Amazon gift cards work a little differently from store cards: the money goes into your Amazon account as a gift card balance. Here’s how to check that balance, redeem a new card and stay safe.
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How to check your Amazon gift card balance
On the Amazon website:
- Sign in to your Amazon account.
- Go to Account & Lists and select Gift Cards (or “Your Gift Card Balance”).
- Your current balance and activity are shown at the top of the page.
In the Amazon app:
- Open the menu or your account tab.
- Find Gift Cards (you can also search for “gift card balance” in the app’s settings or help).
- View your balance and recent gift card activity.
How to redeem an Amazon gift card
- Find the claim code. On plastic cards, scratch off the coating on the back; for eGift cards, it’s in your email.
- Go to Gift Cards in your account and choose Redeem a Gift Card.
- Enter the claim code and apply it to your balance.
Once redeemed, the balance is tied to your account. Amazon gift card balances are automatically applied to eligible orders at checkout unless you turn that off.
Can I check a card’s value before redeeming it?
The safest way to see a card’s value is to redeem it to your own account. Be cautious with third-party “balance checker” websites: they can steal unredeemed claim codes.
What can you buy with an Amazon gift card balance?
Most items sold on Amazon.com, including products sold by third-party sellers. Some things can’t be bought with a gift card balance, such as other gift cards in some cases. Check the payment options at checkout.
Amazon gift card scams to avoid
Amazon gift cards are a favorite tool of scammers because claim codes are spent instantly. Warning signs:
- Someone asks you to buy Amazon gift cards to pay a bill, fix a computer problem, pay a fine, help a relative or claim a prize. This is always a scam.
- A message says your Amazon account is locked and asks for gift card codes or payment.
- “Free $100 Amazon gift card” offers in texts, pop-ups or social posts. See our guide to free Amazon gift card scams.
Amazon will never ask you to pay with gift cards outside its own website or app. If you sent codes to a scammer, contact Amazon customer service right away and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
FAQ
Do Amazon gift cards expire?
Amazon.com gift cards don’t expire. Check the terms printed on the card or in the email.
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else?
Once a card is redeemed, the balance generally can’t be transferred to another account. Give unredeemed cards to the person you want to receive them.
Can I use a U.S. Amazon gift card on Amazon in another country?
Gift cards are generally only valid on the Amazon site for the country they were issued in.
Md. Emam Hasan is the founder of Freestuffbase and a digital marketer and SEO specialist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He researches free samples, gift card policies and sweepstakes rules from official sources, and writes practical guides to help readers save money and avoid scams. More at emamit.com.