There are three ways to check the balance, and each one takes less than a few minutes. Here is how each method works:

1. Check Online. The quickest option for most people is the online balance checker. Applebee's offers a tool on its website where you enter the card number and PIN to see your balance instantly.

 What you need:

• The card number, usually a 16-digit number printed on the front of the card

• The PIN, usually a 4-digit code under a scratch-off panel on the back of the card

If the scratch-off panel is already removed and the PIN is not readable, the online method may not work, and one of the other options below would be a better route. 

2. Check by Phone

Applebee's prints a customer service number on the back of most gift cards. Call the number, provide your card number and PIN when prompted, and your balance will be confirmed over the phone.

 This option works well when:

• The website is not loading properly

• You are having trouble with the online tool

• You prefer speaking to someone directly

3. Check-In Restaurant: The simplest option of all. Any server or cashier at an Applebee's location can run the card through the system and tell you the exact balance in under a minute. No PIN required, no website needed.

This works particularly well if you are already heading to Applebee's and want to know the balance before deciding what to order.  

An Applebee's gift card is a prepaid card that can be used to buy food and beverages at any Applebee's location in the U.S. and Canada, or even to order online. These cards can be in physical (mailed) or digital (eGift) formats, have no fee, and any remaining balance may be saved for use on subsequent visits.

Key Details:

Redemption: Applicable to dine-in and online ordering at Applebee's and occasionally with third-party retailers such as Kroger or Amazon.

Forms: Physical cards are mailed, and digital gift cards (eGifts) can be delivered by email to be used immediately. No Fees: There are no fees of any kind (activation, maintenance, or dormancy), and the money does not run out.

Physical gift cards are generally treated like cash. If the card is lost or stolen and someone else uses the remaining balance before it gets reported, recovering that money is difficult but not always impossible.

Steps to take if your card goes missing:

1. Locate the original purchase receipt from when the card was bought

2. Note the card number if you recorded it anywhere

3. Contact Applebee's customer service as quickly as possible

4. Provide proof of purchase and any card details you have available

The outcome depends on how much of the balance was used and how quickly the issue is reported. Acting fast gives you the best chance of recovering something from the remaining balance.

• Applebee's gift cards are redeemable at participating locations, so it is worth confirming your local restaurant accepts them before relying on the card for payment

• Digital gift cards work the same as physical ones, and the balance is checked the same way using the card number and PIN

• Gift cards cannot be reloaded at most locations, so once the balance is used up, the card is finished

• Applebee's occasionally runs promotions where purchasing a gift card of a certain value includes a bonus card, so it is worth checking current offers before buying one as a gift.