Using all of the best rebate apps and cash-back apps at once feels a little like juggling — and a lot like herding cats. And you might have dozens of questions as you get started. Here we’ll go over all the details to help you decide which cash-back apps and rebate apps will work for you.
Before we get started, you should download the free The Krazy Coupon Lady app, where you’ll find out more about the top apps like Ibotta, Checkout51, and Fetch Rewards. We love them all.
Each cash-back and rebate app has its own set of limits and rules to get your money back, but it’s not hard to understand, I promise. The real trick to getting huge savings is using all of the cash-back grocery apps and rebate apps together whenever you can. And don’t worry — you can!
For more smart shopping tips and savings hacks, text HACKS to 57299.
1. Ibotta is the cash-back and rebate app for groceries with the most offers.
If there’s any app you should start with, it’s Ibotta. The app has tons of rebates for groceries and other products you buy frequently.
Plus, most offers reset up to three times (about once every two days). This means you can use a Tillamook cheese offer once, then wait a couple of days, use it again, and then again (on different transactions for the same product). You can even redeem some offers up to three times per receipt.
With Ibotta, you’ll have to rack up $20 before you can cash out. But trust me, that money comes in quickly. You can cash out through PayPal or even use your credit toward a gift card. (I love cashing out for a Starbucks gift card.)
Ibotta can also link with your store loyalty accounts for easy redemption — no need to upload a receipt.
Cash Out Minimum: $20
Pros for Ibotta:
Ibotta is a very user-friendly rebate app for beginners. It offers hundreds of rebates, including ones for products that aren’t brand-specific. You’ll also find retail offers on Ibotta.
Cons for Ibotta:
You have to preselect your rebate offers before you shop, and certain Ibotta offers can’t be stacked with coupons.
If your account is inactive for 180 days, they’ll start deducting $3.99 from your earnings every 30 days until your account shows activity again.
Download Ibotta now and start redeeming hundreds of offers on items you’re already buying!
2. Fetch Rewards does all the work for you.
Fetch Rewards is slightly different from the other rebate apps because you don’t have to select any offers before you check out at the store.
You earn points by either taking a photo of your receipt or linking your online shopping emails to the app. You can also earn bonus points for brand-specific products. You can link your Amazon account, Instacart account, and Walmart account directly to scan all your e-receipts. Fetch currently gives 25 bonus points for ANY receipt you upload. And when I say any receipt, this can even be your Chick-fil-A receipt!
You can now earn points with Fetch Play by playing games. You’ll need to allow Fetch to track your gameplay in the background to see how much you're playing. It might be a bit slow to earn points, but I use it to help reach the next reward threshold.
Your cash-out options are limited to gift cards. However, there are more gift card options available if you wait until you’ve reached 10,000+ points.
Cash Out Minimum: 3,000 points (equals about $3)
Pros for Fetch Rewards:
Fetch is very user-friendly for beginners and makes it simple to redeem offers. There’s no need to preselect any rebates.
Use Fetch’s built-in tool to search for your online shopping receipts.
Cash-out with as little as 3,000 points (equals $3).
Cons for Fetch Rewards:
There’s no cash-out option with PayPal; you can only cash out for gift cards.
Popular brands cost more points per dollar to cash out.
You can only link Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook email accounts.
Download Fetch now and start racking up some points.
TIP: If you’re worried about Fetch having access to all of your personal emails, you can create a separate email account just to use with your couponing receipts.
3. Get a welcome gift with the Shopmium app.
While Shopmium isn't entirely "new" — it's new-ish to the U.S. as of fall 2022. Shopmium operates a lot like Ibotta. To activate a deal in the Shopmium app, you just click the "+" button. You can also scan product barcodes using the app to pull up related offers. To do that, just click the "scan" button, which will open up the camera.
You'll get credit for your purchases within 48 hours and you can cash out through Venmo or PayPal once you reach $20.
Cash Out Minimum: $20
Pros for Shopmium:
Easy to use
Offers a welcome gift
Quick cash out via Venmo or PayPal
Cons for Shopmium:
Can't stack rebates with manufacturer offers
Limited features compared to the European version
Download Shopmium now and start saving on your grocery trips!
KCL TIP: You can learn more about Shopmium app with our guide.
4. Earn "kicks" you can redeem for gift cards with Shopkick.
Shopkick gives you several ways to earn points: walk into a participating store (≈10 kicks), scan products in store (20+ kicks), make a purchase online with a linked card (≈3 kicks per $1), watch short ad videos (1 kick), and scan receipts (200+ kicks). You can also earn 500 bonus kicks when you refer a friend who signs up with your code and earns 10 kicks in 14 days (not counting video kicks). You need to enable your bluetooth to get the most out of the app.
Roughly 250 kicks equal $1 in gift card rewards, and you can cash out once you’ve earned 500 kicks. Learn everything there is to know about Shopkick. Shopkick math can get a little crazy, so be sure to check the Rewards section in the Shopkick app for more information about each offer.
Cash Out Minimum: 500 kicks (equals $2)
Pros for Shopkick:
They offer multiple ways to earn kicks (aka points), which you can redeem for gift cards.
Earn kicks by just walking into stores.
Cons for Shopkick:
It can get tedious trying to tap into all the different ways to earn kicks.
No sign-up bonus is available.
"Kick" math can be tricky
Download Shopkick and start earning!
5. Checkout51 lets you redeem offers up to five times.
The Checkout51 app allows you to redeem some offers up to five times. If an offer is eligible for multiple redemptions, you’ll see a plus sign next to the product. Just keep hitting the plus sign until you reach the maximum number of rebates allowed.
Plus, Checkout51 rebates get better the more you use them. As time progresses, you’ll have access to “Choose Your Own Offer” rebates, where you can apply savings to whatever you want.
Offers reset on Thursdays each week — but be sure you’re not missing out on any of those “by Wednesday” bonus offers if you’re checking for deals on Thursdays.
You can also earn up to $0.10/gal cash back when you buy gas. In the Checkout51 app, click Extras and select a nearby gas station. You must get gas within four hours of adding the offer, pay with a credit or debit card, and scan your receipt within 24 hours of adding the offer to earn your rewards.
You’ll need to hit a minimum of $20 in rebates in order to cash out via PayPal, eGift card, or a physical check.
Cash Out Minimum: $20
Pros for Checkout51:
You can redeem offers up to five times.
Offers aren’t store-specific, but they do focus on name-brand items.
Cons for Checkout51:
The only cash-out options are PayPal or a check.
No sign-up bonus is available.
Download Checkout51 now.
6. Complete tasks on the Swagbucks app in your downtime to earn gift cards.
The Swagbucks app (download for iOS / Android) lets you earn rewards points for taking surveys, completing simple tasks, watching videos, completing web searches, and doing other easy activities you can tackle right from your couch. Once you collect enough Swagbucks (100 Swagbucks = $1), you can redeem them for cash (via PayPal), check, or gift cards.
You’ll earn additional Swagbucks when you refer your friends or make purchases at your favorite stores (like Amazon and Walmart) through the Swagbucks Swagbucks website.
Cash Out Minimum: 300 Swagbucks (equals $3) for a gift card OR 2,500 Swagbucks (equals $25) for PayPal
Pros for Swagbucks:
You can earn points for taking surveys and completing tasks, typically with no purchase required.
There is a $10 sign-up bonus for Swagbucks, but it’s kind of a pain to claim and redeem.
Cons for Swagbucks:
Your “Swagbucks” probably won’t accumulate as fast as you’d like.
Some tasks also aren’t as fun or creative as other side hustles.
Related: If you’re looking to get started with cash-back apps, check out our full explainer — Is Swagbucks Legit?
7. Get rewards by texting pictures of your receipt with Aisle Cash Back.
Aisle Cash Back is a rebate cash-back program that works similarly to Ibotta or Swagbucks. The only difference? It doesn’t use an app. You get rewards by texting pictures of your receipt.
Once you’re signed up, Aisle will text you with offers near you. One Reddit user claimed they spent $46.83 on a grocery store purchase and got back $64, proving that Aisle can get you some decent moneymaker deals.
Cash Out Minimum: None
Pros for Aisle:
Simple to use, no app required
Access to buy-one-get-one offers and free items.
Cons for Aisle:
You’ll receive frequent text messages.
Offers vary by location.
Sign up for Aisle by entering in your phone number and zip code.
TIP: Learn more about the new Aisle Cash Back program with our guide.
8. Automatically get cash with Brandclub.
Brandclub is a newer rebate app where you earn cash by purchasing participating brands from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more, in-store and online. Certain rewards are "locked" and others are "unlocked." Unlocked rewards you'll earn instantly — for locked rewards, you may have to do a survey or purchase from the brand a few times before it’s unlocked.
You can earn cash by buying products and doing product surveys. Plus, all you have to do is hit sync, and it does all the work for you. You can cash out through PayPal or Venmo. Just make sure when you sign up, you use the email that is linked to your PayPal.
Cash Out Minimum: $10 — and you can’t cash out more than $50 a day
Pros for Brandclub:
Auto syncs to common stores.
Earn cash with surveys, product reviews, and purchasing items
Cons for Brandclub:
Locked rewards can make you feel like you have more cash back than you really do.
You can’t scan your in-store receipts manually.
Download Brandclub and start earning cash back on your purchases!
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