Top 10 Places to Sell Gift Cards for Cash, Checked October 2026

The fastest way to sell a gift card for cash is an online exchange like CardCash or a marketplace like Raise, but you'll get back less than face value. If the card is for a store you already shop at, spending it on regular purchases and keeping your cash is worth the full balance. Below are 10 options checked against each company's own website as of October 2026, a payout comparison and how to avoid gift card scams.

Exchange Sites and Marketplaces

1. CardCash

CardCash makes an instant offer by brand and balance and advertises payouts of up to 92%. Its FAQ says it pays by check, ACH deposit or PayPal, typically within 1 to 2 days of order approval. If you mail a physical card, payment follows after the card arrives.

2. Raise

Raise is a marketplace: you set the price and get paid when a buyer purchases the card. Listing is free, and Raise takes a 15% commission when the card sells. You withdraw by ACH or PayPal, and ACH can take up to 3 business days.

3. ClipKard

ClipKard buys physical cards by mail. You accept an offer, ship the card and get paid after it's verified: PayPal usually within one business day, a check in about five to seven days. You carry the risk of loss until ClipKard receives the card, and its terms charge you the payout plus $10 per card if a card turns out to be invalid or misrepresented.

4. Gameflip

Gameflip suits gaming and digital cards. Its help center lists an 8% commission plus a fixed fee, a 2% partner fee and a 2% digital fee. You cash out through Skrill, Payoneer or crypto, and those providers charge their own fees.

5. GiftCash

GiftCash advertises up to 93% for major retailers, paid into a GiftCash wallet you cash out from. Its brand pages warn that processing and payment may take up to 90 days because of a backlog, so use it only if you don't need the money soon.

6. eBay

You can list physical gift cards on eBay and reach more buyers, but its gift card policy caps the total face value of a seller's gift card listings at $500 at a time. eBay's normal selling fees apply.

Store and Kiosk Options

7. Ask the Store to Cash Out a Small Balance

Some states require stores to give cash for small leftover balances. In California, a gift card with a cash value under $10 is redeemable in cash under Civil Code section 1749.5. Other states have their own rules, so ask at the register or check your state attorney general's website.

Gift card kiosks are mostly gone. As of October 2026, Coinstar's website lists turning coins into eGift cards, but not exchanging gift cards for cash.

Options That Keep the Full Value

8. Sell It to Someone You Know

A friend, relative or coworker who shops at that store may pay $90 for a $100 card. Check the balance together, hand over the physical card and the receipt, and take payment before you hand it over.

9. Spend It on What You'd Buy Anyway

Use a grocery, gas, pharmacy or big-box card for regular purchases, then move the cash you would have spent to the bill you need to pay. You keep 100% of the value with no fees.

10. Use It in Place of a Gift You'd Buy

An unused card with its full balance can replace a birthday or holiday gift you'd otherwise pay for. It isn't cash in hand, but it keeps cash in your account.

What a $100 Card Pays at Each Option

Option	Example on a $100 card	When you get paid
CardCash	Instant offer, varies by brand (advertises up to 92%)	1 to 2 days after approval
Raise	Listed at $90: about $76.50 after the 15% commission	After it sells; ACH up to 3 business days
Gameflip	Listed at $92: about $80.96 after 12% in percentage fees, about $77.34 after a Skrill cash-out at 2% + $2 (before the fixed fee)	After the buyer confirms
ClipKard	Offer by brand	About 1 business day after verification by PayPal
Friend or relative	$90 if you agree on 10% off	Right away
Spend it yourself	$100 of value	As you shop

Examples for illustration only. Offers and fees as of October 2026 change often; check the live quote and fee screen before you sell.

How to Check a Balance Safely

• Use the phone number or website printed on the back of the card, the store's own app, or ask a cashier.
• Don't type the card number and PIN into a balance-check site you found through an ad or a message.
• Take photos of the front and back and keep the receipt until the sale is complete.
• Check again right before you sell. Exchanges verify the balance and can cut or cancel the offer if it's lower than you said.

Gift Card Scam Warnings

• Nobody legitimate wants payment in gift cards. The FTC says no real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. A caller who asks for card numbers is a scammer.
• Never share the number and PIN with a stranger before you've been paid through a platform that protects sellers.
• Watch for "buyers" who overpay and ask you to send the difference back.
• If you've been scammed, tell the gift card company right away and ask for your money back, keep the card and receipt, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC's gift card scam guide lists contact numbers for major card companies.

If Selling a Card Won't Cover It

A gift card sale usually brings in tens of dollars, not hundreds. For a bigger gap, see our need money right this second guide. LendUp is an online loan-matching service for $200 to $5,000; our $200 loan page shows what a small loan costs. Approval is not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions