How to Set Up a Square Gift Card in WooCommerce [3 Easy Steps]

Square gift cards are part of the global gift card market, valued at $510 billion, and serve as a widely used payment option.

Gohil at Meetanshi also found that 45% of Gen Z and 35% Millennials prefer digital gift cards​. It makes for a fantastic option for attracting a younger audience.

With more shoppers leaning toward digital-first experiences, gift cards have become a reliable way for businesses to stay relevant.

For WooCommerce store owners, the ability to accept Square gift cards can open doors to a broader customer base. It positions your store to meet the expectations of buyers who prefer such payment options.

The challenge, however, lies in connecting two different systems. WooCommerce, by default, does not support Square gift cards, which creates a gap for merchants who want to offer this option.

But don’t worry! In this article, we will guide you through the exact process of bridging that gap so your store can start accepting Square gift cards right away. But before that, let’s learn how these gift cards (also known as gift vouchers or gift certificates)

What are Square Gift Cards?

Square Gift Cards are a built-in payment feature offered by Square, allowing customers to pay with a prepaid balance at your business. These are “closed-loop” cards, meaning they can only be redeemed at the store that issued them.

Square offers two types of gift cards:

• Physical Gift Cards: Traditional plastic cards with a magnetic stripe or QR code—ideal for in-store purchases.
• eGift Cards: Digital cards sent instantly via email or SMS—perfect for online shopping and quick gifting.

The process is very straightforward for both you and your customers.

Customers can purchase either type of card, load it with any amount, and activate it instantly at checkout.

Each card includes a unique 16-digit code used for redemption during a purchase. Customers can pay in full with the card balance or use it as a partial payment and complete the remaining balance with another method.

They can also check and reload their balance anytime, while you track all activity from your Square Dashboard.

How Square Gift Cards Work?

Square gift cards function as prepaid balances that customers can use until the amount is fully redeemed. They can be purchased either digitally or in physical form, giving buyers flexibility in how they choose to gift or spend.

When redeemed, the card balance is applied to the purchase total, and any remaining funds are tracked automatically within Square. This makes it easy for customers to use their gift cards across multiple orders until the balance runs out.

The challenge for WooCommerce store owners is that the platform does not support Square gift cards by default. Without an integration, there is no straightforward way to process redemptions through your WooCommerce checkout. 

This is why a dedicated solution is required to bridge the gap. And WC Shop Sync is the best solution for doing so—we will be learning why later in this article.

Why Add Square Gift Cards in WooCommerce?

Gift cards are an extremely effective tool for growth. Here are a few facts and figures that highlight their value:

• Customers Spend More: 61% of customers spend more than the value of their gift card when redeeming it, and on average $31.75 more than the card’s value! This means more revenue for your store.
• They Bring New Customers: Gift cards are often bought by existing customers and given to friends or family. This is an excellent form of word-of-mouth marketing. 57% of people love to try out new businesses because they received a gift card from that business.
• High Demand: Over 52% of consumers purchase gift cards because they are convenient.
• Digital is Growing: The Millennial Generation (born 1981–1996) leads the way, with 72% of them having used a digital gift card.
• Cash Flow Boost: When you purchase a gift card, you get the money immediately. This improves your cash flow right away, even before the customer redeems the card for a product or service.
• Unused Money is Profit (Breakage): Many gift cards go unredeemed or are used only partially. In the U.S. alone, $21 billion of gift cards remain unused each year. This unspent balance, known as “breakage”, often becomes pure profit for the business.
• Price Insensitivity: Customers using gift cards are 2.5 times more likely to pay the full price for an item compared to those paying with cash or a credit card.

Brand Loyalty: Customers who have a positive experience with a gift card are more likely to become repeat customers. 71% of consumers report higher brand loyalty after receiving a gift card.

How Can I Add Square Gift Cards in WooCommerce?

You might be wondering why you can’t simply connect your Square account directly to your WooCommerce store. The main reason is that WordPress and Square do not have a built-in feature for direct communication. 

Thereby, for your online shop to accept Square payments, including gift cards, you need a third-party plugin. This kind of plugin acts as a bridge, allowing the two systems to communicate smoothly.

The perfect choice for such a tool is WC Shop Sync. WC Shop Sync is a plugin that creates a real-time connection between your WooCommerce shop and your Square Point of Sale (POS). Because it manages all your data synchronization, it is the perfect solution for readily accepting Square Gift Cards on your website. It allows you to focus on selling, not on manual data entry.

Why Choose WC Shop Sync?

WC Shop Sync is packed with features designed to simplify managing both your in-person and online sales. Here is a look at some of its best features:

• 1-Click Product Synchronization: Sync simple and variable products, including their names, prices, and descriptions, with a single click between WooCommerce and Square.
• Auto Inventory Sync: Automatically maintain your stock levels across both your online and physical stores. This prevents you from overselling or running out of stock.
• Real-Time Order Sync: Orders placed on your WooCommerce store are instantly synced to Square, and vice versa.
• Customer Data Sync: Customer details, like names and purchase history, are kept consistent and up-to-date across both platforms for a better customer experience.
• Multiple Payment Options: Accept all major Square-powered payments, including Credit Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App, Afterpay, ACH Debit, and of course, Square gift cards.
• Process Refunds Seamlessly: Manage and process refunds directly from your WooCommerce dashboard, with information synced to Square.
• Detailed Activity Log: Keep a clear, easy-to-read record of every single synchronization event, including products, orders, and customer data.
• Recurring Subscription Management: Process recurring payments if you use the WooCommerce Subscriptions feature.

And much more. Check out the features page for a brief overview of all the features of WC Shop Sync.

3 Easy Steps to Set Up Square Gift Card in WooCommerce

Step 1: Install and Activate WC Shop Sync Pro

While the free version of WC Shop Sync offers excellent features like basic product sync and payment gateway setup, the most powerful features—including the ability to accept Square Gift Cards—are exclusive to the premium version. 

The premium upgrade unlocks real-time inventory and order sync, custom payment options, and crucial Gift Card support. 

By making this small investment, you unlock the full potential of a truly unified, hands-off online and in-person sales system, letting you capture all the benefits of the Square ecosystem. Here is how to install and activate the premium plugin once you’ve purchased your license:

• Navigate to WC Shop Sync’s pricing page and purchase a plan.

• After buying your plan from the WC Shop Sync website, you will receive a welcome email. Download the premium plugin’s ZIP file from the email.

⚠️ Before installing the premium version, go to Plugins and ensure you don’t have the WC Shop Sync’s free version installed. The premium ones work independently and will not work with the free version.

• Go to Plugins and then Add Plugin.

• Click the Upload Plugin button near the top of the page.

• Click Choose File and select the premium plugin ZIP file that you downloaded in step one.

• Click Install Now.

• Click the Activate Plugin button once the installation is done.

• Navigate to the Plugins tab, look for the WC Shop Sync Pro, and enter the license key provided in your purchase email to activate the premium features fully.

Step 2: Connect to Square

The next step is to link your WooCommerce store with your Square account. This is a quick and essential process. You will have two key options for connecting: Sandbox and Production.

It is highly recommended that you start with Sandbox Mode. The Sandbox is a safe testing environment that allows you to test payments without using real money. This way, you can test your payment process, including the gift cards, to ensure everything works perfectly before you switch to Production Mode for real transactions.

Follow these steps to complete the connection:

• Navigate to WC Shop Sync Pro.

• Choose between Sandbox and Production modes. Again, we recommend starting with a safe, sandbox environment.

ℹ️ If you go with the Sandbox environment, ensure to launch a seller test account in another tab in the same browser. Check out the documentation here.

• Click the Connect with Square button. This will take you off your site and to Square’s secure login page.

• Log in to your Square account using your verified credentials.

• Square will ask you to approve the connection. Scroll down and click Allow to give the plugin the necessary permissions.

• Click ‘THAT’S MY SITE – REDIRECT ME.’ After granting permission, you will be redirected back to your WordPress site.

• Look for the success message that confirms the connection. If everything went correctly, you will see a ‘Thumbs up! You’ve done it’ message

This success message confirms that your WooCommerce and Square accounts are now fully connected in the testing environment. You can switch to Production mode later once you’re satisfied with your tests.

Step 3: Enable Square Payment Gateway and Gift Cards

Now that you have successfully connected the WC Shop Sync plugin to your Square account, the final step is to make sure your customers can use the Gift Card feature at checkout.

WC Shop Sync uses the Square payment gateway on your WooCommerce store. This is more than just a way to accept standard credit cards. The plugin leverages this gateway to unlock a wide range of features, including multiple payment options, which also include Square gift cards!

Here’s how to get going:

1. Go to WC Shop Sync Pro from the WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Access your module.

3. Scroll down and enable Square Payment Gateway using the toggle button.

4. Go to Settings.

5. Enable Square by clicking the checkbox, and give it a Title and a description. Users will see this title on the checkout.

6. Scroll down until you find the Enable/Disable Gift Card option.

7. Check the box and click Save Changes at the bottom of the webpage.

There you go! You can now accept Square Gift Cards in WooCommerce!

That’s about it! You have successfully set up the Square gift card on your WooCommerce in three simple steps!

Do More With WC Shop Sync!

Accepting Square gift cards is just one of the many benefits WC Shop Sync offers your WooCommerce store. The plugin is designed to unify WooCommerce and Square so you can manage payments, products, customers, and orders from a single place.

With one-click product synchronization and automatic inventory sync, you never have to worry about mismatched stock between your online store and physical locations.

On the payments side, WC Shop Sync goes beyond gift cards. It brings Square’s entire ecosystem to WooCommerce, including credit card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App, Afterpay, and ACH payments. Customers can even save cards securely for faster repeat checkouts, boosting loyalty and sales.

Order and customer data are also kept in sync across platforms. Real-time order synchronization, POS order imports, and automated customer data sync simplify daily operations and reduce errors.

In short, WC Shop Sync eliminates the need for manual work to keep WooCommerce and Square aligned. Whether you’re focused on payments, inventory, or customer experience, this plugin gives you the tools to run your store more efficiently and scale with confidence.

Final Words

Square gift cards have become a core part of modern shopping, offering flexibility for customers and growth opportunities for businesses. For WooCommerce store owners, integrating them is a step toward keeping pace with evolving payment preferences.

With WC Shop Sync, the process is simple, reliable, and packed with additional benefits that go beyond gift cards. From real-time product sync to diverse payment options, it equips your store with the tools needed to deliver a seamless checkout experience and stronger customer loyalty.

If you are ready to expand your WooCommerce store’s capabilities, upgrade to WC Shop Sync Premium today and unlock the full potential!

Frequently Asked Questions