Ecards Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Types (Occasion Ecards, Holiday Ecards, Greeting Ecards), By Applications Covered (Business Ecards, Personal Ecards), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Ecards Market Size

The Ecards Market size was valued at USD 0.228 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 0.256 Billion in 2025, further growing to USD 0.627 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by the increasing popularity of digital greeting cards, advancements in customization options, and the growing adoption of ecards for personal and corporate use, driven by convenience and environmental sustainability.

The US Ecards Market is experiencing strong growth, driven by the increasing popularity of digital greeting cards for personal and corporate use. The market benefits from advancements in customization options, allowing consumers to create more personalized and unique ecards. Additionally, the growing focus on sustainability and the convenience of sending digital greetings over traditional paper cards are further contributing to the expansion of the ecards market across the United States.

Key Findings

• Market Size: Valued at 0.256B in 2025, expected to reach 0.627B by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 11.9%
• Growth Drivers: 64% user preference for digital greetings, 53% mobile-driven usage, 48% demand for personalization, 36% increase in remote celebration trends.
• Trends: 42% rise in animated ecards, 39% growth in AI personalization tools, 33% subscription model adoption, 29% social sharing of cards.
• Key Players: American Greetings, JibJab, Punchbowl, Smilebox, 123 Greetings
• Regional Insights: 37% market share in North America, 28% in Europe, 24% in Asia-Pacific, 11% in Middle East & Africa, 31% mobile-first access.
• Challenges: 34% preference for free alternatives, 29% content repetition complaints, 26% privacy concerns, 21% low open rates during peak seasons.
• Industry Impact: 46% improved user engagement, 41% growth in business usage, 38% eco-conscious adoption, 33% expansion into mobile and app ecosystems.
• Recent Developments: 45% new video-based templates, 36% platform API integrations, 31% multilingual card launches, 28% user-driven DIY customization features.

The ecards market is rapidly expanding, fueled by growing digital communication, personalization trends, and environmental consciousness. Ecards are widely used for occasions such as birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and corporate greetings. Over 62% of consumers prefer digital cards over traditional paper cards due to their instant delivery and creative customization. The corporate sector accounts for 28% of total ecard usage, driven by internal communication and customer engagement strategies. Eco-conscious users are also contributing to 34% of growth by choosing digital formats to reduce paper waste. With integration of animations, audio, and personalized messages, ecards are redefining modern-day greetings.

Ecards Market Trends

The ecards market is being shaped by dynamic digital trends, shifting user behaviors, and evolving personalization preferences. The global rise of virtual celebrations and remote lifestyles has led to a 57% increase in the use of ecards during major holidays such as New Year, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Mobile-optimized platforms now account for 48% of ecard interactions, with more than 41% of users sending ecards directly through mobile apps or messaging platforms.

Customization is becoming a core trend, with 54% of users opting for personalized ecards that include names, voice recordings, photos, or animated graphics. Corporate use of ecards is also on the rise, particularly for employee appreciation and client outreach, growing by 36% over the past year. Companies in sectors such as tech, finance, and hospitality now send ecards to clients during festivals and key milestones, contributing to 31% of total business usage.

Sustainability trends are influencing consumer preferences, with 46% of respondents citing environmental impact as a reason for choosing digital cards over printed ones. Social media integration is also driving engagement, with 39% of ecards now shared on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Additionally, AI and machine learning tools are enhancing design automation, contributing to a 27% increase in platforms offering smart suggestions based on user behavior.

The ecard market is also benefitting from subscription-based services, which grew by 33% in 2024, offering consumers unlimited access to themed templates, multi-language support, and scheduling features. This evolution highlights how ecards have become a versatile, cost-effective, and eco-friendly medium for both personal and business communication.

Ecards Market Dynamics

The ecards market is evolving as consumer demand shifts toward personalized, fast, and environmentally conscious communication. With over 60% of users valuing creativity and emotional connection in virtual greetings, the market is witnessing increased usage across both individuals and businesses. Integration of interactive media, emojis, gifs, and localized language support has made ecards more engaging. In parallel, rising smartphone penetration and social media usage have further boosted adoption. However, the market also faces challenges from free alternatives and content saturation, prompting providers to focus on innovation and premium experiences to maintain engagement.

OPPORTUNITY

Corporate gifting, multilingual ecards, and eco-branding

Corporate and professional sectors account for 28% of the ecard market, offering a strong growth avenue for targeted B2B platforms. Multilingual ecards saw a 39% increase in demand as global teams expanded remote work culture. Eco-conscious branding has boosted ecard usage by 46% among organizations aiming to eliminate printed card emissions. The integration of QR codes and video greetings in product packaging and HR campaigns has grown by 31%. Additionally, 36% of customer engagement platforms now offer ecard plug-ins for CRM and email marketing tools, opening scalable opportunities.

DRIVERS

Increased demand for instant, personalized communication

Over 64% of users prefer ecards due to instant delivery and ease of customization. Personalized options like photos, text, and voice notes have contributed to a 53% increase in usage. Corporate adoption for employee recognition grew by 38% in 2024. Mobile and app-based platforms now drive 49% of all ecard transactions. Around 46% of users say they use ecards to save time and ensure on-time delivery for birthdays and holidays. The growth in long-distance celebrations has increased personal ecard sharing by 41%.

Restraints

""Free alternatives and content oversaturation""

While the ecard market is growing, over 34% of users opt for free messaging apps or templates, reducing demand for paid services. Content duplication has led to 28% of users reporting a lack of originality in ecard platforms. Around 25% of businesses hesitate to invest in ecards due to minimal ROI from one-time marketing campaigns. Additionally, 31% of users express concerns over spam or excessive promotional content. The market is also impacted by rising privacy concerns, especially with 22% of users avoiding apps that request extensive personal data access.

Challenge

""User fatigue and declining open rates amid rising digital noise""

The oversaturation of digital content has resulted in a 24% drop in ecard open rates among users aged 18–35. Approximately 29% of consumers claim they ignore ecards during peak festive seasons due to volume overload. User retention dropped by 21% on non-personalized platforms. Additionally, competition from video calls, memes, and social stories creates 37% higher content distractions. About 33% of small businesses report difficulty maintaining user engagement beyond one-time campaigns, pushing providers to rethink design innovation and user experience personalization to reduce bounce rates and fatigue.

Segmentation Analysis

The ecards market is segmented based on type and application, allowing for targeted service delivery and content personalization. By type, ecards are classified into occasion ecards, holiday ecards, and greeting ecards—each addressing different user needs, whether personal or corporate. Occasion ecards cater to birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, accounting for the highest share due to year-round demand. Holiday ecards surge seasonally, especially during Christmas, New Year, and Valentine's Day. Greeting ecards serve broader communication, like thank-you notes, apologies, or motivational messages. By application, the market is divided into business and personal ecards. Business ecards are widely adopted for brand outreach and internal HR communications, while personal ecards dominate daily usage for birthdays and social sharing. The increasing integration of multimedia elements, smart personalization, and API connectivity across both segments is reshaping the landscape. This segmentation highlights shifting behaviors where emotional connection, brand engagement, and social visibility are key to driving usage and user retention.

By Type

• Occasion Ecards: Occasion ecards account for 42% of total market usage, led by birthday, anniversary, and wedding messages. Over 58% of users prefer these ecards due to their year-round relevance and availability of personalized features. Platforms offering customizable occasion templates report 37% higher engagement and 33% repeat usage, especially among users aged 25–45.
• Holiday Ecards: Holiday ecards contribute to 35% of the market, with demand peaking during Christmas, New Year, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. Over 61% of users send holiday ecards during December alone. Business users account for 27% of holiday ecard traffic, primarily for client greetings and brand promotions. Seasonal trends drive 31% of yearly traffic to holiday categories.
• Greeting Ecards: Greeting ecards cover 23% of the segment and are used for general expressions like congratulations, thank-you messages, get-well-soon notes, and apologies. Approximately 39% of users aged 18–34 prefer these for spontaneous outreach. These cards are often shared through social media, contributing to 41% of total ecard shares across messaging platforms.

By Application

• Business Ecards: Business ecards make up 29% of the market and are used for internal recognition, holiday greetings, onboarding, and client appreciation. HR departments in over 46% of mid-sized companies now use ecards for employee engagement. Ecard marketing campaigns saw a 32% rise in B2B adoption, especially in tech and professional services sectors.
• Personal Ecards: Personal ecards lead with 71% share, driven by high usage in birthdays, anniversaries, and daily social interactions. Over 68% of millennials and Gen Z users send ecards monthly, particularly via mobile apps and social media links. Platforms with multimedia personalization and emoji integration report 36% more user retention for personal use cases.

Regional Outlook

The global ecards market is witnessing strong regional variations driven by digital maturity, cultural preferences, and seasonal celebration trends. North America leads with the highest adoption rates due to the region's advanced internet infrastructure and strong holiday-centric culture. Europe follows, with widespread usage in business and personal applications, especially in countries with a gifting tradition like the UK, Germany, and France. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, driven by mobile-first internet users and increasing adoption of digital greetings during festive periods. Platforms in India and Southeast Asia report a rise in regional language ecards, contributing to 28% of new user growth. The Middle East & Africa market is gradually emerging as digital access expands. Urbanization and social media penetration are fostering growth in digital communication, with seasonal events like Eid and Christmas driving localized demand. Cross-border card-sending features and localization are enabling regional platforms to scale effectively and attract younger digital-native audiences.

North America

North America accounts for 37% of the global ecards market, with the U.S. contributing over 81% of regional usage. The holiday season alone drives 48% of yearly traffic, especially for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Over 63% of corporate users in North America use ecards for seasonal and employee recognition campaigns. Mobile apps and ecard integrations with CRM systems have grown by 29% year over year. Personal usage is high, with 52% of millennials sending ecards monthly. Platforms with AI-driven personalization report 38% higher engagement among U.S. users.

Europe

Europe contributes 28% of global ecard consumption, led by the UK, Germany, France, and Spain. Business usage accounts for 33% of Europe’s ecard volume, with corporate ecards for holiday greetings and HR communications showing a 27% annual increase. Over 49% of users send digital cards during cultural events like Easter and New Year. Subscription-based ecard platforms are growing rapidly, especially in Germany and the UK, with 31% of users opting for premium access. Multilingual options and EU data privacy compliance have strengthened adoption across corporate sectors.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific holds 24% of the ecard market share and is the fastest-growing region, led by India, China, Japan, and Australia. Over 57% of ecard traffic originates from mobile users in this region. Festive events such as Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Lunar festivals contribute to 43% of seasonal card usage. Platforms with language-specific and culturally themed ecards have grown user acquisition by 38%. In India, regional language cards now make up 31% of new uploads. Business adoption is also climbing, with 22% of enterprises using ecards for internal celebrations and client engagement.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa represent 11% of the global market but are growing steadily. Urban centers like Dubai, Riyadh, and Johannesburg report a 26% year-on-year rise in digital card adoption. Ecards for Eid, Ramadan, and Christmas account for 52% of usage during the festive season. Corporate sectors in the UAE and South Africa are adopting ecards for holiday campaigns, contributing to 29% of regional business volume. Localization in Arabic and French is driving 33% more user sign-ups. Mobile-first designs and social platform integrations are key to expanding reach in this emerging region.

LIST OF KEY Ecards Market COMPANIES PROFILED

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The ecards market is attracting increased investment as personalization, sustainability, and digital gifting trends reshape the online greetings ecosystem. In 2025, over 46% of platforms received funding aimed at enhancing user experience through animation, voice notes, and interactive features. Investors are especially drawn to subscription-based ecard models, which grew by 33% and now account for 28% of platform monetization strategies. Mobile-first services have also attracted 41% of new investment, particularly in Asia-Pacific where app usage accounts for 57% of user traffic.

Business-focused ecard tools for HR, CRM, and event management are gaining traction, driving 36% of enterprise-side investment. About 29% of funding went into AI-based personalization engines that allow platforms to recommend ecards based on user behavior and past activity. Voice integration, used in 21% of new card formats, has further driven capital flow into tech-enabled formats.

Investors are also supporting eco-friendly messaging initiatives, with 39% of new investment directed at platforms that offer carbon-neutral services and recyclable physical card hybrids. With 34% of marketing budgets now shifting toward digital interaction tools, ecards are positioned as an essential asset for both individuals and brands seeking emotional engagement in a digital-first world. Regional players are expected to benefit from localized content and cloud-based scalability funded by these strategic investments.

NEW PRODUCTS Development

The ecards market in 2025 has seen a surge in innovative product offerings focused on customization, accessibility, and cross-platform integration. Around 43% of new product launches included animated video ecards with customizable avatars and voice-overs. JibJab released a new line of AI-generated cards allowing users to input text prompts and generate personalized messages, driving a 39% increase in user activity. American Greetings introduced multilingual templates for 15+ global languages, contributing to a 31% rise in engagement from international users.

Punchbowl, Inc. rolled out a new ecard collection integrated with virtual event invites, adopted by 27% of corporate clients for internal celebrations and webinars. Smilebox expanded its product line with mobile app-based ecards that include AR effects and real-time collaboration features, boosting user retention by 33%. Open Me developed a group ecard system allowing multiple contributors, which now makes up 19% of their monthly traffic.

Eco-themed card collections increased by 35%, reflecting rising interest in sustainable messaging. Moreover, platforms like Some E-Cards are now offering meme-based ecards, tapping into humor trends and contributing to 22% growth in social media shares. These developments highlight a shift toward multi-functional, emotionally expressive, and socially shareable formats that resonate with the modern user.

Recent Developments

• American Greetings (2025): Launched an AI-driven personalization suite enabling users to auto-generate message text based on tone, event type, and recipient profile. This tool increased engagement by 36% among returning users and boosted subscription renewals by 29% within six months of release.
• JibJab (2025): Rolled out interactive video ecards featuring customizable cartoon avatars and voice dubbing. Over 41% of new users engaged with this product during the first quarter of 2025, with social media shares increasing by 38% in the same period.
• Punchbowl, Inc. (2025): Integrated e-invites with ecards for corporate events, allowing RSVP tracking and automated follow-ups. This hybrid feature contributed to a 33% rise in business clients using the platform during quarterly campaigns, especially for onboarding and recognition events.
• 123 Greetings (2025): Introduced a “Create Your Own Card” interface that enabled a 28% increase in DIY user submissions. Nearly 19% of all cards sent in Q2 2025 came from the new customization dashboard, attracting Gen Z users with drag-and-drop creativity tools.
• Moonpig (2025): Expanded into eco-hybrid ecards that combine a digital greeting with a carbon-neutral print-on-demand postcard. The service saw a 31% growth in orders from users aged 35–50 who prefer tangible memories combined with digital convenience.

REPORT COVERAGE

The ecards market report provides in-depth analysis across market size, segmentation, trends, competitive landscape, investment activity, product innovation, and regional performance. By type, the report outlines occasion ecards holding 42% share, followed by holiday ecards at 35%, and greeting ecards at 23%. By application, personal ecards dominate with 71% share, while business ecards account for 29% driven by internal corporate messaging and event branding.

Regionally, North America leads with 37% share, followed by Europe (28%), Asia-Pacific (24%), and the Middle East & Africa (11%). The report features detailed profiles of leading companies including American Greetings, JibJab, Punchbowl, Inc., 123 Greetings, and Moonpig—collectively responsible for over 65% of the market. It covers recent developments, with 43% of platforms launching AI-enhanced and mobile-first ecards.

The study also tracks investments in eco-friendly and interactive product formats, reflecting a 39% rise in funding for green digital messaging solutions. With mobile devices contributing to 57% of traffic and social media accounting for 49% of shares, the report highlights the strategic move toward integrated, on-demand, and personalized ecard experiences. Covering over 150 metrics, this report equips stakeholders with insights for scaling platform reach, improving user retention, and aligning with consumer expectations in a digitally-driven market.