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.
Based on Giftogram’s redemption data, here are the categories employees choose most:
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.
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.
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.
By shifting from prediction to choice, companies make every recognition moment meaningful.
Delivering personalization sounds simple, but the logistics of distribution quickly become overwhelming. Recognition programs often involve:
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.
This combination ensures recognition feels personal to employees, while staying simple and scalable for managers.
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.
With Giftogram, recognition programs are not just easy to run - they are proven to deliver satisfaction and impact at scale.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.