Digital greeting cards are the fastest-growing segment of the greeting card industry, driven by instant delivery, AI personalization, mobile-first creation tools, and corporate adoption. This page compiles 50+ verified statistics on the digital greeting card market, e-card usage patterns, and how technology is reshaping the way we send holiday greetings.
Digital Greeting Card Market Size
Market Growth Comparison
| Segment | Market Value (2025) | CAGR | Projected 2033/34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall greeting cards (global) | $19.8B | 1.8% | $22.96B |
| Traditional / physical cards | ~$14.7B | -3.2% | Declining |
| Online greeting card sales (U.S.) | $2.6B | 7.1% | Growing |
| Online greeting cards (global) | $1.54B | 4.89% | $2.37B |
| Electronic greeting cards | ~$5B | 15% | Fastest growing |
Sources: Grand View Research, IBISWorld, 360 Research Reports
Online Greeting Card Sales
The pandemic was a turning point for digital card adoption. When brick-and-mortar stores closed in 2020, consumers who had never purchased cards online were forced to do so. Many continued after stores reopened, permanently expanding the digital customer base. Online sales for greeting cards are projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% through 2033, while e-cards specifically are growing much faster.
Source: Grand View Research
Digital vs Physical Cards
| Metric | Physical Cards | Digital / E-Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Market share (2024) | 74.3% | 25.7% |
| U.S. market share trend | Declining | Growing |
| Publisher revenue CAGR | -3.2% | +7.1% (online) |
| E-card segment CAGR | — | +4.7% to 15% |
| Preferred by under-30 | 28% | 72% |
| Preferred overall | 54% | 46% |
| Avg cost per card | $2–$8 | $0–$5 (many free) |
Sources: Grand View Research, GiftLips
Eco-conscious consumers are another driver of digital adoption — physical card alternatives saw a 22% decline in usage as environmental sentiment pushed consumers toward e-cards. However, many users value the tactile, keepsake quality of physical cards that digital cannot replicate.
E-Card Usage & Behavior
Key Usage Trends
Seasonal digital cards increased 38% due to rising social media sharing. Holiday greeting cards dominate search volumes, peaking at 100% in December before declining post-holidays. With 52% of global users preferring instant delivery, convenience remains the primary driver of e-card adoption.
Source: 360 Research Reports
AI & Greeting Cards
AI is transforming greeting cards at multiple levels: design generation (creating custom artwork from text prompts), message writing (personalized copy based on relationship and occasion), and corporate automation (scheduled greetings for employees and clients).
Platforms like Canva, Adobe Express, and specialized apps now offer AI-generated card designs that blur the line between mass-produced and custom-made cards. This creates a new market segment positioned between generic store-bought and fully bespoke designer cards.
Source: Business Research Insights
Corporate Digital Greetings
Corporate greeting cards represent a significant and growing B2B opportunity. Real estate professionals, financial advisors, and service providers use digital cards for client retention. HR departments incorporate cards into employee engagement programs for work anniversaries, achievements, and personal milestones. The individual consumer segment holds 78% of the global market, but corporate clients are growing faster.
Top Platforms & Players
The digital greeting card space is dominated by traditional industry leaders expanding online alongside digital-native startups:
| Platform | Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Hallmark eCards | Traditional + Digital | Brand trust, Gift Card Greetings (QR codes) |
| Paperless Post | Digital-native | Premium design, event invitations |
| Moonpig | Personalized cards | Photo upload, UK/global market leader |
| American Greetings | Traditional + Digital | BlueMountain, SmashUps (video) |
| Jacquie Lawson | Premium e-cards | Animated, subscription-based |
| JibJab | Entertainment | Face-in-video personalized cards |
| Greetings Island | Free / freemium | Printable + digital, 10,000+ designs |
| Canva | Design platform | AI tools, templates, DIY design |
Sources: Company websites, 360 Research Reports
Hallmark and American Greetings still control approximately 80% of the overall greeting card market (physical + digital combined), but their digital market share is being challenged by pure-play digital platforms and DIY design tools.
Digital Card Trends for 2026
1. Video & Animated Cards
Video greetings grew 29% in 2025, and this trend is accelerating. Platforms now allow users to record personal video messages, add face-swapped animations, and create cinematic holiday greetings — all from a smartphone.
2. AI-Generated Personalization
AI tools can now generate custom card artwork, write personalized messages based on relationship context, and even suggest the best time to send. Expect AI to become the default creation tool for digital cards by 2027.
3. Hybrid Physical-Digital Cards
QR codes, NFC chips, and AR features are creating cards that bridge physical and digital. Scan a paper card to unlock a video message, a Spotify playlist, or a digital gift card. Hallmark's Gift Card Greetings is an early example.
4. Social Media-Native Greetings
Instagram Stories, WhatsApp stickers, and TikTok holiday videos are becoming informal "greeting cards" for younger generations. These are rarely tracked by traditional industry statistics but represent billions of holiday messages.
5. Sustainability-Driven Adoption
Environmental consciousness is pushing more consumers toward digital. Eco-friendly sentiment contributed to a 22% decline in physical card purchases among environmentally aware consumers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the digital greeting card market?
The global online greeting card market was valued at $1.54 billion in 2025, expected to reach $2.37 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 4.89%. U.S. online greeting card sales alone reached $2.6 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld). The broader electronic greeting card market is estimated at $5 billion with a 15% CAGR.
How many e-cards are sent each year?
Over 500 million e-cards are sent during the Christmas season alone. Digital card usage has increased 41% over the past five years, driven by instant sharing across social platforms (up 44%) and mobile-first creation tools (up 31%).
Do people prefer physical or digital greeting cards?
54% of Americans prefer physical cards overall, but 72% of adults under 30 prefer digital communication for greetings. Traditional cards hold 74.3% market share, but e-cards are the fastest-growing segment with projected CAGRs of 4.7% to 15%.
How is AI changing the greeting card industry?
AI-assisted editing tools grew 38% in 2025, enabling personalized designs, auto-generated messages, and corporate automation. Over 65% of consumers prefer personalized cards, and AI makes this scalable for the first time. Corporate e-card adoption rose 28%.
What are the top digital greeting card platforms?
Leading platforms include Hallmark eCards, Paperless Post, Moonpig, American Greetings (BlueMountain), Jacquie Lawson, JibJab, and Greetings Island. There are approximately 8,270 businesses in the U.S. online greeting card industry.
Sources
- IBISWorld — Online Greeting Card Sales in the US (2025)
- 360 Research Reports — Online Greeting Cards Market Report (2025–2034)
- Grand View Research — Greeting Cards Market Size Report (2024)
- Grand View Research — US Greeting Cards Market Outlook
- Archive Market Research — Electronic Greeting Cards Analysis (2025)
- Business Research Insights — Greeting Cards Market (2025)
- GiftLips — Greeting Card Industry Statistics (2025)
- Accio — 2025 Greeting Card Sales Trends
- Research and Markets — Greeting Cards Market Trends (2023–2030)
- Emergen Research — Greeting Cards Market (2024)
- Hallmark Corporate — Greeting Cards Overview
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce — Greeting Card Next-Gen Relevance