How to Earn Free Gift Cards Online 2025

I can’t believe it’s five years already. Like most people, I lost my job during the 2020 lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though everyone thought the world was about to end then, I needed a source of income to pay my bills for whatever days were left. Thankfully, we’re still here.

So I began to research how to make money online since I couldn’t even go out anymore. To shorten a long story, I discovered ways to earn free gift cards online, and I was able to survive the tough time.

Perhaps you’re looking for how to get free gift cards online. You’re in the right place. I’m going to expose you to how I earn gift cards for free in this piece. And no, you wouldn’t have to do too much.

Top 9 Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards Online 2025

It’s easy to earn gift cards if you know where to look. Online surveys, contests, referral programs, beta programs, loyalty programs, and giveaways are some of the surest ways to earn gift cards without breaking a sweat.

1. Online Survey:

Online surveys came first on most lists of ways to earn gift cards online that I came across, and I get it. Getting paid just to share your opinions? That’s pure bliss!

After searching everywhere for easier ways to get free gift cards online, I found online surveys to be the simplest. So without wasting much time, I created an account on Swagbucks. I took a few surveys within two days and converted my earned points into a $10 Amazon gift card.

What did I do next? I redeemed the Amazon gift card for cash on Cardtonic within minutes. That became my routine throughout the lockdown period.

Other websites to earn gift cards through surveys are Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, KashKick, etc.

2. GPT (Get-Paid-To) Websites:

I didn’t stick with this method of earning gift cards because it requires more effort than surveys. Get-paid-to websites are platforms that pay you to carry out micro tasks like watching videos, reading emails, and things like that. When you perform any task, you earn cash or points that can be converted into any gift card of your choice.

If I’m someone who can sit down for hours to watch Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Min-ho in K-dramas, I’d rather use that time to watch videos on GPT sites like MyPoints to earn free gift cards. But that’s just me.

3. Referral Programs:

When I came across referral programs as a way to earn free gift cards online, I immediately knew it wasn’t for me. I do struggle to get people to change their minds; a fact I’ve long made peace with.

But if you are skilled at persuading others to try a product or service, referral programs can be a lucrative way to earn free gift cards.

Platforms like Toluna are willing to pay you with points that can be converted to gift cards if you can refer people to join the community. Why not give it a shot?

4. Apps/Games:

I honestly won’t be surprised if most gamers don’t know they can earn gift cards by playing games. Well, I’m sharing the update now.

If you’re a gamer, maybe it’s time to earn from gaming. Platforms like Mistplay offer you gift cards just for doing what you’ve always done. Some apps also reward you with gift cards when you perform certain tasks, like watching ads or downloading and trying out other apps.

If there were no way to earn gift cards through online surveys, this is definitely what I would have done during the lockdown.

5. Contests:

Contests are one of the fastest ways to earn gift cards online if you have what it takes. Many brands host contests mostly on their social media handles, where participants are required to submit videos, memes, photos, etc. as an entry.

The prizes for such contests are sometimes gift cards. I didn’t participate in any contest because I didn’t see any that matched my preferences.

6. Cashback Shopping Portals:

If you love shopping, it’s time to earn free gift cards while doing so. What do you have to do? Use shopping portals like Rakuten. When you shop through Rakuten, you earn cashback that can be converted to gift cards.

I used this a few times when I had to order goods online. And that’s how I got a $5 free Apple gift card for the first time. You can try it as well.

7. Loyalty Programs:

Last year, I randomly bought my girlfriend an iPhone 15 Pro. I chose not to disclose the reason behind the gift. But it was an appreciation for all the time she was there for me through thick and thin.

Like the way I rewarded my girlfriend for her loyalty, brands also appreciate their customers periodically with gift cards for sticking with them.

If you have been asking about how to get a free Walmart gift card online, it’s simple. Just join loyalty programs by Walmart if you regularly shop with the company.

8. Beta Programs:

This one is for the tech whiz out there. If code is the only language you speak, then this is a place for you. Are you good at detecting bugs? Head on over to uTest and earn free gift cards while doing so.

Techies who are good at programming languages like C#, C++, Java, Python, etc., have the opportunity to earn gift cards from numerous beta programs online.

Since the only languages I know are Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and English, no one needed to tell me to continue my search.

9. Giveaways:

Lastly, one of the top ways to earn free gift cards is through giveaways. Most brands do host gift card giveaways on their social handles.

I entered a few giveaways on X (formerly Twitter) and wasn’t lucky enough to win any, so I gave up and focused on online surveys. Well, you can try your luck with giveaways. Maybe, just maybe, your story will be different from mine.

Where to Redeem Your Earned Free Gift Cards for Cash

When I got the $10 Amazon gift card on Swagbucks that I mentioned earlier, I struggled to exchange it for cash. After a few days, someone recommended that I use Cardtonic.

To be honest, I was sceptical. I mean, who just hands over their gift cards to a random website? But I gave Cardtonic a shot. And surprisingly, the process was user-friendly, fast, and hassle-free. I fell in love with the platform, and I have always used it since then.

Of course, you can also sell your gift cards to online vendors. But most of them will underpay you, and that’s if you’re even lucky. Otherwise, you might not get a penny for your gift card. Stories of how online vendors ran away with people’s money are everywhere.

To avoid being scammed, I always advise people to deal with only reputable brands instead of faceless online vendors. For instance, you can always sell your gift cards with peace of mind at any time of the day or week on Cardtonic.

Want to learn how to sell gift cards on Cardtonic? Watch the video below:

Frequently Asked Questions About Winning Free Gift Cards Online

1. How Do You Earn Free Gift Cards Online Without Paying?

You can earn free gift cards online without paying by using legit reward platforms that give points for simple tasks like answering surveys, watching ads, playing games, or referring friends. Examples of such platforms include Swagbucks, Mistplay, and InboxDollars. And once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards.

2. Can I Generate Gift Cards for Free?

No, you can’t generate gift cards for free. Any site or app claiming to create free gift card codes is either a scam or a phishing attempt.

3. How Can I Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards Online?

You can earn free Amazon gift cards online by joining legit reward platforms. Swagbucks, for example, pays in points that you can redeem for Amazon gift cards.

4. What Are the Best Websites to Earn Free Gift Cards?

The best sites to earn free gift cards include Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Rakuten, MyPoints, and Mistplay.

5. Can I Really Earn Gift Cards Online by Playing Games?

Yes, you can earn gift cards by playing games. On platforms like Mistplay, you earn points for completing in-game tasks, which can be redeemed for gift cards.

Conclusion

From online surveys and contests to beta programs and giveaways, you don’t have to pay to earn free gift cards online. If any platform asks you for money, it’s most likely a scam.

And when you earn those gift cards, don’t forget to exchange them for cash on Cardtonic, a secure and easy-to-use platform that offers competitive exchange rates.

I have been using Cardtonic for my gift card needs for years now without regrets. You should, too. Happy earning!