Venmo Gift Card: How to Use, Send, and Maximize Your Options

Venmo isn’t just for splitting dinner bills anymore—it’s jumped into the world of digital gifting, making it easier to send and receive gift cards from big names like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target. You can send digital gift cards right through the app, and for some cards (like certain Visa gift cards), you can even add them to your Venmo wallet and use them for payments.

Venmo gift cards work in two main ways: you can send retailer gift cards to friends through the app, or add eligible gift cards like Visa cards to your Venmo account as a payment method. Venmo made the gift-giving process smoother by letting you pick from a bunch of retailers, customize the look, and track balances—all without leaving the app.

If you get the hang of Venmo’s gift card features, you’ll probably find digital payments and gifting a lot simpler. Whether you’re surprising a friend with a coffee gift card or spending a Visa gift card you just got, knowing how to set things up (and what the limits are) really helps.

Understanding Venmo Gift Cards and How They Work

Venmo gift cards are digital gifts you send through the Venmo app, and you can also add some third-party gift cards as payment methods. There are lots of options, and everything ties in with Venmo’s digital payment system.

What Is a Venmo Gift Card?

A Venmo gift card is basically a digital gift you buy and send right from the app. It’s a lot like sending money, but it feels a bit more personal—especially with custom designs and notes.

When you send a Venmo gift card, you pick a retailer from the list in the app, set the amount, and (if you want) write a note. The person you’re sending it to gets a notification pretty quickly and can “unwrap” their digital gift.

Key features of Venmo gift cards:

• Delivered digitally through the app

  
  

• Plenty of retailer choices

  
  

• Custom designs and messages

  
  

• Instant notifications

Recipients just open the Venmo app to see their gift card details. The cards show up in the wallet section on the “Me” tab, so you can check the balance or grab the card number without leaving Venmo.

Once you send a Venmo gift card, you can’t take it back or cancel it. That’s in line with how regular Venmo payments work, and it adds a bit of security.

Venmo Gift Cards vs. Third-Party Gift Cards

Venmo gift cards and third-party gift cards do different things on the platform. Venmo gift cards are digital presents you buy in the app, while third-party cards (like prepaid Visas) can be added as payment sources.

Venmo Gift Cards:

• Bought and sent inside the app

  
  

• Only for gifting to other Venmo users

  
  

• Can’t be used as funding sources

  
  

• Digital only

Third-Party Gift Cards:

• Added as payment options

  
  

• Need to be network-branded (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)

  
  

• Can be used to pay or transfer funds in Venmo

  
  

• Must be registered in your name

You can only add prepaid cards with network logos. Store-specific cards, like a Target-only card, generally won’t work as a payment method. If you have a compatible card, you can add it for payments or to move funds into Venmo.

So, in short: Venmo gift cards are for gifting; third-party cards are for paying.

Gift Card Options Available on Venmo

Venmo offers gift cards from a bunch of big-name retailers. When you’re buying a gift card for someone, you get to pick the brand and even choose from a few different designs.

Each retailer might have different minimum and maximum amounts for their gift cards, so you’ll want to check before finishing up the purchase.

Gift card features:

• Lots of retailer choices

  
  

• Custom designs

  
  

• Flexible amounts

  
  

• Instant digital delivery

Gift cards live in the recipient’s Venmo wallet, where they can check the card number, PIN, and balance. When a card’s empty or expired, it’s easy to remove it from your payment methods.

Venmo also lets you share your gift-giving activity in your transaction feed, but you can keep card details private.

Using Gift Cards with Venmo: Setup, Sending, and Payment Methods

You can add compatible prepaid cards to your Venmo account as payment methods, and you can send digital gift cards to friends—all in the app. Venmo supports most major network-branded cards, but not all store gift cards.

How to Add and Redeem Gift Cards on Venmo

You can add Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover gift cards to your Venmo payment methods. Open the app, go to settings, and tap “Payment Methods.”

To add a gift card, tap the settings gear, pick “Payment Methods,” then “Add a Card.” Type in the card number, expiration date, and security code.

Compatible card types:

• Visa prepaid cards

  
  

• MasterCard gift cards

  
  

• American Express prepaid debit cards

  
  

• Discover network cards

Some gift cards only work at specific stores, so you can’t add those to Venmo. Make sure your card works for general purchases before trying to add it.

Once you add the card, it shows up in your payment methods. You can use it for Venmo payments or to transfer money to your Venmo balance.

Sending Venmo Gift Cards to Others

You can send digital gift cards right from the Venmo app. It’s a lot like sending a regular payment.

Tap “Pay/Request,” find the person you want to send a gift to, and enter the amount. Tap the little gift icon, and you’ll see all the available retailers and design options.

How to send a gift card:

1. Pick your recipient

   
   

2. Enter the amount

   
   

3. Write a note (if you want)

   
   

4. Tap the gift icon

   
   

5. Choose the retailer and design

   
   

6. Review and buy

The recipient gets a notification in about 15 minutes to unwrap their gift, and the card lands in their Venmo wallet.

Retailers sometimes set limits on gift card amounts. Once you send a gift card, you can’t reverse or cancel it.

Spending and Managing Balance with Prepaid Cards

When you link a prepaid card to Venmo, you can use it to pay people or move money to your Venmo balance.

Venmo shows your gift card balances in the wallet section. Just tap the “Me” tab, then “Wallet.”

From there, you can see your card number, PIN, and what’s left on the card. That makes it easier to keep track of your spending.

Managing your gift card balance:

• Check your balance in the Venmo wallet

  
  

• See card details and PIN

  
  

• Review spending history

  
  

• Remove cards that are empty

When your gift card runs out, you can delete it from your Venmo account. Go to settings, tap “Payment Methods,” pick the empty card, and hit “Remove.”

You can also scan QR codes to add funds or check balances on some prepaid cards using the Venmo app.

Fraud Prevention and Security Tips

Venmo asks you to register gift cards in your own name. It’s a simple step, but it goes a long way to stop unauthorized use and cut down on fraud.

Stick to adding gift cards you bought yourself. Handing out gift card info to others? That just opens the door to theft or headaches you really don’t want.

Security best practices:

• Don’t share your card details

  
  

• Only add cards that belong to you

  
  

• Check your account activity now and then

  
  

• If something looks off, report it fast

The Venmo app pops up notifications for every transaction, including when you buy or redeem a gift card. It’s worth glancing at those alerts, just in case something weird pops up.

If someone sends you a gift card through Venmo, double-check who they are. Scammers love to dangle fake gift card offers to grab your info or cash.

If you run into trouble with a gift card transaction, reach out to Venmo support right away. Acting quickly can help keep your account safe and maybe stop further problems.