1. Definitions: Gift Cards and Store Credit

The differences between Giftnote gift cards and store credit, how each is issued, and which is easier to share.

Written By Giftnote Admin

Last updated 20 minutes ago

Giftnote can issue two kinds of balance: gift cards and store credit. Both give someone money to spend in your store. The difference is who can spend it. Anyone with a gift card code can use it, while store credit stays on one customer's account. Gift cards and store credit are included on the Core and Professional plans.

The Gift Cards list, showing each card with its balance, customer and recipient.

Gift cards

A gift card has a set amount and a code. A customer buys one from your Giftnote gift card product, and Giftnote sends the code to the recipient. Anyone who has the code can spend it, so gift cards are easy to pass on.

Giftnote issues each gift card in the currency the customer checks out in. If you sell in more than one currency, see Do Giftnote gift cards work with Shopify Markets?.

To start selling gift cards, see Add eGift Cards.

Store credit

Store credit is a balance you add to one customer's account. You issue it to an email address or a Shopify customer ID, usually an existing customer's. There's no code to share. The credit applies when that customer makes their next purchase.

You can issue store credit from the Giftnote app (see Create Store Credit) or from a Shopify order (see Issue Store Credit Directly from a Shopify Order).

Does store credit work in other currencies?
Store credit you issue from the Giftnote app is in your store's base currency. To issue credit in the customer's own currency, run a store credit campaign through Shopify Flow.

Direct comparison

  • Gift cards are easy to share. Use them for gifts, promotions and giveaways, where it doesn't matter who spends the code.
  • Store credit stays with one customer. Use it for customer service, such as exchanges or making up for a problem order.