Can You Buy Gift Cards with Credit Cards? 2025 Guide: Methods, Limits, Fees & Tips

Gift cards

Yes, you can purchase most gift cards with a credit card, both in physical stores and online. However, you should be aware of a few potential issues, such as your credit card issuer treating the purchase as a cash advance or certain retailers restricting the use of credit for some types of gift cards.

In-store purchases

You can buy gift cards with a credit card at most grocery stores, big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, and drugstores.
Some retailers may limit the number of gift cards you can buy with a credit card at one time.
Some stores, or cashiers at those stores, may have policies that prevent buying specific types of gift cards with a credit card, particularly general-purpose cards from Visa or Mastercard. When in doubt, it's best to ask a store representative.

Online purchases

Most online retailers allow you to purchase their own brand of gift cards with a credit card.
You can also buy gift cards from major credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) on various websites.
Many online gift card marketplaces also accept credit cards for purchasing a wide variety of gift cards.

Potential drawbacks

Cash advance fees: Some credit card issuers may classify the purchase of a gift card—especially network-branded ones from Visa or Mastercard—as a cash advance rather than a standard purchase. This can trigger high fees and immediate interest charges.
No rewards: Some credit card fine print excludes gift card purchases from earning rewards points or cash back.
Limits: Your credit card company or a merchant may have daily or transaction limits for gift card purchases to prevent fraudulent activity.

How to protect yourself

Check the terms: Review your credit card's terms and conditions or call your issuer to see how gift card purchases are coded.
Know the merchant: Pay attention to how you make the purchase. Buying directly from a specific store (e.g., from Target.com) is less likely to be coded as a cash advance than buying through a third-party payment platform.
Pay off the balance: Always pay off your credit card balance in full and on time. If you carry a balance, the interest charges will wipe out any rewards you earn.

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