8 Unbeatable Gift Card Ideas for Friends

No matter the celebration, this list will guide you down the path to the perfect gift card ideas for your friends. 

Getting gifts for friends is an essential part of every year. You have birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions from January to December. That near-constant state of being on the hunt for gifts can leave you wondering if there’s an easier way to go about it. Well, you’ve come to the right place! We at Gift Card Granny are all about finding the perfect balance between a gift that they will love and one that you can purchase confidently with no stress (and earn a little cash back while you’re at it!) Gift card granny allows you to explore countless retailers for gift cards and earn cash back on all of your purchases. 

Gift Card Granny is an excellent site where you can shop for all of your gift cards. Not sure where to start? No worries! In this article, we are covering the top 8 gift card ideas for friends, including: 

  • Gift cards for gaming
  • Gift cards for food
  • Gift cards for clothes

Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for Friends with Gift Card Granny

As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny as of this writing. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.

Now that we’re on the same page, let’s jump right into our list!

1. Banana Republic

A gift card for paragons of style

Buy a Banana Republic gift card

A clothing store for people and dogs? That’s hard to beat. A gift card to the Banana Republic is a great way to give your friend some money towards a fantastic piece of clothing. The Banana Republic is on the expensive side, so we recommend one of two things if you plan on going with this gift card. One is to make sure that they are used to shopping in places like this. 

You can do that or you can get some friends together to go in on a gift card of greater value. This is a bit more work but it can pay out dividends if it’s done right. If you know that they love the Banana Republic, or you know that there is some particular store that they can’t get enough of then going for a gift card with various people together is a fantastic option.

A gift card to the Banana Republic is a great place to start if your friend is fashionable and interested in buying new clothing. Start earning cash back when you pick up a Banana Republic gift card today.

2. UberEats

A gift card for foodies and, well, everyone! 

Buy an Uber Eats gift card

It is hard to go wrong with a gift card to UberEats. They can pick a time and a place to get a freshly made meal delivered to them and that’s a hard gift to beat. This is a low-risk high-reward gift card idea. The one downside is that their enjoyment of the meal is a bit detached from you actually giving the gift because they are under no obligation to use it right away. In fact, with UberEats the gift card gets added straight to their account and it is automatically used the next time they order! 

While it is possible that they forget about your gift, we doubt it! Their eyes will likely light up when they pop in the order and see a gift card balance as their payment rather than their usual method. 

UberEats is one of the thousands of retailers you can find on Gift Card Granny. Start earning cash back when you pick up an UberEats gift card today.

3. Bed Bath and Beyond

A gift card for homebodies 

Buy a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card

Bed Bath and Beyond has a huge selection of items for daily use or decoration around their home. If your friend likes to stock their home with a variety of fun products then this gift card could be just the thing for them! Bed Bath and Beyond, unlike the Banana Republic, has a ton of items in the lower price range that your gift card could completely cover. If your friend does decide to splurge on something big then your gift card will still be appreciated as they are able to take some of the cost right off the top.

Bed Bath and Beyond is an excellent choice when giving a gift card to a friend. Start earning cash back at Gift Card Granny when you pick up a Bed Bath and Beyond gift card today.

4. Local Brewery or Winery

Local brews are a great gift for beer lovers everywhere

A gift card to a local brewery lets them have some of their favorite local beers — or try new ones!

Is there a brewery that your friend is going back to again and again? Consider getting them a gift card there! There is something special about drinking beer that is brewed locally, and supporting your local businesses is always a good thing. This is also a great fit if you are a fan of the same distillery, as you may just get an invite when they remember your generous gift! 

Feeling bold? You can also get them a gift card to a new brewery that they have not tried yet. Chances are they have a wide variety of delicious craft beers, and the gift card might be the perfect nudge to get your friend to try a new place. Who knows, it might become their new favorite!

There are a lot of businesses available at Gift Card Granny where you can earn cash back on every purchase. Check it out to see if your local distillery is one of them! 

5. Amazon

Home to just about every item imaginable — an Amazon gift card is always a welcome sight

Buy an Amazon gift card

This is a no-brainer — an Amazon gift card is always a safe choice for your friend, no matter who they are. Going with an Amazon gift card is a little less personal than some of the other cards on this list, but the options really are endless. An Amazon gift card is doubly nice for your friend because they can decide to get something small or put it towards a larger purchase. Who knows, this might be the incentive they need to finally splurge on that item they’ve been looking at! 

Gift cards from Amazon are something you can be absolutely certain will go towards something that your friend wants in their life. Unfortunately, you can’t get an Amazon gift card on Gift Card Granny quite yet, but check back soon! We’re always adding more retailers.

Buy an Amazon gift card

6. Painting With a Twist

A gift card for painters both experienced and amateur

Buy a Painting with a Twist gift card

Does your friend like to paint? Regardless of their skill level, painting with a twist can be a tremendously fun activity! This is a gift card where it is prudent to gauge their interest beforehand, as once they have a gift card to Painting with a Twist they are locked into purchasing a session at this business. 

If you haven’t heard of it, Painting with a Twist is a painting class that’s BYOB! You can paint, unwind, and watch as the instructor paints a beautiful painting while you are swept along for the ride. 

Unfortunately, Painting with a Twist is not a retailer available on Gift Card Granny yet. Check back soon! We are always adding more retailers. In the meantime, you can go directly to their website here and secure your friend a fun night of painting! 

Buy a Painting with a Twist gift card

7. Prepaid Visa Gift Card

Endless doors to be opened to the recipients of a Visa gift card

Buy a Visa gift card

Getting your friend a prepaid Visa gift card is a great idea, especially if you want to leave a lot of the decisions in their hands. They can decide to use their gift card to purchase something special or on everyday purchases, like coffee or groceries. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your gift card going towards an everyday purchase. They may be in the mode where that is the perfect gift. A lot of these gift cards are very exciting, but they inevitably lead to some spending on their part as it is unlikely that they will find an item that’s exactly the cost of the card. It is normally not a big deal, but every little bit counts! 

Visa Gift Cards are one of the thousands of retailers you can find on Gift Card Granny. Start earning cash back when you pick up a Visa gift card today.

8. Airbnb

A gift card toward their next vacation

Buy an Airbnb gift card

Is your friend a traveler? Is there a city they’ve always talked about but never gone to? An Airbnb gift card might be perfect for them! Airbnbs are popping up all over this country and are available all around the world. These vacation homes are varied, from small studio places just about big enough to set down your bags and sleep to luxurious and extravagant homes that can fit half a dozen people. 

Airbnbs are becoming an excellent alternative to hotels when it comes to vacationing. They offer a wide variety of locales and experiences, and your gift card can help them pay for that next weekend away. If you are interested in earning cash back on your next gift card purchase, buy an Airbnb gift card today!

What’s in the box? There are a lot of great options in front of you. 

Those are our gift card ideas for friends. If you still aren’t sure, don't be afraid to reach out to other friends for advice. That little bit of insight can lead you down the path to the perfect gift card, especially now that you are equipped with this list of excellent possibilities. Depending on how much you know about your friend’s interests, you can opt for a more tailored gift card or a kind of gift card that leaves all their doors open so they can spend it on whatever they desire.

Gift cards are a fantastic way to show your appreciation and a great gift. Gift cards allow them to take the initiative, and sometimes you get to come along for the ride. Gift cards are always valuable gifts, and we hope that you have found the perfect card for the occasion with the new knowledge you possess. 

Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at Gift Card Granny, where you can earn cashback and rewards on all of your gift card purchases. 

From all of us here at Gift Card Granny, happy shopping!