How to get a free PayPal gift card – Step by step

Learn step-by-step ways to earn PayPal rewards and cashouts, avoid scams, and withdraw safely.

Free PayPal gift card: what it means (and what it doesn’t)

Let’s remove the confusion first, because scammers rely on confusion.

In many countries, there is no widely used “PayPal gift card” that magically adds money to your PayPal balance with a code.

What people usually mean is one of these three outcomes.

• You earn PayPal cash back or rewards that can be redeemed into your PayPal balance.
• You earn money on a reputable platform and withdraw it to PayPal.
• You use a prepaid gift card as a payment method in PayPal, like a Visa or Mastercard gift card.

PayPal does operate a digital gift card store where you can buy gift cards for other brands and pay with PayPal.

That is useful for gifting, but it is not the same as getting “free PayPal money.”

So in this article, “free PayPal gift card” means earning PayPal-usable value through legitimate rewards and cashout methods.

Now you’ll have a clear finish line, and a clean path to get there.

Before you start: set up PayPal the safe way

If your goal is free PayPal value, your PayPal account becomes the “wallet” everything flows into.

That makes basic security worth doing upfront.

Step-by-step: make your PayPal account payout-ready

1. Sign in to PayPal and confirm your email address and phone number so you can receive notifications.
2. Review your Wallet and make sure your preferred funding methods are accurate and up to date.
3. Turn on stronger sign-in protection if available, and avoid reusing passwords from other sites.
4. Get in the habit of typing PayPal’s address yourself instead of clicking random links in messages.

PayPal specifically warns about fake emails and websites that try to trick you into signing in on a spoofed page.

Your best defense is to log in directly and check your account there, not through urgent-looking links.

How to get a free PayPal gift card with PayPal Rewards (PayPal app + Honey)

If you want the most “native” option, start here.

PayPal Rewards is PayPal’s own rewards program, and it’s built to reward eligible shopping activity with points.

Those points can be redeemed for cash back options, including adding funds to your PayPal balance in supported regions.

Step-by-step: start earning PayPal Rewards points

1. Download the PayPal app and sign in to your PayPal account.
2. Open the Rewards area in the app and review the available offers and participating merchants.
3. Activate offers when required, so your purchases can be eligible for rewards tracking.
4. Pay with PayPal at checkout for eligible purchases, following the offer requirements exactly.

PayPal describes “Cash Back at stores” as offers from online stores that accept PayPal payments, presented as a benefit for PayPal customers.

The important part is that offers have terms, and the terms decide what qualifies.

Step-by-step: use PayPal Honey to make earning easier

PayPal Honey is a shopping extension that can surface coupon codes and cash back opportunities while you browse.

It can also connect to PayPal Rewards, depending on your location and account setup.

1. Install PayPal Honey on your browser where you do most of your shopping.
2. Create or sign in to your Honey account, then link it to PayPal if the option is available.
3. When shopping, check the Honey icon for Rewards or cash back indicators before you check out.
4. Complete the purchase normally, and then monitor your rewards activity inside Honey or PayPal.

Honey’s official guidance emphasizes looking for a Rewards badge and completing the purchase to earn rewards that can be redeemed through a linked PayPal account in good standing.

In other words, this is a legitimate “set it once, benefit repeatedly” system.

Step-by-step: redeem PayPal Rewards into usable value

1. Open PayPal Rewards and check your current points balance.
2. Review redemption options available to your account, such as cash back to PayPal balance or other choices.
3. Redeem points only when you have a clear plan for using the value, so it doesn’t disappear into impulse spending.
4. Keep receipts and confirmation emails until the redemption posts, especially if an offer takes time to finalize.

This is the closest thing to a “free PayPal gift card” that happens fully inside the PayPal ecosystem.

And it pairs beautifully with the next methods, which send additional cashouts into PayPal.

Free PayPal gift card method: cashback portals that pay to PayPal

Cashback portals reward you for starting your shopping trip through their link or extension.

Retailers pay them a referral fee, and the portal shares part of that with you as cash back.

When the portal supports PayPal payouts, you can route that cash back into PayPal.

Step-by-step: earn PayPal payouts with Rakuten

Rakuten explicitly offers PayPal as a way to get paid for confirmed cash back.

1. Create a Rakuten account and open the “Choose How You Get Paid” setting.
2. Select PayPal as your payment method and connect the correct PayPal account details.
3. Shop through Rakuten links or the extension so your purchases track as eligible.
4. Wait for cash back to become confirmed, then receive payouts on Rakuten’s payment schedule.

Rakuten’s help center explains that you can get your cash back sent to your PayPal account and that payments are sent on their schedule.

This is not instant, but it is simple, repeatable, and reliable when you follow the tracking rules.

Step-by-step: earn PayPal payouts with TopCashback (region-dependent)

In some regions, TopCashback supports PayPal payouts as one of its withdrawal options.

1. Create an account and confirm what payout methods are available in your country.
2. Set PayPal as your payout method if it is offered in your account settings.
3. Shop through TopCashback links so your transactions track correctly.
4. Request a payout once your cashback is payable, and monitor your PayPal account for the deposit.

TopCashback’s help pages describe PayPal as a payout option and note that timing can vary based on processing and business days.

The big advantage is that you can turn normal online shopping into PayPal value without taking surveys or scanning receipts.

Smart rule: portals only work when you stay disciplined

• Never buy something just for cash back, because cash back is a percentage, not a profit machine.
• Always use the same browser or device where your portal tracking is strongest, to avoid missed rewards.
• Bookmark your portal, because a single “forgot to click through” can mean zero cash back.

If you shop online anyway, portals can become the easiest “background” method for PayPal cashouts.

Free PayPal gift card method: receipt apps and cash back withdrawals to PayPal

Receipt and cashback apps are powerful because they reward spending you already do in real life.

The key is choosing apps with clear withdrawal rules and a direct PayPal option.

Step-by-step: withdraw to PayPal with Ibotta

Ibotta provides official instructions for withdrawing earnings to PayPal once you meet the withdrawal threshold.

1. Create an Ibotta account and complete any account steps required for withdrawals.
2. Link your PayPal account inside Ibotta’s withdrawal settings.
3. Earn cash back by following Ibotta’s instructions for eligible purchases.
4. Withdraw to PayPal after you meet the threshold, and confirm the deposit posts successfully.

Ibotta’s help center states that once you meet the $20 withdrawal threshold, you can withdraw earnings directly to your PayPal account.

This turns receipts into real PayPal money, which is exactly what most people want when they say “PayPal gift card.”

Keep it easy: one receipt habit that actually sticks

• Scan receipts the same day, because “later” becomes “never” surprisingly fast.
• Store receipts in one place at home for a week, so you can scan in batches if you prefer.
• Set a weekly five-minute reminder to submit anything you forgot.

Consistency is the difference between “I tried it once” and “I get PayPal payouts every month.”

Survey and task platforms: earn rewards and cash out to PayPal

This method is popular because you can earn from your couch, on your schedule.

The downside is that not every platform respects your time, so you want reputable options with clear cashout steps.

Step-by-step: cash out to PayPal with Swagbucks

Swagbucks documents how to connect your PayPal account to redeem rewards for PayPal cash.

1. Create your Swagbucks account and complete basic verification steps if requested.
2. Choose PayPal as a redemption option and use “Connect with PayPal” to link your accounts.
3. Earn points through activities you prefer, such as surveys, shopping, or curated offers.
4. Redeem points for PayPal cash once you meet the minimum redemption requirement shown in your account.

Swagbucks’ help center explains that you connect your PayPal account during redemption, then the funds are deposited into PayPal after processing.

This is a legitimate path, but your best results come from protecting your time and avoiding low-value tasks.

Step-by-step: earn PayPal money through Survey Junkie (concept and expectations)

Survey Junkie promotes PayPal as a way to redeem earnings in supported accounts.

1. Create an account and complete your profile honestly to receive better-matched surveys.
2. Set a daily time limit so surveys stay a side bonus, not a burnout cycle.
3. Cash out using PayPal when your account shows you meet the redemption requirements.
4. Keep records of your redemptions and confirmations for your personal budgeting.

Survey earnings vary widely, so treat this as “extra,” not guaranteed income.

Your win is stacking small payouts into a meaningful PayPal balance over time.

A simple filter to avoid sketchy survey sites

• If a site asks for money upfront to “unlock” PayPal rewards, leave immediately.
• If a site promises huge payouts with no eligibility screening, assume it’s bait.
• If a site requests sensitive credentials unrelated to payout, it is not worth the risk.

Legit platforms still have flaws, but they do not need secrecy or pressure to function.

Can you add a prepaid gift card to PayPal instead of getting a PayPal gift card?

Yes, and this is an underrated workaround when you receive a prepaid gift card from a promotion.

PayPal explains that you can use prepaid gift cards with major card network logos wherever PayPal is accepted by adding them as a card.

Step-by-step: link a prepaid gift card to PayPal

1. Open PayPal and go to Wallet on the website, or Accounts on the app.
2. Choose the option to link a debit or credit card.
3. Enter the gift card details exactly as provided by the card issuer.
4. Use the card as a funding source at checkout when paying with PayPal.

PayPal’s help pages outline the basic “link a card” flow inside the Wallet area.

This does not convert a gift card into PayPal balance, but it does let you spend the gift card through PayPal where accepted.

Your 7-day step-by-step plan to earn your first PayPal payout

If you want momentum, you need a plan that is simple enough to repeat when life is busy.

Here is a realistic seven-day setup that stacks multiple legitimate methods without overwhelm.

Day 1: Set the foundation

1. Secure your PayPal account and confirm your email and phone.
2. Decide your goal for the first payout, such as a small PayPal balance milestone.
3. Create a single folder in your email for rewards confirmations and payout receipts.

Day 2: Turn on PayPal-native earning

1. Open PayPal Rewards in the app and explore eligible offers.
2. Install PayPal Honey on your main shopping browser if you shop online regularly.
3. Pick one upcoming purchase you already planned and see if an offer applies.

Day 3: Choose one cashback portal

1. Join a portal like Rakuten and set PayPal as your payout method.
2. Install the portal extension if you prefer reminders at checkout.
3. Do one planned online purchase through the portal to test tracking.

Day 4: Add one receipt habit

1. Pick one receipt app that supports PayPal withdrawal in your region, such as Ibotta.
2. Link your PayPal account if the app requires that step for withdrawals.
3. Scan receipts the same day you shop, even if it’s just one receipt.

Day 5: Add one time-based earning option

1. Create one survey or task account on a reputable platform you can tolerate using.
2. Set a strict daily limit, like 15 to 30 minutes, so it stays sustainable.
3. Stop when you hit the limit, even if you feel tempted to “chase” a bigger payout.

Day 6: Clean up and optimize

1. Check which activities actually credited properly, and remove anything that didn’t feel worth it.
2. Bookmark your portal and create a simple reminder to click through before online shopping.
3. Decide what you will redeem first, so your value turns into something useful.

Day 7: Lock in the routine

1. Repeat your easiest method one more time to cement the habit.
2. Review your progress and set a weekly “money minute” to keep everything on track.
3. Plan a simple redemption moment, like redeeming toward a bill or a specific purchase.

This is how you make “free PayPal gift card” results feel inevitable instead of lucky.

Safety checklist: avoid “free PayPal gift card” scams and phishing

If you remember only one thing, remember this.

Anyone offering “instant free PayPal gift card codes” with no terms is not offering a gift, they are hunting access.

Red flags you should treat as a hard no

• Websites claiming they can generate PayPal gift card codes instantly.
• Messages pressuring you with fake urgency, like “your account will be suspended today.”
• Requests for passwords, one-time codes, or remote access to “verify” your payout.
• Any request to pay a fee or deposit money to unlock a reward.

PayPal’s security guidance emphasizes verifying communications and avoiding suspicious links and false urgency.

PayPal also highlights how gift card scams work and why scammers prefer gift cards because they are hard to trace once stolen.

One simple rule that saves most people

If you did not initiate the action, do not trust the message.

Log in directly to PayPal to check notifications, rather than clicking through a link.

That single habit prevents a shocking number of account takeovers.

FAQ: free PayPal gift card questions people ask

Does PayPal sell a PayPal gift card?

PayPal operates a digital gift card store where you can buy gift cards for many brands and pay with PayPal.

That is different from a “PayPal gift card” that adds money to your PayPal balance.

What is the most legit “free PayPal gift card” equivalent?

The cleanest equivalent is earning PayPal Rewards points or earning cash back elsewhere and withdrawing it to PayPal.

That ends in PayPal value without relying on sketchy code sites.

Can I add money to my PayPal balance for free?

PayPal explains you can add money to your PayPal balance from a bank account, with timing depending on the method you choose.

That is not a “free gift card,” but it is an official way to fund PayPal when you need to.

Can I link a prepaid gift card to PayPal?

Yes, PayPal explains you can add prepaid gift cards with major card network logos by adding them like a debit or credit card.

This lets you use that prepaid card where PayPal is accepted, depending on the card issuer rules.

What if a cashout option disappears in an app?

Cashout options can change by region, verification status, or temporary processing limitations.

That is why it’s smart to have two methods, like one portal and one receipt app, instead of relying on only one.