Best Apps for Cash Back and Rewards
Cashback apps are like coupons, but easier. Earn money on groceries, gas, and other stuff you're already buying. Find out which apps earn the most.
$10 Signup Bonus
Member must "Activate" the Bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account. Bonus value is earned in the form of points, called SB. Get a 1000 SB bonus, which is equivalent to $10 in value, when you spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. You must receive a minimum of 25 SB for this purchase, which you must complete within 30 days of registration. MyGiftCardsPlus.com and travel purchases do not qualify.
$5 Signup Bonus
- Get paid to take surveys, play video games, watch videos
- Cash out to PayPal or gift cards
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| © CreditDonkey |
Spending money can be fun.
Especially when it involves vacations, dining at a fantastic restaurant, or seeing a movie.
But spending your hard-earned money on essentials like groceries, gas, and car repairs? Not very exciting.
Cash back apps make your boring, everyday purchases a little more enjoyable. You get automatic savings for in-store and online purchases. But with so many apps available, which gives you the biggest bang for your buck?
Find out how popular apps (like Rakuten, MyPoints, Ibotta, and Honey) compare.
- Capital One Shopping - get discounts automatically
- Rakuten (Ebates) - $10 sign-up bonus 💰
- MyPoints - up to 40% cashback
- Ibotta - welcome bonus 💰
- TopCashBack - 100% cashback commission
- Swagbucks - $5 sign up bonus 💰
- PayPal Honey - instant discounts
- Upromise - pay off student debt
- Dosh - direct rewards to your card
- Shopkick - cashback for easy tasks
- Groupon+ - cashback + city deals in one
- Drop - the modern loyalty card
- BeFrugal - up to 40% back from 5,000+ stores
- Upside - gas station rewards
- ReceiptPal - cash in on receipts
- Coin Out - instant cashback anywhere
- Fetch - restriction-free rewards
- Freebird - rideshare rewards
- ReceiptHog - rewards to scan receipts
- Mobee - mystery shopping money
- Belly - unique and exclusive rewards
- Checkout 51 - grocery store rewards
- Cosign - social media commissions
Cash Back App Promotions
$10 Signup Bonus
Member must "Activate" the Bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account. Bonus value is earned in the form of points, called SB. Get a 1000 SB bonus, which is equivalent to $10 in value, when you spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. You must receive a minimum of 25 SB for this purchase, which you must complete within 30 days of registration. MyGiftCardsPlus.com and travel purchases do not qualify.
$5 Signup Bonus
- Get paid to take surveys, play video games, watch videos
- Cash out to PayPal or gift cards
Capital One Shopping: Get Discounts
Whether you're shopping online or in-store, Capital One Shopping can help you save money. They search for available coupon codes or discounts from major retailers and even notify you when an item drops in price if you've added it to your watchlist.
Capital One Shopping is 100% free to use and removes the hassle of deal searching before you shop. When you shop with Capital One online, you'll earn Capital One Shopping Credits that you can redeem for gift cards (that's essentially free money).
- What you earn: Between 0.5% and 36%, depending on the store
- Cash-out: Redeem Capital One Shopping Credits for gift cards
Rakuten: $10 Sign-up Bonus
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is one of the big players when it comes to cash back apps, and it's easy to see why it's so popular: you automatically earn cash back every quarter.
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| SCREENSHOT OF RAKUTEN |
Signing up only takes a few seconds, and then you can access deals at more than 3,500 online stores. You don't have to worry about points, coupons, or forms.
As long as you follow the links within Rakuten, you'll automatically earn cash back for your purchase, which comes via check or PayPal payment every quarter.
- What you earn: Up to 45% cash back per purchase, totaled and paid quarterly (plus a referral bonus if you refer friends)
- Cash-out: PayPal or check
MyPoints: Up to 40% Cashback
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In addition to their high-earning surveys, MyPoints' cash back program is a great way to stack your earnings (up to 40% back from stores like Target, Home Depot, Old Navy, and more). We'll be honest—even high-end credit cards rarely pay that much.
With over $300M paid out to date and 20 million active members, MyPoints also offers an impressive $10 welcome bonus to get you up and running.
- What you earn: Between 1% and 40% cash back
- Cash-out: PayPal, gift cards, travel miles
- Take surveys
- Print coupons
- Watch videos
- Buy local deals from Groupon
- Read emails
- Play games
- Refer friends
Ibotta: Welcome Bonus
Ibotta is a true one-stop shop for rewards. You can:
- Earn cash back for shopping
- Get paid for scanning receipts
- Save with automatic discounts
- Connect your existing store loyalty cards
Best of all, you can take advantage of these perks and rewards whether you're shopping in-store or online. With more than 300 partnered retailers, you can likely save at your favorite businesses.
There are no points to track. You earn real cash for every qualified purchase and can withdraw your earnings once you earn $20.
- What you earn: Over $256 in cash back yearly
- Cash-out: PayPal, gift cards, direct to bank account
TopCashBack: 100% Commission Cashback
TopCashBack sets themselves apart by claiming to give you 100% of the cash back commission earned for your purchase (and taking none for themselves). But how is it possible?
TopCashBack earns most of their money from ads and sponsored links, so the cash back generated is all yours. Simply use their app or browser extension and earn 100% commission on purchases from over 7,000 retailers.
- What you earn: 100% of the commission (plus a referral bonus if you refer friends)
- Cash-out: Direct to bank account, PayPal, gift cards, Virtual Visa Prepaid Card
Get Money Back When You Shop Online
- Free to join, free to use.
- Members earn on average $450 cash back a year
- Get paid directly to your bank account, PayPal, or Gift Cards.
Offers You May Like
Swagbucks: $5 Signup Bonus
Swagbucks offers rewards and money for simple tasks like surveys, watching videos or playing games, but their cash back program is especially worthwhile.
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| screenshot of swagbucks |
You can earn with online shopping deals or in-store exclusives on anything from food to clothing to VPN services. Plus, you'll maximize your earnings with paid referrals, and their Swagbucks Search browser extension.
- What you earn: Anywhere from 1%-50% back
- Cash-out: Gift cards, PayPal, check, prepaid Visa cards, cryptocurrency
$10 Signup Bonus
Member must "Activate" the Bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account. Bonus value is earned in the form of points, called SB. Get a 1000 SB bonus, which is equivalent to $10 in value, when you spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. You must receive a minimum of 25 SB for this purchase, which you must complete within 30 days of registration. MyGiftCardsPlus.com and travel purchases do not qualify.
PayPal Honey: Never Pay Full Price
PayPal Honey is a browser extension that automatically checks over 30,000 online stores for coupon codes (even e-commerce giants like Amazon).
PayPal Honey also offers features like a price history tool to help you avoid overspending on frequently discounted items. Best of all, it's easy to use.
- What you earn: Up to 20% cash back
- Cash-out: Gift cards, cash, PayPal shopping credits
Upromise: Pay Off Student Loans
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| © CreditDonkey |
Upromise is especially unique among the apps on this list. Get this: You can have your earnings put into a checking or savings account, a 529 college savings account, or even toward your existing student debt balance. Why? Because Upromise is a subsidiary of student loan provider Sallie Mae.
In general, Upromise works similarly to most cash back apps. Sign up for an account, earn cash back when shopping with partnering merchants and restaurants, and choose how you'd like to receive your rewards.
- What you earn: Between 1% and 30% cash back
- Cash-out: Direct to checking/savings account, 529 college savings account
Dosh: Earn Cash on Linked Cards
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Dosh pretty much revolutionized the process for cash back apps. Rather than requiring uploaded receipts, you link your debit or credit card directly to the Dosh app.
Every time you shop at a qualifying store or restaurant with your linked card, you'll automatically earn cash back. There's no effort required on your part.
- What you earn: Up to 40% cash back (but usually around 5%)
- Cash-out: PayPal, Venmo, direct to card, or charity donation
Offers You May Like
Shopkick: Earn for In-store Tasks
Shopkick rewards your shopping habits. Just shop in-store or online with a linked debit card or credit card and earn "kicks," or points.
Turn your "kicks" into cash rewards from major stores and restaurants, including Target, Amazon, Starbucks, and Groupon. Shopkick rewards for a variety of tasks, including shopping, walking into stores, scanning product barcodes, and watching videos.
- What you earn: 5-100 "kicks" (250 kicks = $1)
- Cash-out: Gift cards
Groupon+: Cash Back and City Deals in One
You may know Groupon for their deals on dining and entertainment, but they've got another feature up their sleeve to help you save even more money: Groupon+.
Groupon+ is their own cash-back program. Just sign up and link your most-used debit or credit card. Then, scan through the available deals near you. Click on the deal you want to "claim" and use your linked card to make the purchase.
- What you earn: 15%-30% cash back
- Cash-out: Cashback is added to your linked card
Drop: Rethink Your Loyalty Cards
Think of Drop as the replacement for all the store loyalty cards taking up space in your wallet. Start by downloading the app, linking your most-used debit or credit card, and choosing your top 5 favorite brands.
Every time you purchase something from your top brands with your linked card, points are added to your Drop account. Once you earn 5,000 points, you can cash out for gift cards at your favorite stores.
- What you earn: Usually between 1% and 2% cash back
- Cash-out: Gift cards only
Offers You May Like
BeFrugal: 40% back from 5,000+ stores
BeFrugal is a big player among cash back apps. Working with over 5,000 stores, they aim to get you cash back for most of your purchases.
Just how much can they get you? Up to a staggering 40%.
Their browser extension also makes it easy to start earning when shopping online. Instead of manually checking BeFrugal for offers, their browser extension automatically reminds you to apply their offer.
- What you earn: As much as 40% back
- Cash-out: Direct to bank/card, check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, gift card
Upside: Rewards at the Gas Station
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| © CreditDonkey |
Trips to the gas station giving you a form of sticker shock? Luckily, Upside is an app that can help you earn cash back from Exxon, Chevron, Valero, and other gas stations.
After you enable location tracking on the app, Upside shows you the gas stations near you that offer cash back deals. Just opt into the deal right before you buy your gas and reap the rewards.
Upside doesn't just offer cash back at the gas station, though. They also have a regular cash back program for groceries, dining, and more of your day to day purchases.
- What you earn: 25 cents per gallon and up to 30%-45% for other purchases
- Cash-out: PayPal, e-gift card, or direct to bank
ReceiptPal: Scan Receipts for Gift Cards
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| © CreditDonkey |
ReceiptPal gives you another opportunity to cash in with your receipts. Just download the app, snap a photo of your receipts, and earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
Before you download ReceiptPal, just be aware that not all receipts are accepted by the app. Receipts must be for consumer goods (not services or bills) and must be your own.
- What you'll earn: Up to 100 "points" per 4 valid receipts
- Cash-out: Gift cards
Coin Out: Instant Cash back
Fan of the show "Shark Tank"? You may recognize this app. Coin Out impressively offers instant cash back.
Plus, all retailers are accepted, which is almost unheard of in the world of cash back apps.
If you're shopping in-store, you can earn by snapping a photo of your receipt. If you're shopping via phone, simply buy through the Coin Out app, which works with major retailers like Walmart, eBay, Groupon, and more.
- What you earn: $0.01 - $0.07 per receipt scanned
- Cash-out: PayPal, Zelle, gift cards
Fetch: Restriction-free Rewards
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| © CreditDonkey |
Unlike other grocery saving apps, Fetch Rewards helps you earn free money without the restrictions.
It's easy: Get started by submitting a photo of your receipt and earn points for every item you bought from more than 250 brands.
You can redeem your points for gift cards with stores like Gap, Amazon, Best Buy, and so much more. Fetch Rewards also offers features that sort your spending and keep track of how much you spend at each store.
- What you earn: $0.25 - $2 cashback
- Cash-out: Gift cards to stores, Visa or MasterCard gift cards
Freebird: Earn for Rideshares
Think about it: Most cash back apps give you points or money for products you buy. But why should the cash you spend on Uber or Lyft be any different? That's where Freebird comes in.
Book your next Uber or Lyft ride through the Freebird app and earn cashback for each ride. Start earning even more by taking the ride to restaurants and businesses that partner with Freebird. That's money in your pocket, before your even get to your destination.
- What you earn: $1 - $10 cashback per ride
- Cash-out: Direct to card only
Receipt Hog: Scan Receipts for $$$
If you usually toss your receipts, here's a good reason to stop: Receipt Hog will pay you to scan receipts with their iOS or Android app. Each receipt earns a number of "coins" depending on how much the purchase was. For example, $100+ would earn you 20 coins.
Once you've earned 1,000 coins, you can cash out for $5, but it's best to save up for more. If you've earned 4,300 coins, you can cash out for $25.
- What you earn: 5-20 "coins"/receipt (1,000 coins = $5)
- Cash-out: PayPal, Amazon credit, Visa e-gift card
Mobee: Mystery Shop for Money
Earn cash with Mobee by shopping at your favorite stores and restaurants. Download the app to receive "mystery shopper" assignments, which can include buying a cup of coffee, trying a new product, and more.
After you complete an assignment, answer a few questions about your experience. When your feedback is approved, Mobee adds points to your balance, which you can cash out for PayPal and retail gift cards.
- What you earn: Average 10% cashback
- Cash-out: Gift cards
Belly: Unique Rewards from Local Shops
Belly is a virtual store loyalty card that helps businesses engage and retain their loyal customers. To do this, they give customers the chance to win exclusive rewards specifically from the businesses they love (for example: a free personal training session from your local gym).
All you have to do is "check in" via the app when you visit the business. Just make sure they have a loyalty program with Belly first. Luckily, Belly partners with nearly 9,000 local businesses in 2,500 different cities.
- What you earn: Custom rewards per shop (varying from free food to discounted services)
- Cash-out: In-app rewards
Checkout 51: Rewards for Grocery Shopping
Heading out to Whole Foods or Sam's Club? Checkout 51 works like a digital coupon for your grocery shopping.
Certain brands pay the platform to promote their products. If you buy those products and upload your receipt, you earn cashback (a portion of what the brand paid Checkout 51).
Once you've spent at least $20 on groceries with Checkout 51, you'll be able to cash out. Unfortunately, the only way to receive your reward is with a mailed check.
- What you earn: Between 1% to 10%
- Cash-out: Mailed check only
Cosign: Social Media Rewards
Calling all social media mavens: Cosign is the cashback app specifically for influencers. Simply tag products in your posts and earn rewards if your followers buy the product through your link.
The more people use your product links to buy, the more you'll earn. The app may not be for everyone, but it's a great option for those who have a modest Instagram business and are looking to maximize their earnings.
- What you earn: 10% - 50% commission on followers' sales
More Cash Back Apps That Pay Real Money
Familiar with all the usual cash-back app suspects? Try these other options for saving even more money on your day-to-day purchases…even as much as 100% back.
RebateKey: Earn up to 100% back with exclusive deals offered by RebateKey. Simply claim the deal you want to use, make the purchase, and have your cash-back mailed via check directly to your door.
Earny: Similar to Paribus, Earny connects to your email inbox, checks for online shopping receipts sent by retailers, and tries to get you a partial refund if something you bought just dropped in price. Earny says they can get you up to 20% cashback when you shop online, no work involved.
Visa Local Offers: Frequent Uber rider? Use the rideshare app to take advantage of Visa Local Offers, where you can earn Uber Cash to pay for future rides. Enroll in the program through the Uber app, link your Visa card, and use that card to make purchases at featured retailers.
Luckily, most cash back apps on the market are completely safe.
The companies behind these apps want users to feel comfortable and confident when using their product, so encryption and other privacy protocols are the industry-standard. Plus, many apps utilize two-factor authentication to prevent any unauthorized use of your account.
But if you're ever skeptical of an app, be sure to check plenty of reviews or the developer's track record with the BBB. Find more tips on spotting a sketchy app below.
Cash Back Apps: How to Spot a Scam
Before you start collecting cashback, there are a few need-to-know tips that will help you avoid sketchy apps.
Here's what you can do:
- Research the app developer. App developers have their own website. Take some time to pull it up and poke around. Has the developer been around a while? Have they made any other apps?
- Check the reviews. This one is probably a no-brainer, but it's always important. Check multiple sites, including the app store reviews, to see how well-received it is. Remember to look at the earliest reviews and the most recent.
- Examine app screenshots. People who create scam apps are usually in a hurry to slap something together. Keep a sharp eye out for app screenshots that look Photoshopped or tampered with.
- Look for a Privacy Policy. You'll probably have to visit the developer's site for this. Use CTRL+F to search phrases like "personal information" or "you hereby grant." This may reveal how much data they want from you to sell to others.
- Do you understand what the app does?. This should go without saying, but do you have a clear idea of how the app works? Scammy apps will intentionally keep things vague, so if you can't pinpoint the essential info, it's probably not a good sign.
What Experts Say
As part of our series on consumer spending and coupons, CreditDonkey reached out to a panel of industry experts to answer our readers' most pressing questions:
Here's what they said:
- How do cash back promotions benefit stores and brands?
- Can cash back apps make consumers spend more than they normally would?
- How do cash back apps help brands connect with customers?
Bottom Line
It may sound too good to be true, but you really can make money by using cash back apps. Pick a few to try out and determine if they work well with your spending habits. And don't be afraid to use multiple apps at the same time!
Using cash back apps may be one of the easiest ways to earn a little bit of passive income. It won't be enough to replace a regular income, but it's a great way to earn a nice chunk of change with purchases you already make.
Additional Resources
Holly Zorbas is a assistant editor at CreditDonkey, a personal finance comparison and reviews website. Write to Holly Zorbas at holly.zorbas@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
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