Mobile appE-commerce & marketplaces
Digital gift cards are a product that solves the last-minute gift problem in a few taps. The sender picks a brand and an amount, adds a personal message and delivers the card instantly by text or email. The recipient keeps the card in the app and spends it in store by scanning a QR code. For businesses, it means upfront cash, new customer acquisition and measurable sales growth through campaign coupons.
Building something similar means developing a user app, a business panel and a checkout verification screen. Card and coupon code generation, a balance ledger, partial redemption, expiry and refund rules form the core. Models where one card works at several businesses can count as electronic money, so an e-money or payment institution licence may be required; working with a licensed infrastructure partner reduces this risk.
How Gift card and coupon app works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
User app
The app where people buy and send gift cards and store and use the cards and coupons they receive in a wallet.
Business panel
A web panel where brands manage card designs, amount options, campaign coupons and sales reports.
Checkout verification screen
A web or tablet interface, or a POS integration, where store staff verify a card by QR or code and deduct the spend.
Admin panel
A panel that manages business contracts, reconciliations, fraud alerts and customer support requests.
Critical features of a product like Gift card and coupon app
Secure code generation
Unguessable card codes and time-limited dynamic QR codes are generated, and the same code cannot be used twice.
Balance ledger and partial redemption
Every load, spend and refund on a card is kept as a separate entry, and the remaining balance is calculated instantly.
Personalised delivery
Occasion designs, video messages and scheduled sending turn the card into a gifting experience.
Campaign coupon engine
Rules are defined for percentage or amount discounts, minimum basket, first purchase and personal single-use coupons.
POS and checkout integration
By connecting to the store's checkout software via API, card verification and redemption happen in a single step.
Business reconciliation
Redeemed card balances are reported to businesses periodically, and the payout is calculated after deducting commission.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Gift card catalogue and purchase
- Digital card delivery and wallet
- Checkout verification screen with QR
- Balance ledger and partial redemption
- Business panel and sales report
Later releases
- Campaign coupon engine
- POS and checkout software integrations
- Bulk corporate gift card sales
- Multi-brand cards and loyalty points
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 28 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 195 person-days for the full scope and 118 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Product / content catalogue | First version |
| Barcode / RFID / handheld | Later release |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| E-invoicing | First version |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
| Third-party API integration | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €650 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Licensing and regulation
Multi-brand prepaid cards can fall under electronic money rules, so you need an e-money licence or to work through a licensed partner.
Fraud
Buying gift cards with stolen cards and cashing them out is a common fraud method, so risk scoring and limits are essential.
Accounting and tax
Sold but unspent balances are a liability, so revenue recognition, invoicing and VAT processes must be set up correctly.
Business model
Revenue comes from the commission businesses pay on every gift card sold. A monthly subscription can be charged to businesses for the panel and campaign tools, and a service fee applied to corporate customers on bulk card sales. Personalisation such as custom designs and video messages is offered for small fees. Rules on unused balances must be set according to local regulation.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Gift card and coupon app
Most people searching “build a gift card app” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Gift card and coupon app name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a gift card app?
A first version with single-brand card sales and QR verification can come out in a few months. A multi-brand model, POS integrations and the licensing process noticeably lengthen the schedule.
Do we need a licence?
Cards that are valid only at your own business are generally treated differently, while prepaid cards that can be spent at several businesses may count as electronic money and require an e-money licence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Off-the-shelf script or custom software?
The financial parts, such as the balance ledger, fraud prevention and reconciliation, leave no room for error. That is why we recommend building the core as custom software on a licensed payment infrastructure.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build a gift card app?
Look for experience with payment systems, double-entry balance ledgers and security testing. Having integrated with store checkout systems is a big plus.
