Online gift cards (also known as electronic gift cards, egift cards, virtual gift cards and mobile gift cards, among others) all use numeric codes that are delivered using technology such as SMSs on mobile phones, emails, social media apps and smartphone apps. In fact, this technique does not use cards at all! It is, however, becoming a highly popular and convenient way to send gifts to friends and loved ones.
One of the main benefits is that these gifts can be sent and received immediately and are free of charge. Many providers allow you to schedule delivery at a specific date (such as for a birthday) making them very convenient. You should make sure that you have the right address since a provider’s obligation is fulfilled once it is successfully sent. Some of these gift cards can only be used through a specific merchant or provider so you should check where and how they can be redeemed before sending them.
