PayPal Gift Cards: How to Buy, Send, Redeem & Get Cash in 2026

PayPal gift cards make it easy to purchase digital gifts for friends, family, and other recipients. Through PayPal’s U.S. Digital Gift Card store, you can browse participating merchants, choose an available gift-card amount, and complete your purchase through PayPal.

However, there is an important distinction: a gift card purchased through PayPal is not necessarily a PayPal gift card that adds money directly to your PayPal balance. Most are merchant-specific gift cards that can be redeemed according to the retailer’s terms.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to buy and send gift cards with PayPal, redeem them, handle delivery problems, explore cash-exchange options, and avoid common gift-card scams.

What Is a PayPal Gift Card?

The term “PayPal gift card” can refer to several different things:

• Merchant gift cards purchased through PayPal: Digital gift cards for participating retailers, restaurants, entertainment services, and other brands.
• Gift cards sent using PayPal’s gift-card store: Eligible digital cards purchased as gifts and delivered electronically.
• Gift cards exchanged for PayPal balance: Certain unwanted gift cards may qualify for an exchange through a supported third-party service.

These options are not interchangeable. Buying a retailer’s gift card with PayPal does not automatically convert that card into money in your PayPal balance.

Before purchasing, check the retailer’s redemption rules, eligible locations, restrictions, and expiration terms.

Can You Buy Gift Cards With PayPal?

Yes. PayPal provides a Digital Gift Card store in the United States where customers can browse participating merchants and purchase available gift cards.

Depending on current availability, you may find gift cards for brands such as Starbucks, Apple, DoorDash, Google Play, Target, Uber, Walmart, and other retailers.

The available selection can change, so check PayPal’s official store before deciding which card to buy.

You can start here: PayPal Digital Gift Cards.

What Do You Need to Buy a Gift Card?

Before placing an order, make sure you have:

• Access to your PayPal account.
• An accepted payment method available through PayPal checkout.
• A valid email address.
• The correct recipient information if you’re sending the gift to someone else.
• Enough available funds or purchasing capacity to cover the order.

Payment methods, purchase limits, and eligibility may vary. Follow the options displayed during checkout.

How to Buy a Gift Card With PayPal

Follow these steps to purchase a digital gift card through PayPal.

Step 1: Open the PayPal Gift Card Store

Visit PayPal’s U.S. Digital Gift Card store and browse the available merchants.

Make sure you’re using the official PayPal website rather than an unfamiliar website claiming to sell PayPal gift cards.

Step 2: Choose a Gift Card

Select the merchant whose gift card you want to purchase. Check that the card is suitable for the intended recipient and can be redeemed where they plan to use it.

Step 3: Select the Amount

Choose one of the available denominations. The amounts offered depend on the specific merchant and gift card.

Review the price before continuing.

Step 4: Enter the Recipient’s Details

If the purchase supports gifting, enter the requested recipient information. PayPal’s gift-card process may allow you to provide the recipient’s email address, your name, and a personal message.

Double-check the email address before proceeding. An incorrect address can delay delivery or send the gift to the wrong person.

Step 5: Complete Your Purchase

Follow the checkout instructions and complete payment through PayPal. Review the order details before confirming the transaction.

Save the purchase confirmation for your records.

Step 6: Check Your Email

Look for the gift-card email and any order confirmation. If you purchased the card for yourself, check the email address associated with your purchase. If you sent it to someone else, the recipient should check their inbox as well.

PayPal explains its gift-card purchasing and delivery process in its official help article.

How to Send a PayPal Gift Card to Someone

Sending a digital gift card can be convenient when you want to give someone a present without mailing a physical card.

The exact options depend on the gift card and checkout process, but the general steps are:

1. Open PayPal’s Digital Gift Card store.
2. Choose an available merchant.
3. Select the gift-card amount.
4. Choose the gifting option, if available.
5. Enter the recipient’s email address and any requested details.
6. Add a personal message if the option is provided.
7. Review the order and complete payment.

After purchasing, keep your confirmation until the recipient confirms that the gift card has arrived.

Tip: Verify the recipient’s email address carefully. A small typing mistake can create unnecessary delivery problems.

How Long Does a PayPal Gift Card Take to Arrive?

PayPal says gift cards purchased through its service are usually delivered by email within a few hours. Delivery is not necessarily instantaneous, so avoid promising that every order will arrive immediately.

If the gift card hasn’t arrived after 24 hours, PayPal recommends checking the spam or junk folder.

What to Do if Your Gift Card Hasn’t Arrived

Try these checks:

1. Check your inbox: Search for PayPal and the merchant’s name.
2. Check spam and junk folders: Automated gift-card emails can sometimes be filtered.
3. Verify the email address: Make sure the correct recipient address was entered.
4. Review your order confirmation: Confirm that the purchase was completed.
5. Contact PayPal support: If the card still hasn’t arrived, use PayPal’s official help channel for assistance.

If you purchased the card for someone else, ask them to check their email folders before assuming the order failed.

How to Redeem a PayPal Gift Card

A gift card purchased through PayPal is generally redeemed according to the issuing retailer’s instructions. It does not automatically become PayPal account balance.

Here’s how to redeem most digital merchant gift cards.

Step 1: Open the Gift-Card Email

Find the email containing your gift card. It may include a digital card, redemption code, link, or instructions.

Step 2: Read the Redemption Instructions

Check the retailer’s terms to determine whether the card can be used online, in a physical store, or through a specific app.

Some gift cards have restrictions involving location, eligible products, or account requirements.

Step 3: Follow the Retailer’s Instructions

Depending on the merchant, you may need to enter a code during checkout, add the card to your retailer account, or present it when making a purchase.

Step 4: Keep the Confirmation

Retain the original email until you’ve successfully redeemed the card and used its value.

If the code doesn’t work, don’t repeatedly share it with unfamiliar support accounts or websites. Contact the retailer through its official support channel.

For more details, consult PayPal’s gift-card redemption guidance.

Can You Transfer a Gift Card to PayPal Balance?

Sometimes, an unwanted gift card may qualify for an exchange that pays through PayPal. However, this depends on the card, the exchange service, and the terms available when you make the transaction.

PayPal’s help documentation describes an option involving CardCash for exchanging certain unwanted gift cards.

The general process may involve:

1. Checking whether your retailer’s gift card is accepted.
2. Entering the card’s balance and other requested details.
3. Reviewing the exchange offer.
4. Providing the card information required by the service.
5. Following the service’s instructions for receiving payment.

You can lose some of the card’s face value in an exchange. For example, a service might offer less than $100 in cash or account credit for a $100 gift card. The actual offer varies.

Before proceeding, check the current offer, payout method, eligibility, and fees directly with the service.

Important: Never assume every gift card can be exchanged for PayPal balance. Do not provide gift-card codes to an unknown person who promises to transfer the full balance to you.

Can You Convert a Gift Card Into Cash?

It depends on the gift card and the available exchange options.

A merchant gift card normally represents purchasing value with a particular retailer. It is not the same as cash and cannot necessarily be withdrawn to a bank account.

Possible options include:

• Use the card directly: Purchase eligible products or services from the issuing merchant.
• Check for an exchange service: Some services accept certain gift cards in exchange for a payout.
• Review the merchant’s terms: Some retailers provide specific rules for unused balances or other circumstances.

Exchange services may pay less than the card’s original value, reject particular cards, or impose additional requirements.

If you’re considering an exchange, compare the amount offered with the value you would receive by spending the card directly. Use a service only after verifying its terms and reputation.

Can You Buy Amazon, Target, or Walmart Gift Cards With PayPal?

Gift-card availability changes, and a merchant’s acceptance of PayPal at checkout does not automatically mean its gift card is available through PayPal’s gift-card store.

If you want a gift card for Amazon, Target, Walmart, or another specific retailer:

1. Search for the retailer in PayPal’s current gift-card store.
2. Check whether the exact gift card is available.
3. Read the card’s restrictions and redemption terms.
4. Complete the purchase only after confirming the details.

If a particular card isn’t listed, check the retailer’s official website for its current purchasing options.

Don’t rely on old blog posts or outdated lists to determine whether a gift card is currently available.

PayPal Gift Card Not Working? Try These Fixes

A gift card may fail to work because of an incorrect code, a retailer restriction, an activation requirement, or a technical problem.

1. Check the Gift-Card Code

Carefully compare the code you entered with the information in the original email. Watch for accidentally copied spaces or characters.

Never publish the code in a comment, forum, or public support request.

2. Review the Retailer’s Terms

Confirm that the card is valid for the product, country, store, or website where you’re trying to use it.

A card that works online may have different rules for in-store use, and some cards have regional restrictions.

3. Check Whether Activation Is Required

Follow any activation instructions supplied with the gift card. PayPal’s guidance notes that some gift cards require activation.

If activation is requested, follow PayPal’s current instructions and the deadline stated for your specific card.

4. Check the Balance

If the retailer provides a balance-checking service, use its official website or support channel. A card may have a remaining balance lower than you expect if part of its value has already been used.

5. Try the Retailer’s Official Website

If an online checkout is failing, check the retailer’s instructions and make sure the card is being entered in the correct field.

6. Contact the Right Support Team

For problems receiving a gift card purchased through PayPal, start with PayPal’s support. For a card that has arrived but cannot be redeemed, PayPal directs customers to the retailer for redemption assistance.

Keep your order confirmation and relevant error messages available when contacting support.

PayPal Gift Card Scams: How to Protect Yourself

Gift cards are frequently misused by scammers because their codes can be valuable to anyone who obtains them.

Be cautious if someone asks you to buy gift cards or reveal their codes to settle an unexpected bill, pay a fine, unlock a prize, or resolve an account problem.

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Someone demands gift cards as payment for a debt, fee, or penalty.
• A stranger asks you to send a photograph of the card or reveal its PIN.
• Someone promises a prize or refund but requires you to purchase gift cards first.
• A person claiming to be customer support asks for your unused gift-card code.
• Someone pressures you to act immediately and discourages you from verifying their story.

How to Stay Safe

• Purchase cards through official stores or reputable sellers.
• Never reveal an unused gift-card code to an unverified person.
• Verify support requests using the company’s official website.
• Keep purchase confirmations and receipts.
• Report suspected fraud through the relevant platform and consumer-protection authority.

PayPal also warns consumers about gift-card scams. Remember that legitimate customer support should not require you to pay an unexpected demand with gift cards.

PayPal Gift Cards vs. PayPal Balance

Although these terms sound similar, they serve different purposes.

Feature	Merchant Gift Card	PayPal Balance
What it represents	Value issued by a specific merchant	Money held in your PayPal account
Where it can be used	According to the merchant’s terms	Where PayPal balance is supported and accepted
Automatically added to PayPal balance	No	Already held in the account
Can it be exchanged?	Only if an eligible option is available	Subject to PayPal’s account and withdrawal rules
Redemption restrictions	Depends on the card issuer	Depends on PayPal’s applicable terms

The key point is simple: buying a gift card through PayPal doesn’t mean you’re buying money that can automatically be transferred or withdrawn from PayPal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy gift cards with PayPal?

Yes. PayPal’s U.S. Digital Gift Card store offers gift cards from participating merchants. Availability and payment options depend on the specific card and checkout process.

How fast are PayPal gift cards delivered?

PayPal says gift cards purchased through its service are usually delivered by email within a few hours. If one hasn’t arrived after 24 hours, check your spam or junk folder.

Can I send a PayPal gift card to another person?

Yes, where the gift-card purchase supports gifting. You may be able to enter the recipient’s email address and include a message during checkout.

Can I redeem a PayPal gift card for cash?

Not automatically. A merchant gift card normally must be redeemed according to the retailer’s terms. An eligible exchange service may offer a payout for certain cards.

Can I transfer a gift card to my PayPal balance?

Some unwanted gift cards may qualify for an exchange through a supported service. Availability, payout amount, and requirements vary.

Can I use a merchant gift card anywhere PayPal is accepted?

No. A merchant gift card is generally subject to the issuing retailer’s redemption rules. It doesn’t automatically work everywhere that accepts PayPal.

Why hasn’t my PayPal gift card arrived?

Check your email address, spam folder, and purchase confirmation. PayPal says delivery usually occurs within a few hours. If the card still hasn’t arrived after 24 hours, contact PayPal support.

What should I do if my gift-card code doesn’t work?

Check the code and the retailer’s redemption rules. If the problem continues, contact the retailer through its official support channel.

Do PayPal gift cards expire?

There isn’t one expiration rule for every merchant gift card. Check the specific card’s terms and conditions for expiration dates, fees, and other restrictions.

Is it safe to buy gift cards through PayPal?

Using PayPal’s official gift-card store is different from sending gift-card codes to strangers. Protect your codes, verify the seller, and never use gift cards to pay someone demanding an unexpected fee or penalty.

Final Thoughts

PayPal gift cards can be a convenient way to purchase digital gifts for friends, family, and other recipients. Through PayPal’s U.S. gift-card store, you can browse participating merchants, select an available amount, and complete your purchase online.

After buying a card, check your email for delivery instructions and follow the issuing retailer’s redemption rules. If you receive an unwanted card, an exchange may be possible for certain cards, but the payout can be lower than the original value and is never guaranteed.

Most importantly, understand the difference between a merchant gift card and your PayPal balance. Check the terms before buying or exchanging a card , and never share gift-card codes with unverified people.