

Ibotta is the powerhouse of receipt apps. Before you shop, you browse offers in the app for things you were already going to buy. After you shop, you just scan the receipt to prove you bought them, and you get cash back. It works at hundreds of stores, both big and small.

Receipt Hog

This one is more about having fun. Instead of finding offers, you just scan almost any receipt from any store. You’ll earn coins you can turn into Amazon gift cards, or you might get spins on a virtual “slot machine” for more coins. It’s a great app to use for all the receipts that don’t have special offers on Ibotta.

ReceiptPal

If you want simple, this is it. You don’t need to browse for offers. Just take a picture of any itemized receipt and you’ll earn points. It takes a little longer to build up points, but it’s zero extra work. You’re just snapping pictures.

Saeed’s Tip Box: I’ve always had the best luck with the apps that reward you for things you’re already doing, like scanning grocery receipts. It’s the most consistent and feels like found money. Don’t chase offers you don’t need, just earn points on your normal, everyday shopping. It really adds up over time.

Method #3: Earn Gift Cards by Shopping Online (Cash Back)

If you do any shopping online, using cashback portals is a total no-brainer.

Seriously, if you are not using a cashback website or app, you are literally saying no to free money.

I was shocked when I found out how much money I was leaving on the table before I started using them.

Here’s how it works:

Instead of going straight to a store’s website, you visit the cashback site first.

From there you click the link for the store you were going to shop from and then do your normal shopping.

The store pays them a commission for sending you there, so that’s why you have to go through the cashback site so they can track how you got to the store’s website.

The cashback website then share some of the money they earn for sending you to the store, with you in the from of cashback.

You can then redeem your cash back for cash or free gift cards for your favorite brands, like Target, Walmart, and so on.

The Best Cashback Portals

Rakuten (formerly eBates)

Rakuten is the biggest and most famous cashback site for a reason, it just works. They partner with thousands of stores, and their browser extension makes sure you never miss a rebate. Plus, they often give you a free $30 bonus just for signing up and making a qualifying purchase. That cash bonus is enough to turn around and get yourself what is essentially a free Walmart gift card right from the start.

Mr. Rebates

Mr. Rebates has been around for so long that I can remember it’s website design from the 2000s! And it’s been around for this many years because they have proven to pay their users. They have thousands of partner stores so you can earn on most of your online shopping. When it’s time to cash out, you have choices. Personally, I often use my earnings to get a free Amazon gift certificate, which makes it incredibly simple.

BeFrugal

With over 5,000 stores, BeFrugal is a great place to check for cashback deals, especially if you’re shopping somewhere less common. They offer a ton of different payout options, so it’s easy to turn your earnings into a free Sephora gift card or rewards for dozens of other popular retailers.

Shopkick

Shopkick is a bit different because it’s more interactive. You get points (called “kicks”) for all kinds of things (even just walking into a store or scanning a product’s barcode without buying it). It makes running errands more fun and is a great way to earn points toward your favorite rewards, like a free Best Buy gift card.

Method #4: Other Unusual & Easy Ways to Earn Gift Cards

Beyond the big apps and websites, there are a few other clever ways to earn rewards.

These are the simple, “set it and forget it” methods and one-off opportunities that can really add up.

I use these myself to make sure I’m not leaving any free money on the table.

Other Ways

Here are some of my favorite “unusual” ways to earn free gift cards.

Use Microsoft Rewards

You’re already searching the web, so you might as well get paid for it. Unfortunately, Google won’t pay you for googling, but you know who does? Bing! So ditch Google and use the Bing search engine instead. Microsoft will give you points just for searching the web, which you can redeem for gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, and more.

Trade in Your Old Stuff on Amazon

If you have old books, video games, or electronics gathering dust, trade them in for gift cards. With the Amazon Trade-In program, you send in your unwanted items for free and get a free Amazon gift certificate in return. It’s a perfect way to declutter and get paid for it.

Download & Test New Apps

App developers need people to try their new apps. A great, trusted site for this is FeaturePoints. You earn points just by downloading a free app and trying it for a few minutes while you’re relaxing on the couch. You can quickly rack up points for rewards like free iTunes gift cards or credit for the Google Play store.

Transfer a Prescription

This is one of my favorite high-value tips. Pharmacies are always competing for business, and they will often give you a big reward (sometimes a $25 gift card or more) —just for transferring your prescription to them. This is an awesome way to get a free CVS gift card or one for other major drugstores. Just search on Google for “prescription transfer coupons” to find the latest offers near you.

Method #5: Get Free Gift Cards by Playing Games

If you already enjoy playing games on your phone, you can turn that hobby into a way to earn real rewards.

I’m not talking about survey sites that have a few games. I’m talking about apps built specifically for gamers.

These apps reward you with points the longer you play or the better you perform. You can then cash those points in for some awesome rewards.

Mistplay

This is probably the most popular “get paid to play” app out there, specifically for Android users. It suggests new games for you to try, and the more you play, the more points (they call them “Units”) you earn. It’s a legitimate way to earn rewards, and you can cash your Units in for options like a free Google Play gift card or one for Amazon.

Rewarded Play

This is another fantastic app that works a lot like Mistplay. You play popular games like Yahtzee, Solitaire, and Wheel of Fortune, and you earn points that you can redeem for a huge variety of gift cards. They often have deals like, “Play for 30 minutes and earn 5,000 points,” which makes it fun and engaging.

Freecash

Freecash is another hugely popular site that’s great for gamers. While they offer surveys and other tasks, their “Offers” section is packed with high-paying deals for downloading and playing new mobile games. It’s a favorite for many people because they have tons of ways to cash out, including PayPal, crypto, or popular options like a free Visa gift card.

Method #6: How to Get Free Gift Cards Without Completing Offers

Sometimes you want to earn rewards without actually doing any work.

Yes, that is possible!

If you’re not interested in taking surveys or playing games to earn free gift cards, these are the best “set it and forget it” methods where you can earn almost passively.

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel

You’ve probably heard of Nielsen for their TV ratings. Well, they will pay you just for having their secure app on your phone or computer. You just install it and then… do nothing. The app anonymously shares your internet usage habits for market research, and you earn points just for keeping it installed. It’s one of the most passive ways to earn rewards toward a free Amazon gift certificate.

MobileXpression

This works just like the Nielsen Panel. It’s a market research app that you install on your phone, and it runs quietly in the background. In exchange for your data, you are guaranteed rewards. After you’ve had it installed for just one week, you get to play an instant rewards game where you’re guaranteed to win a prize, like a free $5 Amazon gift card.

Honeygain

This is a really interesting one. Honeygain is an app that lets you sell your unused internet bandwidth. Companies use this to run searches from different locations. You just install the app on your computer or phone, and it earns money for you in the background whenever you’re connected to the internet. It’s another truly passive way to build up earnings for the gift cards you want.

How to Get Gift Cards for Your Favorite Brands

Alright, what if you don’t want just any gift card?

What if you want one for a specific store you love?

Well, you read the following guides!

Over the years, I’ve figured out the best tricks for each major brand, so I’ve written detailed guides for all the most popular ones.

Here are my guides to getting free gift cards for specific stores and brands:

• Amazon: Need to shop for just about anything? Here’s my complete guide on how to get free Amazon gift cards.
• Walmart: Planning a big shopping trip? Learn all the best ways to get free Walmart gift cards.
• Target: For everything from clothes to groceries, check out my tips for scoring free Target gift cards.
• Starbucks: If you’re a coffee lover like me, you’ll want to read my tricks for getting free Starbucks gift cards.
• Lowe’s: For home improvement projects, big or small, see my guide on earning free Lowe’s gift cards.
• Best Buy: Eyeing some new electronics? Here’s how you can get your hands on free Best Buy gift cards.
• eBay: For online auctions and unique finds, learn the best ways to earn free eBay gift cards.
• Nike: If you want to save on new sneakers and athletic gear, check out these strategies for getting free Nike gift cards.
• Sephora: For makeup and beauty lovers, I’ve detailed how to get free Sephora gift cards to help with your next haul.
• CVS: For pharmacy needs and everyday essentials, here’s how to earn free CVS gift cards.
• GameStop: Gamers, this one is for you. Here are the best methods for scoring free GameStop gift cards.
• iTunes/Apple: For apps, music, and movies, check out my guide on how to get free iTunes gift cards.
• DoorDash: Want a meal delivered? Learn how to cover the cost with these tips on getting free DoorDash gift cards.
• Etsy: To support independent creators and find unique items, here’s how to earn free Etsy gift cards.
• McDonald’s: Craving your favorite fast food? You can earn your next meal with these ways to get a free McDonald’s gift card.
• Burger King: Here are a few simple tricks you can use to get free Burger King gift cards.
• Subway: For a quick and easy lunch, learn the tricks for getting a free Subway gift card.

How to Manage Your Gift Cards (Buy, Sell & Get Cash)

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a few old gift cards lying around that you never get around to using.

Maybe you don’t shop at that specific store very often, or the card only has a few dollars left on it, and you’d just rather have the cash.

On the flip side, sometimes the smartest way to save money is to buy a gift card at a discount before you go shopping.

Well, to handle those situations, chekc out our guides.

Find Discount Gift Cards

Sometimes, the best way to get a gift card for a lower price is simply to buy one from a resale site. Sometimes you can find gift cards for 5%, 10%, or even up to 90% off their face value. For that, you should know about the best places to find discount gift cards.

Sell Gift Cards for Cash

And if you have old gift cards lying around, don’t let them go to waste! You can find the best place to sell gift cards for cash that you can use anywhere. It’s a quick way to turn that plastic into money you can actually spend on bills or groceries.

Turn a Visa Gift Card into Cash

Finally, many people wonder if you can turn a prepaid Visa into cash. It can be tricky, but it’s definitely possible. I’ve explained exactly how to convert a Visa gift card to cash in this detailed guide.

How to Avoid Gift Card Scams

The internet is full of fake offers, and it can be hard to tell what’s a legitimate free gift card opportunity and what’s a total scam.

I get it. The last thing you need is to waste your time or worse, use a sketchy site that will compromise your security.

Here are a few things that I have learned over the years that can help you avoid scams.

Sites That Ask for a “Fee”

This is a huge red flag. A real rewards site should be willing to get you in the door for free. If a site is putting up a paywall or asking for a “membership fee,” that’s not how it’s supposed to work.

Close the page and move on to a place that’s actually free.

“Free Gift Card Code Generators”

Speaking of scams, I’m sure you have seen sites that claim they have software that can generate free gift cards for you. The most famous ones are the Amazon gift code generators that claim to get you values from $50 and $100 to $200 and even $500.

As you might imagine, they are all bogus.

I mean, if it were that easy to just click a button and create gift codes on demand, don’t you think everybody would be doing it?

Not to mention that Amazon would be out of business by now if anyone could print out $1000 gift certificates whenever they please.

So please, don’t waste your time with them!

“You’re the 1 Millionth Visitor!” Pop-Ups

OK, we all know the drill… that pop-up ad that says, “You won a $100 Visa gift card!”

While there are many legitimate sites and giveaways, those random pop-up ads are usually just clickbait. Be careful out there!

Saeed’s Pro Tips for Earning Gift Cards Safely

Over the years, I’ve developed a few simple rules that have kept me safe and made sure my time was well spent.

I want you to follow them, too.

• Use a Separate Email Address. When using these sites, you’re going to get a lot of emails. To keep your main inbox clean, just create a new email address for all your sign-ups. It makes everything easier to manage.
• Never, Ever Pay for Anything. I’m repeating this because it’s the most important rule. The companies on my list are free to use. You are the one providing value with your time and opinions, you should never be the one paying.
• Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin. The biggest mistake people make is signing up for 20 different sites at once. Pick 2-3 high-quality sites from this guide and focus your efforts there. It’s much better to earn a real $25 gift card from one site than to have a few useless points scattered across ten of them.
• Protect Your Critical Information. Sharing demographic info like your age or hobbies is normal for surveys. But if a site ever asks for your Social Security number, bank password, or driver’s license number, it’s a huge red flag. A legitimate market research company will never need that.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I get a lot of questions about this topic. Here are the straight answers to the most common ones I see.

Final Thoughts on Earning Free Gift Cards

So there you have it. As you can see, there are a lot of real, legitimate ways to earn gift cards that don’t involve scams or impossible offers.

It’s not about completing difficult tasks; it’s about earning rewards for things you’re probably already doing, like shopping, searching the web, or just sharing your opinion.

I know I sound like a broken record saying this over and over again, but please set realistic expectations. Doing this stuff isn’t gonna make you rich or get you thousands of dollars in free gift cards every month.

But it can absolutely make a real difference in your budget, whether it’s helping you pay for groceries, buy a birthday present, or just treat yourself without feeling guilty.

You can easily earn a free $10, $20 or even $50 gift card each month. You just have to pick one or two methods from this guide that seem easy or fun to you, sign up, and you’ll be on your way to getting free gift cards.