What’s the Difference Between a Gift Card and an e-Gift Card?
A gift card and an eGift card hold the same money and spend the same way. The difference is the format: one is a plastic card you hand over, the other is a code delivered to a phone or inbox. Which one to buy comes down to how you're giving it and what the recipient would rather carry.
Here's the quick version, then the details.
| Physical gift card | eGift card | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A plastic card you swipe or scan | A digital code (and usually a barcode) sent to you |
| How it arrives | Shipped, or bought in a store rack | Email, text, or app |
| Delivery time | Days by mail; instant in a store | Minutes to 24 hours |
| Add to phone wallet | Sometimes | Usually |
| Best for | Something to wrap or hand over in person | Last-minute gifts and long-distance sends |
| If it's lost | The balance can be hard to recover | Re-sent by the retailer in most cases |
What is an eGift card?
An eGift card — also called a digital, virtual, or mobile gift card — is a gift card delivered electronically instead of on plastic. You get it by email, text, or through an app, in the form of a code, and usually a barcode you can scan. It carries a set balance to a specific store or, in the case of a Visa or Mastercard gift card, works anywhere those cards are accepted. Delivery is fast but not always instant. Most eGifts arrive within minutes; some retailers take up to 24 hours. If you're sending one for a birthday that's a few hours away, check the retailer's delivery window before you buy, and double-check the recipient's email or phone number so it lands with the right person.
What is a physical gift card?
A physical gift card is the plastic card you see on the rack by the checkout. You buy it, and the recipient keeps it in a wallet until they spend it in the store or online. It works the same as an eGift card at the register; it just sits in your wallet instead of a phone.
How do eGift cards work?
Once you buy an eGift card, it arrives as a code and, for most store cards, a barcode. Redeeming it is simple:
- Online: enter the card code at checkout, the same way you'd enter a credit card number. Check the balance first, since you usually can't split a single online order across the card and another payment as easily as you can in store.
- In store: add the eGift to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and scan the barcode at the register, or pull up the code on your phone and show it to the cashier.
Adding an eGift to your phone's wallet has a practical payoff: there's no plastic to lose, and the balance stays with your phone.
Can you use an eGift card in a store?
Yes. Most retailers let you add the eGift to your phone's wallet and scan the barcode at checkout, or show the code to the cashier. A handful of older registers still ask for a printed copy, so if you're relying on it for an in-person purchase, it's worth confirming the store accepts a phone barcode.
Photo courtesy of BestProducts.com
When to buy each
Buy a physical gift card when you want something to hand over. There's a reason the plastic still sells: you can wrap it, tuck it into a card, or pair it with a small gift like their favorite candy or a mug. When the gift is meant to be opened in person, physical wins.
Buy an eGift card when speed or distance matters. It's the move for a last-minute gift, for someone out of state, or for a recipient who'd rather not carry another card. You can also schedule most eGifts to send on a specific date, so a birthday gift goes out on the birthday without you remembering to hit send.
What can you use a Visa gift card for?
Visa and Mastercard gift cards come in both formats too, and unlike a store card, they work almost anywhere Visa or Mastercard debit is accepted. That's the appeal, and it's why people reach for one when the real intent is cash with a bow on it. In practice, you can use a Visa gift card for:
- Groceries and gas — everyday spending at supermarkets and most fuel pumps.
- Restaurants and bars — dining out, takeout, and a night on the town.
- Clothing and online stores — in person or at checkout, where you enter the card like a debit card.
- Travel — a handy backup that isn't tied to your primary card.
- Everyday bills and subscriptions — anywhere that takes a Visa or Mastercard.
A couple of limits worth knowing: you generally can't get cash out at an ATM, and online you can't split one order across the card and a second payment as easily as you can in store. For the specifics, see our guides on using a Visa gift card on Amazon, getting cash back from one, and where else you can use it.
Buy either one at Gift Card Granny
Gift Card Granny carries both digital and physical gift cards from thousands of local and national brands, plus Visa and Mastercard gift cards, and you can earn cash back on your purchase while you're at it. Want the card to arrive by text with a photo or video message attached? Our sister site GiftYa handles that, delivered in minutes.
Whether you go plastic or digital, the balance is the same. Pick the format that fits the moment.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a gift card and an eGift card? A gift card is a physical plastic card you carry and swipe. An eGift card is the same value delivered digitally by email, text, or app as a code and barcode. The money and where you can spend it are identical; only the format and delivery differ.
How do eGift cards work? After you buy one, the eGift arrives by email or text with a code and usually a barcode. Online, you enter the code at checkout. In store, you add it to Apple or Google Wallet and scan the barcode, or show the code at the register.
Can you use an eGift card in a store? Yes. Most stores let you add the eGift to your phone's wallet and scan the barcode at checkout, or you can show the code. A few older registers may ask for a printed copy.
How long does an eGift card take to arrive? Usually within minutes, though some retailers take up to 24 hours. If you need it the same hour, check the retailer's delivery window before you buy.
Is a physical or digital gift card better? Neither is better; it depends on the moment. Choose physical when you want something to hand over or wrap, and digital when you need it delivered fast or the recipient would rather not carry another card.
What can you use a Visa gift card for? Almost anywhere Visa debit is accepted — groceries, gas, restaurants, clothing and online stores, travel, and everyday bills. Unlike a store gift card, it isn't tied to one retailer. You generally can't withdraw cash at an ATM, and online you can't split one order across the card and another payment as easily as you can in store.
Can you buy both physical and eGift cards at Gift Card Granny? Yes. Gift Card Granny sells both digital and physical gift cards from thousands of brands, plus Visa and Mastercard gift cards, and you can earn cash back on your purchase.
Related articles (internal links)