Most physical gift cards are forgotten before they’re redeemed. They sit in drawers, get lost in wallets, or expire without ever being used. For brands, that means lower redemption rates and lost opportunities.

But customer behavior is shifting.

People now expect gift cards to work like the rest of their payments: mobile, tap to pay, and stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. They want to redeem with a tap, check their balance on their lock screen, and not have to download an app.

This shift opens the door for a better gift card experience.

With Badge, you can convert physical gift cards into digital wallet passes that install directly on a customer’s phone. The card stays visible, sends push notifications, updates in real time, and supports secure, app-free redemption. Whether you’re a marketer looking to boost engagement or a developer streamlining backend flows, Badge makes it simple.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to convert physical gift cards to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet

• What your customers see when they receive and use a mobile wallet gift card

• How Badge supports gift card claiming, balance tracking, and push alerts

• Why tap to pay, lock screen updates, and automation improve performance

Let’s dive into how you can upgrade your physical gift card program for the mobile-first era.

What Happens When You Turn a Physical Gift Card into a Mobile Wallet Pass

Converting a physical gift card into a digital wallet pass does more than upgrade the format. It transforms how customers interact with your brand.

Instead of relying on plastic or searching through emails for a redemption code, users receive a gift card they can install instantly into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. From there, it's always accessible, whether from the lock screen, home screen, or through tap to pay at checkout.

The result is a faster, more visible, and more engaging experience.

Customers can:

• Check their balance in real time

• Redeem in-store or online

• Receive push alerts for reminders, expiration notices, or updates

This shift also unlocks new use cases for B2C marketers and developers:

• Refunds and store credit: Replace generic codes with wallet-based gift cards that look and feel branded

• Promotional gifting: Launch targeted egift card campaigns that are easy to claim and hard to forget

• Loyalty integrations: Connect gift card value to membership tiers, rewards, or personalized promotions

When you turn a physical gift card into a digital pass, you create more than convenience. You create a mobile-first experience that’s built to drive redemption, retention, and real-time engagement.

How to Add a Physical Gift Card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet with Badge

Turning a plastic gift card into a mobile wallet pass might sound technical, but with Badge, the process is fast, secure, and fully automated from end to end.

Whether your gift cards come from a legacy provider, a point-of-sale system, or your own platform, Badge gives you the mobile wallet no-code platform to create a seamless digital claiming flow. There’s no need for users to download an app, log into an account, or enter multiple codes.

Here’s how it works:

1. Authenticate the Gift Card

Start by verifying that the user owns the physical gift card. Badge supports multiple secure methods:

• A simple web form where users enter their card number and PIN

• A barcode scanner embedded on your site or in-store display

• An API call that validates the card in real time with your backend system

This step ensures that only eligible users can claim the digital version.

2. Generate a Branded Wallet Pass

Once verified, Badge automatically creates a mobile wallet gift card. Each pass includes:

• The unique gift card ID and current balance

• A QR code or barcode for scanning

• Expiration date and custom terms

• Visual branding to match your logo, color scheme, and messaging

The pass is built to look and feel like part of your brand, right inside the user’s mobile wallet.

3. Deliver a Secure, One-Time Install Link

Users receive a personalized download link via SMS, email, or embedded in a web page. The link opens directly in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, depending on the device. There’s no app to install and no password to remember.

4. Install into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet

When users tap the link:

• iPhone users are prompted to add the card to Apple Wallet

• Android users are guided to add it to Google Wallet

Once installed, the gift card:

• Appears on the user’s lock screen when relevant

• Can be scanned at checkout or online

• Receives real-time push notifications for balance changes, expiration reminders, or promotions

This flow is designed to be fast, frictionless, and optimized for mobile engagement, no extra app required.

Launch Mobile Wallet Gift Cards in 4 Steps with Badge

When a customer already has a physical gift card, or even a digital code that isn’t yet mobile wallet-ready, they can convert it into a digital pass using Badge. The result is a mobile-first experience that lives inside Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, complete with push notifications and easy redemption.

Here’s how each step in the flow works:

Step 1: Claim the Gift Card

User experience: The customer begins by proving they own the gift card. They may enter the card number and PIN, complete a short form, or scan a barcode from the physical card or receipt.

How it works with Badge: Once ownership is verified, Badge automatically issues a unique mobile wallet pass linked to that gift card. This can be handled through the userPassUpsert API or via a hosted form provided by Badge.

What you configure: Decide whether to use your own authentication flow or rely on Badge’s secure, branded web form for a seamless setup.

Step 2: Install the Gift Card

User experience: After authentication, the customer taps a personalized Pass Download Link to add the gift card to their mobile wallet.

• On iPhones: the link opens in Apple Wallet

• On Android devices: the link opens in Google Wallet

How it works with Badge: A unique, secure download link is generated for each gift card. This link can be embedded in your product flow, shared via email, or delivered through SMS.

What you configure: Decide how and where to provide the link after verification, on a confirmation page, in a message, or directly within your app.

Step 3: Push Notifications Keep the Card Top of Mind

User experience: After a customer installs a digital gift card into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, it can surface on their lock screen with timely notifications. These alerts keep the card visible and encourage redemption.

Examples of notifications:

• Balance updates

• Reminders to redeem

• Location-based prompts near a store or venue

How it works with Badge: Push notifications are delivered through the native Apple Wallet and Google Wallet channels. Brands can set them up using Badge’s no-code campaign tool or configure advanced logic with the API.

What you configure: Define the rules that trigger notifications, such as inactivity, low balance thresholds, or proximity to a store, so engagement happens at the right moment.

Step 4: Redeem the Gift Card

User experience: Customers redeem the digital gift card the same way they would use a physical one.

• In-store: scan the barcode or QR code at checkout

• Online: enter the gift card number or PIN

How it works with Badge: The mobile wallet pass displays all the details needed for redemption, including barcode, balance, and expiration date. With geolocation enabled, the card can automatically appear on the lock screen when customers are near a participating retail location.

What you configure: Ensure your POS or ecommerce system supports wallet-based redemption. Badge can sync usage data back to your systems through API or webhook for seamless tracking.

Unlock Mobile-First Features With Badge: Push Alerts, Tap to Pay, and More

Mobile wallet gift cards aren’t just easier to install. They are smarter, more visible, and designed for engagement. When you issue eGift cards through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet using Badge, you unlock native mobile features that physical cards and email-based codes cannot offer.

With Badge, your gift card becomes part of your mobile wallet marketing strategy. It supports tap to pay, push notifications, and location-based visibility. This creates a mobile-first experience that improves conversions and reduces friction.

Here’s how it works:

Real-Time Push Notifications Without an Extra App

Once a gift card is saved to a mobile wallet, you can send real-time push notifications to the user’s lock screen. No separate app or login is needed. Badge uses native Apple Wallet and Google Wallet channels to deliver alerts at the right moment.

What this means for your brand:

• Deliver balance updates, redemption reminders, or promotional offers

• Reach users with lock screen alerts that are more likely to be seen

• Trigger messages based on user behavior, timing, or location

Examples:

• Notify users after a redemption or top-up

• Remind them to redeem before the card expires

• Send offers like “Get 10 percent off when you use your card this weekend”

You can create these campaigns in Badge’s no-code builder or trigger them through the API. Use filters such as install date, remaining balance, redemption status, or custom attributes passed during installation.

Lock Screen Visibility That Increases Redemption

When a gift card is saved to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, it can appear on the user’s lock screen automatically. This happens when you set a location or time-based trigger.

What this allows:

• The digital card shows up before the customer even unlocks their phone

• A branded message or offer is just one tap away

Use cases:

• A user walks into your store and immediately sees their gift card on the screen

• During a limited-time promo, the card floats to the top of their wallet with a message like “Redeem by Friday to earn a bonus”

Badge lets you set these triggers through pass fields, including locations, time windows, and dynamic messages. Changes happen instantly without needing the user to reinstall the card.

Location-Based Triggers That Drive In-Store Activity

With Badge, you can define custom geo-fences around stores, events, or even competitor locations. When a user enters the area, their gift card can appear on the lock screen with a message that drives immediate action.

What this enables:

• Prompt users when they are near your store with messages like “Use your $25 card today at [Brand Name]”

• Reinforce urgency during seasonal campaigns such as “Only 2 days left to redeem your gift card”

• Win attention near competing retailers with “Still have $10 to spend? Use it with us nearby”

You have full control over zone radius, timing, message content, and frequency. You can manage triggers in the Badge dashboard or define them programmatically using the API.

Track Installs and Engagement in Real Time

Badge gives you full visibility into how your gift cards are performing. You can monitor user behavior, identify what’s working, and optimize based on actual results.

You can track:

• Install rates across channels like email, SMS, or QR

• Pass views and open rates

• Redemption activity and balance usage

• Notification engagement metrics

• Location-based usage data

How to access this data:

• Use the Badge dashboard for real-time visual reporting

• Set up webhooks to sync data with your CRM or analytics platform

• Query key metrics using Badge’s API for advanced reporting

These insights help you adjust your strategy, improve redemption, and make every campaign more effective.

Upgrade Physical Gift Cards with Digital Wallet Integration from Badge

Physical gift cards had their moment. But today’s consumers expect mobile-first experiences that are fast, trackable, and easy to use. Digital wallet gift cards meet that expectation, while giving your brand more control and insight.

By converting gift cards into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet passes, you unlock a better way to deliver value:

• Simple to access from a phone

• Easy to redeem in-store or online

• Fully trackable from install to redemption

With Badge, the entire flow is automated. From secure authentication and pass generation to personalized install links, push notifications, and redemption tracking, everything works out of the box.

👉 Talk to us to launch your branded wallet-based gift card program with Badge.

Badge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I convert physical gift cards to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet?

To convert a physical gift card into a digital wallet pass, you need to authenticate the card using the gift card number, PIN, or barcode. With Badge, this process is fully automated. Once verified, a branded digital pass is generated and sent to the user through a secure download link. The user can then install the card into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet with one tap. No app or login is required.

Can I use a physical gift card with tap to pay?

Most physical gift cards do not support tap to pay directly. However, once converted into a mobile wallet pass using Badge, the experience becomes similar. Customers can redeem their gift cards by scanning a barcode or QR code on their phone at checkout, providing a tap-to-pay-like experience.

How do I turn a physical gift card into a digital pass?

You can turn a physical gift card into a digital pass using Badge. The card is first authenticated, then a secure download link is created. This link installs a wallet pass that includes the card’s balance, barcode, and push notification capabilities. The user can add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet instantly.

Is there an API to issue Apple Wallet gift cards?

Yes. Badge offers a gift card API that allows you to issue Apple Wallet and Google Wallet gift cards programmatically. You can integrate it with your existing CRM, loyalty platform, or gift card system to automate delivery, updates, and redemption tracking.

How do I install an eGift card into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet?

After receiving a digital gift card by email, SMS, or QR code, the user taps a download link. The pass opens in the phone’s wallet app and can be saved with one tap. On iPhones, it opens in Apple Wallet. On Android devices, it opens in Google Wallet. No additional app is required when using Badge.

Can I add a gift card to Apple Pay for in-store use?

You cannot add most third-party gift cards to Apple Pay the way you would with a credit card. However, if the card is saved in Apple Wallet, it can be scanned at checkout using a barcode or QR code. This creates an experience similar to using Apple Pay.

How can I redeem physical gift cards with my phone?

Once the physical gift card is converted into a mobile wallet pass through Badge, users can redeem it by scanning the barcode or QR code at checkout or by entering the card number online. The digital pass includes all relevant redemption information, including balance and expiration.

Do I need an app to use a digital gift card from Apple Wallet or Google Wallet?

No. One of the main advantages of using Badge is that your customers do not need to download an app. The gift card installs directly into the mobile wallet and works out of the box. It can be used in-store or online, supports push updates, and is accessible from the lock screen.