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PSN Gift Cards: The Ultimate User’s Guide

Game Cards

PSN PlayStation gift cards have become an extremely popular way to add funds to a PlayStation Network account and purchase games, movies, TV shows, and other digital content from the PlayStation Store. Gift cards make great gifts for PlayStation owners and offer a convenient alternative to entering credit card information on a PlayStation device. In this comprehensive article, we’ll take an in-depth look at PSN gift cards.

What are PSN Gift Cards and How Do They Work?

PSN or PlayStation Network gift cards allow users to add funds, known as “wallet funds,” to a PlayStation Network account without needing to provide credit card information. PSN gift cards come with a unique 12-digit code that, when redeemed, adds the dollar amount loaded onto the gift card to the recipient’s PSN wallet.

Once redeemed to a PSN account, the gift card funds can be used to purchase and download games, movies, TV shows, downloadable content (DLC), and other media from the PlayStation Store. The funds can also be used to pay for a PlayStation Plus membership subscription. PlayStation Plus provides members with exclusive discounts, free games every month, and online multiplayer gaming capabilities.

PSN gift card funds do not expire, so any unused balance remains in the recipient’s PSN wallet to use on future purchases. Gift cards provide a simple way to add money directly to a PlayStation account, without needing a credit card or PayPal account. They make great gifts for PS5, PlayStation 4, PS3, and PS Vita owners.

Benefits and Advantages of PSN Gift Cards

There are many benefits that come with purchasing and using PSN gift cards, including:

  • Convenience – No need to enter credit card information online. Gift cards add funds directly to a PSN wallet.
  • Security – Minimizes risk by not providing sensitive financial information. Also avoids concerns over saving payment info.
  • Accessibility – Makes it easy for minors to add funds to a PSN account with permission.
  • Budgeting – Allows the exact amount of funds to be added for purchasing specific games, movies, etc.
  • Gifting – Ideal for providing gifts to friends and family with PlayStation devices. Lets them choose what content to purchase.
  • Savings – Can purchase gift cards on sale to save money on PlayStation content purchases. Also take advantage of seasonal sales on PSN.
  • Portability – Gift card codes can be kept or redeemed anywhere with an internet connection and access to the PSN account.
  • Regional – Some retailers sell country or region specific PSN gift cards for foreign PSN accounts.

Overall, PSN gift cards offer PlayStation owners convenience, security, flexibility, and savings compared to using credit cards or other digital payment methods for PSN purchases. The cards make excellent gifts as well.

Where to Buy PSN Gift Cards

PSN gift cards are sold both in physical retail stores and online through various authorized digital retailers. Here are some of the most common places to buy PSN gift cards:

Retail Stores:

  • Buy Crypto Cards (BuyCryptoCards.COM) – Denominations from $10 to $100 you can buy PSN cards anonymously with crypto (NO KYC).
  • GameStop – Denominations from $10 to $100.
  • Walmart – Denominations from $10 to $100.
  • Target – Denominations from $10 to $100.
  • Best Buy – Denominations from $10 to $100.
  • Convenience stores like CVS, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven – Usually $10 and $20 cards.

Online Retailers:

  • Amazon – All denominations from $10 to $100.
  • PayPal Digital Gifts – Denominations from $10 to $100.
  • CDKeys.com – Good discount site. Denominations from $10 to $100.

Official PlayStation Store:

  • Digital codes for any denomination from $10 to $100.
  • Playstation Store eGift Cards sent via email.

The most common denomination amounts for PSN gift cards are $10, $20, $50, and $100. However, any denomination between $10 and $100 can be purchased from the official PlayStation Store. Retailers that sell both physical and digital gift cards will have set denominations.

Redeeming PSN Gift Cards To redeem PSN gift cards and add the funds to a PlayStation Network account, there are two options available:

  1. RedeemCode via PlayStation Console
  • On a PS4, PS3, or PS Vita, go to the PlayStation Store.
  • Select ‘Redeem Codes’ and enter the 12-digit code from the gift card.
  • The funds will be added to the PSN wallet associated with that console.
  1. Redeem Code via PlayStation Website:
  • Go to store.playstation.com and login to PSN account.
  • Click on ‘Redeem Codes’ button in the menu and enter gift card’s code.
  • Funds will be added to the My Wallet section tied to that account.

The funds may take up to 24 hours after redeeming a gift card to fully populate in the PSN wallet. Once redeemed, the gift card funds will remain in the wallet until spent.

Using PSN Gift Card Funds

PSN gift cards give access to much of the content available on the PlayStation Store. Here are some of the ways gift card funds can be used:

  • Purchase and download full PS4, PS3, PS2, and PSone games.
  • Buy downloadable add-ons and expansions for games.
  • Shop for video streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video.
  • Gain early access to new movies before DVD/Blu-Ray release.
  • Subscribe to PlayStation Plus membership.
  • Purchase avatars, themes, and other PS profile customizations.

Essentially, almost anything that can be purchased through the PlayStation Store can be obtained with funds added to a wallet via PSN gift cards. The exception is transactions involving additional fees like taxes or shipping costs. These must be paid with credit card or PayPal.

Playstation Plus and PSN Gift Cards

A PlayStation Plus membership provides a lot of benefits, including free monthly games, exclusive discounts, and online multiplayer access. PSN gift cards can be used to purchase and renew PlayStation Plus memberships.

Here are some key points on using PSN gift cards for PlayStation Plus:

  • 1 Month Membership – $9.99
  • 3 Month Membership – $24.99
  • 12 Month Membership – $59.99

The membership fees will be deducted from the available balance in the PSN wallet. If the balance is insufficient, a secondary payment method will need to cover the remainder.

It is not possible to apply gift card funds towards an existing active PlayStation Plus membership. The balance must be used to purchase a new membership or renew an expired one.

When purchasing multi-month memberships, all months must be redeemed at once. Any leftover gift card balance remains in the PSN wallet for future purchases.

PSN Gift Card Sales, Discounts & Promotions

There are often ways to save money on PSN gift cards through sales, discounts, and promotions:

  • Check retailers for occasional gift card sales, discounts, and promo code offers. Sign up for email and rewards programs.
  • Buy in larger denominations during sales when possible. For example, retailers may sell $100 cards for $90, saving 10%.
  • Time purchases around major PSN sales events like the Holiday Sale, Flash Sales, Mid-Year Sale, and Publisher Sales when wallet funds can go further.
  • Take advantage of buy X get Y promos that offer free extra PSN funds or gift cards when meeting a purchase threshold.
  • Check deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial for discounted PlayStation gift cards from time to time.
  • Use discounted retailer gift cards from sites like Raise.com to purchase PSN gift cards and save.
  • Buy international PSN cards which occasionally have better exchange rates and discounts.

Taking advantage of gift card deals, sales on PSN content, and promotions allows getting the most value for PSN gift card funds. Checking regularly for new ways to save can maximize savings potential.

Avoiding PlayStation Gift Card Scams

Unfortunately, scams involving PSN gift cards do occur. Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to gift card scams and fraud:

  • Only buy directly from reputable retailers online and in-store. Avoid shady resellers.
  • Beware of incredible deals that seem too good to be true. Discounted gift cards sold through unofficial channels have likely been compromised.
  • Avoid buying gift card codes through auction sites unless reputable seller with excellent ratings. Codes are frequently fraudulent.
  • Don’t reveal gift card numbers until ready to redeem. Photos of codes can be stolen online.
  • Never provide gift card numbers or codes to someone by phone, text, or email, even if they claim to be Sony or PlayStation support.
  • Don’t believe calls or messages stating an account has been compromised and that gift cards are needed to unlock it. Hang up and call PlayStation support directly.
  • When entering codes, make sure no one is shoulder surfing or spying through phone/computer cameras.
  • Check gift card balances afterwards to confirm the correct funds were added. Contact retailer or PlayStation support if issues.

Following these tips when buying and redeeming PSN gift cards will help guard against losing money through gift card scams or resold used codes. Only give the gift card code to a trusted recipient when ready for them to redeem it.

Frequently Asked Questions about PSN Gift Cards

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions regarding PlayStation Network gift cards:

  1. Are PSN gift cards region locked?

PSN gift cards are region locked and must match the region of the recipient’s account. North American gift cards only work for PSN accounts in the United States and Canada.

  1. Where can I see my PSN gift card balance?

Log into the PlayStation website or app to view gift card balances in the transaction history for the wallet. On a PS4 console, check the wallet under account settings.

  1. How long do PSN gift cards take to process after redeeming codes?

Gift card funds can take up to 24 hours to appear in a PSN wallet after entering the code.

  1. Can I use PSN gift cards for non-PlayStation related purchases?

No, PSN gift cards can only be used to add funds to a PlayStation Network account and are non-transferrable. The funds cannot be used outside of PSN.

  1. What happens to unused PSN gift card funds over time?

PSN gift card funds do not expire. Any remaining balances stay in the PSN wallet indefinitely for future purchases.

  1. I lost my physical PSN gift card. Can it be replaced?

Unfortunately gift cards cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Make sure to keep the gift card in a safe place and redeem the code as soon as possible.

  1. Can I buy a PSN gift card from another country for my account?

PSN gift cards are region locked. You can only redeem gift cards meant for your account’s country.

Conclusion

PSN gift cards offer a very convenient way to add funds to a PlayStation Network account without needing to use a credit card. They make great gifts and provide currency to purchase games, movies, DLC add-ons, and PlayStation Plus subscriptions. PSN gift cards can be purchased both online and at a wide variety of major retailers. Taking advantage of sales and discounts allows getting even more for the gift card dollars spent. Just be sure to avoid potential gift card scams by only buying from authorized sellers. With a little strategic shopping, PSN gift cards can stretch further and provide more gaming and entertainment for PlayStation owners.