Holiday gifting for employees can feel daunting. Even with a small team, organizing it can take time, and the risk of getting it wrong can leave you feeling stuck.
But holiday gifting does more than just mark a milestone on the calendar. It's a chance to thank the people who've worked hard all year and make them feel genuinely appreciated. Whether you're rewarding for Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas, the safest way to get it right is to let your employees choose what's right for them.
With a global catalog of thousands of national and local brands, Giftogram makes holiday gifting easy to get right, whether you're rewarding one employee or thousands. With no platform fees or markups on standard digital rewards, more of your budget goes directly to the people you're celebrating.
So which holiday gift card is right for your teams? This guide will help you decide.
Different brands appeal to different people, so ranking the best gift cards will inevitably be subjective. But there are a few things that make giving and receiving gift cards a better experience:
The following shortlist keeps the above in mind, and gives more weight to options that offer the most choice and flexibility.
As Giftogram is used by over 25,000 businesses, we turned to the data to answer that question.
Here's what employees are choosing most:
The results show something clearly: everyone values something different. Some people want help with everyday spending. Others want an excuse to treat themselves.
And while research shows that people often prefer cash, holiday gifting is about more than giving someone extra money. You want the gift to feel like a genuine thank you, not just another payment that gets lost in their paycheck.
Gift cards help companies strike the right balance. They let people spend on what they want, while still feeling thoughtful, with custom branding and a message that shows you care.
Short on time? Here's how our 15 picks for 2026 stack up:
| # | Gift card | Best for | Where employees can spend it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giftogram | Choosing their own gift | 140,000+ national and local gift card brands, with rewards available across 230+ countries |
| 2 | Visa or Mastercard prepaid card | Spending flexibility | Eligible merchants accepting the card |
| 3 | Amazon gift card | Online shopping | Amazon |
| 4 | Target gift card | Everyday treats | Target |
| 5 | Walmart gift card | Everyday essentials | Walmart |
| 6 | DoorDash gift card | Remote teams | Eligible DoorDash orders |
| 7 | Starbucks gift card | Small thank-yous | Starbucks |
| 8 | Apple gift card | Tech lovers | Eligible Apple products and services |
| 9 | Uber gift card | Rides and food delivery | Eligible Uber and Uber Eats purchases |
| 10 | Airbnb gift card | Travel and experiences | Eligible Airbnb bookings |
| 11 | Southwest Airlines gift card | Frequent flyers | Eligible Southwest bookings |
| 12 | Sephora gift card | Beauty and self-care | Sephora |
| 13 | Home Depot gift card | DIY enthusiasts | The Home Depot |
| 14 | AMC Theatres gift card | Movie nights | Participating AMC Theatres |
| 15 | Restaurant gift cards | Dining out | Selected restaurants |
Availability and redemption restrictions can vary by card and location.
All the gift cards on this list are available through Giftogram, so you don't have to buy them from different retailers. Send one Giftogram and let your employees choose their favorite.
Available brands may vary depending on where your employees live.
Giftogram earns the top spot because it offers employees the most freedom and flexibility. You choose how much to give, and your employees choose how to spend it.
Sending is just as flexible. You can reward one person in minutes, or send Giftograms in bulk when there's a whole team or company to recognize. Just add your branding and a personal message to make the reward feel like it came from you.
Over 25,000 companies trust Giftogram to get holiday gifting right, with access to 140,000+ gift card brands and rewards available across 230+ countries.
Split rewards across different gift cards, choose from big-name brands and local favorites, and let everyone spend where it matters most to them.
Best for: Letting every employee choose a gift they'll actually want.
Start holiday gifting with Giftogram
Visa and Mastercard prepaid cards let employees spend their reward almost anywhere.
They could put $100 toward something they've been saving for, treat themselves to something special, or simply fill up on gas. It's about as close as you can get to giving cash, with a little more thought behind it.
You can also send prepaid Visa and Mastercard cards through Giftogram. Add your company branding and a personal message to make the reward feel like it came from you. Just check the card's terms first, as fees and where you can use it may vary.
Best for: Giving employees the freedom to spend almost anywhere, with a personal touch that cash can't offer.
An Amazon gift card is an easy win when you know your employees already shop there.
With one of the biggest catalogs of any online retailer, there's plenty to choose from. Employees can treat themselves to something they've had their eye on, stock up on everyday essentials, or buy gifts for family and friends over the holidays.
Digital gift cards arrive almost instantly, making Amazon a great option if you've left your holiday gifting a little late. And for regular Amazon shoppers, it's easy to add the balance to their account and spend it whenever they like.
Best for: Employees who already love shopping on Amazon.
A "quick Target run" often turns into a cart full of things you didn't know you needed.
A Target gift card gives employees plenty of ways to treat themselves, but they can just as easily spend it on holiday essentials or something festive for the house.
Someone might come home with a new coffee maker, while someone else might use it to take the sting out of their weekly grocery bill. Target is a US retailer, so it's a natural fit for US employees, but not the best choice for an international team.
Best for: US employees who love a Target run and appreciate a gift that's functional.
Like Target, Walmart is a great choice for employees who want a gift they can put toward almost anything.
Sometimes the best employee gift is one that makes the holiday season a little easier. A Walmart gift card can help cover the weekly grocery shop, stock the house for Christmas, or leave someone with a little more money in their pocket that month.
With thousands of stores across the US, employees will likely have one nearby. And with so much to choose from, they can decide whether to spend it on something they need or treat themselves to something they want.
Best for: US employees who appreciate a practical gift that takes a little pressure off everyday spending.
When you can't take the team out for a holiday meal, sending one is the next best thing.
A DoorDash gift card lets employees choose what they're in the mood for and order from their favorite local restaurants. It's a great option for remote teams, especially when you want to bring everyone together for a holiday lunch without asking them to cook.
Send one ahead of a virtual celebration so everyone can order lunch on you, or as a little "don't cook tonight" treat after a big project.
Just make sure that DoorDash delivers where your employees live.
Best for: Treating remote employees to lunch or giving them a well-earned night off cooking.
Sometimes, treating someone to a few coffees over the holidays is enough to show them you care.
A Starbucks gift card is a lovely little thank-you for employees who can't start their day without a coffee. They can pick up their favorite festive drink, treat themselves to something sweet, or enjoy a few mornings with coffee on you.
It's an easy gift to send to a whole team, but it's probably best saved for employees who already show up every morning with a personalized Starbucks travel cup.
Best for: Giving coffee lovers an easy way to stay caffeinated and keep going through the busy holidays.
Apple is one of America's favorite technology brands for a reason. Getting a new piece of Apple kit feels like a genuine treat, whether it's a new iPad, a pair of AirPods, or an upgrade you've had your eye on for months.
An Apple gift card can help employees get a little closer to that next purchase. They can also spend it on apps, subscriptions and other Apple services, so there's more to choose from than just hardware.
Just be mindful of how much you're giving. A $25 gift card might not feel quite as exciting when the thing someone really wants costs $500, and they're left choosing between putting it toward a future purchase or buying a replacement charging cable.
Best for: Apple fans saving for their next upgrade, especially when you're giving a larger reward.
Dinner delivered or a ride home? An Uber gift card leaves that decision with the employee. The same balance can be used with Uber or Uber Eats where eligible, so there's a little more freedom than you get with a standard restaurant gift card.
Send one before an employee heads off on vacation to help with their airport ride, or let them order their favorite takeout on Friday night.
Just check availability and redemption rules, which can vary by country and currency.
Best for: Employees who'd appreciate a ride or dinner on you.
The holidays are about getting some well-earned rest, but they're also a great time to start planning next year's adventures.
For the employee who's always planning their next trip, an Airbnb gift card gives them something to look forward to long after the holidays are over. They could put it toward a weekend away, a summer vacation, or somewhere they've always wanted to visit.
It's a lovely way to give someone an experience they'll genuinely enjoy, far away from work. Instead of choosing the trip for them, you give them the freedom to plan on their own terms.
Just check that they can use the gift card in their country before sending it.
Best for: Giving travel lovers something exciting to look forward to in the new year.
A Southwest Airlines gift card gives employees money toward their next flight. It's a thoughtful option for frequent travelers, especially if they already use Southwest for vacations or to visit family.
An employee could apply the value to a flight they were already planning to book, letting the reward stretch their vacation budget a little further.
The limitation is that they're choosing from Southwest's routes rather than any airline, so it works best for someone you know already flies with them.
Best for: Employees who regularly fly Southwest.
For employees who love beauty and skincare, a Sephora gift card gives them an excuse to treat themselves to something they've had their eye on.
With everything from makeup and fragrance to skincare and haircare, there's plenty to choose from. But with this gift, knowing your audience matters. You don't want to assume someone wears makeup or accidentally make them feel like you're suggesting they need to improve their appearance.
If you know Sephora is already one of their favorite places to shop, though, it's a lovely way to give them something they'll genuinely enjoy over the holidays.
Best for: Employees who already love shopping at Sephora, rather than those you're guessing might.
For the employee who always has a project on the go, a Home Depot gift card can go straight to work. They can use it for renovation supplies or finally tackle the DIY job they've been talking about.
It's a thoughtful choice when you know someone enjoys improving their home or has just moved. And if they're in the middle of a bigger project, contributing toward something they genuinely need can be more useful than choosing a physical gift that adds to the clutter.
Best for: Employees with a home improvement project in the works.
When everyone's talking about the next big movie release, an AMC Theatres gift card lets employees get in on the action.
It's a great way to treat movie lovers to a holiday night out, whether they're planning a family trip to the movies or catching the latest blockbuster with friends.
And if the whole team is excited about the same release, even better. Everyone gets something to look forward to, and you've got a ready-made topic for watercooler conversations when they're back at work. Just make sure there's an AMC theater nearby so they can actually enjoy it.
Best for: Giving movie fans a night out on you, with something fun for the whole team to talk about afterward.
A restaurant gift card is a lovely way to treat employees to a meal out over the holidays, whether that's dinner with family, a date night, or a catch-up with friends.
It's a gift that gives people something to look forward to, without having to plan the occasion for them. They can choose when to go, who to take, and what to order.
If you know their favorite restaurant, even better. Otherwise, choose a gift card that offers a range of places to eat, so they can pick somewhere they'll enjoy.
Best for: Treating employees to a meal out with the people they love.
Not everyone wants to spend their reward on themselves. Some would rather put it toward a cause they care about, whether that's supporting a local animal shelter or contributing to a charity close to their heart.
Giftogram offers charitable donations alongside its gift cards, so employees who'd prefer to give back can choose to do that instead. It's another way to make recognition feel personal, without assuming everyone wants the same thing.
Yes. Gift cards are a great employee reward because they're easy to send, give people the freedom to choose something they'll enjoy, and can still feel personal when paired with a thoughtful message.
Whether it's a thank-you for great work throughout the year or an extra gift over the holidays, digital gift cards make it easy and quick to send rewards while letting employees choose what to spend them on.
And there's research to back this up. Giftogram's 2026 Employee Appreciation Gap study analyzed 43,513 real workplace conversations and found that people mentioned gift cards most often as the reward they wanted. But the gift itself was only part of what made people feel appreciated. Having a choice, being recognized for something specific, and knowing someone had put some thought into it mattered too.
Research from Gallup backs this up, finding that recognition works best when it feels personal, genuine, and suited to the person receiving it.
So don't let the gift card do all the talking. Add a personal message about what you're thanking them for, then let them enjoy their reward their own way.
Read more in Giftogram's Employee Appreciation Gap research.
Performance reviews are a good opportunity to recognize someone who's made a real difference. The reward should reflect the achievement, whether that's a small thank-you for consistent effort or something more substantial for an exceptional year.
For smaller rewards, a favorite coffee shop or restaurant can feel personal. For bigger achievements, prepaid cards or choice-based gift cards give employees more freedom to spend the reward on something they've been looking forward to.
You might give someone a $25 gift card for consistently helping colleagues or a $100 reward for exceeding their goals. Whatever you choose, include a message explaining what you're recognizing.
Holiday gifting shouldn't mean guessing what hundreds of different people want.
Giftogram lets employees choose their own gift, so you can feel confident everyone gets something they'll love.
Send one gift or thousands, with no platform fees or markups on standard digital rewards. Giftogram was rated the #1 highest satisfaction rewards software by G2 users in 2026.
Join 25,000+ businesses making employee gifting simple with Giftogram.
Giftogram is one of the best gift cards to give employees because it lets everyone choose what they actually want, with thousands of brands to choose from. Employees can even split their reward across multiple gift cards instead of spending it all in one place. Add your company branding and a personal message to make the reward feel thoughtful, while giving everyone the freedom to enjoy it their own way.
Yes. Gift cards make great employee rewards because they're easy to send and let people choose something they'll actually enjoy. Digital gift cards (e-gift cards), like Giftograms, are especially fitting because they avoid platform fees and markups, deliver rewards in minutes, and offer employees the widest choice, with thousands of national and local brands to choose from.
Giftogram's redemption data shows that everyday retail, prepaid cards, and food delivery are the most popular categories, alongside coffee shops, beauty retailers, and lifestyle brands. The best choice depends on what each employee enjoys, so Giftogram's choice-based gift cards are a safe option.
The value should reflect the milestone or achievement you're recognizing and your company's budget. A small year-end or holiday gift may call for $10-$25, while a performance achievement could warrant $100 or more.
Multi-brand, choice-based gift cards work particularly well for performance rewards because employees can choose something they genuinely want. Match the value to the achievement and include a personal message explaining what they've done to earn it.
Yes. Gift cards for employees are generally taxable in the US, even when the amount is small. The IRS typically treats gift cards as cash-equivalent benefits, so employers should account for them through payroll and follow applicable reporting requirements. For more information, read Giftogram's Ultimate Gift Card Tax Guide or consult the IRS Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.