What exactly are cash back apps?
Cashback apps are mobile applications that offer you the opportunity to earn a percentage of your purchases as cashback rewards.
These apps have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to provide consumers with an additional way to save money and earn rewards on their everyday purchases.
If you don’t use any cash back app, you are certainly leaving money on the table and you should start today!
Related: 25 insanely genius ways to save money easily
This post goes over the top 10 popular cashback apps you should definitely explore.
How do cash back apps work?
You’re probably wondering how Cashback apps are able to give you money back when you make purchases through them.
Well, these apps partner with retailers. Retailers pay them a commission anytime someone makes a purchase through the app. The cash back you get is a percentage of the commission they receive. They also make money by advertising for retailers and promoting brands. Additionally, Some apps make money by offering premium memberships for people who are interested in receiving exclusive offers.
So it’s all legit. The cashback model actually benefits both you and the app itself.
Depending on the app, you may need to link your credit or debit card and you get a reward on your shopping. For others, also you get your cashback by shopping through the retailer link provided in the app, or by scanning and uploading your receipt.
How to start using cashback apps
First, you need to download a cashback app on your mobile or browser and create an account. Most apps are available for free on your smartphone.
Once you’re signed in, you can browse through the app to see the available offers. These offers are usually from different retailers and brands.
For example, Rakuten gives cashback on the following popular stores: Target, Amazon, Best Buy, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Samsung, Macy’s, Forever 21, Nike, Adidas
When you find an offer that interests you, click on it to learn more about the details. Also, It might include information like the cashback percentage you can earn and any requirements or restrictions.
Then you Shop through the App. If you decide to take advantage of an offer, you can click on it and it will redirect you to the retailer’s website or app. You complete your purchase directly through that retailer.
Earn Cashback: After you make a qualifying purchase, the cashback app tracks it and calculates the cashback you’ve earned based on the offer’s percentage. This cashback is typically a percentage of the amount you spent.
Redeem your cashback. This is the final step, once you’ve accumulated a certain amount of cashback (for some apps it’s $20, but can be more) you can usually cash it out or redeem it. This can be done through various methods:
- Bank transfer
- Paypal
- Gift cards
- Using your rewards for future purchases.
How much can you save with cash back apps
The amount you save can vary depending on your shopping habits and the specific offers available. Imagine you’re planning to buy a new pair of shoes that cost $100. Also, You find that Rakuten offers a 5% cashback on purchases from Nordstorm. However, By using Rakuten, you would save $5 on your $100 shoe purchase. While this may seem like a small amount for a single purchase, it can add up over time as you make more purchases and earn cashback on each one.
Ultimately with these apps:
1. You can get savings on everyday purchases
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Clothing retailers
- Gadget stores, and more
2. You save without thinking too much
It’s convenient for cashback app users to earn rewards without any significant changes to their shopping habits.
3. You don’t miss out on other discounts
Cashback apps can often be combined with other discounts, coupons, or loyalty programs, allowing you to maximise their savings.
4. You may get additional Incentives
In addition to cashback rewards, many cashback apps offer additional incentives to their users, such as sign-up bonuses. For example you get $5-$10 sign up bonus with Rakuten.
5. It’s all automated
For most of these apps. you can earn cashback rewards automatically without needing to scan receipts or perform additional steps during the checkout process.
Top 10 cashback apps to consider today
According to Motley Fool’s ranking:
- Ibotta: Best cash back savings app
- Fetch rewards: Best cash back app overall
- Dosh:Best cash back app for online and in-person shopping
- Rakuten: Best cash back app for online shoppers.
- Checkout51:Best cash back app for gas stations
Now let’s take a look at the best 10 in our opinion.
1. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Rakuten offers cashback on online purchases from a wide range of retailers. Simply shop through the Rakuten portal, and you’ll earn a percentage of your purchase back in cash.
Popular stores: Popular stores included in Rakuten are Amazon, Walmart, Target, Macy’s, and Best Buy, among others.
Rakuten often provides a sign-up bonus or referral rewards for new users.
2. Honey
Honey is a browser extension that helps you find discounts and automatically applies coupon codes at checkout. It also offers a cashback feature called Honey Gold, allowing you to earn rewards on eligible purchases.
Popular stores: While Honey primarily focuses on finding discounts, it occasionally offers cashback rewards on select retailers like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.
3. Ibotta
Ibotta is a cashback app that provides rebates on grocery purchases, as well as online shopping, dining out, and more. Scan your receipts or link your loyalty cards to earn cashback.
Popular stores: Popular stores included in Ibotta’s offers are Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Amazon. This list is not exhaustive.
Ibotta often provides sign-up bonuses and rewards you for referring friends and family.
4. Shopkick
Shopkick rewards you with points (kicks) for various activities like visiting stores, scanning products, and making purchases. Also, You can redeem the kicks for gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and Walmart
5. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards lets you earn points by scanning grocery receipts. You can redeem the points for gift cards to your favorite retailers.
Popular stores: Fetch Rewards works with a variety of grocery stores, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Safeway. Also, You can redeem points for gift cards to popular retailers and brands.
6. Dosh
Dosh is a cashback app that offers automatic cashback for purchases made with linked cards at participating stores and restaurants.
Popular retailers:Popular retailers included in Dosh’s cashback offers are Sephora, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and CVS.
7. Drop
Drop is a loyalty program that rewards you with points for shopping at your favorite retailers. Link your cards and earn points automatically, which you can redeem for gift cards.
Popular retailers: Drop partners with various popular brands, such as Starbucks, Amazon, Uber, and Walmart, allowing you to earn points for purchases made with linked cards.
8. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is a fun app that rewards you for scanning receipts from various retailers.
While it doesn’t have specific partner stores, you can earn coins by scanning receipts from your everyday purchases and redeem them for cash or Amazon gift cards.
9. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 offers weekly cashback offers on groceries and other items. Simply upload your receipts to earn cashback.
Partners: Major grocery chains and retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco.
10. TopCashback
TopCashback is a cashback website that offers higher cashback rates compared to other platforms. It partners with numerous retailers across different categories, including fashion, electronics, travel, and more.
Popular stores included in TopCashback are Macy’s, Nike, Expedia, and Dell.
Keen on other ways to save money?
- Get 10% off on holiday bookings on WayAway with my code ‘Earnmore’
- Save 15% on groceries and essentials with Amazon Subscribe and Save.
Eager to make more money in your spare time?
- Sell printables – Selling printables is the easiest side hustle to make passive income. You can do it in your own schedule and earn over $10,000 a year selling simple printables.
- Proofreading – Earn $15-20+ an hour proofreading online. Set your own schedule, choose what you want to proofread and when.
- Complete short tasks – Make money filling out surveys or playing games on Swagbucks. You can earn up to $5 per task, tasks take only a few minutes to complete.
Also check out our popular post on 63 ways to make money online.