How to Get Free Gift Cards (Up to $250) with Groupon
If you've ever spent 45 minutes on a survey site to earn a $2 gift card, this is going to feel very different.
With Groupon's Free Gift Card rewards, you can earn $5 to $250 in gift cards — Amazon, Sephora, Delta, and more — just by shopping brands you were already planning to buy from. No surveys. No mystery points. Just real rewards for purchases you were going to make anyway.
Ready to browse offers? Skip straight to our Free Gift Cards page and see what's available today — or keep reading to learn exactly how to maximize your rewards.
In this guide:
How to Earn Your Free Gift Card — Step by Step
The process is simpler than it sounds. Here's exactly what to do (and one thing to definitely not do) so your reward goes through without a hitch.
Head to our Free Gift Cards page or look for the reward badge on individual merchant pages. You'll find offers like a free $10 gift card when you spend $50, a free $25 gift card when you spend $100, and higher-tier rewards up to $250 on select brands. When something catches your eye, hit "Get Gift Card" to get started.
Pop in your email address and click "Yes, I want my gift card!" — that's how we tie the reward to you so it actually lands in your inbox. You'll get a "Reward Sign Up" confirmation email straight away with all the key terms and a link back to the offer.
Three things to check before you hit buy: make sure cookies are on (incognito mode turns them off), stay on the tab we opened, and confirm your cart total hits the minimum spend for your offer (before taxes and fees).
If tracking connected successfully, you'll get a "Purchase Acknowledged" email — that's your green light that the reward is in the pipeline. Didn't get it within 24 hours? Check that cookies were on and you stayed on the original tab, then reach out to support with your order details.
The brand needs to confirm your order wasn't returned or canceled before they sign off on the reward — fair enough. That usually means waiting until after the return window closes, which is typically around 90+ days. Travel bookings can take 90–120 days after your trip wraps up. Set a calendar reminder and let it do its thing.
Once you're validated, a "Reward Confirmed" email lands with a link to "Claim Your Reward." You choose what you actually want — options often include Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, Domino's, Bath & Body Works, GameStop, Hotels.com, T.J.Maxx, and Groupon. Available choices vary by promotion, so take a look at what's on offer.
Your "Reward Received" email delivers the digital gift card details. Use it online, in-store where accepted, or stash it for a rainy day. Future you will be pretty pleased.
Why This Beats Survey Sites (It's Not Even Close)
Survey apps make you work hard for very little. Groupon rewards just make you shop — something you were already doing. Here's how they stack up:
| Survey Apps | Groupon Exclusive Rewards |
|---|---|
| Hours of surveys required | Shop like normal |
| Tiny point payouts | Clear dollar-value rewards |
| Uncertain approval | Verified once return window closes |
The Numbers Don't Lie: This Smashes Standard Cashback
Most cashback apps give you back 1–4% on major retailers. That's better than nothing, but Groupon's fixed-amount rewards can hit returns most cashback apps can only dream of — especially when your spend lands close to the threshold. Here's what that looks like in real money:
| The Scenario | Standard Cashback (~2%) | Groupon Reward Example |
|---|---|---|
| You Spend $40 | You get $0.80 | You get a $5.00 Gift Card 12.5% Effective Return |
| You Spend $50 | You get $1.00 | You get a $10.00 Gift Card 20% Effective Return |
Reward amounts and spend thresholds vary by merchant and promotion. Always check the terms of the specific offer you're activating.
A Few Things to Know Before You Start
Nothing complicated here, but getting these right is the difference between earning your reward and missing out. Your purchase needs to go through the Groupon tracked link; cookies need to be on (so skip incognito); your order can't be returned or canceled; and validation timelines vary by brand, so check your specific offer's terms.
For the full picture, take a look at our Privacy Policy and the individual offer terms on the Groupon Coupons site.
Which Gift Cards Can You Choose From?
The lineup rotates, but you'll regularly find options from brands people actually want — think Amazon, Adidas, Bath & Body Works, Nordstrom Rack, T.J.Maxx, Sephora, Old Navy, Petco, Wayfair, and Fandango. It's basically a bonus on top of a purchase you were making anyway.
Wait — Is This Actually Free?
Yes, genuinely — with one honest caveat.
You need to make a qualifying purchase to unlock the reward. But the gift card itself doesn't cost you anything extra. It's Groupon's way of saying thanks for shopping through our link. You were buying it anyway — this just means you walk away with something extra in your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get free Amazon gift cards?
Yep. When Amazon — or a brand offering Amazon as a reward option — is part of a promotion, you can pick an Amazon gift card once your purchase is validated. Great for stacking on top of things you'd buy there anyway.
How long does it take to get my gift card?
Most rewards come through after the brand's return window closes — typically around 90+ days. Travel purchases can take 90–120 days after your trip is done. Worth the wait, promise.
What if I never got a "Purchase Acknowledged" email?
That usually means tracking didn't connect. Run through the checklist: cookies on, AdBlocker off, checkout completed in the original tab. If it all checks out, get in touch with support — have your order confirmation number and purchase date handy.
Why didn't my purchase track?
Nine times out of ten it's one of three things: cookies were off, you switched to a different tab during checkout, or you didn't finish the purchase through the tracked link we opened. Any of those will break the connection.
What if I return my purchase?
Returned or canceled orders won't qualify for the reward — the brand needs to see a completed, kept purchase before they sign off on it.
Can I choose which gift card I get?
Absolutely. Once your reward is confirmed, you'll get a "Claim Your Reward" email where you can pick from the available options for that promotion. Choose whatever's most useful to you.
Quick Recap
- Find a qualifying offer and click "Get Gift Card."
- Enter your email so we know where to send the reward.
- Complete checkout in the tab we open — no tab-switching, no coupon hunting.
- Watch for your "Purchase Acknowledged" email to confirm it tracked.
- Wait for validation (usually 90+ days after the return window closes).
- Pick your gift card and enjoy it.
Got a purchase coming up? Check if it qualifies — you might as well get paid for it.
Browse Free Gift Card Offers
