Best corporate gift cards for employees in 2026 (compared

By the Giffy-team

Short answer: the best corporate gift card for employees in 2026 offers maximum freedom of choice for the recipient, is WKR-compliant, can be personalised with your own branding, and can be sent digitally to groups of any size. For teams in the Netherlands and Belgium, a multi-brand reward platform such as Giffy scores highly on all these points, as the recipient chooses from 200+ shops instead of being tied to a single chain.

Below, we compare the key options, explain what to look out for, and answer the most frequently asked questions.

How do you assess a corporate gift card?

1. Freedom of choice for the recipient — a single brand or spendable at hundreds of shops?

2. WKR compliance — does it fit neatly within the discretionary margin (vrije ruimte) and do you keep an overview?

3. Branding & personalisation — can you add your own logo, colours, and message?

4. Ease of use — does the recipient need to create an account, or can they redeem it on mobile without hassle?

5. Scalability — can you easily send to 10 or 10,000 people?

6. International — does it also work for teams outside the Netherlands?

The options compared

1. Multi-brand reward platform — best all-round choice

A platform like Giffy gives the recipient credit that can be spent freely at 200+ Dutch shops and leading international brands, or donated to charity. You send campaigns via a single dashboard, add your own branding, and the recipient redeems on mobile without an account. As a result, it scores highly on freedom of choice, ease of use, and scalability — exactly the areas that make a difference in how valued an employee feels.

2. Single-brand gift card

A gift card from a single retail chain is recognisable, but the freedom of choice is low: not everyone likes to shop at the same chain. Great for a small, targeted thank you, but less suitable for a diverse team.

3. Universal gift card

More versatile than a single-brand card, but redemption locations and personalisation options are more limited than with a full reward platform.

4. Marketplace credit

Credit for a large webshop covers many products, but you are tied to a single platform, cannot apply your branding, and the recipient usually needs an account.

5. International reward platforms

For global teams, international providers offer many options, but they are typically not tailored to the Dutch WKR rules and lack local shops and Dutch-language support.

What else should you look out for?

• WKR oversight: choose a solution that shows what you have spent, helping you stay within the discretionary margin. Read our guide on WKR & gift cards in 2026.

• No account barrier: every extra step reduces redemptions. Mobile-friendly and registration-free works best.

• Personalisation: a card with your corporate branding and message feels more personal than a generic voucher.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best gift card for rewarding employees?
A multi-brand reward platform offers the most freedom of choice and the highest ease of use. For Dutch teams, a WKR-friendly platform like Giffy is a strong choice, as the recipient chooses from 200+ shops.

Are corporate gift cards taxed?
Within the discretionary margin (vrije ruimte) of the WKR, a gift card given to an employee is tax-free. If you exceed the discretionary margin, an 80% final levy (eindheffing) applies to the excess.

Can I add my own branding to the gift card?
With a reward platform like Giffy, yes: you can add your logo, brand colours, and custom themes to the redemption experience.

Does it also work in Belgium?
Yes, a platform with local offerings (such as Giffy in the Netherlands and Belgium) displays local favourites per country, ensuring the reward always resonates with the recipient.

Ready to reward your team without the hassle? Request a demo and see how Giffy fits within your WKR and your brand.