In today’s world, where every penny counts, cashback apps are becoming a popular choice for savvy shoppers looking to maximize their savings.
These apps allow you to earn money back on purchases you would already be making, turning your spending into a form of earning.
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, cashback apps offer a fantastic way to save on groceries, clothes, electronics, and even dining out.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your purchases, here’s a breakdown of some of the best cashback apps to help you save and earn money while shopping.
Let’s dive in!
What is Cashback and How Do Cashback Apps Work?
Before jumping into the best apps, it’s important to understand the concept of cashback.
Cashback is essentially a reward or rebate offered by companies, where you receive a percentage of the amount spent on a purchase back.
This money can either be redeemed as a gift card, transferred to your bank account, or accumulated for future use.
Cashback apps work by partnering with retailers to offer you a percentage of your purchase amount as cashback.
When you shop through the app or link it to your purchases, the retailer sends a portion of the sale back to the app, and you get your share.
1. Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)
How It Works:
Rakuten is one of the most well-known cashback apps, offering users cashback for shopping at over 2,500 stores. It’s incredibly simple to use.
All you need to do is sign up for a free account, browse available deals and cashback offers, and shop through the Rakuten app or website.
Features:
- Wide Range of Retailers: Rakuten offers cashback for a variety of categories, including fashion, electronics, and even travel.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Rakuten often offers a welcome bonus, giving you a nice head start.
- Payment Options: You can get your cashback via PayPal or check.
- In-Store Cashback: Rakuten also allows you to link your credit card for in-store purchases, allowing you to earn cashback while shopping in person.
Pros:
- Easy to use and reliable.
- Frequent promotions and special offers.
- Great variety of stores.
- Option to earn cashback on travel and experiences.
Cons:
- The minimum payout threshold can be higher for some users.
2. Ibotta
How It Works:
Ibotta offers cashback on both online and in-store purchases.
To use Ibotta, simply browse through the app for the offers that interest you, then scan your receipts or link your loyalty cards to automatically receive cashback on eligible items.
Features:
- Grocery and Retail Cashback: You can earn cashback on groceries, clothing, electronics, and even dining.
- Bonuses and Challenges: Ibotta offers bonuses for completing specific tasks or shopping at certain stores, which can help you earn more.
- Receipt Scanning: For in-store purchases, you can scan your receipt to claim cashback.
- PayPal and Venmo Payments: You can transfer your earnings to PayPal or Venmo for easy access.
Pros:
- Excellent for grocery shopping, with cashback on a wide range of products.
- Special offers for both new and existing users.
- The ability to redeem multiple offers in one purchase.
Cons:
- Some offers require additional steps, such as linking loyalty cards or making specific purchases.
3. Swagbucks
How It Works:
Swagbucks isn’t just a cashback app—it’s a rewards program that lets you earn points, known as Swagbucks (SB), for a variety of activities, including online shopping.
You can redeem SB for cashback, gift cards, and even PayPal cash.
Features:
- Variety of Earning Methods: Swagbucks lets you earn SB for shopping, taking surveys, watching videos, and even searching the web.
- In-Store and Online Cashback: Swagbucks offers cashback for both online and in-store purchases, including major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
- Cashback for Specific Deals: Users can take advantage of exclusive offers and discounts.
- Bonus SB: Swagbucks often runs promotions where you can earn extra SB by completing specific tasks or making purchases at certain stores.
Pros:
- Multiple ways to earn SB, not just through shopping.
- Regular bonuses and promotions.
- Fast payouts to PayPal.
Cons:
- You need a significant amount of SB to redeem for rewards (1,000 SB = $10).
4. Dosh
How It Works:
Dosh is a simple cashback app that automatically applies to your purchases.
Just link your debit or credit card, and Dosh will automatically track your eligible transactions.
There’s no need to upload receipts or browse through offers manually—Dosh does the work for you.
Features:
- Automatic Cashback: Unlike other apps, Dosh automatically earns you cashback without requiring you to do anything after linking your card.
- Travel and Dining: Dosh offers cashback on dining out, hotels, and travel bookings in addition to regular shopping.
- Simple Payout Options: You can get your cashback sent directly to your PayPal account or your linked bank account.
- Referral Program: Dosh has a referral program where you can earn extra money by inviting friends to use the app.
Pros:
- Fully automated system.
- Great for travel and dining cashback.
- Easy and fast payout process.
Cons:
- Limited number of retailers and restaurants compared to other apps.
5. TopCashback
How It Works:
TopCashback is one of the most popular cashback apps, offering some of the highest cashback rates in the industry.
The process is simple: browse the offers in the app, click through to make a purchase, and wait for your cashback to be credited to your account.
Features:
- High Cashback Rates: TopCashback often offers higher cashback percentages than other apps.
- Broad Retailer Selection: With thousands of retail partners, there’s something for everyone.
- No Minimum Payout: Unlike other apps, TopCashback doesn’t have a minimum payout threshold, so you can withdraw your cashback as soon as it’s credited.
- PayPal, Bank Transfer, and Gift Cards: You can choose how to receive your cashback.
Pros:
- One of the highest cashback rates available.
- Flexible payment options.
- No minimum payout requirement.
Cons:
- The app can be less user-friendly than others.
6. Fetch Rewards
How It Works:
Fetch Rewards is another great option for saving money on groceries.
Similar to Ibotta, Fetch Rewards lets you scan your receipts and earn points (called Fetch Points) which can be redeemed for gift cards or cashback.
Features:
- Receipt Scanning: Simply take a picture of your receipt, and Fetch Rewards automatically adds points for qualifying items.
- Partnership with Popular Brands: Fetch Rewards has partnerships with well-known grocery brands, so you can earn points on a wide range of products.
- No Minimum Points Threshold: You can redeem your points for gift cards at any time, without needing to wait for a certain threshold.
- Bonus Offers: Fetch offers bonus points for certain products or stores.
Pros:
- Great for grocery shopping.
- Easy to use with receipt scanning.
- Multiple gift card options for rewards.
Cons:
- Not as useful for online purchases compared to other apps.
Conclusion
Cashback apps are a fantastic way to turn your regular shopping habits into a way to earn money.
Whether you’re looking to save on groceries, electronics, or dining out, there’s an app that can help you maximize your savings.
Apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, Swagbucks, and Dosh offer a variety of options and payment methods to suit different shopping preferences.
Whether you want the simplicity of automatic cashback, the thrill of earning points for various activities, or the high cashback rates, there’s something for everyone.
So, start using these apps today, and watch your savings add up with every purchase!
By incorporating these cashback apps into your shopping routine, you’ll be able to make the most of your money, one purchase at a time. Happy shopping!