Best Shopify App for Gift Cards - 4 Top Options

Overview

If you are searching for the best shopify app for gift cards, this article compares four real options that cover simple digital gift cards, full store-credit programs, gift card marketplace sales, and loyalty-integrated cards. ai, and Growave across feature depth, automation, branding control, integrations, pricing, and the common tradeoffs store owners face.

Key decision criteria include: whether you need simple one-off e-gift cards or a full store-credit/loyalty system; control over branding and customizable templates; support for physical cards or marketplaces; fees per transaction versus monthly subscriptions; and integration needs (email marketing, POS, ERP). ai is best for advanced store-credit, automation, and B2B/merchant credit use cases; Growave is best if you want an all-in-one loyalty/reviews/wishlist bundle that also supports gift cards.

Prices noted are industry-standard public figures and were current as of mid-2024. Confirm exact numbers on each app listing before purchasing, because app pricing and feature sets change frequently.

Shopify Native Gift Cards

Overview and Positioning

Shopify includes built-in digital gift card functionality as part of its platform for stores on paid plans. This is the simplest starting point: native gift cards are generated as codes that customers can buy and redeem directly in checkout. For many merchants the native option avoids app fees, keeps balances on-platform, and covers the basic use case without extra complexity.

Key Features and Strengths

• No third-party app required; gift cards are managed inside the Shopify admin.
• Customers can purchase, receive, and redeem digital gift cards via email.
• Works across online store and (depending on plan and POS setup) in-store redemption.
• Supports fixed values or custom amounts, multiple templates, and code generation.
• No additional per-transaction app fee beyond payment gateway fees.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Limited automation and marketing tools: native cards lack advanced segmentation, automated upsells, or store-credit workflows.
• No built-in secondary marketplace capabilities (selling via external gift card marketplaces requires workarounds).
• Limited advanced reporting compared with specialized apps.
• Physical gift card support depends on your fulfillment process; native support for printed cards is manual.

Pricing and Value

• Gift cards are included in Shopify plans. Shopify plan pricing (USD public list, subject to change): Basic Shopify $29/month, Shopify $79/month, Advanced $299/month.
• No additional app subscription for native gift cards. Payment gateway fees still apply (for example, Shopify Payments or third-party gateway transaction fees).
• Best value when you only need straightforward digital gift card sales and zero app fees.

Best For

• New stores or small merchants who need low-cost, simple digital gift cards.
• Stores that want direct integration with Shopify orders and minimal setup.
• Merchants who do not need complex store-credit, loyalty automation, or external marketplace sales.

Giftup!

Overview and Positioning

is an external gift card platform that integrates with Shopify and many website platforms. It is designed for merchants who want an easy way to sell both digital and physical gift cards, accept gift card sales via POS, and access a dedicated checkout and reporting for gift cards. is particularly attractive when you want pay-as-you-go pricing or the option to avoid a monthly app fee.

Key Features and Strengths

• Free starter tier with per-transaction fees, or Pro monthly plan with no GiftUp! fees.
• Supports digital gift cards, printable cards, and physical card fulfillment via third-party printers.
• Easy embed and Shopify integration: created cards sync to orders and customers.
• Built-in email delivery, scheduled sending, and customizable templates.
• Redeemable via Shopify checkout and integrates with many payment gateways.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Free plan charges a per-sale fee (percentage + fixed cent amount), which can add up on high-volume stores.
• Advanced automation (store-credit flows, loyalty) is limited compared with Rise.ai.
• Some merchants prefer everything managed as native Shopify entities rather than an external service.

Pricing and Value

• Free plan: no monthly fee, GiftUp! charges a processing fee per gift card sale (commonly around 3.49% + $0.30 per transaction on the free tier). Exact fee may vary by region and payment processor.
• Pro plan: typically around $39/month (USD) with 0% GiftUp! fee on sales; you still pay gateway fees (Stripe, PayPal) as applicable.
• Optional add-ons such as physical card fulfillment incur separate costs.
• Best value for stores with irregular gift card volume or for those that prefer a low upfront cost and scalable transaction pricing.

Best For

• Brick-and-mortar retailers who want to sell both digital and physical gift cards easily.
• Merchants testing gift card demand who prefer no monthly commitment initially.
• Stores that want an external gift card storefront or plan to sell cards through external channels.

Rise.ai

Overview and Positioning

ai is a specialized gift card, store credit, and loyalty platform built around advanced store-credit workflows, automated campaigns, and customer incentives. It is widely used by medium and enterprise Shopify merchants that want to centralize gift cards, store credit, loyalty rewards, and automated retention flows (for example, sending store credit after returns, rewards for VIP customers, or sending targeted gift card offers).

Key Features and Strengths

• Full-featured store credit and gift card management: issued credits, expiration rules, partial redemption support.
• Automation and workflows: trigger credits based on returns, birthdays, post-purchase, or custom events.
• Loyalty module and ability to tie store credit to loyalty activity.
• Branded gift card templates, bulk issuance, and gift card wallet management for customers.
• APIs and integrations for headless setups, marketplaces, and POS.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Higher complexity and steeper learning curve than native gift cards or simple apps.
• Monthly subscription cost can be significant for small merchants not needing advanced automation.
• Implementation may require planning if you use other loyalty or CRM systems to avoid feature overlap.

Pricing and Value

• Rise.ai pricing varies by tier and store size; typical public tiers historically started around $19-$49/month for lower tiers and scaled to $199+/month for enterprise-level features. Many merchants choose mid-level plans for automation and loyalty.
• Some plans may include additional fees for higher redemption volumes or advanced integrations.
• Investment justified for merchants who will use automated credits, loyalty tie-ins, and need stronger control over issued stored value.

Best For

• Medium to large merchants that need automation for store-credit workflows, returns handling, or loyalty-integrated gift card programs.
• Brands that use gift cards as part of retention, refunds, and customer incentives.
• Merchants who want a single platform to manage gift cards, store credit, and loyalty mechanics.

Growave

Overview and Positioning

Growave is an all-in-one marketing suite that bundles loyalty, wishlist, rewards, reviews, and social proof tools and also includes gift card functionality. It is positioned for merchants who want multiple growth tools in a single app and prefer to consolidate apps to reduce integration work and app bloat.

Key Features and Strengths

• Gift card creation and redemption integrated into a broader loyalty and rewards ecosystem.
• Loyalty and rewards programs that can be tied to gift card issuance or redemption.
• Built-in review requests, wishlists, social proof widgets and automated emails.
• Pricing tiers often include a generous feature set at lower monthly prices than buying multiple single-purpose apps.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Gift card feature set is more basic compared with Rise.ai or purpose-built gift card platforms.
• If you only need gift cards, Growave can be overkill and more expensive than native Shopify functionality.
• Some advanced store-credit workflows and reporting are not as sophisticated as dedicated gift card or store-credit apps.

Pricing and Value

• Growave typically offers a free trial and pricing tiers that start with low-cost plans (for example, entry-level plans around $9.99-$19.99/month) and scale upward to $50-$199/month for larger stores with bigger feature needs. Exact pricing depends on revenue thresholds and features.
• Bundled value: you get gift cards plus loyalty, reviews, and other marketing tools, which can be cost-effective versus subscribing to multiple standalone apps.

Best For

• Stores that want gift cards as part of a broader loyalty and marketing toolkit.
• Merchants looking to consolidate multiple marketing functions into one app to reduce integration overhead.
• Growth-focused brands that expect to use loyalty and reviews alongside gift cards.

How to Choose

Choose based on volume, complexity, and the role gift cards play in your customer lifecycle.

1. Do you need simple digital cards with zero app fees?

• Yes: Shopify native gift cards.
• No or unsure: continue.

2. Will you sell physical cards or need a pay-as-you-go option?

• Yes: consider GiftUp! for its physical card support and free tier.

3. Do you want gift cards tied to automated store-credit workflows, returns, or loyalty?

• Yes: choose Rise.ai for advanced automation.

4. Do you want multiple marketing tools bundled (loyalty, reviews, wishlist) and simpler multi-feature management?

• Yes: Growave is cost-effective for bundled marketing + gift card needs.

5. What is your tolerance for subscription vs transaction fees?

• Low monthly budget, low volume: a free plan with transaction fees (GiftUp!) or Shopify native may be better.
• Predictable high volume: a monthly plan (GiftUp! Pro, Rise.ai, Growave) often reduces per-sale cost and provides more features.

Use this checklist to map your use case to the option that best balances cost and capability.

Quick Comparison

Feature | Shopify native | GiftUp! | Rise.ai | Growave — | —: | —: | —: | —: Pricing | Included with Shopify plan (Basic $29/mo, Shopify $79/mo, Advanced $299/mo) | Free plan with per-sale fees (approx 3.49% + $0.30); Pro ~$39/mo (0% app fee) | Tiered plans (typical range: ~$19-$199+/mo depending on features) | Tiered plans (entry ~$9.99-$19.99/mo; higher tiers $50-$199+/mo) Branding & templates | Basic | Customizable templates | Advanced branding and templates | Customizable within marketing suite Physical card support | Manual | Yes, optional fulfillment | Possible via integrations | Possible via integrations Automation & store credit | Limited | Limited | Advanced workflows & store-credit rules | Moderate, loyalty-integrated Best for | Simple digital gift cards | Selling cards with pay-as-you-go or physical cards | Advanced store-credit, refunds, loyalty automation | Consolidated marketing + gift cards

Note: Prices are indicative. Check each app listing for current plans, regional pricing, and transaction fees.

FAQ

Do Shopify Native Gift Cards Cost Extra?

No. Shopify native gift cards are part of Shopify’s paid plans. There is no separate app fee for basic gift card issuance, but you still pay your Shopify subscription and payment gateway transaction fees.

Can Customers Redeem Gift Cards in Both Online and in-Store Channels?

Yes, but it depends on your POS and app integration. Shopify native gift cards can be redeemed online and—in many cases—in-store if your POS is configured. ai may require additional setup or connectors for POS redemption.

Which Option is Best for Handling Returns and Issuing Store Credit?

ai is explicitly designed for store credit and automated workflows, making it the best choice for returns-to-credit, partial redemptions, and linking credits to loyalty activities. Native Shopify gift cards are usable for refunds manually but lack sophisticated automation.

Are There Transaction Fees on Gift Card Sales?

Transaction fees depend on the provider. Shopify native cards incur only your regular payment gateway fees. free tier charges a per-sale platform fee (commonly around 3.49% + $0.30); Pro plans eliminate the platform fee for a monthly subscription.

ai and Growave use monthly subscription models; gateway fees still apply.

Can I Customize the Look and Delivery Email for Gift Cards?

All four options allow some branding customization. and Growave offer more template customizations. ai typically offers the deepest customization for branding, email content, and templating, especially at higher tiers.

What If I Want to Switch Later Between Solutions?

Plan for migration: export your issued codes, communicate with customers about balance transfers, and test redemption flows in a development environment. ai and other apps often provide migration support for moving balances or bulk issuing credits, but full migration complexity depends on how balances and redemptions are stored.

Further Reading

• Best Shopify Loyalty App Roundup 2025
• Best Shopify Loyalty App - Top 12
• Best Shopify Returns App Guide
• Best App Embed for Shopify - Top 5 Picks