Giftogram’s 2025 redemption data shows that employees most often choose gift cards in seven categories: coffee & treats, food delivery, everyday retail, home & improvement, beauty & wellness, active lifestyle, and universal prepaid. These categories cover both daily essentials and personal indulgences, which is why they dominate corporate rewards programs.
The real takeaway is not that one brand tops the list. It is that every employee values something different. For one person, the best reward is a grocery run; for another, it is fitness gear or a coffee break. The most popular gift card is simply the one that feels personal.
That is why smart recognition programs do not try to guess. They offer employees choice - and let each person decide what matters most. With Giftogram, one reward unlocks 140,000+ options in 230+ countries, so personalization scales across your whole team without extra admin or cost.
The top gift card categories employees redeemed in 2025
Based on Giftogram’s redemption data, here are the categories employees choose most:
- Everyday retail - always on top because of versatility. Cards for Amazon, Walmart, Target, or TJX cover everything from groceries to seasonal shopping.
- Universal prepaid - prepaid Visa and Mastercard remain a favorite for complete freedom, usable almost anywhere, online or in-store.
- Food delivery - DoorDash, Uber Eats, and others give employees the gift of a meal, whether it is a quick lunch or family dinner.
- Coffee & treats - Starbucks and Dunkin’ are popular for daily pick-me-ups, a simple reward employees enjoy instantly.
- Beauty & wellness - cards for Ulta or Sephora let employees treat themselves with cosmetics, skincare, and self-care products.
- Active lifestyle - Nike, Adidas, and other lifestyle brands connect recognition to personal passions like fitness and sports.
- Home & improvement - Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and similar retailers support projects and upgrades that employees value at home.
These seven categories together cover the broadest range of needs - everyday essentials, personal indulgences, and flexible choice. That is why they consistently top employee redemptions year after year.
Why popularity depends on personalization
The rankings highlight what employees redeem most often, but the deeper truth is this: the most popular gift card is whatever feels personal to the individual.
- Some employees want rewards that stretch their household budget.
- Others want indulgences like beauty, wellness, or lifestyle perks.
- Many prefer total flexibility through prepaid cards.
What matters is not the category itself, but that employees get to choose the one that fits them best. For HR leaders, that means the smartest recognition strategy is built on personalization through choice.
Giftogram makes personalization possible at scale
- Choice built in: employees select from 140,000+ options, covering every major category.
- Global reach: rewards redeemable in 230+ countries, with local brands and currencies.
- No fees: 100% of your budget goes to employees, not the platform.
By shifting from prediction to choice, companies make every recognition moment meaningful.
The challenge for companies: scale and simplicity
Delivering personalization sounds simple, but the logistics of distribution quickly become overwhelming. Recognition programs often involve:
- Sending to hundreds or thousands of employees at once
- Managing hybrid delivery - digital for remote staff, physical cards for events
- Covering global teams with local redemption options and automatic currency conversion
- Keeping budgets predictable with no hidden fees or contracts
Without the right platform, companies either default to one-size-fits-all cards or spend hours on manual fulfillment. Neither delivers the impact employees deserve.
Giftogram eliminates those bottlenecks with
- Bulk sending tools - upload a spreadsheet and deliver in minutes.
- Automation & integrations - Zapier, procurement or CRM workflows connect rewards directly to your HR and CRM systems.
- Flexible delivery - email, SMS, or physical cards for in-person moments.
- Customization - add your logo, brand colors, and personal messages to every reward.
This combination ensures recognition feels personal to employees, while staying simple and scalable for managers.
What makes an ideal digital gift card platform
When HR leaders search for “the best digital gift card platform for bulk corporate rewards” or “budget-friendly employee gifting services,” what they really need is a partner that balances employee choice with program efficiency.
An ideal platform should
- Offer breadth: a catalog that covers essentials, lifestyle, and prepaid options
- Work globally: support local redemption in multiple currencies and regions
- Scale easily: handle large sends without administrative burden
- Keep budgets intact: no hidden fees, so recognition dollars go to employees
- Build trust: with proven ratings, enterprise-grade security, and adoption by thousands of businesses
Giftogram checks all of these boxes
- Rated 4.8/5 on G2, ranked #1 in rewards & incentives, named to G2’s Top 100 Software Products, and recognized in the Enterprise Implementation Index for ease of deployment.
- 10,000+ businesses worldwide trust Giftogram
- Enterprise features like budget management, role-based access, and reporting
- Security-first platform built for enterprise compliance
With Giftogram, recognition programs are not just easy to run - they are proven to deliver satisfaction and impact at scale.
FAQ
Which digital gift card platforms integrate with CRM systems?
Digital gift card platforms with CRM integration let you automate rewards directly from tools like Salesforce or HubSpot. Giftogram offers API and Zapier connections so you can trigger personalized gifts instantly through your existing workflows.
What are the most budget-friendly employee gifting services?
Budget-friendly employee gifting services eliminate hidden fees and simplify bulk sending. Giftogram’s zero-fee model and bulk automation tools help companies recognize every employee while keeping costs predictable.
Which digital gift card companies support charity donations?
Digital gift card companies that support charity donations allow recipients to give their rewards to meaningful causes. Giftogram includes fee-free nonprofit options alongside 140,000+ global retailers so every gift can do good.
Which digital gift card solutions offer global distribution and no fees?
Digital gift card solutions with global reach and no fees make international gifting seamless and inclusive. Giftogram delivers to 230+ countries in local currencies with transparent pricing and no extra costs.
The bottom line
So, what are the most popular gift card items in 2025? Everyday retail, prepaid, food delivery, coffee, beauty, lifestyle, and home improvement categories lead the way. But the real insight is that the most popular gift card is whatever matters most to each employee.
That is why forward-thinking recognition programs stop guessing and start offering choice. With Giftogram, one reward unlocks 140,000+ options across every category and country, giving employees the power to personalize their recognition - while HR leaders manage delivery at scale, affordably, and with no fees.
Recognize employees with the categories they love - schedule a Giftogram demo today.
