Giftogram Overview

Giftogram was founded in 2012 and has built its reputation as a go-to platform for digital gift card distribution. The company is headquartered in New Jersey, and has grown to become a recognized player in the corporate gifting and rewards industry.

Main Features

Gift cards

Giftogram’s main feature is its gift cards. The platform offers your recipients the ability to choose from a wide variety of major retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Best Buy, and more. This flexibility ensures your recipients can select something they actually want. You can also send gift cards individually or in bulk. Additionally, brand filtering allows you to restrict which retailers are shown based on location. Currently, the platform offers gift cards from over 200 retailers worldwide, with around 1,000 total gift card options available.

Do note, though, that your recipients can’t keep or refund unused balances. Gift cards sent expire after 12 months for digital and 18 months for physical, so they need to be used before then. Any unspent amount will become void, and the money effectively stays with Giftogram or the issuing merchant, as Giftogram doesn’t reimburse or credit unused funds once they’re delivered to your recipients. 

Refunds are only applicable for unapplied cleared amounts in your Giftogram account balance before gift cards are sent. Once they’re delivered via email or physically, the unused balances become non-refundable.

Prepaid cards, cash disbursements, and charity donations

In addition to gift cards, Giftogram also offers Visa and Mastercard prepaid cards (both virtual and physical) that can be used globally. It also provides secure digital cash disbursements through channels like PayPal and ACH, which are ideal for refunds or bonuses for employees. Giftogram also supports charitable donations, allowing your recipients to give their gift value to nonprofit organizations.

Pay-as-you-go model

Another key characteristic of Giftogram is its pay-as-you-go approach, meaning there’s no up-front costs you need to pay in order to use the platform and send gift cards to your recipients.

Integrations and API

The Giftogram platform supports integrations with widely used business tools. Native integrations include HR platforms like BambooHR and CRM systems such as Salesforce, while additional automations can be configured through Zapier. Giftogram also provides an API, enabling gifting to be tied directly to business workflows. For example, your HR teams can automate welcome gift cards for new hires, while your sales teams can trigger rewards after a client books a demo.

Pricing

Giftogram is free to access and has no subscription fees. Again, you only pay for the gift cards you purchase, which makes pricing predictable. Branding, customization, and setup are also included at no additional cost.

There is a minimum order of 10 units for physical gift cards, and they can only be delivered within the United States. Shipping costs are flat-rate:

• $10 standard shipping (waived for orders over $500)

• $25 and $40 for priority and express delivery, respectively

These rates apply regardless of the number of cards shipped (whether it’s 10 or 100 units), making larger batch orders more cost-effective.

Digital gift cards, on the other hand, are delivered via email with no additional delivery fees.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Automated gifting: Integrations (native, Zapier, and API) allow for automated and scalable gift card distribution tied to milestones or events.

✅ Good security measures: Giftogram prioritizes data protection and safe redemption, employing secure delivery protocols.

✅ Pay-as-you-go pricing: No subscription fees or hidden costs, ideal for occasional or seasonal gifting needs.

✅ Bulk sending: You can upload spreadsheets, schedule campaigns, and distribute gift cards to hundreds of recipients in just a few clicks.

✅ Ease of use and customer support: According to users, the Giftogram platform is user-friendly, backed by a responsive support team that proactively addresses and resolves client issues.

Cons

❌ Lack of options in other gift categories: Giftogram is primarily focused on digital and physical gift cards, without offerings like branded swag, localized gifts, or experiential rewards. While this simplicity works for straightforward rewards, it limits your flexibility, especially if you want to match different occasions or tailor gifts to diverse audiences.

❌ Not suitable for marketing campaigns: Because Giftogram doesn’t support swag or custom event kits, it’s not ideal for trade shows or conferences where physical swag creates a brand presence.

❌ Limited brand options internationally: While US recipients have a strong selection, you may find fewer retailers for your international recipients. For example, in the US and the Philippines, you and your recipients can choose from well over 100 to 200 retailers. In regions like the UK and Canada, the catalog narrows to around 40 to 60 options. Meanwhile, countries such as Mexico and Spain offer only a few dozen retailers.

❌ Unused balances expire and are non-refundable: Digital cards expire after 12 months and physical after 18, with no reimbursement for unspent funds.

❌ Redemption tracking gaps: Currently, redemption confirmation isn’t always visible in real time in the Giftogram platform. Some users mentioned that they prefer daily summaries or easier visibility into who redeemed gifts.

❌ Delivery and processing delays: Initial delivery can take several hours, and same-day urgent gifting isn’t always reliable, as per some reviews.

❌ Currency and expiration restrictions: Some international users struggle with currency conversions. Additionally, certain gift cards expire within 12 months, which can cause frustration for users.

❌ Campaign setup usability: Setting up campaigns isn’t as intuitive as it could be. There are some user reports about extra steps, like preloading funds.

❌ Limited branding customization: Personalization options are available but somewhat limited compared to more advanced swag platforms. Logos and colors can be applied, but there’s little beyond basic editing of gift cards.

Giftogram is best for…

… companies that want to send digital gift cards 👍

Because Giftogram focuses on digital gift cards with a pay-as-you-go model, there’s a minimal learning curve and no need for additional logistics like warehousing or inventory. There are also hundreds of options that you can choose from to give your recipients more flexibility when choosing their rewards. 

… US organizations with recipients in the same region 👍

Since physical gift cards only ship within the US and most digital options are geared toward American retailers, Giftogram works best if your workforce and customer base are largely domestic. The waived fee for standard shipping for physical gift cards is also great if you need to send out bulk gift cards to your US-based recipients.

… busy teams wishing to automate gift card sending 👍

Through its integrations and API, Giftogram makes it easy to trigger gift card sends automatically, whether for a new hire, client referral, or closed deals. If you don’t want to manage gifting manually, you will find the platform’s automation useful.

Giftogram may not be a good fit for…

… enterprises looking for comprehensive gifting categories for broader needs 👎

Giftogram is strong for digital gift cards, but it doesn’t cover the full spectrum of corporate gifting needs. While gift cards do offer flexibility, there are other gift categories that can be used to tailor rewards to different occasions and audiences. For instance, swag helps reinforce company identity, localized gifts can feel more personal and culturally relevant, and experiences often leave a stronger emotional impact than monetary rewards. Without these options, you may feel limited when it comes to gift variety.

… international companies with global teams and recipients 👎

Giftogram’s lack of international reach is another one of its constraints. While US recipients enjoy various retail options, international ones may face limited or irrelevant brand choices. Currency conversions add another layer of friction, and physical gift cards can only be shipped within the US. This means that the platform isn’t the most suitable if you have a global gifting base.

… marketing teams seeking to use swag for events and campaigns 👎

Conference giveaways and branded swag create visibility and reinforce brand identity in a way digital gift cards can’t. However, since Giftogram only offers gift cards, it’s not a fit for marketing-driven use cases where physical swag matters.

Giftogram is a simple, flexible solution for sending digital gift cards without subscription costs. Its automation, retailer variety, and pay-as-you-go pricing make it appealing to US-based businesses that value speed and ease of use. However, its limitations around lack of other swag and gift options, global reach, branding personalization, and campaign tracking mean it isn’t a full replacement for broader swag and gifting platforms. If you need physical swag, global shipping, or advanced reporting, you may find Giftogram restrictive.

Looking for comprehensive swag solutions? Explore the best Giftogram alternatives

Giftogram is great for digital gift cards, but if you’re looking for comprehensive solutions that combine swag and digital gift cards, then there are many other companies to choose from. In that case, your best bet is to explore alternatives that can support employee engagement and brand visibility through physical and digital items. Check out some of the best Giftogram competitors that offer swag, gifts, global warehousing, and more.

Giftogram vs PerkUp, the #1 global platform for comprehensive swag and gift solutions

When comparing Giftogram and PerkUp, the distinction isn’t just about speed or simplicity, as both platforms deliver convenient gifting solutions. Giftogram specializes in digital gift cards, offering around 1,000 options across 200+ retailers, giving recipients flexibility without the hassle of logistics.

PerkUp matches that same ease but goes much further. With access to over 5,000 gift cards, plus swag, custom kits, and seamless global shipping with duties prepaid (whenever possible), PerkUp offers a more expansive offering. PerkUp also empowers companies to embed gifting within a broader employee engagement and brand experience strategy with capabilities like warehousing, automation workflows, and an in-house design agency. 

If you’re curious to see more about the differences between the two platforms, then check out our comparison of Giftogram and PerkUp and see why companies like Microsoft and Wise choose PerkUp.