How to Gift Money on Steam

Send a Steam digital gift card or gift a game

by
Robert Wells
Robert Earl Wells III
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Robert Wells is a professional writer and amateur game developer. His specialties include web development, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity.
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Robert Earl Wells III
Updated on April 19, 2021
reviewed by
Jon Fisher headshot
Jon Fisher
Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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Article reviewed on May 23, 2021
Jon Fisher

What to Know

  • Go to the Steam Gift Card page > Send through Steam > choose amount > select friend > Continue > add note > enter payment. 
  • In the Steam client, go to the Store and select Now Available on Steam under Gift Cards.
  • You can use Steam gift cards to purchase anything in the Steam Store, including games, DLC, and Steam Community Market items.

This article explains how to gift money on Steam with digital gift cards using a web browser or the Steam client.

How to Gift Money on Steam

You need to have a Steam account to send someone a digital Steam gift card. You must also add the recipient to your Steam friends list. The person must be on your friends' list for three days before you can send them a gift card.

  1. Go to the Steam Digital Gift Card page in the Steam store and select Send through Steam.

    Send through Steam on the Steam Digital Gift Card page

  2. Select an amount for the digital gift card.

    Steam gift card amounts

  3. Sign in to Steam if prompted.

    Steam log in screen

  4. Choose a friend to receive the gift card, then select Continue.

    Continue on the send Steam gift card page

  5. Include a personal message and enter your payment information to complete the purchase. Your digital gift card will be delivered instantly via email.

Purchase Gift Cards From the Steam Client

You can also buy gift cards from the Steam client. Go to the Store tab and select Now Available on Steam under Gift Cards. The process is the same as using a web browser.

Store and Now Available on Steam under Gift Cards in the Steam client

What Are Steam Digital Gift Cards?

In addition to gifting games on Steam, you can now send digital gift cards through email. Gift cards come in predetermined amounts from $5 to $100. You'll even have the option to include a personalized message to the recipient.

Gift cards can't be purchased using funds from your Steam wallet; you must use PayPal or a credit card. The recipient will have the option to return the gift card, in which case Steam will refund you for the purchase.

Amounts are based on the sender's currency and then converted to the recipient's currency, so if you send someone a gift card in another country, check the exchange rate.

How to Gift Games on Steam

If you know someone wants a specific game, you can buy a digital copy for them through Steam. They will receive an email with a link to download the game.

  1. Go to the Steam page for the game you want to purchase and select Add to Cart.

    Add to Cart on Steam

  2. Scroll to the top of the page and select Cart.

    Cart in the Steam Store

  3. Under the game you want to send as a gift, select Purchase as a gift.

    Purchase as a gift on Steam

  4. Log in to Steam if prompted.

    Steam log in screen

  5. Choose a friend to receive to the gift card, then select Continue.

    Continue on the send Steam gift card page

  6. Include a personal message and enter your payment information to complete the purchase. Your digital gift card will be delivered instantly via email.

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