It's Mother's Day, which means its time to buy Mom a card to tell her how great she is. If you forgot today was the big day — or waited until today to pick up a card — you're not alone. Searches for free ecards ranked third on Google this morning, peaking around 9am – right about the time most people were getting their day started.
While there are tons of sites out there that offer electronic cards you can send Mom's way, finding a free e-card is a little more difficult. Popular card maker Hallmark, for instance, offers one card free, with all its other options requiring a subscription to send them.
If you're still in the market for a free card to send Mom, egreetings offers a few unique options. Yahoo and American Greetings are also offering a free option you can send Mom's way.
Nothing there seems appropriate? Here's a bonus gallery with even more suggestions:
With a CanvasPop gift card, your mom can get any photo -- including images from Facebook and Instagram -- printed on a stylish canvas frame.
Once you've purchased, CanvasPop will instantly email you the electronic gift card and you can either print it out or forward it to your mom.
FriendGiftr offers digital gift cards from over 180 big name brands online. Send it to mom on Facebook or via the mobile web if you've really left it to the last minute!
There is no site-wide gifting solution over on Etsy yet, but many of the more prominent sellers offer gift vouchers that they will email for you to print out.
Whether it's for a custom-made accessory, personalized jewelry, or special craft item, we feel sure your mom will appreciate the homemade Etsy ethic.
If your mom is an iPhone owner, Uncommon offers a cool design-your-own-case service. Once you buy online, the gift card will be delivered via email to the recipient.
Why not email her some lovely photos too, as suggestions for the case's design? It's those kind of touches that make a gift seem more considered.
A magazine subscription is a nice gift for more analogue moms as it keeps giving well past Mother's Day.
Over at Magazines.com there are hundreds to choose from. If you tick the gift option when you check out, you get the ability to send a free email gift notification.
With hundreds of e-card designs to browse, we're sure you'll find one to suit your mom. In addition to the option to send now, you can also schedule the delivery date of the email for Mother's Day.
Obviously, if your mom is more digitally inclined, an Amazon or iTunes voucher will do the same thing for the Kindle or iOS platforms.
Is your mom the charitable type? If so, you could buy her a Charity Choice gift e-card.
Once your mom redeems the card online she can designate the funds to up to three charities close to her heart.
With a Blurb gift card, your mom could create her own beautiful photo book.
Besides email, Blurb gives you a downloadable PDF version of your gift card, so you can print it and fold it into a physical offering.
An experience day is a great way to get your mom to treat herself. It might be a day at a spa, a gourmet evening out, a scenic cruise or stock car racing.
Once you pick a gift, if you select the "email delivery" option during checkout, you'll get a colorful email gift certificate which you can customize with your own message.
If your mom's all about the money (we jest!) then you can send funds for a gift of her choice with PayPal via Facebook.
There's the option to include a customized greeting card too.
Chirpify works in a similar way, but on Twitter.
San-Fran startup Giftly sees gift card giving getting really personal.
In addition to sending your mom a gift card for any retailer, you can design your own e-card, personalizing it with photos and text.
Did any of you send your mom a digital greeting today? Where did you go to find the perfect electronic message? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
