Gift cards are supposed to work like gift cards.
Someone receives a $100 gift card, spends $35 today, and expects the remaining $65 to be available later. But not every WooCommerce gift card setup works that way.
If you want customers to redeem the same gift card across multiple purchases, you’ll need a solution that tracks and preserves the remaining balance automatically.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to create multi-use gift cards in WooCommerce and how they work after purchase.
How to create multi-use gift cards in WooCommerce?
Smart Coupons creates gift cards using WooCommerce store credit.
Step 1: Create a gift card coupon
Go to: WooCommerce > Marketing > Coupons > Add Coupon
Then:
- Enter a coupon name.
- Set
Discount TypetoStore Credit / Gift Certificate. - Enter the gift card amount.
- Configure any restrictions if needed.
- Publish the coupon.
Step 2: Create a gift card product
Go to: Products > Add New
Then:
- Create a new product called Gift Card.
- Mark it as a
Virtual productif shipping isn’t required. - Link the
Store Credit / Gift Certificate couponyou created earlier. - Publish the product.
Your gift card is now available for purchase.
Step 3: Let customers purchase and send the gift card
Customers can purchase the gift card just like any other WooCommerce product.
During purchase, they can:
- Select the gift card amount (if applicable)
- Enter the
recipient's email address - Add a personal message
After checkout, Smart Coupons automatically generates and sends the gift card by email.
How do multi-use gift cards work?
Once the gift card is delivered, it can be redeemed during checkout just like any other gift card. The difference is that the remaining balance doesn’t disappear after the first purchase.
For example:
- Gift card value = $100
- First purchase = $35
- Remaining balance = $65
Later:
- Second purchase = $20
- Remaining balance = $45
The balance continues decreasing until the entire gift card value is used or expires.
Customers don’t need a new gift card code every time they place an order.
Multi-use gift cards vs discount coupons
While gift cards and discount coupons may look similar, they work very differently. The biggest difference is what happens after the first purchase.
| Multi-Use Gift Cards | Discount Coupons |
| Preserve the remaining balance after each purchase | Usually apply a discount once |
| Can be redeemed across multiple orders | Typically used during a single checkout |
| Purchased or gifted as stored value | Created as promotional incentives |
| Often bring new customers to the store | Primarily encourage immediate purchases |
| Frequently lead to higher order values | Mainly reduce the order total |
That’s why gift cards are often a better choice for gifting, employee rewards, customer appreciation campaigns, and store credit.
Customers can redeem the value over time instead of using it all in a single purchase.
A gift card with more than one life
Customers don’t expect to spend an entire gift card balance in a single order.
Multi-use gift cards give them the flexibility to shop when they want, spend only what they need, and come back later to use the remaining balance.
With Smart Coupons, you can create gift cards that support partial redemption, preserve unused balances, and work across multiple purchases.
Ready to offer multi-use gift cards in WooCommerce? Get Smart Coupons and start creating gift cards customers can use again and again.
FAQs
Can customers use multiple gift cards on the same order?
That depends on the coupon restrictions you’ve configured. You can choose whether gift cards can be combined with other coupons or gift cards during checkout.
What happens if the gift card value is lower than the cart total?
The gift card amount is applied first, and the customer pays the remaining order total using their preferred payment method.
Can WooCommerce gift cards work for employee or corporate gifting?
Yes. Many businesses use corporate gift cards for employee rewards, client gifting, affiliate incentives, and seasonal campaigns.
Can customers buy gift cards with a custom amount?
Yes. Depending on the plugin, you can offer fixed-value gift cards, custom-value gift cards, or both.
Can gift cards be used for refunds or store credit?
Yes. Many WooCommerce stores issue gift cards or store credit instead of cash refunds to encourage future purchases and retain revenue.