Finding the right gift for someone at Christmas can be tricky, especially if you’ve been given a Secret Santa about whom you know very little. So, rather than buying some random item and hoping it’s ok, a more sensible approach is to pick up a gift card for a shop or service.
But, where can you buy them, what are the drawbacks, and which are the best ones to buy? Here’s our quick guide to gift cards, the best last minute gift this Christmas.
What is a gift card?
Ok, this might seem like a very basic question, but it’s worth quickly covering this before we go onto the pros and cons of buying one.
A gift card is simply a temporary card (can be plastic or digital) issued by a specific shop or service (think Starbucks or Google Play) onto which you put a set amount of money that the recipient can spend there.
Often you’ll find they are available in particular amounts – £10, £25, etc. – while some others let you decide how much you want to load onto the card.
Can I use a gift card anywhere?
No. Most gift cards are for the specific shop displayed on them and they are not transferable. For instance, if you buy someone a Google Play Store card, they won’t be able to use it on the Apple Store.
There are a few exceptions, such as the One4All gift card, which can be used in nearly 200 popular high-street shops, restaurants and other outlets, all of which are listed in the packaging or on the One4All website.
One4All
Usually, gift cards can be used either in person or online at the shop’s website, but it’s worth checking the packaging or visiting the website to see if that’s the case.
What are the advantages of buying gift cards?
The main upside of giving gift cards is that they allow the recipient to choose what they want to buy. It’s essentially giving them cash and an excuse to spend it in their favourite place.
You can also pick them up in supermarkets and various shops, so if you’re stuck for a last-minute present, they’re easy to buy.
If you go down the digital route, they are delivered to the recipient’s email address pretty much instantly or you might be able to print it off. So they can be a great get-out if you realise you left Uncle Jim off your Christmas shopping list and it’s now 10pm on Christmas Eve.
What are the downsides to gift cards?
While it’s mainly positive, there are a few things you need to watch out for when it comes to gift cards. The first is that some have an expiration date.
The other thing to consider is that gift cards are like cash, so if you lose them then you probably won’t get the money back. If you keep the original receipt and card number then some will reissue them, but if you get them as a gift then you probably won’t have those details.
Which are the best gift cards to buy?
As you can imagine, there are plenty of gift cards to choose from, with most major outlets offering them to customers. Here’s our pick of the best ones for tech-related retailers and products.
The vouchers also have a lifespan of 10 years and can be credited to your account so you don’t need to keep hold of the card or code.
John Lewis
A long-time stalwart of the British high street is John Lewis, whose motto of ‘never knowingly oversold’ means you should be able to get premium tech for good prices. They can be used online or in-store and also work at Waitrose if you want some fancy food.
The gift cards are only valid for 2 years from the point of purchase, but this period can be reset by logging into your account and checking the balance.
John Lewis
Argos
Another perennial favourite is Argos. It might sound like a Greek hero of legend, but the retailer has fought the hard battle to become a well-established purveyor of everything from garden furniture to smartphones. It’s gift cards last for 3 years from the time of purchase and can be used in-store or on the company’s website.
There’s also a second style of gift card that also incorporates the other brands in the Argos family, which includes Sainsbury’s, Tu and Habitat alongside Argos itself. These vouchers are also online or in-store and have a 5-year expiry date.
Apple
If someone in your life is a fan of all things iPhone, iPad and Mac, then an Apple gift card would surely bring them some joy.
You can use them to pay for physical products, subscriptions to Apple’s services like iCloud and Apple TV+, or buy yourself the latest movies, music or games from Apple’s digital stores.
Simply redeem the code on the card and the gift card balance is credited to your account so it will never expire.
Apple
Google Play Store Gift Cards
Google’s Play Store has a wide selection of apps, games, books and more that can be bought with its gift cards. You can pick them up online, in most supermarkets, post offices or even retailers like Boots.
Once purchased, the recipient only has to peel off the sticker on the back to reveal the code that can then be redeemed on the Play Store. No expiry dates, no problems.
PlayStation Store Gift Cards
For the gamers in your life, a PlayStation Store gift card will give them the chance to buy the new AAA titles, add DLC to their existing titles or make in-app purchases from terrible games that use this option (I’m not bitter).
As with most digital store cards, all you need to do is redeem the code and the money will be credited to your account and never expire. Just be sure not to buy the wrong gaming platform, as you’ll need an Xbox Gift Card or Nintendo eShop Gift Card if they use those consoles instead.
Sony
Streaming Service Gift Cards
It’s a sad truth that all subscription prices seem to be steadily going up, making it harder to afford to keep up with all the latest shows and movies that are spread across the many services.
- Buy a Netflix Gift Card
- Buy Amazon Prime Video Gift Card
- Buy Disney+ Gift Card
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.
Recent stories by Martyn Casserly:
- How to tell if you’ve been blocked on Facebook Messenger
- Is Sky down? Broadband outages have been confirmed
- How to track Santa on Christmas Eve
