If you’re someone who doesn’t have time to make food and prefers to order takeout frequently, you are probably aware of the growing number of on-demand delivery services like Uber Eats and Grubhub.
If your friends and family know of your affinity for takeout, there may be an ideal gift they can get you for your next celebration: Enter the Uber Eats gift card.
In this article, we’ll detail everything you need to know about this payment method.
We’ll cover the basics, such as what an Uber gift card is and where you can use it.
We’ll also cover some frequently asked questions, such as how to link the card to your Uber app.
After reading this article, you should have no problem ordering your favorite meal from a local restaurant and having it delivered to your home.
Table Of Contents
How Does Uber Eats Work?
Uber Eats works by providing you with on-demand access to your favorite local restaurants.
Uber Eats is the food delivery branch of Uber, which launched in August, 2014.
Prior to food delivery apps, you could only order takeout specifically from certain restaurants.
Typically, that restaurant would hire its own employees to deliver the food.
But, Uber Eats and other food delivery apps changed that.
Uber Eats has its own fleet of delivery drivers who work as independent contractors.
These drivers go to a wide range of restaurants, pick up the food that you order, and deliver it to you.
It’s a system where everyone wins.
There are plenty of opportunities for delivery drivers to work with flexible schedules.
Customers can gain access to popular restaurants like McDonald’s that traditionally didn’t deliver.
And, the restaurants can broaden their pool of customers, selling to more people than before.
What Are Uber Eats Gift Cards?
Uber Eats gift cards are a reliable way to pay for your purchases in the Uber Eats app.
You can buy digital or physical gift cards.
The most obvious case in which you’d use an Uber Eats gift card is when you receive it as a gift.
However, you may also use them to avoid having to put your credit card information into the Uber Eats app.
For instance, you can buy a physical gift card in a store, upload it to your Uber account, and pay with those funds.
Uber will never know your credit card number, which can help keep your financial information secure.
Where Can I Get an Uber Eats Gift Card?
Uber Eats gift cards are available in a number of places.
You can purchase them on Amazon.com or in various retail stores.
You can also buy digital gift cards on the Uber website.
What Can I Use an Uber Eats Gift Card For?
Uber Eats gift cards work for anything related to Uber.
Not only does this include Uber Eats, it includes traditional Uber rides as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re still curious about how Uber Eats and their gift cards work, be sure to check out the frequently asked questions below.
1. Can I connect my gift card to my Uber account?
Yes. In fact, you have no other choice.
You cannot ride with Uber or order from Uber Eats unless you have an account in place.
Once you create an account, you can add your gift code and set it as your primary form of payment.
If you’d like, you can upload a backup credit card to be your secondary payment method in case your gift card balance hits zero.
The gift card will always be the default method of payment, unless your funds are too low.
Although the gift card will always be the default payment method you’ll have the opportunity to change your form of payment at checkout.
For instance, if you were making a meal purchase for your co-workers, you could enter a business credit card instead of using your personal gift card.
After you attach a card code to your account, you cannot transfer it.
If you wish to send Uber Eats funds to a friend, you’re going to need to purchase a separate digital gift card.
2. How do I go about creating an account?
You can get started with Uber Eats in one of three ways:
1. Visit the Uber Eats website
2. Download the iOS app
3. Download the Android app
After choosing your platform, you’ll need to create an account.
If you have already taken a ride with Uber, you can log in to Uber Eats using this same contact information.
If not, you’ll need to create an account.
The process to do so is fairly straightforward, and the website or app will walk you through the entire process.
3. How do I upload funds from a card into my account?
As previously mentioned, you can purchase or receive either of two different types of gift cards.
You can receive either a physical gift card, available for purchase in grocery and convenience stores and on websites like Amazon.
Or, you can receive an egift card, which you’ll get via email delivery after it’s purchased from uber.com/gift-cards.
Once you have a gift card, log in to your Uber Account.
You’ll see a tab that says, “Payment.”
In this section, there should be a section that says, “Add Payment Method.”
You’ll see sections to add your Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards, along with your PayPal account or gift card. Choose “Gift Card.”
Finally, add your gift code to apply the funds to your account.
You’ll receive a confirmation email informing you that the transaction was successful.
You also do not need to necessarily enter your gift card information ahead of time.
For instance, when you go to check out with your first order, you can enter the gift card number under the “Promo Code” section.
You can use the funds on the card for this order, and any remaining funds will automatically go to your account and will be the default payment for your next order.
4. How do I reload my Uber Eats card?
Unfortunately, you cannot reload an Uber Gift Card.
However, you can have up to $1,000 in gift card credits in your account at any given time.
So, if you are running low on funds, you can either use your credit card to pay for the purchase, or you can pick up another gift card and enter the information into your account.
5. Can I use my card anywhere?
You can use your gift card on any Uber Eats order, so long as you’re in the country where you purchased it originally.
For instance, if you receive an Uber Eats gift card in the United States and then travel to Europe, the funds will not transfer.
The gift card would only be valid for use in the United States.
6. Are there other restrictions that come with Uber Eats gift cards?
Although these gift cards work with food delivery and the company’s ridesharing service, they won’t work on everything.
You cannot use your Uber Eats gift card for the Family Profiles or scheduled rides portions of the app.
Is an Uber Eats Gift Card the Right Gift for You?
If you’re someone who uses Uber frequently, you may want to consider asking loved ones for an Uber Eats gift card the next time you’re due to receive a gift.
Applying the gift card to your account is simple, and you can use your Uber Eats gift card for ridesharing services too.
Using a gift card can also help keep your financial information safe, as you won’t have credit card information stored on the app.
However, there is no option to restore and fund your Uber account directly.
The only inconvenience with Uber Eats gift cards is that you need to buy a new card, whether it be digital or physical, each time you want to restore your balance.
But if you don’t mind doing so, then an Uber Eats gift card could be a great gift.
