How to find out what your gift card is worth (without spending it)
It sounds harmless: add the card to your account and see what's on it. But with many digital brands, that one tap is final. The money is now stuck in your account, and you can't give the card away or sell it. Here's how to learn the value without that risk.
Why "redeem to check" is a trap
Big digital brands, like Amazon, Google Play, Steam and PlayStation, generally only show a card's balance once the code is added to an account. Adding it is called redeeming, and it can't be undone. If you still might gift or sell the card, don't redeem it.
Safe ways to find the amount
- Look at the card itselfMost physical cards show the amount printed on the front or on the cardboard it came in.
- Find the receipt or the emailDigital cards come inside an email, and that email almost always states the amount. For physical cards, the store receipt lists it.
- Ask whoever gave it to youIt can feel awkward, but a quick "which store was this from?" also tells you the country, which matters just as much.
- Use the official balance page, if there is oneMany store cards (supermarkets, department stores, prepaid Visa and Mastercard) have a balance page on the issuer's website or a phone number on the back. Type the address yourself; don't follow links from messages.
Fake balance checkers
Search results and social media ads sometimes lead to "free gift card balance checker" sites that aren't run by the brand. You type in your code, and someone else spends it. Only check on the brand's own website, reached by typing its address.
- The address in your browser should be the brand's real domain, spelled correctly.
- No official checker asks for your bank details, your password or a fee.
- If a page asks you to sign in and "redeem" to see the balance, stop. That is redeeming.
If you really can't find the amount
Write down what you know: the brand, the country and roughly how much it might be. When you sell, enter your best estimate. The buyer checks the real balance and you are paid for what's actually on the card.
Questions people ask
Does checking the balance on the store's website use the card?
No, not on an official balance page. Those only read the amount. Adding the card to your account is what uses it.
I already redeemed it. Can I still sell it?
Not usually. Once a balance is in your account it's tied to you. You can still spend it on things you need, or buy something for someone else.
The scratch-off strip tore. Is the card ruined?
Not always. Take a clear photo and keep the receipt. Many brands can help through their customer service, and buyers can often still check a partly visible code.
Know your amount? Let's see what it's worth
Enter the brand and the balance to see exactly what you'd receive.
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