If you received an Amazon gift card for the holidays or your birthday, you may be wondering exactly where you can use it in 2024. This detailed guide will walk you through everywhere your Amazon gift card is accepted – and not accepted – this year.
The short answer:
Amazon gift cards can be used to buy nearly anything sold directly by Amazon. This includes physical products, digital content, Prime membership fees, Amazon Fresh groceries, and more.
However, there are some restrictions. You can‘t use Amazon gift cards at Whole Foods, for Audible audiobooks, or at gas stations, restaurants, and other retail stores.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of where your Amazon gift card works in 2024 and how to get the most value from it.
Using Your Amazon Gift Card on Amazon.com
The primary and most versatile use for Amazon gift cards is making purchases on Amazon.com.
Once you add the gift card to your Amazon account, you‘ll have billions of products and services to choose from.
Here are some of the most popular items people use Amazon gift cards to purchase:
Buy Any Physical Items Sold Directly by Amazon
The Amazon gift card works for any physical items sold directly by Amazon, which includes:
- Amazon devices – Kindle, Echo, Fire tablets, Ring doorbell cameras, and more
- Amazon Basics – Batteries, cables, office supplies, electronics accessories
- Household items – Cleaning supplies, kitchen gadgets, pet food
- Toys & games – NERF guns, LEGO sets, board games
- Outdoor gear – Camping equipment, hiking boots, fitness trackers
- Beauty & personal care – Skincare, hair products, oral care, shaving
- Amazon wardrobe – Clothing, shoes, accessories
- Amazon pantry – Snacks, beverages, baking ingredients
And anything else sold directly by Amazon – which totals over 12 million products across every category.
I recently used a $50 Amazon gift card to buy:
- A 3-pack of Anker USB-C cables for $19.99
- A dog rope toy for $12.99
- Reusable storage bags for $16.99
Those three essentials added up to almost exactly my $50 balance. Amazon‘s vast selection let me spend my gift card on items I really needed.
Pay for an Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon Prime provides free fast shipping on millions of items, unlimited streaming of movies/TV shows, access to Kindle ebooks, and other benefits.
An Amazon gift card can be used to pay for a Prime membership. Options include:
- Monthly Prime at $14.99/month
- Annual Prime at $139 per year
- 3-month Prime trial for $49
Prime frequently offers deals like free same-day delivery for members in certain areas. If you shop on Amazon often, using a gift card for Prime is a smart way to maximize the value of both programs.
In 2022, over 200 million people subscribed to Amazon Prime worldwide.
Buy Kindle Unlimited and Audible Book Subscriptions
For the avid reader, Amazon offers two monthly book programs that can be paid for with gift cards:
Kindle Unlimited:
- Get access to over 1 million Kindle ebooks and thousands of audiobooks
- Read on any device – Kindle, tablet, phone, computer
- Swap books as often as you want with no limits
- Costs $9.99 per month
Audible Premium Plus:
- Includes unlimited listening to hundreds of thousands of audiobooks and podcasts
- Apps for all devices, plus the ability to read along in Kindle books
- Audiobook recommendations and discounts for members
- Also costs $9.99 per month
If you love having constant new reading or listening material, Kindle Unlimited and Audible Premium Plus are a terrific use of Amazon gift card funds.
Buy a Kindle E-Reader or Fire Tablet
Amazon gift cards can be used to purchase Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets.
Some popular options include:
- Kindle Paperwhite – $139.99 for the ad-supported model
- Kindle Oasis – The premium model at $279.99
- Fire 7 Tablet – Just $59.99 for the 16GB version
- Fire HD 10 – Larger 10-inch model starting at $149.99
I always recommend buying a case as well to protect your new device.
If you find an Amazon refurbished or used model, you can save even more – up to 25% off the regular price. Just don‘t forget to use your gift card at checkout!
Download Kindle Books, Movies, Music & More
Your Amazon gift card can be used to instantly expand your digital library of content.
Use your balance to get:
- Kindle books – Fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, comics, magazines
- Movie rentals or purchases – Latest releases or old favorites
- TV shows – Purchase full seasons or just individual episodes
- Android apps & games – Expand what your Fire tablet can do
- Digital music – Millions of songs to download from Amazon Music
- Software & PC games – Beef up your computer setup
I like to buy Kindle books then add the Audible narration for just a few dollars more using the Kindle MatchBook program. It‘s a great way to enjoy books in multiple formats.
Sign Up for Free Trials of Amazon Services
Many Amazon services offer free trials for new users, no payment required. You can start these trials then enter an Amazon gift card when the trial ends to keep the service going.
Some options:
- Amazon Music Unlimited – 60 million songs, thousands of playlists, ad-free
- Kindle Unlimited – 1 million books and audiobooks for unlimited reading
- Amazon Fresh – Free 2-hour grocery delivery for Prime members
- Audible – All-you-can-listen audiobook service
The free trials let you evaluate the service. Then if you love it, you can use your gift card balance to keep the subscription going.
Use Amazon Fashion Services
Amazon offers fashion-focused services that work with gift cards:
Personal Shopper:
- Get expert fashion advice and recommendations
- Receive monthly boxes of clothes picked for your style
- Additional purchases charged to your card on file
- $5/month for Prime members
Made for You:
- Custom-tailored shirts, chinos, and jeans
- Provide your measurements to get a perfect fit
- Clothes ship within 2 weeks
- Starting at $89 per item
So if you want personalized help improving your wardrobe, an Amazon gift card provides the funds to get started.
Pay for Grocery Delivery with Amazon Fresh
In available areas, Amazon Fresh offers free 2-hour delivery of groceries and other household essentials for Prime members.
You can pay for Amazon Fresh orders with your Amazon gift card balance.
Some things to know about Amazon Fresh:
- Available in over 2,000 cities in the US
- Offers a full selection of grocery and household items
- Two-hour delivery windows for Prime members
- Orders over $35 qualify for free delivery
Instead of lugging heavy bags back from the supermarket, pay for Fresh delivery using your gift card funds.
Maximizing Your Amazon Gift Card Balance
To get the most value from your Amazon gift card, keep these tips in mind:
Register Your Gift Card
Registering your gift card protects it in case the card gets lost or stolen. You can view your balance and retrieve unused funds on a registered card.
To register, go to Amazon.com > Your Account > Apply Gift Card to Your Account.
Consolidate Multiple Gift Cards
If you received several Amazon gift cards, consolidate them into one balance:
- Register each gift card on your Amazon account
- View your total gift card balance on your account page
- Spend the consolidated balance on your next order
This simplifies tracking instead of worrying about individual gift card amounts.
Buy High-Value Items You‘ve Been Putting Off
Look for higher priced products you‘ve wanted but put off buying until now. Apply your gift card to partly pay for:
- A new laptop, TV, or tablet
- Premium headphones or speakers
- A DSLR camera or video game console
- An Instant Pot or other kitchen appliance
This lets you splurge on bigger ticket items while saving on the overall cost.
Shop Bestselling Lists to Discover Hot Gift Ideas
Amazon‘s curated bestseller lists showcase products people are loving based on purchases and reviews. Browse these lists to find fun gift card splurges:
- Most Wished For – See the most popular items on wish lists
- Amazon‘s Choice – Items recommended for their high rating + low price
- Hot New Releases – The latest products customers are excited about
- Movers and Shakers – Fast rising products in popularity
Find great deals on the most in-demand items across every category.
Wait for Amazon Prime Day and Holiday Sales
Time your gift card purchases around Amazon sales events to maximize savings:
- Amazon Prime Day – Members get exclusive deals in July
- Back to School sales – Discounts in July – Sept on supplies
- Black Friday deals – Doorbusters in late November
- Holiday sales – Deals all December long
- Post holiday sales – Shop discounts with new gift cards
Set price drop alerts on items you want and pounce when the price is right.
Enable Gift Card Reload
With gift card reload, when your balance gets low, funds get automatically added from a saved payment method.
To enable:
- Go to Reload Your Balance under Your Account
- Set the minimum balance needed to trigger a reload
- Enter your credit/debit card or bank account
Then you never have to worry about your gift card balance running out!
Where Amazon Gift Cards Are NOT Accepted
While extremely versatile, there are some limits on where you can‘t use an Amazon gift card:
1. Amazon Gift Cards Can‘t Be Used for Audible
Surprisingly, Amazon gift cards can‘t be used to buy audiobooks on Audible.
Audible is owned by Amazon but does not currently accept Amazon gift cards or balance for purchases. A credit or debit card is required.
However, you can use gift card funds for an Audible membership itself. Just not for individual audiobooks.
2. Not Accepted At Whole Foods Stores
You can‘t use an Amazon gift card to make purchases at Whole Foods stores. This includes paying at checkout or self-checkout.
Whole Foods is owned by Amazon but operates as a separate business unit with distinct payment systems.
So visit Whole Foods with a different form of payment – all gift cards are excluded.
3. Can‘t Buy Other Brand Gift Cards
If you see gift cards for sale on Amazon for other brands like Starbucks, iTunes, Uber, etc – you can‘t purchase them with an Amazon gift card.
These third party gift cards must be bought with an accepted credit/debit card. Amazon gift card funds only work on Amazon‘s own products and services.
4. No In-Store Use at Walmart, Target, Etc.
Major chains like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy sell Amazon gift cards in their stores. But you can‘t then use an Amazon gift card to make purchases when shopping in-person at those retailers.
Amazon gift cards are only accepted on Amazon itself, both online and at Amazon‘s own physical retail stores.
5. Not Accepted at Gas Stations, Restaurants, or Hotels
Standalone gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses do not allow customers to pay with Amazon gift cards.
You‘ll need to save your gift card balance for Amazon.com and use other payment when fueling your car, eating out, or booking a hotel room.
The only exceptions are establishments located inside Whole Foods stores. Those retailers accept the same payment methods as Whole Foods, including Amazon gift cards.
So be sure to use your Amazon gift card for Amazon eligible purchases only.
Can Amazon Gift Cards Be Used On Other Websites?
Primarily, Amazon gift cards may only be used on Amazon‘s own website. However, there are two cases where the cards work elsewhere:
Pay with Amazon Balance on Supported Websites
Amazon Pay allows you to spend your gift card balance on websites outside of Amazon that accept Amazon Pay.
Big sites where this works include:
- Grubhub – Order food delivery from restaurants using Amazon Pay
- Stubhub – Buy tickets to concerts and events with your balance
- Etsy – Purchase handmade goods from Amazon Pay sellers
- Barkbox – Sign up for dog toy subscriptions
To set up:
- Load gift card balance to your Amazon Pay account
- Enable Amazon Pay on compatible sites
- Choose your balance as the payment method
This expands the gift card options beyond just Amazon purchases.
Buy Twitch Bits for Tipping Streamers
Amazon owns Twitch, the popular live streaming platform focused on gaming.
You can use an Amazon gift card to purchase Twitch Bits, which are used for tipping streamers.
To buy Bits with your balance:
- Link your Twitch and Amazon accounts
- Go to purchase Bits on Twitch
- Select your Amazon balance as payment
- Tip your favorite streamers!
So gift cards can be used for more than just physical products – also for supporting digital creators.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this provides a comprehensive overview of where Amazon gift cards can – and can‘t – be used in 2024.
The key takeaways are:
- Use for anything sold directly by Amazon – Products, subscriptions, Prime membership, and more
- Limitations on Audible, Whole Foods, other gift cards, gas, restaurants
- Maximize value with tips like consolidating balances, finding sales
- Expand options using Amazon Pay and Twitch (when linked to Amazon)
Amazon gift cards provide amazing flexibility and convenience for shoppers. Review this guide anytime you have a question about getting the most from your Amazon gift card this year. Happy spending!
