How to Check Your Shopify Gift Card Balance

To check your Shopify gift card balance, enter the gift card code at any Shopify store's checkout page. The remaining balance appears before you complete the purchase, and you do not need to buy anything to see it. If you'd rather not go through checkout, most stores also have a dedicated gift card checker page, or you can contact their support team directly.

Below are five methods that work depending on what you have access to, plus tips for store owners who need to look up balances for customers.

Method 1: Check at Checkout

This is the most reliable way to check your Shopify gift card balance because every Shopify store supports it.

1. Go to the Shopify store where you received the gift card.
2. Add any item to your cart and proceed to checkout.
3. Look for the "Gift card" or "Discount code" field in the payment section.
4. Enter your gift card code and click Apply.
5. Your available balance will appear immediately.

You don't need to complete the purchase. Once the code is applied, the balance is displayed and you can simply close the page. This works on every Shopify store regardless of their theme or setup.

One thing to watch for: some stores label the field "Discount code" rather than "Gift card." Both accept gift card codes, so enter yours in whichever field you see at checkout.

Method 2: Use the Store's Gift Card Checker Page

Many Shopify stores have a dedicated page that acts as a gift card checker. You'll usually find it linked in the store's footer, FAQ section, or under a "Gift Cards" menu.

1. Go to the store's website that issued the gift card.
2. Look for a "Check Gift Card Balance" or "Gift Card Balance" link.
3. Enter your gift card code in the field provided.
4. Click Check Balance to see your remaining funds.

Not every store has this page. It depends on whether the store owner has set one up. If you can't find it, use the checkout method instead.

Method 3: Contact the Store's Customer Support

If the store doesn't have a balance checker page and you'd rather not go through checkout, reach out to the store's customer support. Most Shopify merchants can look up gift card balances manually from their admin panel.

Have your gift card code ready when you contact them. They can usually check the balance and give you an answer within minutes, whether you reach them by email, live chat, or phone.

Method 4: Check Your Email

If you received your Shopify gift card digitally, check the original email it was sent in. The email typically contains a link to the gift card page on the store's website, where the current balance is displayed. Some stores also send a receipt after each use that includes the updated remaining balance.

Search your inbox for the store name plus "gift card" to find it quickly. If the email includes a direct link, clicking it will show your balance without needing to enter the code manually.

Method 5: Check on Shopify POS (In-Store)

If you're shopping in a physical store that uses Shopify POS (point of sale), the staff can check your gift card balance right at the register. Here's how it works:

1. Hand your physical gift card to the cashier or show them the digital code on your phone.
2. The staff member taps Gift card on the Shopify POS app.
3. They scan the barcode or enter the code manually.
4. The remaining balance appears on screen.

This is especially useful if you have a physical gift card without access to email or the store's website. Any Shopify POS location for that store can look up the balance instantly.

Shopify Gift Card Balance: Quick Reference by Situation

Different situations call for different methods. Here is a quick guide to pick the right one:

• You know which store issued the card and have internet access: Use checkout (Method 1). Fastest, always works.
• You want to check the balance without going through the cart flow: Look for the store's gift card checker page (Method 2).
• You're shopping in person at a physical location: Ask the cashier to check via Shopify POS (Method 5).
• You received the card digitally and still have the email: Find the link in the original gift card email (Method 4).
• None of the above options are working: Contact the store's customer support (Method 3). They can see the exact balance and transaction history in their Shopify admin.
• You're a store owner checking a customer's card: Go to Shopify admin, then Products, then Gift cards, and search by code or customer name.

For Store Owners: Checking Gift Card Balances in Shopify Admin

If you run a Shopify store and need to look up a customer's gift card balance, you can do it directly from the Shopify admin:

1. Go to Products > Gift cards in your Shopify admin.
2. Search for the gift card by code, customer name, or email.
3. Click on the gift card to see the full balance and transaction history.

This shows you every transaction: when it was issued, what purchases were made with it, and the current remaining balance. You can also disable or adjust gift cards from this screen if needed.

If your customers regularly ask about their balances, consider adding a gift card checker page to your storefront. You can do this through your theme editor or by installing a dedicated app (see the section below).

Gift Card Balance Checker Apps for Store Owners

If you want to give your customers an easy way to check their Shopify gift card balance online without going through checkout, several Shopify apps add a dedicated balance checker to your store:

• Checky - Gift Card Balance: Adds a balance-check widget to your storefront and works with Shopify POS. Customers enter their gift card code and see the remaining balance instantly.
• Gift Card Checker by Maestro: A one-click setup app that adds a self-service balance checker page. Designed to reduce the number of support tickets about gift card balances.
• GCP - Gift Card Balance: Works across both POS and online storefronts. Also includes reporting tools so you can monitor issued, redeemed, and outstanding gift card balances.

These apps are particularly worth considering if you sell a lot of gift cards and your support team regularly handles balance inquiries. They typically cost a few dollars per month and take minutes to install.

What If Your Shopify Gift Card Code Doesn't Work?

If your gift card code is rejected at checkout, there are a few likely causes and fixes:

• Wrong store: Shopify gift cards only work at the store that issued them. If you're trying to use a gift card from one Shopify merchant at a different store, it won't be recognized. Double-check the email you received to confirm which store the card is from.
• Zero balance remaining: If the card has been fully used, it will be declined at checkout. Check the balance first (using any of the methods above) before assuming there's a technical problem.
• Typing error: Gift card codes are case-sensitive on some stores and can include hyphens or special characters. Copy and paste the code directly from your email rather than typing it manually.
• Card disabled by the store: Merchants can disable individual gift cards in their Shopify admin. If you suspect your card was disabled in error, contact the store's customer support with your original purchase confirmation.
• Store has closed: If the store that issued your gift card has shut down their Shopify account, the gift card becomes unusable. There is no Shopify-wide refund process for this. Your only option is to contact the merchant directly if possible.
• Physical card PIN scratched off or unreadable: If the code on a physical gift card can't be read, contact the store with proof of purchase. Many merchants can reissue the card or look up the code by your purchase record.

Avoiding Gift Card Scams

Gift card fraud is common, so keep these precautions in mind when checking or using your Shopify gift card balance:

• Only check your balance on the official store website. Never enter your gift card code on a third-party "balance checker" site that isn't the store itself. These sites can steal your code and drain the balance.
• Watch for phishing emails. If you receive an email claiming your gift card balance needs "verification," go directly to the store's website instead of clicking the link in the email.
• Never share your gift card code with anyone who contacts you claiming to be from the store. Legitimate customer support will never ask you to read your full code over the phone or in a chat unless you initiated the contact.
• Check the balance immediately after receiving the card. If someone tampered with a physical card before you bought it (a known scam at retail stores), you'll catch it early.
• Report unauthorized charges fast. If your balance is lower than expected, contact the store right away. Store owners can see the full transaction history in their Shopify admin and may be able to issue a replacement.

Tips for Managing Your Shopify Gift Card

• Check your balance before shopping to avoid surprises at checkout.
• Combine with another payment method if the balance doesn't cover your full order. Shopify supports split payments at checkout.
• Use your gift card sooner rather than later to avoid forgetting about it or losing the code.
• Save the gift card email or take a screenshot of the code as a backup.
• Bookmark the store's gift card checker page if the store has one, so you can quickly check your balance anytime without going through checkout.
• Keep gift cards separate from discount codes. Shopify treats them differently. A gift card reduces the payment amount, while a discount code reduces the product price. Knowing this helps if you want to combine both on one order.

What to Know About Shopify Gift Cards

Expiration: Shopify gift cards don't expire by default. However, individual store owners can set expiration dates, so check the terms that came with your card. In many jurisdictions, gift card expiration is regulated by consumer protection laws, which may override any store-set expiration.

Store closures: If the store that issued your gift card shuts down, the gift card typically becomes unusable. There's no central Shopify gift card system. Each card is tied to the store that created it. Use your gift cards promptly to avoid this risk.

Multiple gift cards: You can apply more than one gift card to a single order on most Shopify stores, which is useful if you have several cards with small remaining balances.

Refunds to gift cards: When you return an item purchased with a gift card, most Shopify stores refund the amount back to the same gift card. The refunded balance usually appears within a few minutes, though some stores process it within 24 hours.

If you're a store owner exploring more ways to use Shopify's point-of-sale features, see our guide on collecting tips with Shopify POS.