Woman holding a gift card envelope tied with a bow

Can You Buy Gift Cards with a Credit Card?

4 min read

Last Updated: June 4, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You can buy most gift cards with a credit card.
Some credit card companies let you redeem rewards to get gift cards.
Bank-issued gift cards can be used anywhere, but you may need to pay a fee to buy one.

A credit card is a convenient way to purchase all kinds of things—including gift cards.

But are there drawbacks to purchasing gift cards with a credit card? Are there fees for buying gift cards with a credit card? And does it matter what type of gift card you buy?

Types of gift cards

You can usually buy any type of gift card with a credit card. There are two main types of gift cards:

Store gift cards

Store gift cards are also called retail gift cards. Usually, you can only use a store gift card to make purchases at the store that issued the card. Store cards might be good at only one store, or they might let you shop at partner brands.

Store cards don’t usually charge purchase fees. If you buy a $20 gift card, you’ll pay $20. And you usually don’t pay extra fees for not using the gift card.

Some stores won’t let you purchase a gift card with a credit card, but most allow it.

Bank-issued gift cards

Gift cards from a bank are more flexible than store gift cards. You can use them to shop anywhere that accepts the card issuer’s credit cards.

You may pay a fee if you don’t use your gift card for 12 months or more. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of your bank-issued card to see if you’ll pay extra fees on an unused gift card.

However, purchasing bank-issued cards may come with fees, which will cause you to pay more than the starting gift card balance.

Is a prepaid card the same as a gift card?

A prepaid debit card (or simply “prepaid card”) lets you shop in a variety of places, just like a bank-issued gift card does. But they aren’t the same:

You can reload a prepaid card, so it can be used multiple times.
You can’t add funds to a bank-issued gift card.
You can often withdraw cash from an ATM with prepaid card.

How to buy gift cards with a credit card

Many retailers sell gift cards online and in-store. Buying in person often means you get a physical gift card. Buying online sometimes gives you the choice of getting a physical gift card or a virtual card.

A virtual gift card (also called an eGift card or a digital gift card) is fast and convenient. Your recipient will get your gift by text or email. They may be able to add the virtual card to their digital wallet for even more convenience.

You can usually pay for gift cards with a credit card in the same way you would complete any other purchase.

Redeeming a credit card reward for buying gift cards

Some credit card issuers may let you redeem credit card rewards for gift cards. Sometimes, redeeming rewards for a gift card comes with a bonus or extra money put on the gift card.

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Don’t fall for a gift card scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to watch out for gift card scams. If someone tells you to buy a gift card and give them the number and PIN, it’s probably a scam.

Scammers may say there’s an urgent need for you to pay with a gift card. They might say they’re from the government, your utility company, or tech support. Some scammers use dating sites to ask for gift card details. They might even say that you’ve won a prize.

Don’t fall for it. If someone contacts you and asks you to pay them with a gift card, it’s probably a scam. Hang up the phone and report the incident to the FTC.

Buying multiple gift cards

To cut down on gift card fraud, some retailers may not let you buy multiple gift cards with a credit card. If you want to buy multiple gift cards at the same time, you may need to pay in cash.

The bottom line

You can buy most store gift cards and bank-issued gift cards with a credit card. You may also be able to buy a prepaid card with your credit card.

Your credit card company may let you redeem your rewards for gift cards and even give you a bonus when you do. Keep an eye out for special promotions that give you bonus rewards when you redeem for a gift card.

Finally, keep an eye out for gift card scams. If someone asks you to buy a gift card and use it to send them money, it’s probably a scam.

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