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Can You Give Someone Money on Steam?

Steam does not let you transfer your existing Wallet balance, but you can buy a digital gift card or gift an eligible game.
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You can give someone new spending value on Steam, but you can’t transfer or gift the Steam Wallet balance already in your account. For flexible value, buy a digital Steam Gift Card; for a specific title, gift an eligible game instead.

Can you transfer your Steam Wallet balance to someone else?

No. Steam says, “your Steam wallet funds cannot be moved or gifted to another Steam account.” That means you can’t send your existing balance to a friend, withdraw it for them, or move it through a trade. Steam’s Wallet FAQ explains the available gift-card option.

How to give someone flexible Steam spending value

Buy a digital Steam Gift Card through Steam’s official Gift Cards flow and select the friend or family member who should receive it. This is a new purchase, not a transfer from your Wallet. Steam says the recipient receives an email and a gift notification in Steam. After redeeming the card, its value is added to their own Wallet for eligible purchases.

At checkout, Steam Wallet funds are applied by default unless the buyer changes the payment method. If the Wallet balance does not cover the purchase, the recipient needs another payment method for the remaining amount.

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#1 Best Overall
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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 card or game gift: which should you choose?

Option What the recipient gets Best for Main constraint
Digital Steam Gift Card New value redeemable to the recipient’s Steam Wallet Letting them choose what to buy You must purchase a new gift; payment and availability may vary by region.
Steam game gift A particular eligible new game When you know the title they want Recipient eligibility and regional, ownership, DLC, bundle, or title restrictions can prevent gifting.

To give a game, choose the Store’s gift option for an eligible new purchase and select a recipient from your Steam Friends List. Some games and add-ons cannot be gifted; DLC gifting also requires the recipient to own the base game. Steam’s Gifts FAQ describes these restrictions. If a delivered game gift is not acted on, Steam says it is automatically canceled and refunded after 30 days.

Can you use a physical Steam Gift Card?

Steam’s Wallet FAQ says it is ending the retail Steam Gift Card program. As of the current FAQ, Steam says cards will not be restocked as stores run out and expects retailers to be out of stock by the end of 2026. Existing physical cards remain redeemable, subject to local law. Store stock and local availability can change, so check before buying; Steam continues to offer digital gift cards.

Rank #2
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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.

Why Steam trades cannot transfer money

Steam trading is not a workaround for sending Wallet funds. Steam states that its trading interface does not support money in any form, including Wallet credits, PayPal, or gift cards. Treat any trade offer claiming to include Wallet funds as potentially fraudulent. Steam also warns against schemes that ask you to buy an item and list it at an inflated price to move funds. See Steam’s Recommended Trading Practices.

Protect yourself from Steam gift-card scams

A request to pay someone with Steam gift-card codes is a warning sign. Steam says cards can only be redeemed on Steam and that requests for cards to cover supposed taxes, bail, debts, or sweepstakes winnings are likely scams. Don’t send a code to someone you don’t know, even if they claim to represent an agency or a person you trust. Steam’s Gift Card Scams FAQ covers these tactics.

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Rank #3
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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.
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Can you get a refund for Wallet funds you bought?

Steam’s Wallet FAQ says you may request a refund for Wallet funds purchased on Steam within 14 days, provided none of those funds have been used. This is a refund rule, not a way to transfer your balance to another account.

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Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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.
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$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
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  • The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
  • 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

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.

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