Gifted.co promises to simplify the corporate gifting process with a range of flexible options. But how well does it actually deliver? Are its features suitable for your needs? In this review, we’ll take a closer look at what the platform offers, how it works, and what to watch out for, so you can decide if it’s the right match for your swag and gifting needs.

Gifted.co Overview

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, Gifted.co is a corporate gifting platform designed to help businesses send digital and physical swag and gifts at scale. The company is led by CEO Micha Berkuz and currently has about 34 employees.

Main Features

Free platform use

One of Gifted’s main features is that it doesn’t require you to pay a subscription fee to use its platform. This means that you can use the platform for free and would only need to pay for the swag, gifts, and gift cards that you’ll send to your recipients.

Swag, gift, and gift card options

Gifted has three options that you can choose from: swag, gifts, and gift cards. For the swag, they are available for international recipients and are on demand, meaning you’ll only need to buy what you need. The physical gifts, on the other hand, are only available to recipients in the US, Canada, and Europe. Lastly, the gift cards are available for 206 countries and are localized depending on your recipient’s region. Keep in mind that 5% will be added to your order amount to cover local currency conversion rates, regardless of whether the item is a swag, a gift, or a gift card.

Swag store

Gifted also offers swag stores that your recipients can use to check out their preferred items. The swag store isn’t automatically set up, and you’d need to wait for 1-3 days for it to be set up for your brand. In addition, only On Demand swag items are available in Gifted’s swag store, meaning you can’t have any bulk swag options for your recipients to choose from.

Advanced user permissions, budgeting, and reporting

Another key feature of Gifted is its advanced user permissions. With this, you can control multiple accounts and grant custom granular access to your team or managers. This can give you more control over who is allowed to change items in your swag stores or adjust budgets for campaigns.

Pricing

Using Gifted is free. This means that you don’t have to pay any monthly or annual subscription fee to use its platform. Product items and shipping costs will be your main expenses.

Other platform charges

Despite the free platform usage, there are other platform services that Gifted will charge you for. Here are some of them:

Adding funds to your account

When you use ACH or wire transfer to add funds to your Gifted account, you won’t be charged any amount. Although when you use a credit card, there will be a 3% fee.

Sending internationally 

When you want to send swag, gifts, and gift cards to your international recipients, Gifted will add an additional 5% on your total costs to cover the local currency conversion.

Unclaimed rewards 

When you have unclaimed gifts, you have two windows for cancelling them with Gifted.co:

Within 72 hours of sending, the full value is refunded.

After 72 hours and up to 2 years, only 75% of the original value is refunded. So if your gift is worth $50 and you cancel the unclaimed gift within the 2-year timeframe but after the 72-hour window, you’ll only receive $37.50.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Cancellation of gifts within 72 hours, without charge: If any of your recipients are unable to redeem their swag, gifts, or gift cards, or you simply changed your mind about your choice, then you can cancel it on Gifted’s platform with no charge, so long as it’s within 72 hours. After this window, there will be a 25% deduction on the gift’s original value.

✅ Native HRIS integrations: Gifted can enable you to connect your HRIS with its platform, granted that it’s included in its 45+ HRIS integrations.

✅ Free platform usage: With no subscription fees, you can immediately use Gifted when you sign up. This can be useful if you need access to a swag platform due to an urgent swag campaign. However, you’d need to wait for 1-3 days for your swag store to be set up within the Gifted platform.

Cons

❌ Self-serve approach means inadequate support: Gifted has a self-serve approach to swag wherein you’ll have to do everything by yourself when managing your swag and campaigns. This also means that if you encounter an issue while using the platform, you might not get immediate support and response from the Gifted team.

❌ Expensive product prices: On Demand swag and physical gifts offered by Gifted.co can be on the pricier side, ranging from $10 to $55 and above. This can be quite expensive and burdensome in the long run, especially if you have consistent gifting campaigns or require more budget-friendly options.

❌ Lack of stringent security measures: The platform doesn’t offer any SSO or SAML, nor is it SOC 2 Type 2 certified. If strict security for log-ins and recipient data is your top priority, you’ll find Gifted lacking.

❌ No CRM integrations: While Gifted has more than 45 HRIS integrations, it doesn’t offer CRM-focused ones, which can be a downside, particularly if you’re gifting outside your team.

❌ Absence of sustainability commitments: Gifted does have sustainable and eco-friendly gift and swag options; however, the company itself doesn’t support or have a clear sustainability approach when it comes to its sourcing and fulfillment. In addition, its US-based operations and warehousing contribute to more carbon emissions during shipments.

Gifted.co is best for…

… teams looking for digital gift options 👍

Don’t want to deal with expensive shipping fees? Want to switch things up and opt for digital options? Then Gifted’s gift card options can be a good choice, considering it has more than 3,500 choices and covers over 150 countries. Such flexibility will allow you to send rewards to your international recipients while still ensuring the relevancy of your gift. However, there will be a 5% charge that will be added to your bill to cover local currency conversion.

… enterprises focused on employee gifting 👍

Gifted.co can be useful if you’re focused on recognizing or appreciating your employees. This is because of its native HRIS integrations. Using the platform will enable you to integrate your current HRIS software to simplify your employee swag campaign. However, there is also a downside to this, as Gifted only supports HRIS integrations and doesn’t have any CRM software integrations.

… businesses with US-based teams or recipients 👍

Since some of Gifted’s On Demand swag has free US shipping, the platform can be a practical choice if all of your recipients are in the US. The physical gifts are also available mostly for US-based recipients so you can provide more options for them.

Gifted.co may not be a good fit for…

… companies looking for readily available bulk swag options and prices 👎

If your team is looking for transparent pricing and readily available bulk swag options, Gifted.co may fall short, as the platform doesn’t list its bulk swag details upfront. Instead, you're directed to contact their support team for more information. This extra step can slow down your planning process, especially if you’re working on a tight deadline or managing large-scale gifting. If you need to move fast without back-and-forth communication, this lack of transparency can be a real drawback.

… international businesses with global teams and recipients👎

While Gifted.co does offer international On Demand swag, the shipping fees can quickly add up, which makes it a less cost-effective option if you have global teams and recipients. In some countries, like China or the Philippines, shipping costs can reach up to $14 for a single item. If you plan to send swag in bulk to multiple international recipients, those fees multiply fast. Additionally, physical gift availability is exclusive mainly to the US, Canada, and Europe, which can complicate or hinder your global gifting campaigns.

… organizations that require reliable support or expert swag advice 👎

Due to Gifted’s self-service approach to swag, you’ll only get minimal support from the company, which can be problematic if you encounter issues when using the website. In addition, you won’t get any expert insights from dedicated customer success managers who can recommend the best swag or gifts suitable for your needs.

… leaders who want to work with platforms with sustainable goals and commitments 👎

Gifted.co offers some eco-friendly gifts and swag options, but it doesn’t appear to have a broader sustainability strategy in place. It has no clear commitment to responsible sourcing or sustainable packaging, which can be a downside if one of your brand values is sustainability.

All in all, Gifted.co’s offering of a free platform and On Demand swag, physical gift, and gift card options can be a huge upside, especially if you have a US-based team or clientele. However, these features may be overshadowed by the lack of transparent bulk swag options and CRM integrations, expensive international shipping costs, and an unclear sustainable approach. In addition, the absence of customer success managers, more comprehensive swag management features (such as for marketing events), and cheaper swag options can make the platform less suitable for international companies or those with large-scale gifting needs.

Looking for more comprehensive, international swag solutions? Explore the best Gifted.co alternatives

Gifted.co has its strengths, primarily if your company and target recipients are US-based. Yet, it won’t be the best swag solution, especially if you’re searching for better control over international shipping, bulk swag, or a wider range of native integrations. Fortunately, there are other platforms out there that offer lower global shipping rates and more flexibility and transparency. If Gifted.co feels limiting, then it’s worth exploring these Gifted.co competitors we compiled for you.

Gifted.co vs PerkUp, the #1 platform for global bulk swag and sustainability-focused gifting

Both Gifted.co and PerkUp offer compelling features, but which one is better for your team? If you’re looking for bulk swag or a more transparent and sustainable approach to swag, which should you choose? What if you need information on a feature or swag option without contacting support? Or more affordable shipping costs for global recipients? What about managing swag for events, customizing branded kits, or tracking inventory across multiple locations?

Find out the answer to these questions in our detailed comparison of Gifted.co vs. PerkUp. Dive into this side-by-side analysis to see why leading companies like MFCP and Chow Now trust PerkUp for their global swag and gifting needs.