Buzz
While gift cards are a great solution for the yearly dilemma of finding the perfect present for picky individuals, choosing the right one can be surprisingly tricky.
WalletHub developed a comprehensive ranking system to simplify your decision. They evaluated gift cards from various categories, including home improvement stores like Lowe’s and streaming platforms like Netflix. Factors such as popularity (based on search trends), average discounts on major exchange platforms, resale value, retailer ratings, and shipping costs were analyzed to score the top 100 retailers in the U.S.
The study revealed that a Target gift card is the top choice this year, boasting an average discount of 5.76%, a resale value of $77.12, and a retailer rating of 3.09 out of 5.
Before you load up on Target gift cards for everyone on your list, take a moment to explore WalletHub’s findings. For instance, IKEA, sharing third place with Home Depot and eBay, offers an impressive average buyer’s discount of 10.85%.
Leading the food industry were Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Chipotle, all securing fourth place alongside other notable names like Netflix and iTunes, each scoring 50 points.
Even if you’ve already chosen your gift cards for the holidays, reviewing WalletHub’s data can ensure you’re securing a discount that meets or exceeds the average. For those recipients who might resell their gift cards, consider options with high resale values, such as Costco’s $84.60 or Walmart’s $84.09.
Explore the rankings below, including overall scores, and dive into the complete details of WalletHub’s study here.
- Target // Score: 70
- Walmart // Score: 60
- Sephora // Score: 60
- eBay // Score: 55
- Home Depot // Score: 55
- IKEA // Score: 55
- iTunes // Score: 50
- Starbucks // Score: 50
- Costco // Score: 50
- Chick-fil-A // Score: 50
- Netflix // Score: 50
- McDonald’s // Score: 50
- Fandango // Score: 50
- Chipotle // Score: 50
- REI // Score: 50
- Old Navy // Score: 50
- H&M // Score: 50
- Disney // Score: 45
- Google Play // Score: 45
- Best Buy // Score: 45
- Macy's // Score: 45
- Lowe's // Score: 45
- Subway // Score: 45
- Amazon // Score: 40
- Gamestop // Score: 40
