> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guides.paynow.gg/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guides.paynow.gg/marketing/gift-cards.md).

# Gift Cards

A gift card carries a **balance** rather than a discount. The customer redeems it at checkout and spends it on whatever they like.

*Dashboard → Marketing → Gift Cards. Needs `giftcard_read`.*

## Creating a gift card

1. Go to **Marketing → Gift Cards**.
2. Click **Create** in the top right.
3. Fill in:

| Field        | What it does                        |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------- |
| **Code**     | Generate one, or enter it manually. |
| **Name**     | For your reference.                 |
| **Duration** | Optional validity period.           |
| **Balance**  | The amount of credit.               |

4. Click **Create**.

<figure><img src="/files/z8o5dlTLwrMlDmvdgykn" alt="The gift card creation form showing code, note, lifetime and balance."><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once the card exists, its page gains an **Orders using this gift card** section listing every order the card was applied to, which is how you track a partially-spent balance. It does not appear before creation.

## Gift cards versus coupons

|                              | Gift Card                          | [Coupon](/marketing/coupons.md) |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| What it gives                | A spendable balance                | A discount                      |
| Spans purchases              | Yes, until spent                   | No                              |
| Customer chooses what to buy | Yes                                | Only within your restrictions   |
| Best for                     | Prizes, compensation, actual gifts | Targeted discounts, campaigns   |

For a giveaway, a gift card lets the winner pick what they want rather than pushing them at one product, and they often spend past the balance.

## Stacking

Whether customers can combine several gift cards on one order is controlled by **Promo Code Stacking Behavior** in [Settings](/store-settings/store.md):

| Setting                     | Effect                                          |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Disable stacking**        | One promo only.                                 |
| **Gift Card stacking only** | Multiple gift cards, but coupons never combine. |
| **Enable stacking**         | Everything combines.                            |

**Gift Card stacking only** is the common choice: customers can use up several balances in one purchase while coupon discounts stay predictable.

## Issuing gift cards as a product

A product can issue a gift card equal to its price on purchase, configured under **Deliverable Actions**. That is how you sell gift cards to your community so they can buy them for each other. See [Creating a Product](/products/creating-a-product.md).

{% hint style="warning" %}
**An outstanding gift card balance is money you owe.** Set a duration on promotional cards, or a balance can be redeemed years later, long after the campaign made sense. And don't hand out large balances casually: a 10% coupon costs you 10% of one sale, a $50 gift card costs you $50.
{% endhint %}