Happy Cards are not like traditional gift cards that limit you to shopping at one store. A Happy Card gives you more freedom because it can be used at several stores, theaters and restaurants. In light of the current pandemic, more and more people are shopping online, so if you received a Happy Card as a gift, you might want to use it for an online purchase. How do you do that?
In this article, we’ll explain which Happy Cards can be used to make online purchases and how to use your Happy Card for online shopping.
You can use the table of contents below to jump to a section that answers your question.
Can Happy Cards Be Used To Make Online Purchases?
Whether or not your Happy Card can be used online depends on the kind of card you have. There are two types of Happy Cards: Standard Happy Cards and Swap Happy eGift Cards. For the most part, Standard Happy Cards cannot be used online. However, Swap Happy eGift Cards generally can be used for online shopping.
How do you know which kind of Happy Card you have? A Standard Happy Card resembles a credit card. Just like a credit or debit card, it has a 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV code with a magnetic strip on the back.

A Swap Happy eGift Card is either a digital card (or eGift card) sent through email or a paper “pack” with a card number and a PIN hidden under a protective coating. The front of the pack will say “Online Redemption Required”.

How to Use a Standard Happy Card Online
Standard Happy Cards are not designed to be used for online purchases. If you enter the 16-digit gift card number in the Gift Card field at checkout, the card may not be accepted as a payment method.
If you shop online frequently or are giving a gift to someone who does, we recommend going with a Swap Happy eGift Card since it can be redeemed for merchant eGift cards that typically can be used for online purchases.
How to Use a Swap Happy eGift Card To Make Online Purchases
A Swap Happy Card, also referred to as a Happy eGift Card, is not itself a method of payment. If you enter the card number at checkout, the card will not be accepted as payment.
To use your Swap Happy eGift Card to make online purchases, you must first redeem the Happy Card at the online portal and “swap” your card funds for eGifts from one or more of the brands featured on the card.
Here’s how to do that:
- Go to redeem.happycards.com
- Enter your card number and PIN
- Your card number and PIN will be either in the email you received or on the back of your Happy Card. Scratch off the privacy coating to reveal your PIN.
- Click on “Redeem Card”
- You’ll see all of the brands your Happy Card can be used for. Choose which brands you want to receive an e-gift for and how much of your card balance you want to use for that brand.
- For example, if you have a $50 Happy You Card, you might choose to get a $25 Ulta e-gift, a $10 Dave & Buster’s e-gift, and a $15 AMC e-gift.
- After submitting your selections, you’ll receive an email for each eGift you chose.

Once you’ve completed the “swap” process, you can use your eGifts however you like. You can print out an eGift card and use it at a store. If you want to use it to make online purchases, most merchants will allow that. It’s a good idea to read the brand’s eGift instructions so you know exactly how to use it.
Note: After you have received your brand-specific eGift cards, you no longer need your Swap Happy eGift Card. You won’t use the card number or PIN as a payment method when shopping online. However, we recommend keeping the card until you have received the branded eGifts and verify that they work.

If you have more questions about how Happy Cards work or how to use them, visit the guides linked below, or view our Frequently Asked Questions page.