Earning free gift cards online has never been easier. These days there are plenty of apps and websites that let you score gift cards just by doing simple things like testing apps, playing games, completing quick offers, or shopping the way you already do.
Whether you want to save some cash on your next shopping trip or you just like the idea of free money, there are plenty of legit ways to get gift cards without spending anything out of pocket.
I've personally tested most of these methods, so this isn't a list of random apps I found in five minutes. Below I'll walk you through the best and easiest ways to start earning free gift cards right from your phone or computer, starting with the ones that pay the most for the least effort.
The Fastest Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards
If you only have a few minutes, start at the top of this list. The first few apps either pay you a sign-up bonus just for joining or hand out the biggest payouts per task.
1. Testerup
Testerup pays you to test apps and complete tasks, with milestone-based payouts that grow as you hit certain goals. The more you complete, the more you unlock. It's my top pick because the payouts are bigger than surveys and the work is genuinely easy. You cash out in PayPal or gift cards.
What I like is that you're not grinding through endless questionnaires. You install an app, use it for a bit, hit a milestone, and the reward lands. It's the closest thing to getting paid for screen time you'd spend anyway.
Start earning with Testerup here
2. Freecash
Freecash hands you a $10 sign-up bonus to get started, then you earn by completing offers, testing apps, and playing games. You can cash out fast in gift cards, PayPal, or crypto.
Grab the bonus first. It's free money before you've done any real work, and the offer wall has a steady mix of quick low-value tasks and bigger payouts if you want to chase them.
Claim your $10 bonus at Freecash
3. Solitaire Cash
Solitaire Cash lets you play the classic card game in cash tournaments and win real money. No surveys, just gameplay. If you already kill time on your phone, you might as well earn while doing it.
You can start with free practice rounds before entering any cash games, so there's no pressure to spend a dime to see how it works.
Play Solitaire Cash and win real money
4. Bigcash
Bigcash gives you a $15 sign-up bonus and access to 3,000+ offers, from playing games to testing apps to completing simple tasks. You earn points as you go, then cash out for gift cards or PayPal. It's one of the easiest ways to start stacking small wins without any survey grind.
The variety is what keeps it from getting boring. If you're tired of one type of task, there are thousands of others to switch to.
5. Branded
Branded lets you earn up to $300/week testing apps. It's been featured on CBS for its credibility, and it is not a survey site. You install apps, use them, and get paid for your time.
This is one I recommend to anyone who wants to treat app testing a little more seriously, since the weekly earning ceiling is higher than most apps on this list.
Start testing apps with Branded
Earn Gift Cards With Surveys and Offer Walls
Surveys won't make you rich, but they're a reliable filler for downtime. Stick with reputable platforms and the gift cards add up over a month.
6. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most well-known rewards sites for a reason. You earn points (called SB) for surveys, watching videos, shopping online, and searching the web. Points convert into gift cards for Amazon, Walmart, Target, and dozens of others, or straight cash to PayPal.
It's a jack-of-all-trades platform, which makes it a good home base if you want one app that does a bit of everything.
Sign up for Swagbucks and start earning
7. InboxDollars
InboxDollars pays you to watch videos, take surveys, play games, and even read emails. What sets it apart is that it pays in actual cash rather than points, so it's easy to see exactly what you're earning. You can cash out in gift cards or PayPal.
8. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie keeps things simple. You earn points for completing surveys and cash them out for gift cards or PayPal once you hit the minimum. The interface is clean and the surveys are straightforward, which is why it's one of the most popular survey sites out there.
Take surveys with Survey Junkie
9. Kashkick
Kashkick rewards you for completing offers, taking surveys, and signing up for services. You earn cash that you can withdraw to PayPal, then use it to buy gift cards for whatever you want. Focus on higher-paying offers or services you'd actually use to make your time worth it.
Free Gift Cards From Everyday Shopping
You don't have to download a single new app to earn here. These methods reward you for spending you're already doing.
10. Cash-Back and Receipt Apps
Apps like Fetch and Upside turn ordinary purchases into points and cash back. With Fetch, you snap a picture of any receipt and earn points redeemable for gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Target, and more. Upside gives you cash back on gas, groceries, and restaurants that you can redeem toward gift cards.
The trick is to pair these with store promotions or credit card rewards so you're stacking savings on the same purchase.
11. Retail Loyalty Programs
Retailers like Starbucks, Target, and Amazon run loyalty programs that quietly turn into free gift cards over time. Starbucks Rewards earns you Stars toward free drinks, Target Circle gives you rewards redeemable for discounts, and the Amazon Shopper Panel pays Amazon credits for submitting receipts or completing short surveys. Use these only for purchases you'd make anyway.
Related: 10 Best Ways to Earn Free Target Gift Cards
12. Credit Card Rewards
If you use credit cards responsibly, the points or cash back you earn can usually be converted into gift cards. Cards with rotating bonus categories on groceries and gas can add up fast. Just avoid carrying a balance, because the interest will wipe out any rewards you earn.
Which Free Gift Card App Should You Start With?
Here's how I'd approach it. If you want the biggest payout for the least effort, start with Testerup and Branded for app testing. If you want a quick win today, grab the sign-up bonuses from Freecash and Bigcash. If you want something fun, Solitaire Cash turns idle phone time into real rewards. And if you've got downtime to fill, Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie, and Kashkick are dependable for surveys and offers.
My honest advice: don't spread yourself across all twelve. Knock out the sign-up bonuses first, then settle into two or three apps that fit how you actually spend your time. That's how the gift cards stack up without it ever feeling like a second job.
Ready to Start Earning Free Gift Cards?
The fastest way to see real results is to grab a couple of sign-up bonuses right now while you're thinking about it.
Claim your $10 bonus at Freecash and grab your $15 bonus at Bigcash to get free money in your account before you've done any real work. Then add Testerup and Branded for the bigger weekly payouts.
- Over 3,000 live offers on the platform now
- Cash out anytime through PayPal or gift cards with no complicated steps
- Get $15 bonus just for signing up and getting started
Good luck earning free gift cards!
Before you go, you might be leaving free money on the table. Sign up for a few of these apps and you could pocket $50+ this month just for playing games and completing simple tasks. Most people start earning within minutes. See all verified apps here, free to join.
