You found an old card in a drawer. Maybe it was a birthday gift from an aunt who still thinks you buy individual songs for 99 cents. Now you’re staring at the back, scratching off the silver coating, and wondering: how can you use iTunes gift cards in an era where everyone just streams everything?
The branding is actually the most confusing part. Apple has spent the last few years transitioning away from the "iTunes" moniker, moving toward the unified "Apple Gift Card." But those old blue cards or the ones specifically labeled for iTunes still work perfectly fine. They just get funneled into your Apple Account Balance.
It’s basically digital gold within the Apple ecosystem.
Once you redeem that code on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, that money doesn't just sit there waiting for you to buy a U2 album. It becomes a versatile currency. You can use it for apps, sure, but also for cloud storage, movie rentals, and even some things that might actually save you money on your monthly bills.
The Modern Reality of the iTunes Balance
Most people think of the App Store first. It makes sense. If you want to buy a premium version of a weather app or a productivity tool like Forest or Notability, your iTunes credit handles it instantly. But the scope is way wider than that.
Apple effectively merged their storefronts. This means your iTunes card is now a gateway to Apple Music, Apple TV+, and even Apple Arcade. If you’re already paying $10.99 or $16.99 a month for these services, the credit simply sits in your account and gets nibbled away each billing cycle until it’s gone. It’s a great way to "prepay" your subscriptions so you don't see those annoying hits on your debit card for a few months.
Gaming is the Secret Value Play
If you’re into mobile gaming, this is where the money usually goes. Whether it’s buying "Gems" in Clash of Clans or "V-Bucks" in Fortnite (if you’re playing via cloud services or in supported regions), that iTunes credit is the primary engine.
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But consider Apple Arcade. For a flat monthly fee, you get access to hundreds of games without ads or in-app purchases. Using a gift card to fund an Apple Arcade subscription is honestly one of the smartest ways to get value out of a small $15 or $25 card. You get months of entertainment rather than one-time "currency" in a game that you might stop playing next week.
How Can You Use iTunes Gift Cards for Subscriptions?
This is the big one. Almost any third-party app that bills you through the App Store can be paid for using your iTunes balance.
Think about it.
- YouTube Premium: If you signed up for YouTube Premium through the iOS app, Apple handles the billing. Your gift card balance will be used first.
- Hulu or Disney+: Same deal. If you manage the subscription via your Apple ID settings, that "iTunes" money is what pays the bill.
- Bumble or Tinder: Yes, even dating app gold or platinum subscriptions can be funded this way.
- Canva or Adobe Lightroom: Professional tools aren't exempt.
There is a catch, though. You have to make sure the subscription is actually managed by Apple. If you signed up for Netflix on a web browser five years ago, Apple isn't the middleman, and your gift card balance is useless there. You’d have to cancel and (if the app allows) re-subscribe through the iOS interface, though many big players like Netflix have removed the ability to sign up via the App Store to avoid Apple's 30% cut.
iCloud+ Storage Upgrades
We all get that "Storage Almost Full" notification. It’s a rite of passage for iPhone users.
Using your iTunes gift card to pay for iCloud+ is incredibly practical. If you’re paying $0.99 a month for the 50GB plan, a $25 gift card covers you for two years. Two years of not worrying about your photos backing up. That’s a huge win for a "useless" gift.
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Buying vs. Renting in the Apple TV App
While streaming services like Netflix and Max have their own libraries, some movies just aren't on "free" streaming. This is where the Apple TV app comes in.
You can use your balance to rent a 4K movie for $5.99. It’s a one-off treat. Or, if you’re a collector, you can buy a digital box set of a show like The Office or Succession. Since Apple frequently runs sales where entire series drop to $19.99 or $29.99, a single gift card can buy you a permanent library that doesn't disappear when a streaming license expires.
Books and Audiobooks
Don’t forget the Apple Books store. It’s often overshadowed by Kindle, but the interface is clean and the selection is massive. If you prefer listening to reading, the audiobooks section is robust. Audiobooks can be pricey—often $20 to $30—so using a gift card to offset that cost makes a lot of sense for long commutes.
The Technical "How-To" for Redemption
Redeeming it is usually painless, but there are a few roadblocks.
Open the App Store. Tap your photo (the account icon) in the top right corner. Tap "Redeem Gift Card or Code." You can use your camera to scan the code, which is honestly like magic every time it works, or just type it in manually.
Wait, what if it doesn't work?
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Common issues usually involve region locking. An iTunes gift card bought in the United States cannot be redeemed in a UK or Canadian Apple ID account. There is no way around this. You can't "convert" them. You’d either have to change your entire account region (which is a nightmare involving canceling all subscriptions and clearing your balance) or just give the card to a friend in that country.
Another weird quirk: you can't use your balance to buy more gift cards. Apple stopped that loophole a long time ago. You also can't use a balance to buy physical hardware like an iPhone or a MacBook unless you are using the newer, unified "Apple Gift Card." If you have the old-school iTunes-only card, you are generally restricted to digital goods.
Why You Should Check Your Subscriptions Now
If you have a balance sitting there, Apple will always prioritize it over your credit card. This is great, but it can also be a surprise when the balance runs out and your "real" bank account suddenly gets hit with a $50 annual subscription fee you forgot about.
It's a good idea to go into your Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions and see what's active. If you just redeemed a $100 card, maybe now is the time to toggle on that yearly subscription for a fitness app or a meditation tool like Headspace, knowing it’s already paid for.
Actionable Steps to Maximize Your Balance
- Consolidate Your Accounts: If you have multiple Apple IDs, pick one. You can't transfer balances between them once they are redeemed.
- Audit Your Storage: If you’re on the free 5GB iCloud plan, use a small gift card to jump to the 50GB or 200GB tier. It’s the most "useful" the money can be for daily life.
- Wait for Sales: The iTunes store has massive "Movie Nights" sales every Tuesday and Friday. Don't spend your $20 credit on a movie today that might be $4.99 on Tuesday.
- Check Family Sharing: If you are the "Organizer" of an Apple Family Sharing group, your gift card balance will actually pay for the purchases of your family members too. It’s a great way to manage a kid’s app spending without giving them access to your actual credit card.
Stop letting that credit sit there. Whether it's a month of ad-free YouTube, a few extra gigabytes of cloud space, or finally watching that blockbuster you missed in theaters, your iTunes gift card is far more flexible than it looks on the surface.