Is GameStop Pro Worth the $25 Fee?
GameStop has struggled in recent years, shedding over 900 stores and now sitting at a still-respectable 2,300+ locations, plus an online shop. They’ve had rewards programs for years, but about two years ago they rebranded to GameStop Pro (formerly PowerUp Rewards Pro). Wise move as the new name sounds sleeker and much easier to remember.
This is a $25/year fee-based program, and it’s stacked with perks. So many, in fact, that we can only imagine the panic in an employee eyes when trying to explain them all and consumers being overwhelmed. But hey, we’re not going to ding a brand for giving too many benefits. (Rare problem in the world of loyalty.)
Still, fee-based programs have a higher bar to clear, so we broke down whether GameStop Pro is actually worth it.
Image Credit: UnSplash
The benefits :
Cost: $25 annually
🎮 Rewards:
20 points per $1 spent = 2% back
5,000 points (aka $5) as a Welcome gift for joining
Monthly $5 Reward (use it or lose it)= $60 Annually in Rewards
5,000 points ($5) when you auto-renew
Rewards are stackable (YAY!)and can be redeemed in different denominations such as $1, $5, or $10 increments
🤑 Discounts:
Free shipping on orders $54+
5% off:
Pre-owned items
Collectibles
Clearance items
GameStop brand products
GameStop protection plans
Digital games & currencies
♻️ Trade-In Boosts:
Extra 10% trade-in credit on games, consoles, and more
Extra 5% trade-in credit graded collectibles
🎁 Other Perks:
Pro Exclusive Deals & Drops
Four “Pro Weeks” per year with deals like buy 1 get 1 free on select items.
Extended return window (30 days vs 15 for non-members)
Yes, that’s a LOT. But what we love is how specific the benefits are — no vague “member-only surprises.” Just clear, tangible perks. (Looking at you, programs that offer “birthday gifts” with no details.)
So…is the fee worth it?
(Spoiler…yes)
Let’s do the math (we did it, you’re welcome).
The points earning rate gives you 2% back, which by itself isn’t spectacular (we prefer 5% or higher in retail). BUT, once you layer in the automatic rewards, things look a lot better:
$5 Welcome reward or $5 renewal reward each year
$60 in monthly $5 rewards
That’s $65 in built-in value annually on top of the 2% back in points— assuming you actually use the monthly rewards before they expire. And that’s the catch: those $5 monthly rewards are “use it or lose it” each month, as GameStop is trying to drive monthly frequency. No hoarding of Rewards in this instance.
⚠️ Key Watchout:
If you only shop at GameStop a couple times a year, you’ll miss most of the $5 monthly rewards. Example: come in 2x/year, you’d only use $15 worth of rewards (welcome + two months). Not worth it unless you were buying over $500 in products to get you more than $10 worth of points.
But:
Shop 4+ times a year = you’ll likely break even or come out ahead
Stack with digital discounts, trade-ins, or collectible purchases = extra win
We can’t stress enough how the stacking of benefits help get you value here (and how so many other programs don’t allow stacking, including heavy weights like McDonald’s and Taco Bell.)
Real-World Stacking Example:
Say you buy a $99 digital game:
5% Pro discount brings it to $94.99
Apply your $5 Welcome Reward = $89.99
You earn 1,900 points (~$1.90)
For consumers who are exclusive digital game buyers, spending just $500/year gets you:
$25 in 5% discounts
$5 Welcome or Renewal reward
2% in points (another $10)
That’s $40 back on $500 spend — not even counting the monthly $5 rewards if you’re shopping more regularly, trade-in benefits and more.
All this is to say there are many ways the $25 fee can be earned back many times over.
🕵️♂️ THE Fine Print (Mostly reasonable)
Age: 13+ to join
Renewal Regret: 45-day refund if you auto-renew and change your mind
Bad funds: No renewal bonus if payment fails or you renew manually
Buyers Regret: You can cancel for a refund within 2 days of buying if you haven’t used any Pro benefits
Point earning Limitations: Can’t earn points on membership fee itself (standard)
Point Usage: You can use points to renew membership (rare!)
Point Expiration: expire 13 months after earning, so there is a limit to point hoarding.
Cancellation: After canceling, you’ve got 45 days to use leftover points
Reward Limitations: $5 monthly rewards can’t be used on digital games, and the are only good for 1 month each.
Summary:
Fee-based loyalty programs always carry more pressure to deliver value. And this one absolutely does — assuming you shop semi-regularly at GameStop. Overall we are impressed with the amount of benefits you are getting for $25 annually.
✅ $65+ in built-in Rewards
✅ Additional 2% back on all purchases
✅ Solid stackable discounts
✅ Clear, specific perks
✅ Bonus value for trade-ins and collectibles
✅ Rare ability to use points to renew membership
👩🏻⚖️OUR VERDICT:
Very Rewarding! Even casual gamers can make their money back. And frequent shoppers? You’re practically printing value here.
Leave us a comment! Do you agree or disagree? Any further tips about GameStop Pro?
