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Choose the gifting method that fits
| Method | Best when | Recipient gets | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct game gift | You know the exact game and can select the recipient during checkout | A license for that game | Eligibility and regional rules are checked by Steam at checkout |
| Email game gift | You know the recipient’s email but not their Steam account | A link to claim the game | Recipient must be in the purchaser’s country; unclaimed gifts are refunded after 30 days |
| Shared wishlist | You want the recipient to choose an acceptable game | The selected wishlist game | The recipient must share the wishlist link |
| Digital Steam gift card | You do not know which game they want and want instant digital delivery | Steam Wallet balance | Country restrictions may apply; existing Wallet funds cannot buy the card |
| Physical Steam gift card | You want a tangible present or maximum game choice | A redeemable Steam Wallet card | Availability and redemption rules vary by market |
Buy a specific game as a Steam gift
- Open the game’s Steam Store page and start the purchase.
- Choose the gift option rather than buying the game for your own library.
- Select the recipient offered by Steam, add any available gift message or delivery details, and continue.
- Review the recipient, country or region, price, and payment method at checkout.
- Complete payment. Steam sends the recipient a gift to accept into their account.
Steam’s current gifting update says guest checkout can be used to buy any game on Steam, so the purchaser does not necessarily need a Steam account for supported gift flows. The labels and placement of the gift controls can differ by client and account state; follow the options displayed in your checkout rather than relying on a fixed button location.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Can I gift without adding the person as a Steam friend?
For a normal direct gift, Steam may require you to choose an eligible recipient from the account options it presents. If you are not Steam friends, use the shared-wishlist route or email delivery instead. Cross-region direct gifting specifically requires the recipient to be on your Steam friends list.
Send a Steam game by email
- Choose the game and select the email-gift option when Steam offers it.
- Enter the recipient’s email address and finish payment.
- Steam sends an email containing a claim link.
- The recipient follows the link, signs in to a Steam account, and accepts the game.
Email delivery is useful when you know where to reach someone but do not know their Steam username. The recipient must live in the same country as the purchaser. Steam states that an email gift not accepted within 30 days is automatically refunded, so this option cannot be scheduled as a future delivery date.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Gift from a shared Steam wishlist
- Ask the recipient to share their Steam wishlist link.
- Open the link and select the game you want to give.
- Use the gift checkout shown by Steam, confirm the recipient and payment details, and complete the purchase.
- The recipient accepts the gift in Steam.
Steam says wishlist gifting no longer requires the purchaser and recipient to be Steam friends. The recipient controls the list, reducing the risk of buying an unwanted edition, bundle, or game with incompatible content. Guest checkout can also be used in this supported flow.
Give a digital Steam gift card
A digital gift card adds funds to the recipient’s Steam Wallet rather than assigning one particular game. The recipient can spend the balance on games, downloadable content, microtransactions, and other Steam purchases; some accounts may also use Wallet funds for Community Market items.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
What to check before buying
- Steam does not allow existing Steam Wallet funds to purchase a digital gift card.
- Some countries restrict sending or receiving digital cards.
- If the recipient declines, Steam says the purchase is refunded to the original payment method when possible; otherwise the refund goes to the purchaser’s Steam Wallet.
Give a physical Steam gift card
Physical Steam gift cards are the most straightforward choice when you want something tangible or do not know which game the recipient prefers. Steam says physical cards can be redeemed for games, software, hardware, and other items purchasable through Steam. Buy from a legitimate retailer, then give the card or its code to the recipient for redemption.
Gifting across countries and regions
Steam applies regional pricing and product restrictions at checkout. For a direct gift to a friend in a higher-priced region, Steam says it matches the increased price in that friend’s region when applicable. This cross-region method requires the recipient to be on your Steam friends list.
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Rank #3
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
- Check the final checkout price instead of assuming your local price applies.
- Confirm that Steam marks the specific game as giftable to that recipient.
- Do not assume an email gift will work internationally: email recipients must be in the purchaser’s country.
- Regional rules, prices, and game-specific restrictions can change, so the eligibility and total shown by Steam are authoritative for the transaction.
What if you do not know which game to buy?
Use a shared wishlist if the recipient is willing to choose games in advance. If you want a surprise without asking for a list, a digital gift card provides choice without requiring you to know the recipient’s account. A physical card is better when you want a present they can unwrap or when digital delivery is unsuitable.
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The recipient cannot claim the gift
Check that they are signing in to the intended Steam account, that the email link has not expired, and that the recipient’s country meets the gift’s requirements. An unaccepted email gift older than 30 days is automatically refunded.
Rank #4
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
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- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
The game is not available as a gift
Steam can apply game-specific, account-specific, or regional restrictions. Try the shared-wishlist or gift-card route, and rely on the eligibility message shown during checkout.
The price is higher than expected
For an eligible cross-region direct gift, Steam may charge the recipient region’s higher price. Review the final total before paying; do not rely on the price displayed in your own store region.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
The recipient declines a digital gift card
Steam says the amount returns to the original payment method when possible, or otherwise to the purchaser’s Steam Wallet. Allow for the payment provider’s processing time.
The Bottom Line
Know the exact game? Buy it directly or from a shared wishlist. Know only an email address? Use email delivery, provided the recipient is in your country and can claim it within 30 days. Unsure what they want? Choose a digital or physical Steam gift card.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
