Xbox credit: buy it from a key shop or straight from the Microsoft Store?
Right now a key shop is worth a look: 9 of 9 common Xbox cards from Germany cost less than their face value there, before any fee at checkout. The furthest below is the €10 card: from €9.43 at Eneba, €0.57 or 5.7% below face value (as of 14 Nov 2026). In the Microsoft Store you buy an Xbox gift card for the amount you choose, with no fees according to Microsoft.
Xbox credit in key shops: today's price against face value
| Card | Lowest price | Face value | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox €5 credit | €4.82at Eneba+ fee possible | €5 | −€0.18 (−3.6%) |
| Xbox €10 credit | €9.43at Eneba+ fee possible | €10 | −€0.57 (−5.7%) |
| Xbox €15 credit | €14.36at Eneba+ fee possible | €15 | −€0.64 (−4.3%) |
| Xbox €20 credit | €19.35at GameSeal+ service fee | €20 | −€0.65 (−3.2%) |
| Xbox €25 credit | €23.98at Eneba+ fee possible | €25 | −€1.02 (−4.1%) |
| Xbox €50 credit | €47.57at Eneba+ fee possible | €50 | −€2.43 (−4.9%) |
| Xbox €75 credit | €72.48at Kinguin+ payment fee | €75 | −€2.52 (−3.4%) |
| Xbox €80 credit | €78.48at G2A+ service fee | €80 | −€1.52 (−1.9%) |
| Xbox €100 credit | €96.65at Kinguin+ payment fee | €100 | −€3.35 (−3.3%) |
When a key shop is worth it
A key shop is only worth it when the amount at checkout is below the face value. Several shops add a service fee in the last step of the order. A card only a few cents below face value then costs more than in the Microsoft Store. The table only shows cards for Germany, the safe choice for a German Microsoft account.
Below face value today: €5 (from €4.82), €10 (from €9.43), €15 (from €14.36), €20 (from €19.35), €25 (from €23.98), €50 (from €47.57), €75 (from €72.48), €80 (from €78.48), and €100 (from €96.65).
Where you redeem Xbox credit
- You redeem the card to your Microsoft account on Microsoft's Redeem code page. You spend the credit in the Microsoft Store on the web, on Windows or on Xbox.
- It pays for games, movies, in-app purchases and Xbox subscriptions, but not for a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- If the credit does not cover a purchase, you pay the rest with another payment option on your account.
The card must match your account's region
- Microsoft's gift card terms say credit in a currency can only be added to accounts in regions where that currency is official, and only spent there. It cannot be converted into another currency.
- If you change your account's region, your credit does not move with you. Microsoft does not transfer money between regions.
If a code is the wrong one
- If you bought the wrong code, Microsoft sends you to the retailer you bought it from.
- Credit cannot be transferred to another person or another Microsoft account. Check which account you are signed in with before you redeem.
Limits and expiry
- You can add credit worth up to USD 1,000 to your Microsoft account on any one day, or the equivalent in euros. An account can never hold more than USD 1,000.
- Credit that does not come from a promotion does not expire, and Microsoft charges no fees on it.
Checked on 12 Nov 2026 on Microsoft's pages. support.microsoft.com/de-de/accounts-billing/redeem-a-gift-card-or-code-to-your-microsoft-account, support.microsoft.com/de-de/accounts-billing/add-money-to-your-microsoft-account, support.microsoft.com/de-de/accounts-billing/microsoft-gift-cards-terms-and-conditions, support.microsoft.com/de-de/accounts-billing/change-your-country-or-region-in-microsoft-store, support.microsoft.com/de-de/family-safety/limits-on-the-money-in-your-microsoft-account
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy Xbox credit from a key shop or straight from the Microsoft Store?
Right now a key shop is worth a look: 9 of 9 common Xbox cards from Germany cost less than their face value there, before any fee at checkout. The furthest below is the €10 card: from €9.43 at Eneba, €0.57 or 5.7% below face value (as of 14 Nov 2026). In the Microsoft Store you buy an Xbox gift card for the amount you choose, with no fees according to Microsoft.
Does Xbox credit from another country work?
Microsoft says credit can only be redeemed on accounts in regions where its currency is official, and it cannot be converted into another currency. For a German account, a card for Germany is the safe choice.
What can I do if an Xbox code is the wrong one?
If you bought the wrong code, Microsoft sends you to the retailer you bought it from. Redeemed credit cannot be transferred to another Microsoft account.
Does Xbox credit expire?
No. Microsoft's terms say credit that does not come from a promotion does not expire, and Microsoft charges no fees on it.
How much Xbox credit can I redeem?
Microsoft says up to USD 1,000 of credit a day, or the equivalent in euros. An account can never hold more than USD 1,000.