Everyone buys groceries and other household basics, so why not earn cash back on your everyday purchases? When you think about how much you spend on food each week, even earning as low as 1% through cash back apps can add up – and many of the best cash back apps offer far more than 1%.
Even better, you can combine the cash back apps mentioned in this article with a credit card offering cash rewards and effectively earn double the rewards on all your purchases.
10 Best Cash Back Apps
Here are the best cash back apps you can download today:
- 🏆 Rakuten
- Ibotta
- RebatesMe
- Dosh
- Fetch Rewards
- Upside
- Checkout 51
- PayPal Honey
- Receipt Hog
- Capital One Shopping
1. Rakuten
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.8 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 3.7 out of 5
The great thing about Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is you’ll get cashback in the form of real cash when shopping online. Every quarter, they pay members through either a check or cash sent to your PayPal account. You also get a $30 bonus from signing up as long as you spend $30 within your first three months as a member.
Rakuten works with 3,500 retailers, so it’s easy to earn cash back at your favorite stores. Although you can earn up to 40% cashback, it’s more common to earn 5%-10%. You can also earn up to $30 from referring friends and family.
Learn More:
2. Ibotta
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.8 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.5 out of 5
If you want to earn cashback from grocery stores, the Ibotta app is just about the best available. Earn in-store by uploading your receipt to the app, linking your retailer account, or earn online by using the app and browser extension.
You can even earn up to $10 in welcome bonuses just for trying the app – use this Ibotta referral code for extra cash!
You can also use the gift cards feature to speed up the process; purchase your gift card and cash back will be added to your account instantly! Use your gift card to pay for purchases in-store or online.
The only downside is that you need to complete short tasks to earn cashback on each eligible product – this could be as simple as taking part in a poll or watching a video, but it can add up. However, it’s a great way to earn extra points as you’re not limited to one task per product.
You can choose whether to receive your points as a cash transfer or a gift card.
Learn More:
3. RebatesMe
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 2.3 out of 5 (only 18 ratings)
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: No Rating
RebatesMe is a cashback browser extension similar to Honey or Rakuten, and now it is also a mobile app. It works with retailers that pay them a commission when customers shop with the browser extension or via the app. RebatesMe then splits that commission with you for your effort.
You can earn as much as 40% cash back at over 6,000 partner stores with RebatesMe. Simply download the Google Chrome browser extension, iOS or Android app. If shopping online, simply click the “Cash Back Button” to automatically get credited for your purchases. Your rewards will accumulate in your RebatesMe dashboard, and you can redeem your earnings through a prepaid check, retailer gift card, Visa gift card, or PayPal deposit.
4. Dosh
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.7 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Dosh pays you cash back to shop, dine out, or travel. You don’t have to upload receipts or mess with coupons. Simply link your most used credit or debit cards to the app and earn cash back when you shop. To earn even bigger cashback, you can book hotels and accommodations through the Dosh app and receive up to 40% back to use towards your vacation.
The only downside is that Dosh is only available as a phone app – there’s no web version. But this is all you really need for such a simple app; the only features you’ll need to use are linking your cards and then withdrawing the money you earn.
Dosh is also serious about protecting your data. The app has 256-bit SSL encryption and vaults your credit card information using the PayPal service Braintree; they also don’t sell your information to third parties.
Next Steps:
5. Fetch Rewards
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.8 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Another one of the best cash-back apps that helps you earn money back from shopping is Fetch Rewards. You won’t be restricted to particular stores – you can claim cashback on all retail stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
You only need to take a picture of your receipts to earn points for gift cards, but you can earn more by purchasing specific products they have listed in the app.
You’ll earn bonus points for signing up, and you can earn more bonus points for referring people you know.
6. Upside
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.8 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.7 out of 5
With the current prices for filling up your tank, who doesn’t need to earn cash back at the gas station?
With the Upside cash back app, you can earn cash back at over 30,000 gas stations (including big brands such as BP, Circle K, Exxon, Shell, and more) across the US.
But that is not the only way you can earn cash back with Upside. You can also earn up to 45% cash back at participating restaurants, cafes, fast food, and more.
Next Steps:
7. Checkout 51
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.0 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Another cashback website ideal for grocery shopping or getting gas is Checkout 51. Just like Ibotta, you can browse offers on the app and redeem them by uploading your receipt.
There’s more to the process than simply taking a picture as the app will prompt you to tick off the categories of items you purchased, but you won’t have to complete any small tasks to get your points.
You’ll be able to receive your money once you accumulate $20 in cash back. Checkout 51 is slightly old-fashioned for how it pays; the only way to receive payment is through a check in the mail.
8. PayPal Honey
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.4 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Honey, or what is now called PayPal Honey, is another browser extension and cash-back app that helps you earn cash back from shopping.
You can normally browse while Honey works in the background, and when you buy an eligible item, you’ll earn ‘Honey Gold’ to redeem towards gift cards. Honey will also pop up to alert you about discounts and coupons relevant to the store you’re visiting online.
You can earn Honey Gold by shopping at thousands of retailers and earn up to 20% back depending on the store. Sometimes, bonuses are also available to help you earn even more. Once you earn enough gold, you can redeem points for cash and gift cards.
Learn More:
9. Receipt Hog
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.7 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The main advantage of Receipt Hog is that you can earn cash back on anything you shop – you aren’t limited to the partnered retailers. You also don’t have to do anything other than scan your receipts to start earning.
An additional feature is that you can take part in surveys and sweepstakes straight from the app to earn more points. Once you earn points, you can choose between redeeming a gift card or a PayPal transfer.
10. Capital One Shopping
⭐️ Apple App Store Rating: 4.9 out of 5
⭐️ Google Play Store Rating: 4.7 out of 5
If you’re a big online shopper, Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) is a great way to receive discounts as you buy and earn credits that you can redeem for free gift cards.
All you need to do is browse stores as you normally would and let Capital One Shopping search for savings or the same product available for cheaper elsewhere, and give you points towards gift cards once you make a purchase. It also integrates directly into Amazon.
Learn More:
Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up for Capital One Shopping using the links we provide.
What Are Cash Back Apps?
Cash back apps are affiliate marketers for the retailers and businesses they work with. These apps advertise for companies, trying to get them more business. When someone uses the cash back app to purchase something, the retailer pays them a commission, which the best cash back apps split with their customers. This encourages people like you to sign up for their service, which helps the cash back app and the retailer make more money.
Types of Cash Back Apps
Cash back apps all work somewhat differently. Here are the different types you may come across.
- Receipt-scanning apps: Some cash back apps require you to upload your receipts to earn cash back. You may also have to activate offers before shopping to get credit for your purchases, although some, like Fetch Rewards, allow you to upload receipts from anywhere.
- Card-linked apps: If you don’t mind linking your credit or debit card to your cash back app, you can automatically earn rewards when you make eligible purchases. Just make sure the app is safe and legit before doing this.
- Points-earning apps: Many apps pay points, coins, or some other currency for your purchases. You can redeem those points for cash or gift cards but usually must meet a specific threshold first.
- Cash back apps: Some apps strictly pay cash back for your purchases, like Upside. You know exactly how much you’ve earned and can cash out as cash or a gift card to your favorite store.
How to Avoid Cash Back App Scams
Cashback apps are a great way to earn free money back on your purchases – until you find out your credit card info has been swiped by a scammer. How do you prevent yourself from falling victim to a cashback scam?
Here are some tips to help you avoid shady apps:
Check Out the Reviews
Reviews are a great way to find out if people have had issues with a cashback app. Be sure to look up the ratings on the Apple store, Google Play store, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau. Try reading some blogger reviews as well to see what you can expect when using an app.
Read the Privacy Policy
Yes, there’s a lot of legal jargon there, but with some skimming, you can find out if this app is sharing too much information. Use the CTRL+F function on your computer to look up phrases like “personal information” and “you hereby grant” to determine what you agree to share when you use the app.
Research the App Developer
Sometimes, going straight to the source can provide helpful information about the app. Check out the app developer’s website to determine what other apps they’ve developed. If they have a track record of trustworthy apps, that’s a great sign. If you have difficulty even finding a website, it may be best to skip it.
How to Maximize Your Cash Back App Earnings
You don’t have to rely on one cashback app to earn on your everyday purchases. Here are some ways that you can make the most of cashback earning opportunities:
- Stack cashback rewards when you can. (Ex: Using a cashback browser extension and a cashback-linked credit card)
- Activate cashback rewards so you’re not missing out on earning opportunities.
- Confirm emails from cashback mobile apps so you don’t miss out on cashback.
- Research items you’re shopping for to see if participating stores offer them.
- Avoid “spending money to make money.” Let cashback earnings roll in by shopping like you usually would.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best cash back app for eating out?
The Groupon app might work best for you if you eat out a lot, or you might check out the Upside app to see what restaurant offers are available in your area.
Which is the best cash back app for grocery shopping?
If you spend significant money at the grocery store, Fetch Rewards or Ibotta might be the best cash back apps for you.
Can you use more than one cash back app at a time?
You should try various cashback apps before committing to just one. Sometimes, it’s possible to ‘stack’ cashback offers by getting cashback multiple times off the same product so you don’t necessarily have to choose between different providers. However, some apps are exclusive and will invalidate your purchase if you use other apps, so read the fine print.
What cash back apps pay you to upload receipts?
One of the most common ways to receive cashback is by taking a photo of your receipt and uploading it onto the app. It only takes a few minutes and is easy enough once you make it a part of your routine after the weekly grocery shopping trip. The most popular apps for uploading receipts are Ibotta, Receipt Hog, and Fetch Rewards.
Are cash back apps available on iOS and Android?
Yes, all of the best cash back apps we have listed are available in the App Store for Apple iOS and the Google Play Store for Android devices.
Which Cash Back App Is Best For You?
Earning cash back on your purchases is a great way to make extra money. It might not seem like too much at first, but it’s something you can do with almost no effort – some of the websites and apps on this list let you earn money simply by installing a browser extension or linking your credit card to a website. What could be easier than that?
It can seem overwhelming to see all the different websites at first, but once you test a few out, you’ll figure out which ones work best for you and your lifestyle.
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