Virtual gift cards: person using a tablet with Greenvelope's invitation card on the screen

Do you have an important celebration for your friend, family member, or loved one coming up? Maybe it’s a baby sprinkle, a graduation from a master’s program, a retirement party, or a Sweet 16. A virtual gift card can work for any of these occasions — and so many more. 

You can personalize your gift choice by picking out a retailer they’ll love, or you can guarantee they’ll be happy by choosing a gift card that works anywhere. Pair it with some thoughtful words, and you’ll have a happy recipient!

Ready to check this off your to-do list? Use this guide to learn how to send virtual gift cards. We’ll cover the best parts of going digital and when to send a virtual gift card. We’ll also show you how to make it happen in just a few clicks on a platform like Greenvelope, where you can send a custom greeting card, announcement, or invitation along with it.

7 Benefits of Sending a Virtual Gift Card

A physical gift card is nice! Who wouldn’t want a bit of cash to spend at their favorite place? But virtual versions have a lot of perks to them that you may want to consider for your gift.

Here are seven benefits to digital gift cards:

  1. Never gets lost: When you lose a physical gift card, it can’t be replaced. A virtual gift card is much easier to keep track of and will be there when they’re at the register or ready to check out online. No rifling through a wallet needed.
  2. Reduces waste: Gifts can generate waste and harm the earth when they get tossed, but a digital gift card is eco-friendly and won’t make a dent in the planet.
  3. Works with any budget: Whether you have $5 or $105 to spend, a virtual gift card can accommodate your exact price point.
  4. Never expires: Once a gift card is in the recipient’s email inbox, it stays there! There’s no expiration date, and they can use it whenever the time is right.
  5. Arrives immediately: There’s no delays with an e-gift card. Once you hit “send,” it lands in your recipient’s inbox. It’s perfect for a last-minute gift that you need to arrive right away or for a long-distance friend.
  6. Requires no postage or shipping costs: Sending a digital gift card is free on platforms like Greenvelope. You don’t have to worry about paying expensive shipping fees for this type of gift.
  7. Eliminates decision fatigue: When you’re stuck on what to get for your friend, family member, or loved one, a virtual gift card swoops in to save the day. It’s easily customizable to the recipient or can be general enough to please anyone.

15 Perfect Occasions for a Digital Gift Card

A gift card is the perfect gift for so many different celebrations and occasions. Here are the best times to utilize this gift idea:

  1. Birthday: If you can’t make the birthday party, send along a gift card that arrives via email delivery. The birthday guy or girl will feel seen and celebrated.
  2. Sickness: If someone in your life is facing a tough diagnosis or undergoing hospitalization, send along a get well card with a gift card. It has no expiration date, so it’ll be there when they need it.
  3. New baby: When a new parent is undergoing a lack of sleep, constant care for their newborn, and spit-up on every outfit they have, a gift card could be their light at the end of the tunnel.
  4. Wedding: Instead of trying to pick out the best home goods without really knowing the couple’s taste, let them get their gift of choice with a gift card.
  5. Bridal shower: A lovely gift option for a bridal shower is the freedom to get whatever they want! Be it an Amex, a Mastercard, a Visa gift card, or a specific store gift card, the newlyweds will be excited to pick something out.
  6. Graduation: If someone is finishing middle school, high school, college, or grad school, celebrate them with a little digital present.
  7. Galentine’s Day: Celebrate your gal pals with a Galentine’s Day gift card to somewhere they love.
  8. Teacher appreciation: Rather than giving your child’s teacher another coffee mug, give them some funds to get something they really want.
  9. Anniversary: If your friends are celebrating a big anniversary, like a wedding anniversary, a work anniversary, or commemorating an important event, ring in the occasion with a gift card.
  10. Housewarming: When someone is buried in boxes, a bit of money toward getting some new bedding, home decor, or furniture will make their new house feel like home.
  11. New job: Congratulate your friend on nailing the interview and securing a new gig by sending them a congrats card with a cool gift card design attached.
  12. Christmas: A virtual gift card is never a bad idea on Christmas — it can be sent via email, it doesn’t generate any waste, and the receiver will be able to get whatever didn’t end up under the tree.
  13. Retirement: Ending a long career is a huge accomplishment. Ring in a new era of piña coladas on the beach with a gift card.
  14. Bar/bat mitzvah: If you’re attending a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah party, a gift card will let the celebrant treat themselves to something special.
  15. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: Sometimes you’re stuck on what to get for Mom or Dad. Gift cards are there to help.

How to Send a Virtual Gift Card on Greenvelope

Screenshot on how to send a virtual gift card on Greenvelope

If you want to send an e-gift card alongside your greeting card, announcement, or invitation, Greenvelope makes the process quick and simple. You can send your loved one a gift card from over 100 retailers so they can go shopping in-store or online. With an accompanying greeting card, you can personalize your gift and make the celebrant feel truly seen by your choice of retailer.

Here’s how it works:

  1. After choosing and personalizing your digital greeting card, click on the “Send” step.
  2. Select the contacts you want to send a gift card to using the checkboxes. Quickly select all displayed contacts by using the checkbox in the top left of the mailing list grid.
  3. Click the “Add a Gift Card” button at the top right.
  4. Select from over 100 stores, or pick a multi-card to give your recipients the flexibility to spend their gift card wherever they want. Then head to the checkout screen and pay for the card.

Here’s what it will look like when they open their invitation or card: 

Greenvelope's virtual holiday card with a gift card

What Stores Can I Buy Gift Cards To?

At the time of this writing, you can buy gift cards on Greenvelope to top brands like:

  • 1-800-Flowers
  • Adidas
  • Aerie
  • AMC Theatres
  • American Airlines
  • Athleta
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Bass Pro Shops
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • buybuy BABY
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • Domino’s Pizza
  • Gap
  • Google Play
  • Hard Rock Cafe
  • Hotels.com
  • Lowe’s
  • Nike
  • Nordstrom
  • Playstation
  • Pottery Barn
  • Red Robin
  • Regal Cinemas
  • Sephora
  • Spotify
  • Target
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Uber
  • Williams Sonoma
  • Zappos.com

Send Your Virtual Gift Card Right Now

Ready to go? Browse our thousands of digital greeting card, invitation, and announcement designs, and send it (or schedule it) with an e-gift card attached. The recipient will do a little happy dance when it arrives in their email inbox on their special day.