August 1, 2023
Editor
Kari is a writer for SideHustles.com. She previously managed a website in the privacy and digital compliance industry and earned money on the side by working as a pet sitter for 7 years.
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NoneInflation has been raising the cost of essentials like gas and groceries and taking a toll on everyone’s wallets.
Getting a little money back every time you shop can go a long way. Cash-back apps—apps that give you a percentage back for each qualifying purchase you make—won’t earn you thousands of dollars, but they can help ease the cost of everyday life.
Check out our top ten picks for the best cash-back apps and earn rewards every time you shop.
Leading the charge in cash-back apps is Rakuten. You can use this service through their website, browser extension, or mobile app.
Just shop through the platform, find offers on brands you regularly buy, then make your purchase. The app will register it and issue cash to your account.
You’ll get exactly what you expect when shopping with the Rakuten app. There are no points or complicated redemption programs (which on some apps can make it hard to predict what you’ll actually earn).
Once you make a purchase through the app (only some offers are valid for in-store purchases), you’ll be credited the amount of cash back offered (anywhere from 1%–20%).
One of the most popular receipt-scanning apps, Fetch rewards you for purchases with a three-step process:
Receipts must be uploaded within 14 days of the purchase and cannot be:
You can cash out your rewards once you’ve earned at least 3,000 points. Rewards can be redeemed as $10, $25, or $50 gift cards from popular brands like Amazon and Target.
Point values vary based on the gift card you want, but online estimates suggest that 1,000 points are worth a little under $1.
Another hugely popular cash-back app, Ibotta lets you shop for offers, add them to your “shopping list,” then cash in rebates on what you spend. Like several other apps on this list, you can use it through the site, app, or a browser extension.
What sets Ibotta apart is that you can use it for in-store shopping, while many competitors only work when you shop through the app (i.e., when you shop online). To validate in-store purchases, you can upload a picture of your receipt or link a credit or debit card to your account.
Like most of the other apps on this list, Ibotta pays out real cash. You can transfer the funds to PayPal once your account balance reaches $20. You’ll earn the amount listed on each offer (e.g., 5% back), so you know what you’re getting from the start.
Online sources say the average Ibotta user earns $10–$20 per month by using the app.
You can search for deals and earn fast cash back with the TopCashback app.
The app works much the same as the others—find a deal for a certain percentage of cash back on a purchase. The big downside that users cite with TopCashback is that offers they’ve completed take a while to show up in their accounts. That’s because TopCashback doesn’t validate your purchase until the company’s return window has expired.
Cash-back offers on TopCashback are transparent, so you can see how much you’ll save when you shop. The site claims that “members earn on average $450 cash back a year,” but it’s not clear where this number comes from or how accurate it is.
Checkout 51 offers cash-back rewards on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, food, and goods. Shop for offers and add the ones you want, then head to the store and pick up your haul. Once you’ve completed your purchase, send a pic of the receipt to the app to get your cash back.
One of Checkout 51’s selling points is its transparent earning system. You receive direct cash back on each purchase (rather than points). Once your account has a balance of $20, you can cash out for gift cards, PayPal cash, or a mailed check.
Shop directly through the Dosh app or link your debit or credit card to earn cash back on select purchases.
Dosh looks a lot like the other apps on this list. What sets it apart is how easy it is to cash out rewards. Once your account reaches $15, you can transfer your earnings to your PayPal, Venmo, or bank account. You can even choose to donate your rewards to a charitable organization.
There are no gimmicks with the Dosh app. You earn the cash-back amount you see on each offer. You earn rewards by shopping with a linked card (rather than uploading receipts). Plus, you can get a $10 referral bonus when you refer a friend and they open an account.
You’ll notice that the other apps on this list are limited to offers with select brands. Because of this, you’ll see the same big-name stores and franchises crop up on a lot of different apps.
Receipt Hog does it differently. You can earn coins or slot spins for any receipt—paper or digital—that you submit proof of.
The amount you earn will vary based on where you shop, but you can use this app to get cash back on every single purchase, even ones from your neighborhood bodega.
Unfortunately, Receipt Hog isn’t as straightforward as some of the other cash-back apps on this list. You’ll earn coins, slot spins, or entries into sweepstakes for each receipt you upload, but you won’t earn straight-up cash.
On average, a receipt will earn you 3–5 coins. 1,000 coins are worth approximately $5.
With a focus on gas rewards, Trunow is a great cash-back app for the avid driver. Not only does it give cash back on gas purchases, but the app also shows you where to find the cheapest gas stations nearby.
Rewards aren’t limited to gas purchases. You can earn money back on other everyday essentials, like groceries and convenience store purchases.
With the Trunow app, you’ll earn 2% cash back at partner gas stations and 1% cash back at other gas stations. Cash back for purchases at local stores and restaurants varies by location.
You can cash out with a minimum of $5 in rewards.
A cash-back app that incentivizes healthy choices, Makeena focuses on what they call “the good stuff”—healthy food and eco-friendly products. Shop with their affiliate brands, then scan receipts and product bar codes to earn money back on your purchases.
This app can be a little more cumbersome than the others, as you have to scan individual products. However, we appreciate a cash-back app that aims to help people lead healthier lives.
Point values vary, but most points are earned through brand rebates (e.g., 5% back on x products).
You can cash out rewards for brand products, discounts, gift cards, or even PayPal cash if you’ve earned at least $20.
Major credit card issuers often offer their own cash-back apps. With Capital One Shopping, you don’t even need a Capital One credit card to take advantage of the tool. You can download the app or install the browser extension to find deals that reward you for shopping.
You’ll earn cash back at various rates for the deals you activate and complete. The catch is that rewards aren’t redeemed for actual cash. Instead, you’ll be given a selection of e-gift cards to choose from.
