Cash back or reward apps that save money are a dime a dozen these days, and that’s for good reason.
According to the Colloquy Loyalty Census Report, loyalty program membership in 2017 growth grew by 15% to 3.8 billion, largely due to cash back incentives.
However, finding the best reward apps can be a difficult task however, especially considering just how many choices there are. So, I’ve decided to break down the best shopping reward apps into one comprehensive list, so get ready and start earning some free money!
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The Best Reward Apps
I've been using reward apps ever since college to save more money. And after testing out dozens of these apps, I've found some of the most reliable ones with the best rewards.
Table of Contents
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a versatile way to make money online, and lets you earn with surveys, gaming rewards, download offers, videos, and shopping rewards.
Swagbucks has a fairly extensive list of partners, including Amazon, Sephora, Macy’s, RONA, Home Depot, Nike, and Roots. Plus, you can even get paid to scan barcodes if you use Swagbucks Magic Receipt, a new grocery rewards section the platform has.
Overall, this is a very robust get-paid-to website with plenty of freebies up for grabs if you're willing to put in the effort! And it's a realistic way to get paid to shop if you take advantage of the cash-back offers.
2. Capital One Shopping
If you shop online regularly and live in the United States, Capital One Shopping is a must-try shopping extension. In fact, it's one of the best ways to save money upfront rather than relying on future cash outs.
With Capital One Shopping, you automatically apply coupon codes at thousands of online stores in the United States. This saves you the time of digging up coupon codes yourself, and the savings are instant if codes work.
Furthermore, you can also earn shopping credits by shopping at select partners. Credits are redeemable for a wide variety of free gift cards to companies like Amazon and Walmart once you earn $5 in credits.
Plus, you can use the Capital One Shopping app to save while shopping on your phone and complete local offers to earn even more credits.
Start saving with Capital One Shopping!
3. Upside
With gas prices on the rise, another one of the best reward apps you can use right now is Upside, formerly known as GetUpside.
This app lets you earn up to $0.25 per gallon of gas at thousands of participating stations across the United States. And you can also earn cash back for restaurant and grocery store purchases as well.
Here's how Upside works:
- Claim a cash-back offer within the app
- Pay for that offer and get your receipt
- Submit the receipt through the app
- Earn real cash back
You can redeem your cash back for PayPal cash as well as a variety of free gift cards to companies like Amazon. And the best part is that Upside works with 45,000+ brand locations nationwide, including most major gas stations and many fast food joints.
If you're tired of overspending on gas and want to save more money, Upside is a good reward app to try out.
4. Kashkick
If you live in the United States and want to get PayPal cash in your spare time, you need to check out Kashkick.
This rewards website pays you to complete short surveys. It also lets you make money with real money games and by downloading and discovering new apps.
My favorite part is that Kashkick pays you right to PayPal once you earn $10. And it's one of the fastest-growing gpt sites in the industry.
5. Shopkick
Shopkick is another popular rewards app, and you can benefit from shopping online or in-store with Shopkick.
Shopkick users can earn ‘kicks' for buying partnered products online or in-store, but you can also earn points for simply scanning items as well or walking into stores.
Kicks are redeemable for gift cards to companies like Target, Starbucks, Subway, or Amazon. And Shopkick is currently partnered with more than 250,000 retail locations, so you can definitely find a way to earn cash back with this app if you live in the United States.
If you want a mix of a rewards app, cash back portal, and mystery shopping gigs, apps like Shopkick are definitely for you.
Pro Tip: Sign up for Shopkick with my promo code TOW to get a $5 bonus after you earn your first kicks!
6. Rakuten
Rakuten is a popular reward app and website that pays you with cash back for shopping at thousands of different partners.
It's basically a massive cash-back shopping portal, and you can usually find deals ranging between 0.5%-8% cash back, or even higher depending on the partner.
Amazon, Sephora, Groupon, Old Navy, Home Depot, Forever 21, and so many other stores are partnered with Rakuten and have products available.
Rakuten pays you quarterly as long as you have at least $5 in your account, which is pretty easy to earn with a few purchases.
I’ve earned $1,200 in total by referring friends to Rakuten and shopping at some of its partners. You can checkout my review of Rakuten to learn more.
You can also sign up for Rakuten with my referral code! You’ll help me out, and new Rakuten members receive a sign up bonus of $30 when they spend $30 or more within 90 days.
7. Scrambly
Scrambly is a new discovery rewards website and app that's currently available in the United States and Canada.
I've been using Scrambly for the last year and have since earned over $400. It lets you earn by downloading new apps, playing games, shopping, and by signing up for new products and services.
The team at Scrambly adds new offers all the time to keep things interesting. And it also launched an Android app recently which is pretty cool.
You can cash out via PayPal at only $1 as well which I like. Scrambly also has a variety of gift cards for you to choose from.
8. Pogo
When it comes to earning PayPal cash passively, Pogo is one of the best reward apps out there right now.
This app pays you with small amounts of cash every time you shop and share your transaction data. All you have to do is sign up, link your cards to the Pogo app, and then you get paid whenever you shop.
I like Pogo since it's completely passive, so you basically get paid for doing nothing. And the fact you're earning real cash is a bonus. You can also answer short surveys to earn more cash. Pogo lets you cash out at just $3, which is also a pretty low threshold.
Extra Reading – The Best Passive Income Apps.
9. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free receipt scanning rewards app and is available for iOS or Android devices. Fetch Rewards is only available in the United States, but this app is a tad different than other reward apps.
See, Fetch Rewards pays you for being brand loyal, not store loyal. As long as your receipts contain partnered brands, you earn points. It doesn't actually matter where you shop, provided you are in the United States.
Fetch Rewards has plenty of popular brand partners, including Pepsi, Kraft, Heinz, Dove, and Taco Bell. The cash out minimum is also conveniently $3. Gift card options include Amazon, Target, Walmart, Dunkin Donuts, and plenty of other major retailers.
10. Bridge Money
Bridge Money is a new U.S. rewards app that lets you earn passive rewards when you shop with linked cards, just like Pogo.
The app also has numerous other ways to earn, including online surveys, cash games, sponsored shopping offers, and referral bonuses. And you can cash out to your bank account once you earn $4.
Most transactions pay $0.02 to $0.20 worth of coins. The more active offers are more lucrative, and you can also upgrade your account to a paid Earn+ membership to earn even more cashback when you shop.
Bridge Money is also rolling out a savings account that pays an impressive 5% APY. And if you like passive income, this app definitely belongs on your smartphone.
11. Bonus Bucks
One new and exciting rewards platform you can use to get free gift cards is a website called Bonus Bucks.
With Bonus Bucks, you earn free gift cards by completing quick online deals and tasks. And you can even earn $750 gift cards to major brands like Amazon, Sephora, Walmart, and Cash App.
Tasks you have to complete can include tasks like installing apps, signing up for free trials, shopping online, and completing surveys. Once you complete enough deals for a certain gift card threshold, Bonus Bucks then sends you your gift card reward electronically so you can enjoy it.
12. Drop
Drop is an easy-to-use iOS and Android app that rewards you for shopping and aims to “supercharge your credit and debit cards. And it's one of the best reward apps out there if you regularly shop through your phone.
All you have to do is link your debit or credit cards to Drop, and you will earn Drop Points when you spend on active offers.
Drop Points are redeemable for a variety of rewards such as gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, and many popular restaurants. Payouts happen fairly quickly, and users are notified of their awaiting rewards via email. You can also use the Drop app to make money playing video games and by answering short brand surveys.
To date, I've earned roughly $50 from Drop without putting in any effort, so it's definitely an effective rewards app to try out!
13. NCP Mobile
Like other leading rewards apps, one nifty app that pays you for sharing your opinion about the products you enjoy is NCP Mobile.
NCP Mobile, or the National Consumer Panel app, is a rewards app that pays you to upload info about the products you buy and then complete short surveys about your experience.
The app is available for Android and iOS if you live in the United States. Once you're a member, you just use the app's barcode scanner to scan and enter your daily purchases to begin earning.
If you consistently scan products and answer surveys, you can probably cash out a couple $10 gift cards with this app each year.
14. InboxDollars
Another U.S. rewards site that I've used over the last few years is InboxDollars.
This website is similar to Swagbucks and lets you earn by uploading receipts and completing shopping offers. It also has cash surveys, games, and a juicy $5 sign up bonus for new members.
Signing up is also completely free. You can cash out at $10 to $15 with PayPal money or dozens of gift cards from major retailers. And if you like the idea of InboxDollars, you can check out its sister website, MyPoints, and snag another easy $5 bonus.
15. Amazon Shopper Panel
Speaking of free Amazon gift cards, another must-try rewards app if you live in the United States is the Amazon Shopper Panel app.
This app is owned by Amazon, and it lets you earn free gift cards for uploading your shopping receipts. All you have to do is upload at least 10 non-Amazon receipts per month to get a $10 Amazon gift card credit in your account.
This is over $100 in Amazon gift cards every year for just a bit of effort. And the app sometimes has short surveys you can complete to earn more.
Extra Reading – The 20+ Highest Paying Apps.
16. Dosh
Dosh is undeniably one of the best reward apps on the scene despite the fact the app has only been around since 2017.
Dosh, like Drop, is very straightforward. Just connect your card to the app and then enjoy cash back when you shop at a variety of stores.
Some popular stores you can earn rewards from include Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Nike, Forever21, and Guess.
Apps like Drop make you pre-select shopping offers to earn shopping rewards. In contrast, Dosh automatically detects when you spend and pays you accordingly. This makes Dosh a pretty humble yet effective source of passive income, and it's definitely a must-download reward app.
17. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 is a popular receipt scanning app that is similar to Fetch Rewards. The app partners with almost major grocery stores and companies like Costco, Canadian Tire, Dollarama, and Walmart.
When you purchase eligible items and upload a receipt for proof of purchase, you earn cash back. Items typically earn less than $1 in cash back, but occasional offers like razors or beauty products can earn more.
If you frequently grocery shop and enjoy the Checkout 51 offers, you can expect to earn around $20-$30 per month.
Extra Reading – 12 Ways to Make & Save Money In A Pinch.
18. Ibotta
Ibotta is a popular receipt scanning app that lets you earn rewards for purchasing from select stores and partners. Simply go shopping, send a picture of your receipt with the Ibotta app, and earn cash back on eligible products.
Ibotta currently partners with over 500 retail chains, including Walmart, Publix, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Target, and many more popular shopping destinations.
Groceries are really where Ibotta shines, but the app can also earn you cash at certain hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, or home good stores.
You must earn $20 before cashing out, and payment methods include PayPal or various gift cards. You can also read our post on Ibotta vs Rakuten to find the right cash back reward platform for you!
Extra Reading – Fetch Rewards vs Ibotta.
19. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is yet another popular rewards app where you earn money for scanning receipts. And the main perk of this receipt scanning app is that you can upload any kind of receipt to earn ‘coins.'
With your Receipt Hog coins, you can redeem Amazon gift cards, pre-paid Visa cards, or PayPal cash. 200 Receipt Hog coins is equal to $1, and most of the receipts I’ve uploaded have granted me 20 coins, or $0.10. It's a slow process, but it's easy.
On the bright side, Receipt Hog also has a Hog Slot game where you unlock spins by uploading more receipts. Prizes include bonus coins and cash, and you never know when you'll get lucky.
You can also try out ReceiptPal if you want a similar app to ReceiptHog.
Extra Reading – How To Earn $1,000 In 24 Hours.
Final Thoughts
None of the apps in this list are going to earn hundreds of dollars per month (unless you have a serious shopping budget). However, if you take advantage of a few of these popular reward apps, you might be surprised at how much you can earn annually.
They might seem tedious or irrelevant at the start, but even completely passive reward apps like Dosh or receipt scanning apps like Receipt Hog can make a difference over time.
If you implement a few of these apps, you will earn a couple of free gift cards every year, so you might as well try them out!
Looking for other ways to make extra money? Checkout:
- How To Make Quick Money In A Day.
- The Best Apps To Earn Amazon Gift Cards.
- How To Make $300 Dollars Per Day.
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up using the links provided.
Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and the gig economy. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Investor Junkie, and more. This Online World is all about providing people with honest ways to make and save more money by using technology. To learn more about Tom, read his About Page!
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michelle says
Hi,
What is the promo code for Ibotta? Thanks!
Tom Blake says
Hi Michelle, sorry I realize it was not mentioned in the post! My code is dehkxte. Thanks so much for using it if you do 🙂 I can’t remember if you get the $10 welcome bonus immediately or after scanning your first receipt but Ibotta is still running the promotion thankfully!