How to Add a Gift Card to Your PayPal Account
Seamlessly integrate and utilize eligible gift cards with your PayPal account to expand your online payment options.
PayPal is a widely used digital payment platform, streamlining online transactions. Users often integrate various payment methods, including gift cards, to manage spending or utilize funds. This guide explains how certain gift cards can be added to and used within your PayPal account for online purchases.
Understanding Gift Card Types Compatible with PayPal
To use gift cards with PayPal, distinguish between open-loop and closed-loop types. Open-loop gift cards, like those from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, function as debit or credit cards and are accepted wherever their network is supported, including PayPal. Closed-loop gift cards are specific to a single merchant or group of retailers and cannot be directly added to or used within PayPal. Adding a compatible gift card to PayPal does not transfer its balance to your PayPal account; the card acts as a direct payment method during transactions.
Preparing Your Network-Branded Gift Card
Before adding an open-loop gift card to your PayPal account, certain preparatory steps are necessary. First, verify the current balance to ensure sufficient funds for your intended use, preventing transaction declines.
A common reason for gift card declines in online transactions, including through PayPal, is the absence of a registered billing address. Many network-branded gift cards require online registration with the card issuer to link a billing address. Locate the issuer’s website or customer service number, usually on the card’s back, to complete this registration. Providing this billing address ensures the card can be authenticated for online purchases.
Adding a Network-Branded Gift Card to PayPal
Once your network-branded gift card has a registered billing address, add it to your PayPal account. Log into your PayPal account via a web browser or the mobile app. From the main dashboard, navigate to the “Wallet” or “Payment Methods” section. Select “Link a Card” or “Link a debit or credit card.”
Enter the gift card’s details: the 16-digit card number, expiration date, and the three or four-digit security code (CVV/CID) found on the back. Enter the billing address registered with the gift card issuer during the preparation stage.
Using Your Gift Card for PayPal Transactions
After adding your network-branded gift card to your PayPal account, it becomes available as a payment option for online purchases. When checking out from an online merchant that accepts PayPal, select PayPal as your payment method. Within the PayPal payment interface, choose the linked gift card from your available payment sources.
If the gift card’s balance is less than the total purchase amount, PayPal allows you to combine payment methods. You can use the remaining balance on the gift card first, then cover the outstanding amount with another linked payment method, such as a bank account, debit card, or credit card.