Digital gift cards are one of the best things that the internet and modern e-commerce have brought to us. I’m not kidding. They are tax-free, real money equivalents you can spend for your favorite products and services. They do have an expiry date, but most gift cards are from popular services you can spend immediately.
The best part of online gift cards is that the internet is flooded with them if you know where to look. The platforms where you can acquire gift cards are often changing, but the main methods remain the same. This article is about four ways that are most certain to land you some free gift cards.
How not to get scammed
Before even starting to google for free gift cards, you must understand a few safety rules of the internet. They are obvious to most but worth repeating as there are so many scams trying to trick you into giving away your money or personal information. Here are a few rules of thumb:
Never provide your payment card details when registering on a platform. It doesn’t matter how huge their payouts are or what their terms and conditions say. If they ask for your payment details, they will charge you instead of paying you.
Never give your full personal details to a platform. It’s normal to give some of your information – location, partial name, occupation etc. But if they are asking for your social security number or are crossing other boundaries, you better back off. A few gift cards per month aren’t worth it.
Avoid platforms that are too good to be true. There are no get-rich-quick schemes for the poor. I do not like it, but it is how it is. Better avoid those who promise quick riches – most likely, they are just scammers.
Use common sense and cybersecurity tools. Don’t click on shady ads or visit websites that your browser warns you about. Better yet, install an ad block and use a proxy server to conceal your identity. You are most vulnerable when you are in the open.
All this might sound a bit harsh and demotivating. However, I must add that in practice, most websites are well-intended, and you will avoid bad actors by following the recommendations above. The next step is to look into what methods are most likely to bring you real success, and they can be categorized into four types.
Paid survey platforms
Survey platforms are the type I had the most success with, although some people do not prefer them. These platforms are intermediaries between companies that need to collect customer opinions and people willing to participate in surveys. One survey can be equivalent to a couple of dollars and, on average, takes around 25 minutes to complete.
For example, you can get a GrubHub gift card free of charge while filling out surveys on platforms like Pawns, Swagbucks, or Survey Junkey. The registration and payout process is quite simple, so you only need to invest some of your free time. That’s why many do not like these platforms.
The commissions for surveys and payout requirements highly depend on your region. The demand for surveys might also vary, so it’s hard to expect lots of consistent work on one platform. However, if you are willing to use a couple of platforms concurrently and manage your earning expectations, these websites are a great deal.
Completing micro-tasks
Micro-tasks are small and repetitive things that companies do not want to bother their employees with. While AI automation has taken away some of it, we are far from the point where no such jobs will be available online.
Tasks like data entry, translation, transcription, image tagging, and many others pay a couple of dollars per hour. To reduce payment costs, they also often offer Amazon or other popular gift cards.
In fact, one of the most popular platforms for such things is Amazon Mechanical Turk, which is full of well-paid, unskilled tasks that only require you to have some free time. Other options include Instagc, Click Worker, Fiverr, Upwork, and, for in-person tasks, TaskRabbit.
Software testing
While advanced software and web testing tasks require special qualifications, some simple tests can be done by anyone. Platforms like Enroll, U test, Userfeel, and others offer an opportunity to test software and receive payment for it.
Most tasks will ask you to record your screen and perform specific actions on websites and apps. Sometimes, you need to write down your experience. The best part is that you can build up your reputation and experience and get more advanced tasks and better rates.
Software testing platforms tend to pay through PayPal because you can earn hundreds of dollars there, and gift cards don’t make sense then. However, if you are planning to use them only for a few hours per day, I suggest Ferpection, which can be paid for with Amazon gift cards.
Cashback platforms
The last proven method to receive free gift cards is by using cashback platforms like Honey, Rakuten Rewards, BeFrugal, and TopCashBack. They all provide a possibility to receive a percentage of the money you spend back to your account, but there are two variations.
Some work only with partner stores and restaurants, so you have to use their app to get needed codes or enter your expenses. Others will ask you to take a picture of your receipts.
Usually, the latter type is more flexible, but all of them are heavily limited in the number of regions and participants they accept. In my experience, these platforms are worth checking but cannot be relied on for a consistent flow of gift cards.
Wrapping up
I’m sure there are many more ways to earn gift cards and even additional income on the internet. Unfortunately, many of them are simply scamming or wasting your time. It’s easier if you have some measurable skill you can sell. Otherwise, I recommend sticking with the four proven types.
