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Published: June 25, 2025

How to Send Gift Cards via Text

Send customized gift cards almost instantaneously across the country via SMS text message with Giftcards.com!

By: Giftcards.com Editorial Board

Sending gift cards by text is the fast, easy and secure way to get your gift card purchase into the hands of your recipient almost immediately. With over 350 brands to choose from, Giftcards.com is the premier service for digital gift cards deliverable by SMS text messaging. Shop popular brands in categories like restaurants, retail shopping, entertainment, gaming, home improvement, beauty and more, deliverable in mere moments to your recipient's mobile device. Below are detailed, step-by-step instructions with accompanying photos for how to text a gift card with Giftcards.com.

Step 1: Shop eGift Card

Before adding a gift card to your cart, be sure that is a digital egift card and not a physical gift card. While physical gift cards can be hand delivered or sent by postal mail, only egift cards can be delivered by text (or email). There are a number of ways you can ensure you are shopping digital cards:

The word "eGift" will follow the brand name of the gift card you are viewing

"eGift" will be highlighted in purple within the toggle between eGift/Physical below the gift card brand name and above the gift card amount input. (Note: this toggle may not be present on your screen if Giftcards.com only stocks an egift version of the gift card)

The URL may include "-virtual" or "?experience_type=digital". (Note: this may be hard to detect on mobile devices where the URL is not automatically displayed like it does within a dekstop experience)

Once you've chosen a gift card brand and selected the desired dollar amount to value your gift card, add the card to your shopping cart. You can repeat this process if you would like to add multiple brands of cards to your cart.

Step 2: Select Gift Card Text Message Options

Once in the cart, the default selection within the Delivery Methods section is "Send by email". You will need to uncheck that box and then check the box marked "Send by text messaging". Once that has been selected, you will be given the opportunity to enter in your recipient's phone number of where you want to the digital gift card to be delivered to.

Giftcards.com also offers the choice of delivery time for when your gift card will be sent. The options are for your egift card to be sent instantly once the payment is processed or sent on a future date of your choosing.

Step 3: Customize your eGift Card

If you haven't already during the checkout flow, you now have the option of further customizing your gift card so that your text message will include an extra level of personalization. The two areas of customization include a written message and themed visual.

Written messages allow up to 350 characters for you to author a personalized note special to your recipient. For a themed visual, choose between uploading a personalized photo or choose from one of Giftcards.com's over 130 video animations covering such sentiments and occasions as birthday, holidays, anniversary, wedding, congratulations, graduation, get well soon, thank you and many more!

Gift Card Text Message Use Cases

Below are a few examples of people who would benefit the most from receiving a gift card via text vs. a physical card:

Distant friend or family member - If you are unable to deliver a gift in-person because you are not in the same physical location as your recipient, texting a gift card is an easy way to reach them across the great divide

Teen or young adult - The younger generation does eveything on their phones so why not facilitate their gift experience by delivering a gift card straight to their mobile devide. They're also less likely to lose the card if it is stored on their phone

Online shopper - With the populariy of online shopping continually on the rise, recieving a gift card by text is a convenient and secure way to manage your ecommerce transactions including gift card redemption and use

Forgetful gift giver - Becasue of the near instantaneous nature of text messaging, sending a gift card through SMS is great last minute gift option if you've forgotten a birthday or other special occasion

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About the Author:

Since 2008, Giftcards.com and our partner companies have been at the forefront of the gift card and rewards business as an industry leader for everything related to physical and digital gift cards for individual consumers and businesses. With over 17 years of in-market experience, the Giftcards.com Editorial Board consists of contributors from e-commerce, market research, consumer insights, consumer products, marketing, economics and more. Our in-depth knowledge and expertise on topics related to consumer demand, shopping trends, customer behavior, gift card redemption and use, gift card technology, troubleshooting tips and gift card fraud, Giftcards.com is the trusted authority for topical analysis, opinions and guidance affecting today’s gift card market.