If you're paying full price for a movie, song, or app on the App Store, you're a sucker. You can easily buy an iTunes gift card for less than its full price, and redeem it to get an instant discount.
The trick is to know where to buy them so you aren't scammed on eBay or other sites. Several people online sell these discounted cards, but they won't work when you try them. And the seller has probably disappeared.
Fortunately, there are some places with a good reputation about such discounted cards, so that's where you need to go. It's not always a foolproof system and you'll have to be quick at times to grab these discounts. But if you are vigilant, you'll save big bucks over time.
Who Should Buy iTunes Gift Cards?
iTunes Gift Cards can be redeemed for the following services:
- Apps from the App Store for iPhone and iPad
- Apps from the Mac App Store
- Movies and TV shows from iTunes
- Music from iTunes
- Books from iBooks store
- Apple Music
- iCloud storage
If you spend money on any of these services regularly, a discounted gift card will lead to good savings. And of course, as the name stands, it always makes a good gift to just about anyone.
But read these three critical tips first.
Tip 1: Look for iTunes Gift Cards, Not Apple Gift Cards
Long-time Apple users know that the iTunes store is where you do all your buying. But those who use only iPhones and iPads might not know that since the App Store and iTunes Store are clearly separated. Well, just so you know what you're going for, here's what the iTunes gift cards should look like:
So make sure you always search for "iTunes Gift Cards" or "iTunes and App Store Gift Cards" or "Apple Music gift cards." Searches for Apple Store gift cards and other such variants is an easy way to fall into a scammer's trap. Those will give you a discount to buy hardware in an Apple Store, not anything on the App Store or iTunes Store.
Tip 2: Check the Gift Card's Country or Region
This is so important, it can't be understated. The App Store, Mac App Store, iTunes store, iBooks store, and Apple Music work differently in different countries. So make sure you are buying a gift card that you can redeem in your country. Apple clearly states that it can't help you if you buy a card or code from a different region.
Tip 3: Check Expiration and Try a Workaround
Similarly, each iTunes content card has an expiration date, so check that before you buy. In case your card has expired, try using it on the App Store or the Apple Music store. Both of these don't have expiration dates, so sometimes, an expired iTunes card or code will work here.
Now, let's go in search of the best places for genuine iTunes gift card deals.
Track iTunes Gift Card Deals on Twitter
These gift card deals and discounts are always active for a limited amount of time. So you need to pounce when it's available. And the best tracker for this is @itunescarddeals on Twitter.
The account has changed hands a couple of times but continues to do a smashing job of rounding up every iTunes card deal out there. The only issue, if any, is that the same deal is repeated a few times, so you might get some spam.
But if you're willing to put up with a few extra posts on your timeline, this is a free way to get discounts and deals before they expire or are sold out.
Find Discounted iTunes Gift Cards on Gift Card Granny
For a full list of all the discounted iTunes gift cards, there's no better place than Gift Card Granny. It's an aggregator of reliable gift cards from different sites.
In a simple list, you will see the type of the card, its value, the selling price, and how much you save by percentage. Sort by any of the parameters, and click the link for any deal.
Gift Card Granny also has gift card statistics to show you if you're getting a great deal, or whether the price was better or worse in the last 30 days. Plus there is a section full of the top coupon deals, in case you can't figure out what to buy.
Guaranteed Money Back With Raise
Raise is an iOS app and a website that lets you buy and sell iTunes gift cards with steep discounts. Like Gift Card Granny, you'll see a list of all the cards currently available on the site, along with how much you save.
What sets it apart is the money-back guarantee. Raise gives you a one-year guarantee on inactive cards, inaccurate balance, or bad deliveries, so you are assured that your money is safe. We haven't seen this offer from any other such gift card seller, so that's a big plus in the trust factor here.
Try Big Retail Stores
It's often overlooked, but you will find excellent discounts on iTunes gift cards if you go to physical retail stores like Walmart or Target. Since they buy gift cards in bulk, the savings are passed on to consumers, who can pick up a card for less than its value.
Similarly, Amazon often has discounts on iTunes gift cards when you apply certain promo codes. But make sure that the seller is Amazon or Apple, and not some third party. While most third-party merchants are legitimate, there are some bad apples in the basket too.
What Did We Miss?
These sites should ensure valuable savings for you, but these aren't the only places to get discounted cards. So tell us dear internet, what did we miss?
Gift cards make an excellent last-minute present. Check out some more great gifts that don't require shipping.