Have team members or clients spread across the US and China? You’re not alone.
Many companies today operate globally—but when it comes to sending rewards or thank-you gifts, things get complicated fast. Most gift cards for the US or China only work within their own country, or are tied to local currencies, merchants, or payment systems.
For example, a US Amazon gift card won't work across the pond on Amazon.co.uk, and many China-brand cards can't be redeemed outside the region.
The challenge: Finding a single gift card that recipients in both the US and China can use seamlessly. This guide breaks down why most fail across borders—and spotlights solutions like the Toasty Choice Card—that make US-China rewards effortless.
How Gift Cards Work Globally
Gift cards rank among the top ways to reward employees and customers worldwide—but few handle international use effectively. Most US or Chinese cards stay region-locked, are issued in local currencies (USD vs. CNY), and are restricted by brand or payment networks.
For example, American-issued cards use USD and US merchants like Amazon.com, while Chinese gift cards come in CNY. A US prepaid Visa might fail on Chinese sites, and a KFC China cannot be used at KFC in the US.
Key Challenges
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Currency Restrictions: US cards operate in USD, Chinese ones in CNY—leading to conversion issues and merchant rejections.
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Payment Network Limitations: Many Chinese cards favor domestic networks that don't work internationally.
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Brand and Licensing Barriers: Global brands run separate gift card programs by country, limiting redemption to .com or .cn sites only.
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Digital Compliance Requirements: Cross-border cards trigger varying KYC, AML, and GDPR checks between US and China rules.
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Fulfillment Issues: Physical gift cards face shipping delays, customs holds, or activation blocks across borders.
These obstacles make unified rewards across US and Chinese teams surprisingly complex.
Criteria for US-China Gift Cards
For a gift card to provide seamless experience for both US and China, it must meet three essential criteria:
1. Multi-currency support
A cross-border gift card should support both USD and CNY, either by auto-converting at redemption or letting recipients pick their local currency and region.
This ensures a recipient in New York and another in Shanghai both redeem for brands that actually work in their market.
2. Global Catalog
Instead of locking recipients into a single store, the best US-China gift cards connect to a catalog of popular brands in each country.
That way, every recipient turns the same reward into what matters most—e-commerce, groceries, entertainment, or daily essentials.
3. Digital Delivery
Digital gift cards deliver smoother experiences compared to physical gift cards, cutting shipping delays, customs holds, and fulfillment hassles.
Recipients get instant access via email and redeem online with just a few clicks.
Best Gift Card Options for the US and China
When it comes to gift cards that work seamlessly in both the US and China, only a few options deliver truly smooth experiences for senders and recipients.
1. Toasty Choice Card (#1 Option)
The Toasty Choice Card is built for distributed teams and global customer bases, making it the top choice when you need one reward that works across both the US and China.
It supports local brands and currencies in each country, so recipients see options that feel native to their market while you manage everything from a single dashboard.
Because it's fully digital, you can send cards instantly by email at scale, avoid international shipping or activation issues, and track delivery in one place—ideal for HR, sales, and customer marketing programs.
Why it's ideal for US-China gifting
- Works seamlessly across 90+ countries, including both the US and China.
- Recipients can choose from a wide array of brand options, covering both local favorites and international brands.
- Automatically handles currency and brand localization, so each person sees options in their region.
- Delivered instantly via email—no printing, shipping, or manual distribution required.
- Completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.
💡 Example: An HR manager in New York and a project lead in Shanghai both receive a Toasty Choice Card. Each redeems instantly with local merchants in their own currency—no separate US- or China-specific rewards needed.
Catalog for China
Here are some available redemption options for China (subject to change):
- Dairy Queen
- Haagen-Dazs China
- JD China
- KFC China
- Metro China
- Starbucks China
- Tmall Supermarket China
- Vanguard China
- YongHui China
For the most up-to-date catalog, view our global catalog here.
2. Swype Global Virtual MasterCard
As an alternative, Toasty offers the Swype Global Virtual MasterCard, redeemable across many regions including the US and China.
The Swype Global Virtual MasterCard provides versatile prepaid spending at millions of online and in-store merchants across both countries, wherever Mastercard is accepted.
However, non-USD transactions incur fees, and the minimum denomination starts from $100—so review details before using it as your primary gift card option, especially for large or recurring programs.
For more details on restricted regions, fees, and other information, check out this detailed article on the Swype Global Virtual Mastercard.
How to Send US-China Gift Cards via Toasty
1. Sign up
Sign up to start sending gift cards in minutes. One unified platform instead of juggling country-specific services.
2. Decide on the amount
Set base values in USD; the platform handles EUR conversion for Chinese recipients.
3. Customize the experience
Add your logo, brand colors, and personalized message to make rewards feel unique and on-brand.
4. Upload your recipients
Import US- and China-based recipients manually or via CSV.
5. Send digitally
Decide on the send time. You have the option to send immediately or you can queue your order to be sent out on a future date.
6. Track delivery
Monitor delivery through platform reporting.
FAQs About Gift Cards That Work in the US and China
Can I use the same gift card in both the US and China?
Only certain products—like multi-region or global gift cards—are designed to work smoothly in both countries. Most single-brand or region-specific cards are limited to either the US or China, not both.
Do US KFC gift cards work at KFC in China?
No. KFC gift cards are region-specific, so a US KFC gift card only works at KFC in the US, while KFC China card only works at locations in China.
Are there fees for global gift cards?
Toasty is completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.
Can I send digital gift cards to recipients in China and the US in one order?
Yes, you can send to both countries in a single order. Toasty automatically handles currency conversion—fund in USD, Chinese recipients see CNYg equivalents seamlessly.
How fast is the gift card delivery?
Delivery is instant. Recipients receive their digital card by email within seconds.
Do recipients need an account to redeem?
No account required. They click their email link to browse brands and redeem instantly.