Everyone loves to shop, but of course, nobody has infinite money to buy all the things they like. Whether you’re just shopping for everyday items or updating your wardrobe or home, there are solutions to help you save money for every dollar you spend.
There are many apps that offer cash-back for items that you buy so that you can enjoy savings year-round based on your purchases.
Here is a list of the top cash-back apps available:
1. Ibotta
Ibotta is the most popular cash-back app in the app store today. With Ibotta, you don’t have to clip coupons or keep track of them in your email– they’re all in one place ready for you to use! It also allows you to update your purchases in real-time, meaning you can receive your money faster.
The best part about Ibotta is that it works on any kind of shopping you do, from groceries to clothing to home improvement. Anything you can think of, Ibotta can help you score deals. Ibotta is available in both the iOS and Android markets.
2. Drop
Drop is the perfect cash-back app for online retailers like Amazon, Grubhub, Uber, and Walmart. You use the app to shop at your favorite websites, earning points directly by shopping. Drop even has regular promotional offers where you can earn bonus points for your shopping.
There are lots of savings to be had with Drop. Connect your debit or credit card directly to get your cash fast. Drop is free to purchase on the Android and iOS stores.
3. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is an ideal app for earning cash back on grocery shopping. It has partner stores and brands so you can save when you buy pretty much anywhere. You’ll get savings at all of the popular grocery and shopping chains like Publix, Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Sam’s Club.
By linking your online accounts with Fetch, you can even earn points for grocery shopping online! There are lots of ways to save with Fetch Rewards. The app is available on the iOS and Android stores with over a four-star rating.
4. Dosh
Dosh is another cash-back app that gets you savings on your purchases, but it works a bit differently than the others. Instead of submitting receipts or shopping through the app, you link your card to the Dosh app. Anytime you make a purchase from any of their participating retailers, you’ll get cash automatically credited to your Dosh account.
You can even use Dosh at hotels when you travel! When you’re ready to cash out, you can move the money to your PayPal or Venmo account, or even donate the funds to charity! Dosh is available on the iOS and Android markets.
5. SwagBucks
Swagbucks is different from other cash-back apps in that it pays you not for shopping, but for taking short surveys and participating in polls. Participate in surveys for the stores you already visit, and earn gift cards for those stores.
You can even earn passive income by playing Swagwatch. There are lots of ways to earn with this app if you’re willing to put in just a little bit of time.
6. Rakuten
Rakuten is one of the original cash-back apps. Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten gets you cash-back for making purchases through their website or app. It’s perfect for frequent shoppers of any kind.
Stores pay Rakuten a commission to be featured on their app, and part of that commission gets forwarded to you, the consumer. Everybody wins with Rakuten! It’s available on the iOS and Android markets, and it’s free to sign up.
7. Shopkick
Shopkick is another app that allows you to earn points both in store and online, a necessity in today’s modern shopping world. Submit your receipts to Shopkick, and earn reward points, or “kicks,” to help you start saving money at all of your favorite stores.
Shopkick is growing in popularity and more and more stores become available all the time. The app is available on both the iOS and Android stores.
8. GetUpside
What makes GetUpside unique is that you can get cash-back offers from gas stations. Everyone who drives has to get gas, so being able to get cash back on gas purchases is a huge benefit for almost anyone.
GetUpside isn’t only good for gas purchases however, you can also get cash back on grocery purchases and restaurant orders. It’s an all-around great app!
9. Cosign
Cosign is for people who are social media savvy. When you tag brands in the pictures you share to your social media, you can earn rewards if your followers click on those brands and buy.
It’s perfect for any industry, particularly food, tech, and beauty. If you’re already enjoying social media every day, why not get paid for it? It’s the perfect opportunity to earn revenue for your hobby.
10. RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot is an excellent app for people looking for in-store discounts. It’s one of the original cash-back apps from the days when the practice first started. While it’s primarily a coupon finder, you can activate deals by uploading receipts and scanning barcodes for discounts.
Many people have been using the app for years and boast about how easy it is to use.
11. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog gamifies the cash-back shopping experience by adding sweepstakes, bonuses, and what they call “Hog Slots” spins where you can earn coins. You can redeem your rewards for Amazon gift cards or PayPal cash.
What’s even more fun, you get a Receipt Hog avatar that you can dress up and purchase outfits for in the app! It’s a fun way to earn money while shopping.
12. Coupons.com
The main draw of the Coupons.com app is handling all those grocery store coupons. No more clipping coupons and digging through them at checkout. Now it’s easy to link your store loyalty card to the Coupons.com app and automatically apply discounts to your purchases.
If you don’t have a loyalty card, all you have to do is upload a photo of your receipt, and then a rebate will apply to your PayPal account. It’s easy to use and saves you tons!
13. CoinOut
CoinOut is unique in that it doesn’t require your financial information to start saving you money. You don’t have to shop at a specific retailer or look for certain deals.
All you have to do is upload your receipt, and the app finds savings for you. It’s that easy! The payouts aren’t huge, but if you combine it with other cash-back apps listed here, you can add to your savings!
14. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 is a perfect cash-back option for people who don’t shop at specific stores, and instead shop all over. The deals are based on the products you buy, not the places you buy them from. It’s also well-suited to online shopping.
All you have to do is take a photo of your packing slip and the app takes care of the savings for you! It’s an excellent option if you tend to shop in a lot of different places, and you still want the savings of a loyal store member.
15. Saving Star
Saving Star is the opposite of Checkout 51. It’s ideal for people who are loyal to certain stores and brands. Stores like CVS, Safeway, Winn-Dixie, and Dollar General are just a few of the stores that have a partnership with Saving Star.
It’s easy to cash out, too. Once you collect $20, you can transfer the money to your bank account or cash out with PayPal. It’s all online, so no need to wait on the slow post for your payment.
How to Get the Best Out of Your Cash Back Apps
Cash-back apps are useful tools for saving money, but not so much if you’re juggling too many or not utilizing them properly. We have some tips to help ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck out of your cash-back apps.
- One of the dangers of signing up for multiple cash-back apps is that you may see so many deals that you wind up spending unnecessarily. To avoid this happening, go into your emails from these apps and select “unsubscribe.” This will take away the temptation that you have when you see that delicious ice cream or adorable jacket on sale from your favorite retailer.
- Stack deals with your cash-back apps. Apply in-store coupons to your purchase, and then get your cash-back. Make sure you remember promo codes and brand discounts as well. Keep track of what can stack and what cannot.
- Compare prices of multiple brands. Take into account any deals or coupons you may have. You’ll have to do some math, but it’ll save you money in the long run, which is the goal after all.
- Don’t purchase items just because you’ll get cash-back. If you find yourself doing this, come up with a shopping list before you go out. This will prevent you from buying anything unnecessary, and you’ll still get those wonderful cash-back rewards that you want!
- Read the fine print. Lots of offers are specific to an item’s brand or quantity. You may be required to buy a family-size box of cereal and not the regular one to get your cash-back deal. Make sure you pay attention, as it can be a nasty shock at the register if you get it wrong!
- If you have lots of cash-back apps and you’re not sure which one to use, take advantage of a site like Cashback Monitor to do a comparison and find out where you’ll get more savings. It’s an extra step, but the savings you get will be worth it.
Start Earning Today!
With these apps at your disposal, you can earn money shopping virtually anywhere. It’s perfect no matter how much you shop, whether you just purchase the necessities or shopping is your weekend hobby.
As the cash-back trend grows, even more stores will participate and your earnings will grow further! It’s the perfect opportunity to turn your spending into earning and put some extra cash in your pocket.