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