Gift Card Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Universal Accepted Open Loop, E-Gifting, Restaurant Closed Loop, Retail Closed Loop, Miscellaneous Closed Loop), By Application (Restaurant, Deportment Store, Coffee Shop, Entertainment (Movie, Music)) and Regional Forecast to 2035

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GIFT CARD MARKET OVERVIEW

The global gift card market is value at USD 1525.8 billion in 2025 and is expected to rise to USD 1774.5 billion in 2026, eventually reaching USD 6919 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 16.3% from 2026 to 2035.

The gift card market has witnessed sizable boom in recent years, pushed via the increasing desire for digital and pay as you go payment solutions. Gift playing cards, offering customers a handy and customizable gifting option, are more and more famous for birthdays, holidays, and company rewards. Digital gift playing cards have gained traction because of their ease of use, immediate shipping, and the rise of e-commerce systems. The market is in addition strengthened via the growing fashion of on-line shopping, where gift cards provide a powerful method of fee for goods and services across a whole lot of sectors, which include retail, amusement, and journey. Additionally, gift playing cards are seen as an ideal answer for folks who can be uncertain about a recipient's alternatives, offering flexibility and desire. As generation shop to evolve, improvements including mobile wallets and contactless payments are further accelerating the boom of the gift card market.

KEY FINDINGS

COVID-19 IMPACT

Gift Card Market Had a Negative Effect Due to Reduced Consumer Spending and Disrupted Retail Activity During COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with the market experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. The sudden market growth reflected by the rise in CAGR is attributable to the market’s growth and demand returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable negative effect on the gift card market share, usually due to decreased consumer spending and disruptions in retail hobby. During lockdowns, many agencies, especially physical stores, have been forced to shut, leading to a decline in foot site visitors and in-store income, which might be traditionally excessive resources of gift card purchases. Additionally, with economic uncertainty and extensive task losses, purchasers were more careful with discretionary spending, affecting the demand for gift cards. While e-trade-pushed gift card sales noticed a few increases, the overall market faced a drop in physical gift card purchases and corporate gifting. Furthermore, the worldwide supply chain disruptions and shipping delays impacted the supply and well-timed delivery of bodily gift playing cards. Although the market is getting better as restrictions ease, these challenges slowed the growth momentum of the gift card market at some point of the pandemic.

LATEST TRENDS

Rise of Digital and E-Gift Cards Drives Market Growth

One latest trend in the gift card market in 2024 is the speedy rise of digital and e-gift cards. As digital bills and e-trade grow, extra consumers are opting for the benefit of virtual gift playing cards, which can be delivered instantly and are easier to apply via cellular apps and on-line structures. This trend is fueled via the growing adoption of cell wallets and integration of virtual gift playing cards into popular e-commerce ecosystems. Additionally, manufacturers are improving personalization options for digital cards, allowing customers to customise messages and designs, making them greater appealing for gift-giving occasions. This digital shift also addresses sustainability concerns, as it reduces the want for physical card production and packaging. Companies like Tillo are similarly riding this trend, permitting seamless integration and rapid adoption of virtual gift playing cards through brands.

• Asia accounts for a dominant portion of the global gift card market, with over 55% of total digital gift card transactions driven by strong e-commerce and mobile wallet usage.
• In India, average activation load values stand at US $172.14 (jewelry), US $139.17 (health & wellness), and US $83.60 (travel), representing growth of more than 20% year-on-year across these categories.

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GIFT CARD MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on type, the global market can be categorized into universal accepted open loop, e-gifting, restaurant closed loop, retail closed loop, miscellaneous closed loop

• Universal Accepted Open Loop: These gift cards are widely accepted across more than one stores and services, gifting broad usability. They function on important price networks like Visa, MasterCard, or American Express, and may be used for purchases anywhere that accepts those networks. Their flexibility and comfort make them a popular choice for consumers looking for flexible gifting options.

• E-Gifting: E-gift cards are virtual cards dispatched via email or messaging apps, which can be redeemed on line or in-shop. They offer on the spot transport and have become an increasing number of famous due to their ease of use, mainly inside the context of developing online buying developments. E-gifting is desired for its comfort, personalization alternatives, and capacity to cater to remaining-minute gift-giving.

• Restaurant Closed Loop: These gift cards are confined to use within unique eating place chains or companies. They are usually used as part of loyalty packages or promotional offers, offering customers with a handy way to gift meals or stories within a selected brand or chain. They are popular within the foodservice enterprise, regularly used for holiday gifting or corporate incentives.

• Retail Closed Loop: Retail closed-loop gift cards are limited to apply inside a specific retail store or brand. Common examples consist of gift playing cards for style, electronics, or home goods shops. They are often used for purchasing inside that specific retailer, imparting a greater focused choice in comparison to familiar gift cards.

• Miscellaneous Closed Loop: These include gift cards that are specific to a range of non-retail services, which includes amusement, journey, or specialized stories. They are normally restricted to unique sectors like cinema chains, airline miles, or spa services, offering a focused gift choice for clients interested by precise reviews.

By Application

Based on by application, the global market can be categorized into restaurant, deportment store, coffee shop, entertainment (Movie, Music)

• Restaurant: Gift cards inside the restaurant area are popular for gifting food or dining stories inside specific restaurant chains or companies. These cards offer convenience for both the giver and the recipient, enabling them to enjoy a meal without disturbing approximately the value. Many restaurant chains provide unique promotions or rewards tied to their gift playing cards, making them a favored preference for food-associated gifting.

• Deportment Store: Department store gift cards are versatile and widely used, supplying recipients the capability to shop for an extensive variety of merchandise such as clothing, electronics, or domestic goods. These playing cards are often available in both bodily and virtual formats, making them a flexible gifting alternative. They provide consumers with a broad selection of goods throughout one-of-a-kind categories, growing their popularity all through foremost shopping seasons.

• Coffee Shop: Coffee shop gift playing cards are famous, mainly in regions with a robust espresso culture. These cards are normally used to buy beverages, food, or merchandise at coffee chains along with Starbucks. Their recognition is fueled by each day consumption habits of customers, who frequently use gift cards for everyday espresso or snack purchases, making them a frequent desire for informal gifting.

• Entertainment (Movie, Music): Entertainment gift cards for films, tune, or gaming permit recipients to get right of entry to services consisting of streaming structures, movie tickets, or track downloads. These playing cards cater to the growing demand for digital leisure and studies, especially among more youthful audiences. With the upward push of on-line streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, entertainment gift playing cards are an increasing number of favorites for his or her capacity to offer handy get right of entry to an extensive range of media.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market dynamics include driving and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges stating the market conditions. 

Driving Factors

Growth of E-commerce Boost the Market

The speedy upward thrust of online purchasing has drastically fueled the demand for gift cards. E-commerce structures offer an easy manner for consumers to shop for and redeem gift cards, making them a convenient charge option. The surge in on line retail, especially during peak seasons like holidays and income occasions, has contributed to the massive recognition of gift playing cards, as they offer recipients flexibility and ease of use in a digital-first shopping environment.

• Closed-loop cards account for approximately 62% of total gift card volume in India, showing strong consumer preference for retailer-specific cards.
• Open-loop cards are gaining traction, expected to grow by nearly 23% between 2024 and 2029, driven by flexibility of usage across multiple platforms.

Increasing Demand for Personalization and Convenience Expand the Market

A factor in the gift card market growth is the consumers an increasing number of are seeking personalized gifting reports, and digital gift playing cards permit for easy customization, instantaneous transport, and versatility. Whether for birthdays, holidays, or company rewards, customized and e-gift playing cards are in high call for because they cater to remaining-minute gifting and are adaptable throughout numerous classes like retail, entertainment, and dining.

Restraining Factor

Security Concerns Impede Market Growth

One of the main demanding situations for the gift card market is the danger of fraud and protection problems. As digital gift playing cards grow to be more popular, they are an increasing number of targeted by means of hackers and fraudsters. Scams, along with phishing or unauthorized purchases, undermine patron self-assurance, posing a threat to the market's growth. Fraudulent sports can result in financial losses for both clients and businesses, affecting the overall adoption of gift playing cards.

• Limited internet and smartphone penetration in rural India affects card usage, with over 30% of rural consumers still relying primarily on cash transactions.
• Regulatory inconsistencies affect the sector, with over 25% of financial service providers citing compliance challenges in offering gift cards.

Integration with Mobile Wallets Create Opportunity for The Product in The Market

Opportunity

The integration of gift playing cards into cell wallets gifts a significant possibility for the market. As consumers shift towards the use of smartphones for economic transactions, incorporating gift playing cards into cellular platforms like Apple Pay or Google Pay permits for seamless and instantaneous purchases. This trend aligns with the growing choice for contactless and virtual bills, expanding the reach of gift playing cards, especially amongst tech-savvy purchasers.

• Corporate adoption of gift cards has increased, with over 40% of large enterprises using them for employee rewards and customer loyalty.
• Emerging technologies are fueling opportunities, with nearly 35% of new gift card platforms integrating AI and blockchain to enhance security and personalization.

Supply Chain Disruptions Could Be a Potential Challenge for Consumers

Challenge

The global supply chain problems, particularly the delays inside the production and distribution of physical gift playing cards, stay an assignment. With many gift playing cards still issued in physical formats, delays in transport and production can affect patron pleasure, especially all through height gifting seasons like vacations.

• India remains a cash-driven economy, with over 65% of daily retail transactions still conducted in cash, limiting digital card penetration.
• Around 28% of potential users remain unaware of how to use digital or physical gift cards, creating adoption hurdles.

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GIFT CARD MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

• North America

North America plays a giant position in the United States gift card market due to its superior e-trade infrastructure and high customer demand for comfort. In the U.S. And Canada, virtual gift cards are especially popular because of their ease of use in online retail, streaming offerings, and eating alternatives. The adoption of cell wallets and integration of gift playing cards with platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay have similarly multiplied boom. Additionally, businesses often use gift playing cards for employee incentives, making them a staple in corporate environments.

• Europe

Europe is experiencing constant increase in the gift card market, driven by both retail and digital gift card reputation. The increasing fashion in the direction of personalized and digital gifting has prompted foremost outlets to provide customized and branded gift playing cards, especially for vacations and special events. The rise of e-commerce and cellular payments in European countries just like the UK, Germany, and France has boosted virtual gift card adoption, making them a desired gifting technique.

• Asia

Asia is a dominant place for the gift card market, mainly in international locations like Japan, India, and China, wherein gift-giving is culturally tremendous. In specific, India has seen a surge in digital gift card call for, driven with the aid of the increase of e-trade and cell bills. The more youthful populace's tech-savvy nature and the growing use of cellular wallets similarly help the increase of the market. In Japan, gift playing cards are usually used in retail, and their integration with on-line systems shop to power market enlargement.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Industry Players Shaping the Market Through Innovation and Market Expansion

Key industry players in the gift card market include businesses along with Blackhawk Network, InComm, and GiftCards.Com, which provide a huge variety of bodily and virtual gift card answers. Blackhawk Network, a chief player in prepaid and gift card distribution, companions with outlets, manufacturers, and e-commerce platforms to provide customers with an extensive selection of gift cards. InComm focuses on prepaid merchandise, consisting of gift cards, and has significant partnerships across numerous industries together with retail, entertainment, and monetary services. GiftCards.Com, one of the main on-line companies, offers customizable gift cards for both digital and physical formats, catering to the developing call for customized gifting alternatives. Additionally, Tillo, a global issuer of digital gift card answers, has visible rapid boom through offering integration for stores and organizations into the digital gifting atmosphere. These organizations are main the fee in meeting the evolving wishes of each client and organizations.

• Amazon: Amazon dominates the global e-commerce space, with over 40% of its customer base reported to have used Amazon gift cards at least once.
• iTunes (Apple Inc.): iTunes gift cards remain popular, with over 25% of Apple device users purchasing or redeeming them for apps, music, and services.

List of Top Gift Card Companies

• Amazon (U.S)
• iTunes (U.S)
• Walmart (U.S)
• Google Play (U.S)
   

KEY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

February 2024: PayPal accelerated its virtual gift card offerings via partnering with Venmo, allowing users to purchase and redeem gift cards at once inside the app. Meanwhile, numerous U.S. States, consisting of New York and Maryland, surpassed new consumer protection laws for gift playing cards, which encompass measures to store your fraud and extend the validity of gift cards. Additionally, the enterprise is witnessing an improved attention on personalized gifting solutions, with agencies leveraging blockchain and AI technologies to beautify protection and customization. These developments mirror the developing integration of technology inside the gift card market, aiming to improve each the customer and corporate gifting experience.

REPORT COVERAGE

The gift card market is poised for continued increase, driven by means of the increasing recognition of virtual and e-gifting solutions. Consumer preference for convenient, customized, and instantly handy gifting options has caused the upward thrust of digital gift playing cards, particularly as mobile payment systems and e-trade platforms turn out to be extra popular. Additionally, the combination of gift playing cards with mobile wallets and on-line retail structures is fueling further enlargement, especially in North America and Europe. While the market faces challenges which include security issues and supply chain disruptions, possibilities for increase stay robust, particularly with the increasing demand for customizable and branded cards. Companies like Blackhawk Network, InComm, and GiftCards.Com maintain to lead in innovation and provider, while local gamers capitalize on nearby client conduct. Overall, the market is anticipated to see sturdy growth as gift cards evolve to fulfill the changing wishes of each purchaser and agencies.