Gift Cards By WP Swings Vs Woocommerce Gift Cards – Features, Price and Compatibility.

The global gift cards Market market was valued at USD 1.10 trillion in 2024. It is projected to reach USD 3.81 trillion by 2034. ~ Precedence Research

Gift Cards market is exponentially growing, and If you are someone exploring practical solutions for incorporating digital gift card functionality into your WooCommerce platform, this article offers a detailed examination of WooCommerce gift card plugin comparison with two prominent plugin options currently available.

In the following sections, we will do the WooCommerce gift card plugin comparison with Gift Cards plugin developed by WP Swings. Both serve the same general purpose, enabling merchants to issue and manage gift cards within their eCommerce stores, but they differ in execution, features, pricing structures, and user experience.

This comparison is intended to assist store owners, developers, and decision-makers in selecting the plugin that best aligns with their business requirements.

Key considerations include Core Gift cards Features, Admin Controls & Management Customer Gift Cards Experience, Integration & Add-Ons and Pricing Comparison.

Let us proceed with a clear, structured WooCommerce gift card plugin comparison to determine which solution is more suitable for your WooCommerce environment.

Overview Of The Plugins

Digital gift card market has experienced steady growth in recent years, driven by the increasing preference for flexible, cashless gifting solutions. Online retailers, particularly those operating on the WooCommerce platform, are increasingly adopting gift card functionality to encourage repeat business, improve seasonal sales, and offer customers a personalized shopping experience.

Managing a gift card system within an eCommerce store requires reliable software that can handle issuance, redemption, balance tracking, and customer communication with consistency. In this context, WordPress-based gift card plugins offer an effective means of integrating such functionality directly into a WooCommerce store.

Gift Cards For WooCommerce Pro By WP Swings

Gift Cards plugin by WP Swings is a comprehensive solution designed for WooCommerce store owners who wish to offer digital, physical, or downloadable gift cards to their customers.

This plugin allows merchants to create customizable gift card templates, set fixed or variable pricing options, schedule deliveries via email, and track usage seamlessly through the WooCommerce dashboard.

One practical use case involves a clothing retailer during the holiday season: instead of managing large-scale returns or uncertain purchases, the store promotes gift cards as an ideal option for last-minute shoppers.

Customers can select a festive template, enter the recipient’s email, add a personalized message, and send the gift instantly, ensuring timely delivery and a smooth gifting experience for both sender and recipient.

2. WooCommerce Gift Cards

WooCommerce Gift Cards plugin, developed by the WooCommerce team, provides store owners with a native solution for selling and managing digital gift cards.

Integrated directly into the WooCommerce environment, the plugin allows merchants to create fixed-denomination or custom-value gift cards, manage redemption through checkout, and monitor gift card balances within the admin panel.

For example, a specialty coffee shop running an online store can use this plugin to offer digital gift cards during promotional campaigns. A customer may purchase a $25 gift card for a friend, who then redeems it online to order their preferred coffee blends, simplifying the process while encouraging repeat visits to the store.

Gift Cards by WP Swings vs WooCommerce Gift Cards – A Closer Look at WooCommerce Gifting Solutions

Here we present a WooCommerce gift card plugin comparison of two widely used gift card plugins within the WooCommerce ecosystem: Gift Cards by WP Swings and the official WooCommerce Gift Cards plugin.

The purpose of this analysis is to assist merchants in identifying which plugin aligns more closely with their store’s operational requirements, customization needs, and long-term gifting strategy.

Each solution offers a distinct approach to managing digital gift cards, and understanding these differences is essential for making an informed choice.
Let us examine their features in greater detail.

1. Core Gift Cards Features

Both gift card plugins for WooCommerce offer a range of essential features that enable store owners to incorporate a fully functional and customizable gift card system into their online stores.

• Digital Gift Cards: Both Gift Cards by WP Swings and WooCommerce Gift Certificates support the creation and delivery of digital gift cards via email. This functionality is standard in both plugins and forms the core of their intended use.
• Physical Gift Cards: Gift Cards by WP Swings includes the ability to generate PDF versions of gift cards that can be printed and shared physically. This option is not currently available in the WooCommerce Gift Certificates plugin.
• Custom Gift Cards Pricing: Gift card pricing flexibility is handled differently in each plugin. WP Swings allows users to enter a custom gift card amount directly, while the WooCommerce plugin requires integration with an additional plugin (Name Your Price) to enable similar functionality.
• Gift Card Design Templates: Design customization varies between the two. WP Swings includes a larger selection of over 20 templates with greater customization options. The WooCommerce plugin offers fewer built-in design features and limited template variety.
• Delivery via Email: Email delivery of gift cards is supported in both plugins. This remains the primary method for sending gift cards to recipients and functions similarly across both systems.
• WhatsApp Integration: Gift Cards by WP Swings offers built-in support for sharing gift cards via WhatsApp, including key card details such as code, gift card amount, and expiry. The WooCommerce plugin does not include this channel of delivery.
• Schedule Gift Card Delivery: Both plugins allow customers to schedule when the gift card should be delivered, supporting planned gifting for birthdays, holidays, and other occasions.
• Reminders for Gift Card Expiration: Expiration reminder features are included in both solutions. Merchants can notify customers when a gift card is nearing expiration to encourage timely redemption.
• Group Gifting: Group gifting is supported in the WP Swings plugin, allowing multiple contributors to fund a single gift card. This functionality is not present in the WooCommerce plugin.
• QR/Barcode Redemption: The ability for easy redemption via scanning the QR code or barcode, either on the provided POS portal or directly via a third-party scanning software. This feature is not included in the WooCommerce Gift Cards plugin.

2. Admin Controls & Management

For any store to work smoothly, the right admin control options are required. Merchants enjoy accessing dynamic functionalities that they can customize to suit their business requirements.

• Reporting and Analytics: Both Gift Cards by WP Swings and WooCommerce Gift Certificates offer essential reporting tools. These include tracking issued cards, redemptions, and overall gift card usage. The available analytics are comparable in scope and provide sufficient detail for most administrative needs.
• Coupon Code Customization: Gift Cards by WP Swings allows administrators to customize the length and prefix of gift card codes, offering greater flexibility in aligning with store branding or internal systems. The WooCommerce plugin uses a fixed 19-character format with limited customization options.
• Restrict to Multiple Use Cases: The WP Swings plugin supports advanced usage restrictions, enabling admins to limit gift card application by specific product, product category, or even by selected days. This level of control is not currently available in the WooCommerce Gift Certificates plugin.
• Option to CC and BCC in Emails: Both plugins provide options to include CC and BCC recipients when sending gift card emails. This can be configured manually by the store administrator in either system, supporting improved communication when needed.
• Gifting Portal / POS System: Gift Cards by WP Swings includes a dedicated gifting portal, allowing in-store staff or administrators to redeem, recharge, and manage physical gift card products. The WooCommerce Gift Certificates plugin does not include a POS or gifting portal component.
• Import/Export Gift Cards: Each plugin supports the ability to import and export gift card data, providing flexibility for bulk management, backups, or migration tasks.

3. Customer Gift Cards Experience

The ultimate goal of any plugin or WooCommerce store is to meet the unique expectations of your customers, and this holds especially true for online gifting.

When it comes to gift cards, a smooth and flexible customer experience can make all the difference. Whether it’s sending personalized messages, choosing the delivery channel, or recharging a card with ease, the right features ensure your customers keep coming back.

• Self Balance Checker: Both plugins allow customers to check the remaining balance on their gift cards by entering the coupon code in a designated balance checker field. This helps users keep track of their available funds with ease.
• Redeem While Checkout (Online Store): Gift cards issued through either plugin can be redeemed directly during the checkout process on the online store, ensuring a smooth and intuitive customer experience.
• Gift Cards Recharge by Customer: The Gift Cards by WP Swings plugin allows customers to recharge their gift cards by purchasing a designated product, useful for extending the life of a physical or digital card. This feature is not currently available in the WooCommerce Gift Certificates plugin.
• Personal Message Field: Both plugins offer a dedicated message field during the gift card purchase process. This lets customers include a personal message for the recipient, enhancing the gifting experience.
• Multi-Channel Delivery (Email, SMS, WhatsApp): Gift Cards by WP Swings supports the delivery of gift cards through multiple channels, including email, SMS, and WhatsApp, providing greater flexibility. WooCommerce Gift Cards only support email delivery.
• Multi-Currency Support: Multi-currency functionality is partially supported by both plugins and may require third-party extensions for full compatibility across all currencies.

4. Integrations and Add-ons

This might be the final category of WooCommerce gift card plugin comparison, but it’s one of the most crucial. Any ideal WordPress gift cards plugin should integrate seamlessly with other plugins in the WooCommerce ecosystem to offer a cohesive and flexible gifting experience.

• Subscription Compatibility: Both plugins offer compatibility with their respective subscription solutions. WP Swings Gift Cards integrates with their own subscription plugin, while WooCommerce Gift Certificates supports Woo Subscriptions.
• Conditional Shipping: WooCommerce Gift Cards offers integration with conditional shipping rules via the Conditional Shipping and Payments plugin. WP Swings does not currently support conditional shipping integrations.
• Payment Gateways: WooCommerce Gift Certificates supports multiple gateways, including PayPal Standard, PayPal Checkout, PayPal Powered by Braintree, Stripe, and more. WP Swings Gift Cards lists compatibility with PayPal Payments.
• API for Gift Cards: WP Swings Gift Cards includes API support that allows external systems to fetch gift card details, redeem coupons, recharge balances, and update cards. WooCommerce Gift Cards does not publicly list a similar API offering.

Pricing: Which Plugin Offers Better Value?

When comparing WordPress gift card plugins, pricing is undoubtedly an important factor. However, cost alone doesn’t reveal the full picture.

In this section, we’ll break down the pricing models of both plugins and highlight what features and value each brings to the table, so you can decide which one aligns best with your store’s needs.

1. WooCommerce Gift Cards

WooCommerce’s official gift card plugin comes with a flat yearly price that includes essential gifting features and basic support.

• Single Site License: $79/year
• What’s Included: All core features are bundled under this price with regular updates and official WooCommerce support.

2. WP Swings Gift Cards

WP Swings offers more flexible pricing options and includes a feature-rich free version:

• Free Version: Available on Ultimate Gift Cards for WooCommerce
• 1 Site License: $89/year
• 5 Site License: $169/year
• 10 Site License: $329/year

The paid versions unlock advanced features like multi-channel gift card delivery (SMS, WhatsApp), gifting portal POS, gift card recharge by customers, and more.

Which Offers the Better Value?
If you need basic gifting functionality with official WooCommerce integration, WooCommerce Gift Cards offers a simple and affordable solution.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for more advanced features, flexibility, and customer self-service options, Gift Cards by WP Swings may provide better long-term value, especially for growing stores that want to offer a more dynamic gifting experience.

Final Verdict: Our Take On WP Swings Gift Cards Vs WooCommerce Gift Cards

Both WordPress gift card plugins do a great job if your goal is to turn your WooCommerce store into a gifting-friendly platform.

WooCommerce Gift Cards keeps it clean and simple. If you just want to offer digital gift cards via email without too much complexity, it gets the job done with ease. It’s reliable, official, and straightforward, no frills, no fuss.

Gift Cards by WP Swings, on the other hand, is like that thoughtful friend who wraps the gift perfectly, adds a handwritten note, and even makes sure it arrives on time through email, SMS, or WhatsApp.

With features like gift card recharge, POS redemption, multi-channel gift cards delivery, wallet integration, and API access, it goes above and beyond to enhance the entire gifting experience for both you and your customers.

And the best part? The pricing is transparent, and there’s even a free version to get started.

So, if you want to keep things minimal, WooCommerce Gift Cards is a safe pick.

But if you’re aiming to elevate your store’s gifting game and offer a delightful, flexible experience, Gift Cards by WP Swings might just be the plugin you didn’t know you needed.