I had a drawer full of gift cards for years. A $50 card to a restaurant I never went to. A $25 card to a store that went out of business. A $100 Amazon card I’d gotten for Christmas but never used. They just sat there, accumulating dust, while I told myself I’d use them “someday.”
Finally, I decided to cash them in. I’d heard about GiftCash and similar services that let you sell gift cards for cash. But I had questions: How much would I actually get? How long would it take? Was it even worth the effort? Turns out, the answers depend on a lot of factors — and some of them aren’t obvious until you go through the process.
Here’s what I learned: GiftCash typically pays out within 1-3 business days after your gift card is verified. But the verification process itself can take anywhere from 24 hours to a week, depending on the card type, the amount, and how quickly you respond to their requests. The whole process — from submitting your card to getting cash in your account — usually takes 3-10 business days. This article walks through exactly how it works, what affects the timing, and whether it’s actually worth selling your gift cards for cash.
How GiftCash actually works (and how long each step takes)
GiftCash is a gift card exchange platform. You sell them your gift card, they verify it, and they pay you cash for it. Simple concept, but the execution has a few moving parts. Here’s the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Submit your gift card. You go to the GiftCash website, enter the details of your gift card — the retailer, the balance, the card number, the PIN — and they give you an offer. If you accept, you submit the card. This takes about 5 minutes.
Step 2: Verification. This is where the timing gets variable. GiftCash needs to verify that the card is legitimate and has the balance you claimed. For digital gift cards, this usually takes 24-48 hours. For physical cards, it can take 2-3 business days because they have to wait for you to mail in the physical card. If there are any issues — like the card has a lower balance than you claimed, or it’s from a retailer they don’t commonly see — it can take longer.
Step 3: Approval. Once the card is verified, GiftCash reviews it and either approves or rejects the transaction. Most approvals happen within 24 hours of verification. If there are red flags — like the card was reported stolen, or there’s a discrepancy in the details — it can take longer or get rejected outright.
Step 4: Payment. Once approved, GiftCash sends you the money. The timing depends on how you want to be paid. PayPal is usually instant or same-day. Bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Checks take longer — up to a week. Most people choose PayPal or direct deposit for the fastest payout.
| Step | Typical Time | What Can Delay It |
|---|---|---|
| Submit gift card | 5 minutes | None (you control this) |
| Verification | 1-3 business days | Physical card mailing, unusual retailer, balance discrepancies |
| Approval | 24 hours | Red flags, stolen card reports |
| Payment | Same day to 3 business days | Payment method (checks take longer) |
| Total time | 3-10 business days | Varies by card type and payment method |
What affects how long it takes
Not all gift card transactions are created equal. Here’s what makes some faster than others:
Card type: digital vs. physical. Digital gift cards are faster because GiftCash can verify them immediately. You enter the card number and PIN, they check the balance, done. Physical cards have to be mailed in, which adds 3-7 days just for shipping. If you want fast payout, go with digital cards.
Retailer recognition. Some gift cards are easier to verify than others. Amazon, Target, Walmart — these are high-volume retailers that GiftCash processes all the time. They have systems in place to verify these cards quickly. Smaller retailers, or retailers that GiftCash doesn’t see often, take longer because they have to do more manual checks.
Card balance. Higher-value cards get more scrutiny. A $25 gift card gets verified faster than a $500 gift card, because the risk is lower. If you’re selling a high-value card, expect the verification to take longer.
Your responsiveness. GiftCash will email you if they need more information — like a photo of the physical card, or a receipt showing where you bought it. If you don’t respond quickly, the process stalls. I’ve seen transactions get delayed by a week because the user took 5 days to respond to an email. Check your email and respond fast.
Payment method. PayPal is the fastest — usually same-day or next-day. Bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Checks take up to a week. Choose your payment method based on how quickly you need the money.
How much you’ll actually get (the real math)
Here’s the part most people don’t think about: you’re not going to get full value for your gift card. GiftCash — like all gift card exchange services — takes a cut. How much of a cut depends on the retailer and the card balance, but it’s typically 15-30%.
So if you have a $100 Amazon gift card, you might get $70-85 for it. If you have a $50 gift card to a restaurant nobody’s heard of, you might get $35-40. The more popular the retailer, the better the offer.
Is it worth it? That depends on your situation:
Worth it if: You have a gift card to a store you’ll never shop at, and you’d rather have cash than a card that’s going to sit in your drawer forever. Even at 70% value, that’s better than 100% of a card you never use.
Not worth it if: You have a gift card to a store you actually shop at. In that case, you’re better off using the card — you’re getting 100% value instead of 70%.
Not worth it if: You need the money immediately. GiftCash takes 3-10 business days. If you need cash today, this isn’t the solution. You’re better off selling the card to a friend or family member for cash on the spot.
Alternatives to GiftCash
GiftCash isn’t the only game in town. Here are the main alternatives:
CardCash. Similar to GiftCash, but sometimes offers better rates for certain retailers. They also have an option to trade gift cards for other gift cards (which can be useful if you have a card to a store you don’t like, but want a card to a store you do). Processing time is similar — 3-7 business days.
Raise. A marketplace where you can sell gift cards directly to other people. You set the price, and buyers purchase the card. You can often get better rates than GiftCash — sometimes 85-90% of face value — but it takes longer because you have to wait for a buyer. Could be days, could be weeks.
Gift card exchange kiosks. Some grocery stores have kiosks where you can sell gift cards for cash on the spot. The rates are terrible — often 50-60% of face value — but you get the money immediately. If you need cash now and don’t care about maximizing value, this works.
Sell it yourself. List the gift card on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. You’ll get the best price — maybe 80-90% of face value — but you have to deal with the hassle of listing it, communicating with buyers, and shipping the card. It’s more work, but more money.
| Option | Typical Payout | Time to Cash | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| GiftCash | 70-85% of face value | 3-10 business days | Low |
| CardCash | 70-85% of face value | 3-7 business days | Low |
| Raise | 85-90% of face value | Days to weeks | Medium |
| Grocery store kiosk | 50-60% of face value | Immediate | Low |
| Sell yourself (eBay/Craigslist) | 80-90% of face value | Days to weeks | High |
The bottom line
GiftCash is a legitimate way to turn unused gift cards into cash. The process takes 3-10 business days from start to finish, depending on the card type and how quickly you respond to their requests. You’ll get 70-85% of the card’s face value — not great, but better than letting the card sit in your drawer forever.
If you need the money fast, there are faster options (grocery store kiosks, selling to friends). If you want to maximize the value, there are better options (Raise, selling yourself). But if you want a balance of speed, convenience, and decent value, GiftCash works.
The key is to go in with realistic expectations. You’re not going to get full value. The process isn’t instant. But if you have gift cards you’re never going to use, getting 75% of their value in cash is better than getting 100% of a card that’s worth nothing to you.
That’s the real math of gift card exchanges.
Joshua writes about investing, retirement, and building income that lasts. He’s been managing investments for over 20 years and learned that most people overcomplicate the basics. This isn’t professional advice — it’s experience and research. If your situation is complex, talk to a qualified professional.