What is a Steam Card, How Does It Work and Where to Buy One?
Ever used Amazon gift cards? Well, Steam has gift cards, too, and you shouldn’t sleep on them! Especially if you’re looking for a perfect present for your in-game friends. Thanks to how Steam Wallet works, the cards can be used for your gaming needs wherever you may reside, whether it’s the USA, Oceania, Africa, or the UK. So, what is a Steam Card, and where can you buy this gem?
What is a Steam Gift Card?
If you’re familiar with any other prepaid gift certificate, you already know what are Steam Cards, and you can redeem them on Steam for a fixed credit. Then, there’s Steam Wallet Code, which is pretty much the same thing but fully digital. When gifted to a platform’s user, these credits will add funds directly to their Steam account, which they can later use to purchase a game, a skin, or any other item sold on the platform. Moreover, the Steam Card usage is unlimited. These gift cards don’t expire, which can be very handy.
Another cool benefit of this system is that you can buy either physical Steam cards or digital codes. The physical cards come in a wide range of denominations, including $20, $30, $50, and $100. Similarly, their digital counterparts are available at $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100.
So, what is a Steam Gift Card used for? Can you use it for games? Absolutely. And there is so much more you can do with it!
Main use cases of Steam Gift Cards:
- Buy several games.
- Send cards as gifts to your friends or close ones.
- Purchase gaming software and hardware.
How Does a Steam Card Work?
Knowing the answer to “What are Steam Cards used for?”, let’s consider how they work. Each card has a code that you need to redeem on the platform. It’s a very convenient way to fund a friend’s gaming streak, which is what makes gift cards so popular.
How to activate Steam Gift Cards:
There are two ways to redeem a Steam Gift Card.
Option #1. On Steam’s website
Go to the platform’s website and sign in to your account.
Click on your account name and choose “Account Details.”
Find the “Add funds to your Steam wallet” button and click on it.
On the right, you’ll see the “Your Steam Account” section. Locate the “Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code” option.
Now, type in your gift card or wallet code.
- Next, you’ll be asked to provide your address.
- That’s it! Check your balance and enjoy your present.
Option #2. In the Steam’s app
- The process of redeeming a code on the platform’s client app is quite similar.
- If you haven’t already, sign in and click on your account name in the top right corner.
- Tap on “Account Details” and then choose the “Add funds to your Steam wallet” option.
- Now, click “Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code” and enter your code.
- Provide your address and wait for a confirmation. All is set and done!
Where to Buy a Steam Gift Card?
The next question that might bother you after “What is a Steam Card used for?’ is where to get a physical gift card or a digital Wallet Code. There are three major ways to receive one.
1. Official Steam website
The most secure option for purchasing Steam Cards online is via the platform’s website. Here, you can only get digital gift cards, but it’s so much easier and faster than other options. The cards and codes will be instantly sent to your email box upon purchase.
How to send a digital Steam Gift Card
- Sign in to your account either through its website or app and go to the Steam Gift Cards.
Click on the button “Send a Digital Steam Gift Card.”
Select a denomination of the gift card you want to send.
Choose the recipient from your friends list and hit “Continue.”
You can add a personalized note if you want to say something kind to the recipient.
- Pick a desired payment method and check the box to agree to Steam’s terms.
- Click on “Purchase” and wait for a confirmation email.
2. Brick-and-mortar retail and gaming stores
Physical Gift Cards are available in a range of retail stores globally. You can easily find various denominations in electronic and gaming stores, supermarkets, and even convenience stores. What’s more, most of those shops offer an option to order physical cards on their websites and get them delivered to your postal address.
You can check out the full list of providers on Steam’s official website. Here are some you can find in the US:
- 7-Eleven;
- Best Buy;
- BJ’s Wholesale Club;
- CVS;
- Dollar General;
- GameStop;
- Sam’s Club;
- Speedway;
- Target;
- Walgreens;
- Walmart.
3. Reputable gift card online platforms
If you can’t or won’t use the platform itself, you can buy these on specialized online marketplaces: eBay, Nosh, and G2A all have this option. You can also try Amazon, but keep in mind that Steam doesn’t formally list it as an eligible vendor.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of Steam Gift Card Scams
When you plan to purchase a gift card through a third-party marketplace, make sure to follow all the necessary precautions to avoid scams.
Here is what you can do to protect your money:
- Always check a platform’s reputation and reviews before making any purchases.
- Don’t click on any suspicious links offered by anonymous gift card sellers.
- Keep your Steam wallet codes secure, and don’t share them with strangers.
- Enable two-factor authentication in your account to get instant alerts if someone’s trying to access your payment details.
- Keep all your receipts from buying gift cards to send complaints to Steam support if necessary.
