Gift Cards Market Report 2026

The gift cards market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.49 trillion in 2025 to $1.72 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising retail promotions, increase in holiday season gifting, popularity of prepaid cards, growth of e-commerce, expanding consumer spending.

The gift cards market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.03 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to digital wallet integration, growth in mobile commerce, demand for customizable gifting solutions, expansion of corporate incentive programs, rising adoption of contactless payments. Major trends in the forecast period include rise in digital gift card adoption, growth of contactless and mobile payments, increasing corporate gifting programs, expansion of online and e-gifting platforms, demand for personalized and customizable gift cards.

The expanding food service sector is expected to drive growth in the gift cards market moving forward. The food service sector includes establishments that prepare and serve meals and beverages to customers, such as restaurants, cafeterias, catering services, and food trucks. This growth is fueled by increasing consumer demand for convenient dining options, evolving preferences towards healthier and more diverse cuisines, and the ongoing trend of urbanization. Gift cards play a crucial role in the food service sector by fostering customer loyalty, attracting new patrons, improving cash flow, and promoting brand awareness. For instance, as of June 2024, U.S. retail and food services sales totaled $704.3 billion, marking a 2.3% increase compared to June 2023, according to data from the United States Census Bureau. Hence, the robust expansion of the food service sector is a significant driver for the growth of the gift cards market.

Key players in the gift cards market are increasingly focusing on innovative solutions to enhance the digital gift card experience and meet evolving consumer preferences. Customizable and animated e-gift cards are a notable example, allowing consumers to personalize their digital gift cards with custom messages, images, and dynamic visual elements, creating a more engaging and personalized gifting experience. For instance, Givex Corp., a Canada-based fintech company, introduced customizable and animated e-gift cards in October 2023. These e-gift cards enable customers to add personalized images, video messages, and themed designs, making the digital gift card delivery a memorable experience. Additionally, the incorporation of captivating animations adds an element of surprise and delight when the e-gift card arrives in the recipient's inbox, enhancing the overall gifting experience. This innovation reflects Givex's commitment to advancing technology and providing merchants with cutting-edge tools to enhance customer engagement.

In May 2024, Blackhawk Network, a U.S.-based prepaid and payment network service company, acquired Tango Card Inc. to bolster its global rewards platform. This acquisition aims to combine Tango Card's expertise in business-to-business incentives with Blackhawk's scale and industry leadership, offering customers comprehensive, global, and technologically advanced rewards and incentives solutions. Tango Card Inc., based in the U.S., specializes in e-gift and prepaid cards, aligning strategically with Blackhawk Network's goals to expand its offerings and capabilities in the rewards and incentives market.

Major companies operating in the gift cards market are Amazon.com Inc, Apple Inc, Target Corporation, American Express Company, Best Buy Co Inc, Starbucks Coffee Company, PayPal Holdings Inc, Fiserv Inc, Block Inc, Corpay Inc, InComm Payments, QwikCilver Solutions Pvt Ltd, Pine Labs Pvt Ltd, Givex Corporation, Paytronix Systems Inc, National Gift Card Corp, Card USA Inc, Yiftee Inc, Jifiti, Village Roadshow Ltd, Kindcard Inc, Giftcards.com LLC, Tango Card Inc, Gyft Inc, eGifter LLC, Rybbon Inc, Voucherify.

North America was the largest region in the gift cards market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the gift cards market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the gift cards market report are Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.

The gift cards market includes revenues earned by entities by providing retail gift cards, general-purpose gift cards, online retailer gift cards, service gift cards, and charity gift cards. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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