Do you also want to make the most out of your money? Using the best cash-back apps is a great way to save while shopping. These apps are designed to give a portion of your money back on everyday purchases to help stretch your budget further.
Cash-back apps pay you back in savings for purchases of groceries, clothing, electronics, and dining out—just about anything you would have purchased anyway.
Whether you’re new to cash-back apps or are looking for the best options, this guide will explain how they work and which apps you should be using.
What are Cash-Back Apps?
Cashback apps are the kind of apps that give a certain percentage of money back to users from what they have spent after a purchase. It’s like some sort of reward to shop, which makes them extremely popular among thrift-conscious shoppers.
They partner up with retailers, restaurants, and online shops, and then offer you deals or cashback after purchasing with their partners.
There are several different types of cash-back apps, but they all work fundamentally off of one notion: you purchase the app or scan a receipt, and you get a certain percentage of your money back.
After some time, those tiny savings add up, and you can cash your rewards via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards. Many cash-back apps include a referral program, too, in which you can earn even more by inviting friends and family to use the app.
10 Best Cash-Back Apps
Now that you understand what exactly cash-back apps are, let’s look at some of the best cash-back apps that will help you save money with effortlessness.
1. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Rakuten is one of those cashback apps that partners with thousands of retailers. You are going to love getting up to 40% cash back on your purchases at stores like Walmart, Sephora, and Amazon.
Rakuten also has a browser extension making it pretty easy to spot cash-back deals while shopping online.
2. Ibotta
Ibotta focuses on grocery shopping, though it offers cash back at retailers like Best Buy and Kohl’s, too. All you have to do is upload your receipt against a purchase, and the reward is yours to earn.
They even have in-app offers where, if you shop for any particular product, the gain can be even bigger.
3. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is another receipt-scanning app that lets you earn points for every grocery receipt you upload.
Points can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers such as Amazon or Walmart. Unlike other apps, Fetch doesn’t require you to shop for specific items to earn rewards.
4. Honey
While Honey is most associated with identifying coupon codes, it also has a feature called Honey Gold, which allows you to accrue points for cash back while shopping online. Once enough points are accrued, they can be redeemed for gift cards.
5. Shopkick
Shopkick rewards users for even entering partner stores, scanning products, or making purchases with points internally called “kicks.”
Later, these points can be used to get gift cards to your favorite retailers. Numerous shops work with Shopkick; examples are Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
6. TopCashback
TopCashback offers some of the most lucrative cashback rates out of any app. It works similarly to Rakuten in that it partners with more general retailers.
The good thing is that there is no minimum payout amount, meaning you can take your money out at any time.
7. Dosh
Dosh links to your credit or debit card and gives cash back automatically when you purchase from participating stores or restaurants.
You never have to scan receipts or redeem coupons, just shop, and Dosh does the rest.
8. CouponCabin
CouponCabin is a cash-back rewards and coupon code hybrid site. You can earn cash back from major online retailers and extra savings by applying coupons at checkout.
9. Receive Hog
Receipt Hog scans any type of receipt and credits users with points that could be exchanged for either cash or some gift cards. It also has a survey and an offer wall where users can grab more profit via the app.
10. Fluz
Fluz lets you earn cash back when you buy gift cards to your favorite stores through the app. They also have a social aspect, whereby extra cashback is earned from purchases that are made using the app by your friends.
How Do Cash-Back Apps Make Money?
Cash-back apps make money through affiliate marketing. When you shop through the app, the retailer pays it a commission for sending customers their way.
The commission is then shared with you, the shopper, in the form of cashback. It is one of those good-for-all business models: retailers get new customers, the app makes some profit, and you keep the cash.
Worth it, cash-back apps are for those who shop online or in-store often. Savings seem minuscule at first, usually ranging in size from 1 to 10 percent cash back, but over time it builds up, especially with large purchases.
Several users have gained hundreds per year by simply shopping through the apps. The bottom line is in consistency: use it every time, in an eligible purchase, and it will add up.
Saving Money on Subscriptions Using Cash-Back Apps
Cash-back apps also let you save money on subscription services, such as Netflix, Hulu, or even membership fees from a local fitness club. Here is how you can save:
1. Check the App for Subscription Deals
Cashback apps like Rakuten and Dosh sometimes run promotions on subscriptions. If you play around their websites often, you might come across an offer for cash back when you create an account or renew your subscription.
2. Subscription Services Using Gift Cards
Apps like Fluz allow you to buy gift cards for subscription services at discounted prices. This will contribute to savings every month or year on your subscription fees.
Furthermore, there are several cashback apps offering bonus points or even cashback when you buy gift cards, making your savings even better.
What Is the Best Cash-Back App for Grocery?
Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are some cash-back apps that will go great for grocery shopping.
Ibotta offers you specific deals on groceries, and once you are done shopping, you can upload your receipt and get your cash back.
Fetch Rewards is much simpler: scan any grocery receipt, and get points you can use to redeem gift cards. Both are fantastic options for maximizing your grocery savings.
Can I use Multiple Cash-back Apps for the Same Purchase?
Yes, most of the time you can stack these apps. You can use Honey to apply coupon codes and earn Honey Gold while shopping through Rakuten to get cash back.
You can also upload your receipt to an app like Ibotta or Fetch Rewards to earn additional points or cash back after purchase.
The key is checking their terms and conditions, but many apps do allow this “double-dipping” for extra savings.
Our Thoughts
Cash-back apps are an easy and effective way to save money on everyday purchases. From shopping groceries to streaming services, you can earn a percentage back of what you spend and accumulate savings over time.
From using the best cash-back apps to conducting a subscription audit, applying these saving strategies will have you well on your way to cutting costs and maximizing your budget with ease.
Whether an avid online shopper or one that goes to brick-and-mortar stores, there is a cash-back app out there that fits the bill.