Independent · Educational · Free to read
Digital gifts, explained plainly.
Gift cards, game keys, prepaid codes and crypto gifts all work a little differently. The Gift Primer is a free library of guides that explains what is happening behind a code, what the fine print usually means, and how to recognise the scams that target digital gifts.
- 23
- in-depth guides
- 6
- topics covered
- 38
- glossary terms
- 0
- things for sale
Start here
Four guides that give you the foundations for everything else on the site.
Explore by topic
Each topic collects guides that build on one another, from first principles to practical detail.
What digital gifts are, how codes work behind the scenes and the main formats you will come across.
- What Is a Digital Gift? A Plain-Language Introduction
- How Digital Gift Codes Work Behind the Scenes
- The Main Types of Digital Gifts, Explained
- Digital vs. Physical Gift Cards: What Actually Differs
Closed-loop and open-loop cards, activation, balances, expiry dates and regional limits.
- Closed-Loop vs. Open-Loop Gift Cards
- How Prepaid Value Works: Balances, Holds and Split Payments
- What "Activation" Means and Why It Matters
- Expiry Dates, Fees and Balances: Reading the Fine Print
Product keys, store credit, subscription codes and the locks that decide where a code works.
- What Is a Game Key? Product Keys Explained
- Game Keys vs. Store Credit vs. Subscription Codes
- Region Locks, Platform Locks and Editions
- Gifting a Game Digitally: What to Know Before You Send
The concepts behind cryptocurrency given as a gift: the formats, the keys and what makes it different.
- What Is a Crypto Gift? The Concepts, Without the Hype
- How Crypto Gifts Can Be Structured
- Private Keys and Recovery Phrases, Explained
- What Makes Crypto Gifts Different
Red flags, fake gift messages and everyday habits that keep codes out of the wrong hands.
- Gift Code Scams and the Red Flags to Watch For
- Fake Gift Messages and Phishing: How to Tell the Difference
- Keeping Codes Safe: Everyday Habits for Senders and Recipients
Choosing, presenting and troubleshooting digital gifts in everyday life.
- How to Think About Choosing a Digital Gift
- Digital Gift Etiquette: Making It Feel Personal
- When a Code Doesn't Work: A Calm Troubleshooting Guide
What this site is — and isn’t
What it is
- A free, educational resource written by an independent writer
- Plain-language explanations of how digital gifts work
- Neutral guidance on spotting scams and reading the fine print
- Self-contained: every guide and definition lives on this site
What it isn’t
- A shop, marketplace or reseller of any kind
- An exchange, wallet or way to buy or sell cryptocurrency
- A source of financial, investment, legal or tax advice
- Affiliated with, sponsored by or reviewing any brand or company