The pain
- "Customer has a code, no email, wants the balance."
- Support looks it up in admin, replies, repeats, all January.
- Recipients who don't know their balance don't come back to spend it.
What it costs
- Support time on a lookup a form could do.
- Unspent balances mean a customer who never returns, and no upsell beyond the card value.
What you need done, Before, during and after BFCM
What Shopify does for free
Per Shopify Help, customers can check a balance on the gift card page via the link in their gift card email, and you can resend that email (new customer accounts) or look the balance up and tell them. If your volume is small, that's enough. Gift card apps you may already use (e.g. Gift Card Factory, GiftCard Hero) include balance widgets too; check before installing anything.
Add a self-service balance check
Gift Card Checker by Maestro adds an online widget where customers check balances themselves, with a one-click setup and customizable design. Plans: Basic $4.99/month (100 checks a month), Advanced $9 (unlimited, custom styles, history), Business $19 (adds a checkout balance checker, Shopify Plus only).
Screenshots: the app's public Shopify App Store listing, 29 Oct 2026. Marketing visuals with sample data.
Who should skip it
- Few gift cards, few questions: the native email link and resend are free.
- Your gift card app already has a balance widget.
- 100 checks a month on Basic may be tight in January for bigger stores; Advanced is unlimited.
Verdict
If you sell gift cards in December, plan for the January question now. Link a "Check balance" page in your footer and gift card email before Christmas. Small stores can rely on Shopify's email link; stores with real gift card volume save support time with a self-service checker from $4.99 a month.
Add a balance check page Our own app affiliate link
Gift Card Checker by Maestro is made by XCO Apps, the team behind StoreVetted; we may earn a commission if you subscribe. App facts and prices are from its Shopify App Store listing, checked 29 Oct 2026.