Animated cards are greeting cards that are sent via e-mail. You might also see them referred to as online cards, e-cards or animated greeting cards. They are becoming more and more popular over time, due to their simplicity and convenience.

Animated cards are often free, though some do have a small fee associated with them. Some websites offer a subscription service that allows you to send an unlimited number of free greeting cards, provided you pay a monthly fee. Others have a suggested donation. The low price and ease of use are two of the things that make animated greeting cards so popular.