Fetch’s Picks for the Best Gift Cards for Teens

Too often, gift cards get written off as thoughtless and impersonal, but that couldn’t be further from reality–especially when it comes to teenagers. Avoid getting the “wrong” gift or feeling like you lit money on fire if the teen in your life doesn’t connect with your choice of present. No matter what gift card you choose, with Fetch, you can earn gift cards for free and make gift-giving more affordable, all while giving your teen a gift they’ll really love. It’s a win-win!

Why gift cards make the perfect gift for teens

Teens are particular about their aesthetic and care more than you might think about being “seen” and understood. They also spend a fair amount of time going through the motions of school and college prep, which means their interests are about freedom of choice and expression.

Gift cards are especially popular among teens because there’s a wide range of personalization. By earning rewards using the Fetch app to shop online and play games, you’re able to convert those rewards into gift cards and essentially “buy” gifts for your teen at no cost to yourself. If you’re looking for ways to get gifts for people in your life without breaking the bank, the gift cards you’ll earn from using Fetch are a great option! 

Choosing the best gift cards for teens by their interests

The beauty of gift cards is in the precise way you capture your teens interests and personality. Check out our list of gift cards to consider based on what suits your teen’s lifestyle:

Restaurant & coffee gift cards

• Starbucks: Ideal for teens who love a fun beverage or hanging at a coffee shop. 
• Chipotle & Taco Bell: Perfect for cheap or filling eats with friends.
• Subway: Ideal option for health-conscious or teens on the go!
• Buffalo Wild Wings: The definition of “find something safe to do,” an afternoon hanging with friends, food and TV is the ideal situation for parents and social teens.

Gaming & entertainment gif cards

• Roblox: A sweet gift for teen gamers to customize their avatars and enjoy extra in-game perks.
• NFL Shop: Perfect for sports-loving teens to get gear from their favorite teams.
• Hot Topic: Appeals to alt teens and niche interests in music, gaming, and fandoms with unique apparel and accessories.

Fashion & lifestyle gift cards

• Old Navy, H&M, Nike, Victoria’s Secret PINK: Apparel shops are great options for teens who love on-trend clothing and activewear.
• Guitar Center: A creative gift for musical teens, this is a perfect gift card to put towards instruments or accessories.

General shopping gift cards

• Amazon, Walmart, Target: For the kid who always has a shopping cart filled online, spring for a big box or ecommerce shop gift card.

Rideshare & food delivery gift cards

• Uber & Uber Eats: Perfect for older teens more on the independent side, or even enlisted in travel sports, an Uber gift card would take care of rides and meals.

Pre-paid cash cards

• Visa: For kids and families with decision fatigue, a Visa gift card offers the flexibility you need while still giving a generous and thoughtful gift.

Our gift card suggestions for teen girls, gworls and glamazons

While stores and goods are gendered in marketing, there are no rules to hobbies, fashion, and individual identities. Here are some gift card ideas that, while often marketed to teen girls, will appeal to anyone who gravitates towards trendy and feminine clothing, cosmetics, and the like:

• Apparel stores like Victoria’s Secret PINK, H&M, and Shein are perfect for teens who love styling outfits and expressing themselves through trends.
• Food gift cards like Starbucks or Panera Bread resonate with teens who think of treats as a social activity, or those who prefer the “girl dinner” lifestyle to mom’s meatloaf.
• Versatile options like Amazon and Target are ideal for teens who enjoy exploring different hobbies, experimenting with their style or picking up knick-knacks for their room.

Fetch’s gift card picks for teen boys, tom boys and technophiles 

The following are great gift card ideas geared toward boys or any teens interested in athletic gear, video games, or sports:

• For sporty teens, sports-oriented shops and restaurants are ideal. Think: Nike, Buffalo Wild Wings, and NFL Shop.
• Fetch has plenty of options for teens with specific interests in entertainment and technology, such as Guitar Center gift cards for music enthusiasts, Roblox for gamers or Best Buy for new gadgets.
• For “flavor of the week” hobbyists, give the gift of flexibility and opt for gift cards to Walmart, Visa, or Amazon.

How to earn gift cards using Fetch on “lazy mode”

Earning gift cards with Fetch is by no means a huge commitment or effort. Simply download the free app and include it in your existing routines. Use Fetch Shop to sync your online shopping effort, you’ll be able to earn points per dollar spent. You can also catch extra rewards with local offers in the app, or even passing time on your train commute by playing games in Fetch Play. All of these low-stakes actions will result in high-impact rewards to use for meaningful gifts for teens and other loved ones, too.

Let Fetch save you from gifting something embarrassing 

Most of us would like to avoid looking “cringe” or “Ohio” to the teens in our lives, so follow this guide and get your teen or college student-approved gift card. You can still check all the boxes of thoughtfulness and practicality while raking in rewards at the same time. Get the Fetch app today to start earning!