By the Dropship Stair team. Last reviewed: November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Adding a gift card to Shopify means creating a gift card product in your admin that a buyer can purchase, so the recipient gets a unique code by email and redeems it at checkout.
- Shopify has built-in gift cards on all plans, so you do not need a separate app for the basics.
- Set denominations buyers actually want, design a branded card image, and check currency settings before you save, because cross-currency settings cannot be changed later.
- A gift card only earns money when buyers can find it, so publish it to your sales channels, add it to navigation, and promote it around holidays.
Learning how to add a gift card to Shopify takes about ten minutes. Create a gift card product in Products, Gift cards, set your denominations, design the card, check currency settings, save it, then publish it and test a purchase.
How do Shopify gift cards work?
A Shopify gift card is a prepaid balance tied to a unique code. A buyer purchases the card, Shopify sends the code by email, and the recipient enters that code at checkout to pay for an order, in full or in part.
Shopify has built-in gift cards on all plans, so there is no separate app to install for the basics. Shopify fulfills gift card orders automatically after payment by default. The code holds the balance until it is spent, and if the order total is higher than the balance, the customer pays the rest with another payment method.
Gift cards bring in money before a sale happens. A buyer who cannot pick the right product will often buy a card instead, and that card brings the recipient back to your store later for birthdays, holidays, and last-minute gifts. For a wider look at gift-ready products, see our guide to best Shopify gift stores.
Should you sell digital gift cards, physical gift cards, or both?
Most stores should start with digital gift cards, because they need no stock, no shipping, and no extra hardware. Add physical cards later if you sell in person through Shopify POS.
Digital gift cards arrive by email with a unique code, so they suit any store that sells online. They cost nothing to stock, they cannot run out, and a buyer can send one minutes before a birthday. Physical gift cards are printed cards sold in person. You order them through the Shopify Hardware Store, enable physical issuance in POS settings, and activate gift card payments in the POS app.
Offering both covers the most buyers: an online shopper gets the digital card by email, and a walk-in customer leaves with a printed card in hand. Start with digital and add physical cards once it sells steadily. The steps below show how to add a gift card to Shopify in either form, starting with the digital product most stores use first.
How to add a gift card to Shopify in 7 steps
Follow these seven steps in order. The setup takes about ten minutes, and the testing step at the end is the one most store owners skip.
Step 1. Choose digital, physical, or both
Decide what you are selling before you open the admin. A digital gift card is the default choice for an online store and the fastest to set up. A physical gift card needs printed stock and POS setup, so it takes longer. If you sell both online and in person, plan to offer both, but start with digital.
Step 2. Create the gift card product in Products, Gift cards
Go to Products, then Gift cards, in your Shopify admin, and click Add a gift card product. Give the product a clear title, such as your store name followed by Gift Card, and write a short description that says what the card is for and how the recipient uses it. Name the occasions it suits, and say the card arrives by email with a unique code.
Step 3. Set denominations buyers actually want
Choose the amounts buyers can pick. Each amount you add saves as a separate variant, so a card with four amounts has four variants. Gift card products allow values from $0.01 up to $10,000 USD, but most stores do best with three or four sensible amounts. Build around your average order value: one amount below it, one near it, and one above it. If your average order is $45, offer $25, $50, $75, and $100.
Step 4. Design the card image and write a clear description
Upload a branded image for the card, because this is what the buyer and the recipient see in the email. Use your store colors and logo, keep the design clean, and avoid tiny text that will not read on a phone screen. A good card image looks like a gift, not like a coupon. Pair it with a description that says what the card is worth, how it arrives, and how to use it. Our custom Shopify store design service can match the card to your store theme.
Step 5. Check currency and cross-currency settings before saving
Check your currency settings before you click save, because the cross-currency redemption setting cannot be changed after the card is created. This is the step people rush when learning how to add a gift card to Shopify, and it causes the most rework. Decide now whether a card bought in one currency can be redeemed in another. Read the setting twice, then save the gift card product.
Step 6. Publish it to your sales channels and add it to navigation
Choose the sales channels where the card should appear, then click Save gift card product. A card that is not published to your online store cannot be bought, so check that it is live on the channels you use. Then add it to your navigation so buyers can find it without searching. A Gift Cards link in the footer works for most stores, and a main menu link works around holidays.
Step 7. Test a purchase and a redemption, then promote the card
Buy a small card from your own store and redeem the code at checkout before you tell anyone about it. Confirm the email arrives and the code works. Testing takes five minutes and catches the problems your buyers would otherwise find first. Once the test passes, promote the card in holiday campaigns, in your emails, and on product pages where buyers hesitate over a gift. Our Shopify gift card strategy guide has more ideas for turning one card into steady sales.
| Type | Max value | How the buyer gets it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift card product (sold) | $10,000 USD | Buyer purchases it and the code arrives by email | Online stores selling gifts to anyone |
| Issued gift card (free) | $2,000 USD | Store owner issues it directly to a specific customer | Refunds, rewards, and service recovery |
| Physical POS gift card | $10,000 USD | Buyer picks up a printed card in store | Retail counters, markets, and pop-up shops |
The sold gift card product is the right starting point for almost every store, because it brings in new money. Use issued cards for service recovery, and physical cards once you sell in person.
What mistakes should you avoid with Shopify gift cards?
The most common mistake when learning how to add a gift card to Shopify is creating the card and forgetting to publish it, so buyers never see it. The second is picking denominations that do not match what your customers spend. The third is saving the card before checking currency settings, which locks in a choice you cannot undo.
Another mistake is treating a gift card like a discount. A card is paid for in full, so never sell it at a discount without a clear reason, such as a holiday bundle. To run offers around the card, read our Shopify discount strategy guide first so the offer helps your margins instead of hurting them.
Do not forget the free option either. You can issue a gift card directly to a specific customer from Products, Gift cards, Create gift card, with no payment collected. Directly issued cards max out at $2,000 USD, and they suit refunds, rewards, and service recovery. One rule applies to every type: gift cards cannot be used to buy another gift card.
How do you promote a gift card once it is live?
Once you know how to add a gift card to Shopify, promote the card where buyers already hesitate. Add it to your footer and main menu, link it from product pages people buy as gifts, and feature it in a holiday banner when gift buying peaks.
Email is the strongest channel for gift cards, because you can reach buyers who already trust your store. Send a short email before holidays and birthdays, and add the card to your welcome series. Social posts work too, especially short posts that name the occasion, such as a last-minute birthday gift. Our email marketing for Shopify stores guide shows how to build these campaigns.
Gift cards also pair well with bundles and upsells. A buyer who adds a product to the cart can be offered a card as an add-on, and a card buyer can be shown products the recipient might like. Our Shopify upsells and bundles guide explains how to set them up. To build the whole store around this kind of confident shopping, see our services page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an app to add a gift card to Shopify?
No, you do not need an app, because Shopify has built-in gift cards on all plans. How to add a gift card to Shopify starts in Products, Gift cards: click Add a gift card product, set your amounts, upload a branded image, and save. The basics work without an app.
What is the maximum value of a Shopify gift card?
A gift card product you sell allows values from $0.01 up to $10,000 USD, with each amount saved as a separate variant. A card issued to a customer maxes out at $2,000 USD. Learning how to add a gift card to Shopify means picking amounts near your average order value.
Can a Shopify gift card be used to buy another gift card?
No, a gift card cannot be used to buy another gift card on Shopify. This is a platform rule, not a setting you can change. If a customer asks, suggest they use the card on a product, or buy a new card with a different payment method.
How does the buyer receive a Shopify gift card?
Shopify fulfills gift card orders automatically after payment by default. The buyer or the recipient gets an email with a unique code, and that code holds the balance until it is spent at checkout. Physical cards are different, since the buyer picks up a printed card in store.
Can I change the currency settings after creating a gift card?
No, the cross-currency redemption setting cannot be changed after the card is created. Decide before you save whether a card bought in one currency can be redeemed in another. If you need a different setting, you must create a new gift card product.
Learning how to add a gift card to Shopify is a small job with a lasting payoff. Set it up once, test it, put it where buyers can find it, and promote it when people buy gifts. The card keeps selling while you focus on the rest of your store.
Sources: Shopify blog on selling gift cards; f22labs guide on setting up Shopify gift cards; 99minds guide on Shopify gift cards; the Dropship Stair guides linked in this article.