Gift cards are an underused but great way to get an extra discount on your shopping. And there are plenty of places to buy your cards from. Let’s take a look at which sites offer the biggest discounts.
Whenever I mention discounted gift cards to anyone, they always tell me it’s a great idea but never use them. But the fact is, they’re easy to use and can save a lot of money in the long run. Imagine if I told you you could save 3% on anything you ever spend.
Now, I say discounted gift cards, but these are all sites and apps that give you cashback when you buy a card.
Let’s say you buy a £10 gift card with a 10% discount, it will still cost you £10. However, you will get £1 back. How you actually receive that cashback depends on the company you’re using – more on that below.
So, let’s take a look at the best options available for you to save on your shopping.
JamDoughnut
The JamDoughnut app rewards you with points every time you buy a gift card. These points can either be converted into cash, which can be withdrawn into your bank (for a 30 pence fee) or used towards further gift cards.
Although the cashback rates can be lower than rivals, look out for Pumped Up’ offers, where rates are much higher for a limited period.
How is cashback paid?
Bank transfer or payment towards future gift cards.
Sign up offer?
300 bonus points (£3) when you make a purchase for the first time. Use the code O8ZG
Sprive
The Sprive app is designed to help you pay off your mortgage sooner. It uses AI to calculate how much extra you can put towards your mortgage each month and takes small amounts from your account. It’s completely free to use.
You can also get cashback from (you’ve guessed it) gift cards, which can also go towards your mortgage.
How is cashback paid?
Paid directly to your mortgage.
Sign up offer?
£5 towards your mortgage when you join. Use the code INRWFKGS
Cheddar
Cheddar is an app that allows you to make payments and to buy gift cards.
Although it has a fairly decent referral scheme, better discounts can be found elsewhere.
How is cashback paid?
Paid directly to your bank account.
Sign up offer?
Boosted cashback rates for 14 days if you use the code WHGQJOO when you join.
Hyperjar
Hyperjar is an app with a lot of features. Not only can you earn money back on gift cards, it comes with savings pots, automatic discounts at certain retailers and a free child’s account.
However, cashback you earn at a certain store can only be spent at that store, which leaves it slightly limited.
How is cashback paid?
Paid into a separate pot in your Hyperjar account. Cashback can only be spent, not withdrawn.
Sign up offer?
No sign up bonus for new customers.
TopCashback
This is one of the biggest and best cashback companies available. And, it’s the only one on this list that doesn’t require you to download the app to use.
Sadly, gift card options are a little limited.
How is cashback paid?
Cash is added to your TopCashback account. It can then be withdrawn to PayPal or a bank account.
Sign up offer?
Most of the time, new customers receive nothing, but there’s an occasional £10 bonus offer.
Everup
Yet another app offering cashback on gift cards.
As an added bonus, you’ll also receive coins with every purchase. These coins can then be used to enter prize draws, with up to a million pounds in winnings available.
How is cashback paid?
Cashback can be paid in gift cards or withdrawn to your bank for a 30p fee.
Sign up offer?
No sign up bonus for new customers.
Widilo
This is primarily a cashback site which now offers customers discounted gift cards.
It doesn’t have quite so many retailers compared to the likes of Everup and JamDoughnut, but still has some decent rates.
How is cashback paid?
Cashback can be transferred directly to your bank account.
Sign up offer?
£5 bonus for new customers.
Which company gives the best gift card discounts?
| JamDoughnut | Sprive | Cheddar | Hyperjar | TopCashback | Everup | Widilo | |
| Adidas | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8.1 | 8 |
| Argos | 4 | 5 | N/A | 5 | N/A | 4 | N/A |
| B&M | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A | 5.1 | N/A |
| Boots | 3 | N/A | N/A | 3 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Costa | 7.5 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Currys | 2.5 | N/A | 4 | 5 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| IKEA | 3.25 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | N/A | 3.35 | 4 |
| Just Eat | 4 | 5 | N/A | 5 | 5.2 | 4.65 | 4.5 |
| Sainsbury’s | 1.25 | 3 | 2.5 | 4 | N/A | 3.25 | N/A |
| Tesco | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | N/A | N/A | 2.8 | N/A |
Which is the best gift card site?
Discounted gift card sites are the same as cashback sites – you can never guarantee which one will give you the best rates. But, looking at the table above, there are two standout sites – Everup and Hyperjar. Both of these offer slightly higher rates from more retailers compared to others.
However, with Hyperjar, it can be a little harder to spend the cashback you earn unless you shop at that store regularly.
So, Everup is the winner. Just.
But remember, cashback rates often change. JamDoughnut often comes up trumps when they have boosts on offer, and Sprive shouldn’t be ignored.
I’ve downloaded all of the apps I’ve listed and use them regularly. And that’s not because I wanted to compare them for this post, but because I like to save money.
I recommend you download all of the above. They’re free and easy to use, so you won’t lose out. It just takes a couple of minutes to check which offers the best cashback before you buy.
Other options when buying gift cards
The apps above aren’t the only places you can buy discounted gift cards from. Here are some other places for you to try.
Banks
Certain bank accounts come with the opportunity for you to get your hands on discounted gift cards. For example, NatWest Rewards gives you cashback for certain activities (such as direct debits). This cashback can then be exchanged for gift cards. Although the range of cards is limited, they are good value.
Tesco
A few times a year, Tesco offers as much as 15% off selected gift cards. There aren’t many cards included in the promotion but expect to see the likes of Adidas and Odeon.
eBay
eBay can be a great site to find gift cards. In most cases, these are unwanted cards that people are trying to sell privately. Although you can find some great bargains, it can take up to several days to receive your card.
CDKeys
CDKeys is worth checking out if you’re looking for digital cards for gaming such as PlayStation and Xbox. You can also find cards for Amazon, although the discounts aren’t as good as the apps above.