46 Fabulous Gift Card Deals for Last-Minute Shoppers Who Love Free Stuff

We’re in the final stretch of the holiday shopping season and gift cards are your go-to for everyone on your list. It’s good to have some around for people not on your list who might have slipped your mind.

We’ve got a list of 46 retailers, restaurants and movie theaters with great gift card deals. Most are offering $5, $10 even $50 in free gift cards when you purchase a certain amount.

A ton of retailers this year are being a bit of a Scrooge and selling gift cards with no bonus cards. Why would anyone buy from them when these 46 are offering you great deals or discounts?

Scroll through the list to find a favorite of your friends and family that allows you to give more for less, or have a little perk for yourself.

Restaurant Gift Card Deals

1. Applebee’s

Applebee’s is offering a $10 bonus gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card now through Dec. 31, 2023.

2. BJ’s Restaurants

BJ’s has two bonus gift card deals that run through Jan. 24, 2024. Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 bonus card, or buy a $100 gift card and get a $20 bonus card plus 20% off a VIP card.

3. Bonefish Grill

If you’re a fan of Bonefish Grill, share the love with this gift card deal: Purchase $50 in gift cards and get a free $10 bonus card. You can even upload a photo to personalize your gift card.

This deal is available until Dec. 31, 2023.

4. Bravo! Italian Kitchen

This gift card deal is the perfect treat for those who love Italian cuisine, and offers more in free cards than most establishments.

Receive a $20 gift card  for every $50 you spend in gift cards at Bravo! Italian Kitchen. This offer is available until Dec. 31, 2023.

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

If you have football fans in your life who are already planning for next year’s Super Bowl, check out this gift card deal from Buffalo Wild Wings.

Receive one $5 eBonus for every $25 you spend on gift cards. This offer is valid for gift cards purchased in restaurants or online through Dec. 31, 2023. There are numerous styles of cards ranging from “Thanks Coach” to “Feliz Navidad” to “Happy Hanukkah” and one saluting health care workers.

6. Brio Italian Grille 

Here’s another deal for the Italian food lovers in your life. Receive a $10 gift card for every $50 of cards you purchase.

This offer is available until Dec. 31, 2023.

7. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

With this Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant gift card deal, you’ll receive $10 in reward cards when you purchase a $50 gift card by Dec. 31, 2023.

8. California Pizza Kitchen

If you know any fans of this California-style gourmet pizza shop, give the gift of pizza with this deal — and get a little something for yourself, too.

Between now and Dec. 31, 2023, you can grab a free $20 promotional card when you spend $100 on gift cards at California Pizza Kitchen.

9. Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Yes, more Italian! Carrabba’s is offering a $10 bonus card when you purchase $50 in gift cards.

This offer is available until Dec. 31, 2023., and you can redeem your bonus card between Jan. 1-Feb. 11, 2024.

Restrictions apply, so read the fine print at the bottom of the gift card page.

10. The Cheesecake Factory

The menu that offers something for everyone also has a gift card deal. Buy $50 worth of gift cards and get a $15 gift card free that can be used between Jan. 1-Feb. 29, 2024. That’s a great reason to take a shopping break and treat yourself to some cheesecake or a beer.

11. Chili’s Grill & Bar

Receive a $10 bonus card for every $50 you spend on gift cards at Chili’s. This offer is available until Dec. 31.

12. Chipotle

The first 10,000 people to spend $50 or more on gift cards between Dec. 18 and Dec. 25, 2023, get a code for a free entree. So pick up lunch when picking up that last minute gift that’s a sure win for any high schoolers or 20-somethings.

13. Cold Stone Creamery

This is a stocking stuffer staple. Buy $50 worth of gift cards and get a $15 card free until Dec. 31.

14. Cracker Barrel

What’s better than breakfast served 24 hours a day? Get a $10 bonus card good until Feb. 12, 2024 for every $50 spent on gift cards at Cracker Barrel, offer ends Dec. 31.

15. Del Fresco’s Grille

Between now and Dec. 31, Del Fresco’s will offer a free $20 card when you buy $100 in gift cards.

16. Del Taco

Between now and Dec. 31, Del Fresco’s will offer two free $20 cards when you buy $150 in gift cards.

17. Denny’s

From now until Dec. 26  while supplies last, Denny’s will give a $5 bonus card when you buy $25 worth of gift cards.

18. Einstein Bros. Bagels

Give the gift of bagels and coffee with this gift card deal from Einstein’s. Get a $5 bonus card with the purchase of $25 in gift cards.

19. First Watch

Give six folks the gift of a good breakfast for $50. This daytime cafe will give you $10 in Bonus Bucks with $50 in gift card purchases between now and Dec. 31.

20. Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

You can also give the gift of a couple cocktails to a few friends or one special night to two or three people. From now through Dec. 31, 2023, Fleming’s will offer a $20 bonus card for every $100 spent on gift cards.

21. Fogo de Chao

This may be the best deal yet. But you do have to spend more money to save more money. This Brazilian steakhouse is actually giving away $100 worth of gift cards if you buy $400 worth. You can also get a $75 card for buying $300 in gift cards or a $25 card for buying $125 in cards.

22. IHOP

The pancake favorite  offers you a $5 bonus card with a $25 gift card purchase at participating locations.

23. Golden Corral

This all-you-can-eat buffet and grill will give you $10 in Bonus Bucks with every $50 gift card purchase. This offer is available until Dec. 31.

24. Joe’s Crab Shack

This is your excuse to be crabby at Christmas. You can get a $10 reward card with every $50 you spend on gift cards at a participating Joe’s Crab Shack location.

25. Longhorn Steakhouse

The popular steakhouse doesn’t offer free gift cards this year, but it does make some one-stop shopping pretty easy. For $75 you can get one gift card for a $50 dinner and $25 at the movies with Fandango.

26. Moe’s Southwest Grill 

Welcome to Moe’s and its gift card deal. Spend $30 and get two free $5 cards. Go to the website just to see a photo of a gift card being dipped in that melted cheese. Gross or yummy? You be the judge.

27. Noodles & Company

Give yourself or your college kids a break from these six recipes for great instant ramen noodles with this gift card deal from Noodles & Company. Buy $25 worth of cards and get a $5 card free.

29. Ocean Prime

Here’s an elegant deal. Spend $100 on gift cards at this steak and seafood favorite and get a $25 card free.

29. Ono Hawaiian BBQ

Say “aloha” to this gift card deal! I’ve never been to Hawaii, and after taking a peek at Ono Hawaiian BBQ’s menu, I’m ready to abandon this post and take a trip to the Pacific islands. But I know you all need the inside scoop on gift card deals, so moving on…

Ono Hawaiian BBQ will give you a $10 bonus card with the purchase of $40 or more in gift cards.

30. Outback Steakhouse

Outback says it well. “$50 for them, $10 for you.”  And again, that can be one $50 gift card for two folks or buy six $10 cards (for $50) to give to six people. It may not cover a whole meal but it’s good for a drink or dessert. And that computes to $8.33 a gift by the way.

31. Panera Bread

Panera Bread will give you a $10 bonus card for every $50 you spend on gift cards. This offer is available in cafes only until Dec. 31. Its website also allows you to send any amount from $2 to $200.

32. Red Lobster

Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Need we say more? Well, ok. It offers seafood, too.

Red Lobster will give you two coupons for a $10 off coupon for every $50 you spend on gift cards.

33. Red Robin

Red Robin has a holiday season offer: a $5 Bonus Buck Reward when you purchase a $25 holiday gift card.

34. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Buy $300 worth of gift cards from this classic steak house and get a %10 bonus card for free. You can divide that $300 into 10 $30 giftcards that will make for a nice outing to the fun and reasonably priced happy hour at Ruth’s Chris. Drinks start at $9 and appetizers at $11.

35. Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse will give you a $5 bonus electronic gift card for every $30 you spend on gift cards.

36. Tijuana Flats 

We’re starting to see a pattern here. Buy $25 in gift cards and get a $5 one free. Buy $50 worth and get $15 gift cards for free.

37. Village Inn

Known for its made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes, eggs cooked any style and a pot of hot coffee on every table, this family-style restaurant will give you a $5 promo card for every $25 you spend on gift card purchases.

Give the Gift of Clothes and Beyond

If you have shopping fanatics on your list, give them the gift of shopping — and get a little something for yourself, too — with these gift card deals.

38. The Children’s Place

If you can’t keep track of how fast your nieces, nephews or grandkids are growing, this deal can save you the time trying to find the right fit.

Now through Dec. 25, The Children’s Place is offering a $10 coupon when you buy  gift card purchases of $50 or more. This offer is available online and in-store.

39. Designer Shoe Warehouse

What do you give the person who loves shoes? A gift card for shoes, of course!

Designer Shoe Warehouse is offering a 20% discount on all gift cards for the holiday season.

40. American Eagle

Do you know someone in need of a new outfit with a slightly vintage look? American Eagle is offering a $25 e-card for every $100 spent on gift cards now.

41. Gymboree

Those clothes for babies and toddlers are so adorable but it’s hard to know the best size when they grow so fast. So give those moms and dads a gift card instead. Get a $10 coupon when you buy $50 worth.

For Those Who Just Want to Have Fun

From movies to big-kid games, these gift card deals make great stocking stuffers for those who could use a little more fun in their lives.

42. Cinemark Theatres

Take in a movie while getting a last minute gift this year. Cinemark is offering a free $5 bonus card with the purchase of a $40 gift card.

43. Harkins Theatres

Buy $50 worth of gift cards to any theater and receive a $10 bonus gift card.. That’s some good math for the movies.

44. Regal Cinemas  

Regal Cinemas is offering something for big buyers. Get a $35 concessions card with gift card purchases of $350.

45. Chuck E. Cheese’s

Give the gift of pizza and fun with this Chuck E. Cheese’s gift card deal. Get a $10 bonus card when you buy $50 worth of cards.

46. Dave & Busters

Just like Chuck E. Cheese’s, buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 bonus card from the biggest name in arcades for all ages, Dave & Busters.

Contributor Katherine Snow Smith is a veteran newspaper reporter and editor who covers lifestyle topics, workplace issues and ways to make money for The Penny Hoarder. She is the author of “Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps and Lessons Learned.” Freelance William Fewox contributed to this report.