27 of the Best Gift Cards That Make Perfect Presents

From practical one-stop shops to unique luxuries, these gift cards will take the stress out of last minute holiday shopping.

Love it or hate it, but gift-giving is not easy. Giving stellar presents might come naturally for some people, while others may struggle to find a tangible thing that can accurately express their love for another person. Regardless of which camp you fall into, let's quickly settle one thing: Gift cards are efficient and wonderful, actually. While they might have been considered lazy and thoughtless, they're now widely hailed as smart and modern presents. But then you run the risk of the recipient secretly wishing for a gift receipt—especially if you don't know them very well. At its core, it's actually quite thoughtful to concede your own taste and acknowledge that you want your loved one to have whatever it is they really want.

Of course, we still recommend finding a gift card that actually makes sense for your loved one. A well-traveled friend would certainly get some use out of a Clear or Uber gift card. Perhaps they just moved into a new space, in which case a Parachute, Nordstrom, or DoorDash gift card is relevant and useful. Or maybe they graduated recently and are facing a mountain of student loans, so a cash or GiftofCollege gift card makes more sense.

Be it a practical gift card that will lighten the load of their busy schedule or more of a "treat yourself" indulgence, find a smattering of actually thoughtful, truly useful gift cards that will light up your loved one's day right here. These make excellent picks for the holidays, a birthday, or just because. From Parachute to Saks to Uber, there's something for every kind of person on this list.