Gift Card vs. A Prepaid Credit Card Which is the best gift? Advertiser disclosure You’re our first priority. Everytime. We believe that everyone should be able to make sound financial decisions with confidence. And while our site does not include every company or financial product in the marketplace, we’re proud that the advice we provide, the information we provide as well as the tools we design are objective, independent easy to use and completely free. So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on our website) however it doesn’t affect our suggestions or recommendations that are based on thousands of hours of research. Our partners do not pay us to guarantee favorable review of their services or products. . Gift Card Vs. A Prepaid Credit Card What’s the best gift? Gift cards are the clear winner for a straightforward gift of cash. Prepaid debit cards function than bank accounts. This article was written by Spencer Tierney Senior Writer | Certificates of Deposit, ethical banking, banking deposits Spencer Tierney is a consumer banker at NerdWallet. He has been writing about finances for individuals since the year 2013 with a focus on certificates of deposit and other banking-related topics. The work he has written for him was covered in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, among others. He is located in Berkeley, California. Dec 22nd, 2022 Edited By Sara Clarke Assistant Assigning Editor | Banking Sara Clarke is an editor who joined NerdWallet with two decades of experience in newsrooms, including U.S. News & World Report. She started her journalism career with The Washington Post and later worked at Roll Call, McClatchy-Tribune and The Seattle Times. Sara has been featured on SiriusXM Business Radio and iHeartMedia’s WHO Newsradio and has been quoted on The Salt Lake Tribune, The St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press and other publications. She earned her degree at the Maryland University’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Email:

. A majority or all of the items featured here come from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we feature and where and how the product is featured on the page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of and . Cash is a great gift idea, but the format it should be in is a different matter. Putting bills into an envelope may work, but it’s not ideal It’s impossible to recover cash if it gets lost or stolen. Additionally, it’s easy to forget cash was a gift once it’s in a wallet. Storing cash on plastic cards is a better option, provided you choose wisely among gift cards or debit cards that are prepaid. This article will help you understand. Gift cards and. Prepaid debit cards Let’s start with how they’re similar: Both are debit cards that are prepaid, which means you put money on the card ahead of time for spending at stores in stores, both physical and online. They also offer protections against loss if you register them under your own name. You might see both types of cards in the same section of a shop, such as Walgreens and Target, so make certain to know which you’re purchasing. The major distinction between a giftcard and a prepaid debit card is that it’s only a single-use credit card and a prepaid debit card is a reloadable payment option that has most features and fees that checking accounts and linked debit cards have. The primary function of gift cards is for them: to purchase products at the brand of a specific store or at any store which accepts a payment system like Visa, Mastercard or American Express. They don’t allow cash withdrawals and the majority aren’t refillable. Prepaid debit cards can be used for a variety of jobs: make purchases; withdraw cash at ATMs, banks or certain retailers; as well as use online features like bill pay. They are also reloadable. Due to their versatility, prepaid debit cards can serve as budgeting tools or as a replacement for checking accounts. They’ve historically been used to limit spending, however in recent years there have been more (a usual cost of excessive spending) and also to help track spending. More: Winner Gift cards. Gift cards correspond to their word as presents. Their simplicity is part of why they’re a good choice to give. However, there’s a second reason. Prepaid debit cards usually have monthly fees like checking accounts and these fees, typically between $5 and $10, can be as high as $120 over the course of a year. It could also include other charges, such as transaction or inactivity charges. It’s a best option, but they’re not all equally good deals. The general-use gift cards such as those issued by Visa and Mastercard typically have one upfront cost, usually known as a purchase or activation fee, that the gift giver would have to pay. The amount could be $2.95 or $5.95 dependent on the amount that’s added on the card based on an assortment of gift card websites. However, there aren’t many charges after purchasing. There are some exceptions. A bank may offer general-use gift cards, which have replacement card fees or inactivity charges, which can be charged monthly following one year of card usage. You can avoid the majority, if not all, fees by buying a specific brand-name gift card. Be aware of the terms and conditions of the gift card prior to you purchase it to ensure that you can give your gift with happiness without any fees. Author bio Spencer Tierney is an expert on deposits and certificates at NerdWallet. The work of Spencer Tierney has been featured on USA Today and the Los Angeles Times. In a similar vein… Get an account that is more suitable for checking View NerdWallet’s top picks for the best checking accounts. Go deeper into Banking Get more smart money moves right to your inbox. Sign-up and we’ll send you Nerdy posts about the money topics that are important to you as well as other methods to get more out of your money.

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