Tampa, FL, May 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new one Kashkick A survey of 224,679 U.S. consumers in all 50 states shows that cash and gift cards together dominate consumer reward preferences, with 54.14% of respondents ranking cash (PayPal, Venmo) as their #1 most desirable reward and 34.06% considering gift cards (Amazon, Visa) as their #2 choice. Both forms of cash equivalent reward are placed well ahead of travel, merchandise, event access, digital subscriptions and exclusive discounts.
Cash and gift cards are consumers’ top reward preferences
The findings are consistent with broader industry data. According to Capital One Shopping Surveyit is estimated that the US gift card market will generate $507.1 billion in revenue by 2026 and grow at an annual rate of 11.4%, while TSG and Bank of America’s 2026 U.S. Consumer Gift Card Survey reports that more than half of U.S. consumers (55%) say they would try a new business because of a gift card, up from 49% two years ago.
“Across more than 224,000 respondents, the message is consistent: people want rewards they can actually use,” said Katie Nelson, Head of Consumer Research at Kashkick. “Cash is the most flexible reward we can offer, and gift vouchers act as the nearest second – both let users decide how the value is spent. That’s the structure that consumers are responding to, and it’s consistent with what we’re seeing in the broader reward economy.”
What the rankings show
In the eight reward categories tested by Kashkick, cash and gift cards were the only two to achieve a meaningful #1 or #2 placement. 65.29% of respondents ranked cash as their first or second choice, and 45.21% ranked gift cards in the top two. Every other category – including all-expenses-paid travel (24.72% top two), physical goods (18.89%), event access (10.00%) and digital subscriptions (8.87%) – lagged significantly. For platforms designing reward structures, the data provides a clear hierarchy: cash first, then gift cards, and everything else well beyond that.
The preference extends across income levels. 33.20% of Kashkick respondents report a household income of less than $25,000, a demographic for whom cash and gift cards have direct, immediate value – covering groceries, gas or a household bill rather than sitting unused as merchandise or an unredeemed digital perk.
Industry context
Kashkick’s findings come as the gift card category continues to expand rapidly. Per Mordor IntelligenceThe U.S. gift and incentive card market is expected to grow from $207 billion in 2025 to over $220 billion in 2026, with digital formats driving most of the growth. For consumers looking for the best survey apps or ways to make extra money in 2026, the Kashkick data offers a clear conclusion: the rewards consumers value most are also the rewards that are most cash-like.
About KashKick
Founded in 2017, Kashkick is a US-based rewards platform that pays members in cash and gift cards for playing games, taking surveys, trying new apps, and responding to offers. Members can cash out via PayPal or Venmo, or redeem their earnings for gift cards from leading retailers. Built for the next generation of earners, KashKick bridges the gap between brand discovery and consumer empowerment, putting users in control of how they engage and earn. https://kashkick.com/
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Yasmin Marinaro
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https://kashkick.com
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