12 Ways to Get Free Amazon Gift Cards

Free Amazon gift cards are like free money for necessities (diapers, groceries, household basics) or for gifts. The good news: several legitimate apps and sites reward everyday activities with Amazon gift cards, and many also offer cards for other retailers or PayPal cash.

Below, we've grouped the options by how you earn. Mix and match a few to build up gift card balances faster.

Programs regularly change their rewards, minimum payouts, and sign-up bonuses, so check each site's current terms.

Earn by Scanning Receipts

1. Ibotta

Ibotta is one of the most popular cash-back apps, with tens of millions of users. Sign up for free, browse offers for stores near you (Walmart, Target, grocery chains, and more), and add the ones you want. After you shop, scan your receipt or link a store loyalty account, and Ibotta credits your earnings.

Once you reach the minimum balance, you can cash out to PayPal, your bank, or a gift card, Amazon included. Ibotta also pays for qualifying online purchases.

2. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog rewards you for scanning receipts from almost any store. Grocery receipts usually earn the most. You collect Coins you can redeem for Amazon gift cards, plus sweepstakes entries and bonus "spins" that can win extra Coins. Leveling up in the app unlocks bigger bonuses.

Earn by Shopping Online

3. TopCashback

TopCashback is a cash-back portal that passes along the commission it earns from retailers. Click through to a store from TopCashback, finish your purchase in the same session, and the cash back posts to your account. (The site makes its money from sponsored placements and retailer bonuses.)

Withdraw to PayPal or your bank, or choose a gift card, including Amazon. Gift card payouts sometimes come with a bonus.

4. Honey

Honey is a free browser extension and app from PayPal that looks for coupon codes when you check out online. On eligible purchases, you can activate its rewards to earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards. Its Droplist feature also alerts you when an item you're watching drops in price.

5. Shopkick

Shopkick awards points called "kicks" for purchases with linked cards at participating stores, for walking into certain stores, for scanning products, and for referring friends. Redeem kicks for Amazon, Target, Walmart, and many other gift cards.

Earn by Taking Surveys

6. InboxDollars

InboxDollars pays in cash, not points, for surveys, games, reading emails, shopping online, and more. Its receipt feature adds extra earnings on grocery deals. Cash out for an Amazon gift card, other retailer cards, or PayPal.

7. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the longest-running rewards sites and has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in rewards. Earn points (SB) for surveys, shopping, searching the web, and playing games. Gift cards start at low redemption amounts, and options include Amazon, Target, Walmart, and many restaurants.

8. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel has millions of members. Earn points for surveys (weekdays tend to have the most) and redeem them for Amazon gift cards, other retailer cards, gaming codes, or PayPal cash.

9. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a well-established survey site. Earn points for completing surveys and redeem them for gift cards or PayPal. Opting in to its browsing panel can earn extra points and access to more surveys.

10. MyPoints

MyPoints rewards surveys, online shopping, web searches, games, and videos. Redeem for Amazon gift cards (usually delivered within a few days), PayPal, prepaid Visa cards, other retailer cards, or even airline miles.

Earn by Doing Small Tasks

11. Amazon Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk is Amazon's own marketplace for small online jobs, like data checks, categorizing images, research, and surveys. Many tasks take just a few minutes. Earnings can go to an Amazon gift card balance or, where eligible, your bank account.

12. instaGC

instaGC pays points for surveys, offers, videos, and games. It's known for very low minimum payouts on gift cards, including Amazon.

Tips to Earn Faster

• Stack methods. Scan the same receipt in more than one app when the rules allow, and shop through a cash-back portal.
• Use a separate email for survey and rewards sites to keep your inbox manageable.
• Never pay to join. Legitimate rewards sites are free.
• Watch your time. Surveys can pay little per hour, so prioritize activities you'd do anyway, like shopping and scanning receipts.

Summary

Between receipt apps, cash-back portals, surveys, and quick tasks, there are plenty of ways to earn free Amazon gift cards. Pick two or three that fit your routine, and you'll be surprised how quickly the balances add up.

Want to stretch your gift card budget even further? See our guide to buying discounted gift cards.