Gift Card to Your PayPal [How to Add and Use]

Last Updated on September 23, 2023

You just bought a prepaid gift card, so how do you add it to your PayPal account? Adding a gift card to your PayPal account is easy and similar to adding a traditional bank card. Once your gift card is linked to your account, you can use the funds to buy things online or transfer it to your bank account.

Some gift cards can be added straight to your PayPal account, while others may need to be turned into cash first.

How to add a gift card to your PayPal

In this section, I will show you just how I fund prepaid gift cards to my PayPal. Follow the steps carefully to add gift card to your PayPal:

1. Check the balance of the gift card

Before adding a gift card to your PayPal account, you need to know how much money is left on the card. Check the amount on the store’s website or by calling the customer service number on the back of the card.

2. Go to your PayPal account and sign in

You will need to sign in to your account on the PayPal website or app. You can create a free account if you don’t already have one.

3. Click on the “Wallet” button

Click the “Wallet” tab at the top of the page once you have logged in. This will take you to a page where you can see all of the ways you can pay for things with your account.

4. Click “Link a Card or Bank”

Click “Link a Card or Bank” to add a new way to pay to your account.

5. Select “Gift Card”

Choose “Gift Card” as the payment method you want to add on the next page. If you don’t see the option “Gift Card,” chances are that it is not offered in your area.

6. Enter the gift card

Enter the number of the gift card, the date it expires, and, if necessary, the security code. Most of the time, the details are on the back of the gift card.

7. Click “Link Card”

Once you have entered the information about the gift card, click “Link Card” to add it to your PayPal account. That’s it—you just added gift card to your PayPal.

8. Check the gift card balance

Before it can be added to your account, PayPal will ask you to check and confirm the amount on the gift card. Make sure the total is the same as what is on the card, and then click “Confirm”.

Read also: fund withdrawal from limited PayPal

How to use your prepaid gift card

Prepaid gift cards that bear the logos of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover can be used wherever PayPal is accepted. However, this does not extend to gift cards that are specific to a particular merchant, as they do not feature the aforementioned logos.

So, once you have added the gift card to your PayPal account, you can use it to buy things online.

Adding prepaid gift cards to your PayPal wallet is an easy process for members, allowing them to use the cards during checkout just like regular credit or debit cards. However, for non-members, the checkout process is the same as using credit or debit cards; simply enter the card information as needed. There is no difference in the usage of these cards compared to any other credit or debit card.

How to send prepaid gift card from PayPal to bank

If you want to send the gift card amount to your bank account, you’ll need to take a few more steps.

1. Request a check

To transfer the money from your gift card to your bank account, you must first ask PayPal for a check. On the “Wallet” page, you can do this by clicking the “Transfer to Bank” button.

2. Enter your bank information

Fill in the fields with your bank details, such as your routing number and account number. Check that the information is correct, and then click “Continue.”

3. Pick the gift card as the payment method

Choose the gift card as the way of payment you want to use to move the money to your bank account.

4. Type in the amount and click “Send”

The last step is to type in the amount you want to send and click “Submit.” PayPal will take care of the request and send you a check to the address on your PayPal account without bank account.

Transferring the amount of a gift card to your bank account may cost you. PayPal will charge you $1.50 for each check you ask for, and the store that gave you the gift card may charge you extra fees.

What gift cards can I add to my PayPal account?

You can add different kinds of gift cards to your PayPal account, but the types of gift cards that are accepted may depend on where you live and the policies of the specific store.

Some common kinds of gift cards that you can add to your PayPal account are:

1. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards
2. Retailer-specific gift cards, such as those for Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Starbucks
3. Entertainment gift cards, such as those for iTunes, Netflix, and Hulu
4. Restaurant gift cards, such as those for Chili’s, Olive Garden, and Red Lobster
5. Gaming gift cards, such as those for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo

Not all gift cards can be added to a PayPal account, and some may have conditions or limits. Before you try to add a gift card to your PayPal account, check the terms and conditions of both the gift card and your PayPal account to make sure that the card is valid and that there are no hidden fees or limits.

Read also: steps to consolidate your gift cards

What are the restrictions on gift cards to your PayPal?

You can add gift card to PayPal account and use it as a payment method. However, there may be restrictions or limits on how gift cards can be used on the platform.

Some of these limitations could be:

a. Limits on transactions

PayPal may put limits on how much money can be sent or spent using a gift card as a payment method.

b. Restrictions based on location

Some gift cards may only work in certain areas and may not be able to be used for purchases or exchanges in other places.

c. Time limits

Some gift cards may have end dates or time limits on when they can be used. This could affect how they can be used for PayPal purchases.

d. Purchase restrictions

Some retailers may limit the kinds of goods or services that can be bought with a PayPal gift card.

e. Fees

Many stores may charge a fee to add a gift card to a PayPal account or to use the card to buy things or send money on the platform

Can you use prepaid gift cards for services through PayPal?

Prepaid gift cards are versatile payment options that can be used to pay for almost any product or service on PayPal, with the exception of recurring payments or reference transactions. This is because prepaid gift cards can gradually run low on balance, making it difficult to cover recurring payments.

To ensure uninterrupted service for our members, we prohibit the use of prepaid gift cards for automatic payments pulled from PayPal accounts.

If your payment is not accepted, it is possible that the prepaid gift card you are using does not have sufficient funds to complete the transaction. In such a situation, you could consider using an alternative card or purchasing an item that is less expensive.

Moreover, if you are attempting to purchase from an international vendor or if your prepaid card was not issued in the United States, you may also encounter an error message.

In case you encounter a message stating that your prepaid gift card has insufficient balance even when there is enough balance, it might be necessary to register your billing address with the card issuer. To complete the registration process, you can search for a contact website or phone number on the back of the prepaid gift card. After registration, attempt the transaction again.

If you get a PayPal error message while adding gift card

Sometimes, it may be necessary to register your billing address with the card issuer, which can occur infrequently. To complete this registration process, search for a contact website or phone number on the rear side of your prepaid gift card.

Furthermore, you might encounter an error message if you are attempting to purchase from an international vendor or if your prepaid card was not issued in the United States.

Conclusion

Adding a gift card to your PayPal account is an easy and quick way to send the amount of the card to your PayPal balance. Depending on the gift card and the method you opt for, you can add it as a payment method to your PayPal account, or you may need to change the value of the gift card to cash before adding it to your PayPal amount.

Reference

“Use your prepaid gift cards wherever PayPal is accepted.” PayPal.