Gift card API pricing usually combines three elements: a per-product trade price (quoted as a discount off face value or as a fixed net price), any fees on top of it, and conditions such as minimum deposits, volume tiers or currency terms. The headline discount rarely tells the whole story; the fees and conditions decide what you actually pay per delivered code.
This article describes the models qualitatively so you can compare offers on the same basis. It deliberately contains no figures: actual terms depend on brand, region and volume, and any number quoted out of context would mislead more than it helps.
Model 1: discount off face value
The most common model. Each product carries a trade price expressed as a discount from the amount the card redeems for. The mechanics, and why the industry thinks in this unit rather than in retail terms, are explained in face value vs trade price.
In an API, the discount is typically already applied: the catalogue returns the price you pay per unit, sometimes alongside the face value so you can see the discount implied. What to watch:
- Discounts differ by brand and by region, sometimes widely, as covered in wholesale discounts by brand.
- They change over time, following issuer terms and currency movements, so a price you saw last month is not a quote.
Model 2: fixed net price per product
Some providers skip the discount framing and simply return a net price per product in the settlement currency. Commercially it is the same thing seen from a different angle, and it is often easier to integrate because there is no calculation step. Watch for the same drift: net prices update with the catalogue, and your storefront should re-check them at order time as described in the catalogue sync guide.
Model 3: fees on top of the trade price
Fees are where like-for-like comparisons break down. Common types include:
- Per-transaction or per-order fees, charged on each API order regardless of product.
- Platform or access fees, charged periodically for API access itself.
- Funding fees, charged on deposits depending on the payment rail.
- Currency conversion, applied when your deposit currency differs from the product’s billing currency.
None of these is unusual on its own. The problem is an offer that leads with a generous discount and keeps the fees in an appendix. Ask for every fee in writing and model it per order before comparing.
Model 4: volume tiers
Many providers improve terms as your monthly volume grows, either per brand or across the account. Tiers reward committing volume to one provider, which is fair, but read the mechanics: whether the better terms apply retroactively to the whole month or only above the threshold, how often your tier is reassessed, and what happens if volume dips for a month.
Minimums and commitments
Minimums take several forms, and each one affects your cash rather than your unit price:
- Minimum initial deposit before the account goes live.
- Minimum order size, more common on bulk file delivery than on API orders.
- Minimum monthly volume, sometimes tied to a tier or to keeping API access.
- Minimum balance, below which orders pause until you top up.
A prepaid balance is money committed before revenue arrives, so size it carefully; sizing a prepaid deposit walks through the risk.
Comparing the models side by side
| Element | How it is usually quoted | What to check before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Discount off face | Per product, per region | How often it changes; where it is visible in the API |
| Net price | Per product, in settlement currency | Same as above; whether face value is also returned |
| Transaction fee | Per order or per unit | Whether it applies to failed or refunded orders |
| Platform fee | Periodic | What it includes; notice period for changes |
| Funding and FX | Per deposit or per order | Which rates apply and when |
| Volume tiers | By monthly volume | Retroactive or above-threshold only; reassessment cadence |
| Minimums | Deposit, order, monthly volume | What happens if you fall short |
Compare on delivered price per code
The fair comparison unit is what you pay per successfully delivered code, all in. For each provider, take your expected monthly mix of products and regions, apply the quoted trade prices, add every fee, apply currency conversion at the stated rates, and divide by delivered units. Two offers that look far apart on the headline discount often land close together on this measure, and occasionally swap places.
Then check that the statements let you verify it afterwards. A provider whose per-order statement shows trade price, fees and conversion line by line makes reconciliation a routine task rather than an investigation.
Giftoro shares its specification and catalogue pricing during onboarding; the gift card API overview is the starting point if you want to put it through the same comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How do gift card APIs charge for codes?
Mostly through the trade price of each product, quoted as a discount off face value or as a fixed net price. Some providers add per-order, platform, funding or conversion fees on top. The total per delivered code is what matters.
Why do prices differ between brands in the same API?
Each issuer sets its own distribution terms, and those terms vary by region and demand. Widely demanded brands tend to carry smaller discounts than niche ones. The API simply reflects those terms product by product.
Are gift card API prices fixed once I sign?
Usually not. Trade prices follow issuer terms and currency movements, and the catalogue updates accordingly. What a contract can fix are the fees, the tier rules and the notice period for changing them.
Do I need a minimum volume to use a gift card API?
It depends on the provider. Common conditions are a minimum initial deposit, a minimum balance or a minimum monthly volume to keep certain terms. Ask for all of them up front, since they shape your cash planning more than your unit price.
How should I compare two gift card API offers?
Model your expected monthly orders against each offer: trade prices, every fee and currency conversion, divided by delivered codes. Compare that all-in figure rather than the headline discount, and check that each provider’s statements let you verify it after the fact.