Checkout 51 Helped Me Save Big – But There’s a Catch

Groceries are an inevitable part of your monthly expenses. And, depending on the number of people in your household, they can take a massive toll on your bank account.

While you can stick to a budget and search for deals on your own– which may mean sifting through and cutting up hundreds of coupons to find savings– there are more convenient ways to cut back on grocery spending. 

Thanks to a variety of reward apps, it's fairly easy to save money on many everyday purchases, including groceries.

And, out of all the grocery reward apps, Checkout 51 is undeniable one of the most popular apps around next to apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards.

Plus, Checkout 51 even works for gas, and this app has a new nifty features you won't want to miss.

I've been using Checkout 51 for a few years, and it's been a nice way to save a bit more money without much effort.

So in this Checkout 51 review, I'm covering how the app works, its earning potential, and if it's worth using.

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What is Checkout 51?

Checkout 51 is a free rewards app that pays you for buying sponsored grocery products, household essentials, and gas from their partners.

Like Fetch Rewards and Ibotta, Checkout 51 is really an easy way to earn cashback rewards while shopping for everyday products.

The app has been around since 2012 and has millions of downloads and a 4.5 star rating average, making it a fan-favorite for frugal shoppers.

I've also been using the app since my college days. It's very easy to use, and if you want a consistent way to get paid for shopping, it's a useful app to have on your phone.

Like other grocery reward apps, Checkout 51 has several ways to earn, although the app is fairly simplistic overall.

How Does Checkout 51 Work?

I downloaded Checkout 51 a few years ago when I was in college to try and save more money. Since then, I've used the app on and off to earn some easy cash back on the side.

The app is very simple to use, and if you've used apps like Fetch Rewards or other receipt-scanning apps before, you'll feel very familiar with this app.

1. Create An Account

Download Checkout 51 for Android or IOS and create a free account.

If you’re not the smartphone type, you can also access Checkout 51 on your desktop if you have a webcam or camera to upload a photo of your receipt.

Creating an account just requires your email address, and it took me about a minute or two to download the app and sign up.

2. Browse Weekly Offers

Add all of your favorite deals to your weekly shopping list so you can check them off after you shop.

New promotions release every Thursday (just in time for your Saturday grocery run!) and they expire by the following Wednesday.

As you can see in my list above, Checkout 51 has all sorts of offers, including ones for food, clothing, pet food, and beauty products. Most of the offers pay $1 to $2 in cash back, but you can also find offers that pay $5 or even more depending on the brand.

Just note that browsing for weekly offers is critical for actually making money with this app.

Offers expire or get claimed quickly by other members, so be sure to get in the habit of adding Checkout 51 offers to your virtual shopping list before it's time to head to the grocery store.

I try to make a habit of this every Thursday morning. One pro tip is to set a reminder in your calendar so you don't forget to add Checkout 51 offers to your shopping list.

3. Shop For Offers

Complete your shopping as usual, but double-check each offer you're buying to ensure you purchase the right brand, size, and quantity.

Rebates are quite specific, so a single mistake could mean your purchase doesn't earn cashback at all.

4. Redeem & Upload Receipt

After you shop, check off all the items you purchased from your shopping list on Checkout 51.

Afterwards, take a photo of your receipt through the built-in camera feature on the app. This is done to verify that you've actually purchased products that are eligible for rebates.

Remember: receipts are only good for one use so make sure you’ve checked off all your purchased items.

5. Earn Rewards

When your receipt is approved, Checkout 51 deposits your earnings deposited in your account. 

Cashback offers pay varying amounts, but it's common to find offers that pay between $0.50 to $5 just for buying a specific product!

It can take a few days for your receipt to process and credit so be patient for the money to appear in your account balance.

6. Cash Out

You can check your earnings by heading to your account page. You need to have $20 in your account in order to claim your cash.

Checkout 51 lets you cash out for PayPal cash or via check. PayPal is the best option in my opinion since you don't have to wait for weeks for the check to arrive, but it's nice you can redeem cash in either case.

Different Types Of Checkout 51 Offers

At its core, Checkout 51 involves scanning grocery receipts to earn cashback. However, there are actually several ways to earn, each with a slight nuance.

Here is the breakdown of all the ways you can earn using Checkout 51:

1. Barcode Offers

Barcode offers are one of the more common ways to make money with Checkout 51.

For qualifying barcode purchases, you scan the barcode of that item to verify that you have the right product. An in-app scanner makes this quite straightforward.

Remember: This is in addition to the regular upload of your receipt, so don't throw it out before redeeming your cashback!

2. Bonus Offers

Bonus offers appear at the top of the weekly offers page once you have redeemed a certain number of specific offers.

An example of a bonus offer would be to earn an extra $1.00 if you redeem 4 offers within a week. In my case, I found a nice Glade bonus that's pretty lucrative and pays $3 cash back:

Bonuses aren't the main way to earn with Checkout 51, but they're a great way to push your savings even further.

3. Choose Your Own Offer

This is a weekly offer which lets you take anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 off an item of your choice, no matter the brand or the price.

It usually applies to produce items, which means some of your fruits or vegetables may end up costing you nothing.

Extra Reading – 15 Apps That Pay You To Workout.

4. Sweepstakes

Checkout 51 sometimes holds a contest which gives you the chance to win $500! All it takes to qualify is the submission of a minimum $60 grocery receipt.

If you're shopping for a household, this should be easy to hit. And it's a nice way to potentially get free money just for shopping like you normally do.

For individuals, it isn't out of the question either, so this is a fairly easy sweepstake to enter.

5. Brand Programs

These are less frequently available, but they grant access to offers on specific brands.

You have to join a brand program in order to receive these offers, so keep an eye out for the ‘Join’ button within your weekly offers.

If you spot a brand you buy every week, this is potentially an easy way to score cashback without changing your shopping routine.

6. Online Offers

This section of Checkout 51 lets you shop at specific online retailers to earn cashback.

You don't need to submit your receipt in this as Checkout 51 will have access to all your purchase information already. 

Admittedly, this section is pretty lackluster, especially when you compare it to cashback websites like Rakuten or sponsored offers from the Honey Browser Extension.

However, if you're close to cashing out, it's a nice earning option to have.

Extra Reading – 13 Money-Saving Browser Extensions For Online Shopping.

7. Loyalty Card 

If you have a loyalty card for a store or retailer that you use on every grocery run, you can link it to your Checkout 51 account.

You just need to pre-select offers as usual and then use your loyalty card at checkout. Afterwards, cashback appears in your account within 48 hours. 

This saves the step of scanning your receipt. Just remember to scan your loyalty card at checkout!

Checkout 51 Gas Offers

One of the advantages of using Checkout 51 over other grocery rebate apps like Caddle and Ibotta is that you can save money on gas alongside your groceries.

To save money on fuel, simply:

• Check The Map. Checkout 51’s map will show you all the applicable gas stations nearby, as well as the current prices on fuel. 
• Add Offers. The app offers fuel rewards so you can save on filling your tank. Rewards expire 4 hours after they are uploaded, so be sure to add them soon before fueling up. 
• Upload Receipt. Take a photo of your receipt through the built-in camera feature on the app. Remember: your receipt must be uploaded within 24 hours!
• Earn. App users can earn up to 25¢/gallon on gas purchases as stations like Shell, Chevron, BP, Exxon, Mobile and more. 

If you're only looking for gas savings, also consider checking out our Upside review to learn how to save even more at the pump!

Where Is Checkout 51 Available?

The grocery features of the app are available in the U.S. and Canada. The fuel savings are only currently available in the United States, but Checkout 51 has promised that Canada will soon follow.

Canada has a shameful lack of reward apps aside from apps like Drop and Moka, so this is certainly refreshing!

How Much Does Checkout 51 Pay?

While Checkout 51 isn’t going to make you millions of dollars, it's an easy way to make a bit of cash doing the things you’re already going to do anyways: grocery shopping and fueling up your car. 

But the rate at which you can redeem offers and make money ultimately depends on your shopping habits.

For example, if your household doesn’t consume many packaged or processed foods, you might find that it takes longer to work up to the $20 cash out requirement.

Families are also likely to cash out earlier than couples or people living alone because they’re buying more groceries overall and have more opportunities to earn.

The good news is that the money you earn doesn't expire, so whether it takes you weeks or months to hit $20, you don’t have to stress about losing out on your cash.

Plus, some offers are quite lucrative. For example, I redeemed a Checkout 51 offer that paid me $4 for buying a $12 box of Tylenol Cold and Flu.

A single purchase was nearly 25% of my cashout threshold, so it's certainly possible to redeem your $20 several times per year if you put in the effort.

I find it pretty easy to find offers on a weekly basis as well, and this app would be great if you have kids or buy a lot of beauty and personal care products as well.

Is Checkout 51 Legit?

Checkout 51 is a legit app that has a long history of paying out their users on time. I've been using the app for years, and offers pay you if you buy the right product and upload your receipt properly. Overall, it's an easy way to save more money every month and is a useful app to have.

However, your shopping habits really dictate if this app is worth the download.

If you're interested in saving money on your grocery run then it's definitely a good platform to use. 

However, making the most out of your grocery run with Checkout 51 also requires you to plan ahead, which takes dedication. Keep this time requirement in mind before downloading!

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Save Money & Time. You no longer need to collect and cut mass amounts of coupons in order to save.
• Multiple Earning Options. Between the multiple ways to redeem grocery offers and fuel rewards, Checkout 51 is one of the most comprehensive reward apps around.
• Not Always Store Specific. While some offers give you cashback for shopping at one particular retailer, the majority of them are brand or product specific, meaning as long as you have a receipt the offer applies. 
• Double-Up Potential. Unless otherwise stated, you can redeem the same weekly deal on a different app or use coupons at checkout. This is an easy way to double your savings. 
• User-Friendly. Overall, Checkout 51 is designed to be easy to use for anyone. Plus, the ability to use it on your smartphone or desktop allows you to choose what's most convenient for you. 

Cons:

• Limited Offers. Some of the offers are only available in limited quantities and will expire after they have been used a number of times. Many of the high-demand items disappear soon after they are released if you're not quick.
• Reward Limitations. Snail mail and PayPal money are your only options. Direct deposit and free gift cards would be a nice addition to the app.
• Limited Savings. Checkout 51 won't revolutionize your finances, so don't expect anything more than the occasional $20 reward from this app.

Other Checkout 51 Reviews

I've been using Checkout 51 for a while, and I think it's one of the best Canadian and U.S. cash back apps out there.

However, it's good to see what other people think as well when considering a money-making app.

Thankfully, there are plenty of Checkout 51 reviews on websites like Reddit where users share their experiences and earnings with the app. Here's what some of them are saying in one thread:

• AgentPeggyCarter says: “I've had my account for six years and so far I've only earned $50 (two $20 checks and $10 in my account right now). It's okay but a really slow earner for me when compared to Ibotta (had the same amount of time and earned nearly $500 total.”
• beauty7777 says: “Definitely earn more with Ibotta.”
• mantradingdong says: “One of the slowest earners ever! I would not recommend it at all.”
• z12top says: “I used it on gas. It was great because I drive for work so I generate a lot, lot of gas receipts.”

As you can see, many users don't like how slow Checkout 51 is to earn with. They also express how apps like Ibotta pay more and have better offers.

Personally, I've found the most success with apps like Fetch, but I still think you can earn some extra cash without much effort by using Checkout 51.

 

The video above from YouTube channel Money Done Right is another excellent review you can watch to learn more about how the app works, what the best offers are, and if it's worth using.

Of course, this app won't make you $5,000 a month or anything even close to that. But it's a reliable way to save a bit more money if you're willing to spend time looking for offers.

The Best Apps Like Checkout 51

If you like the idea of earning real cash rewards for your grocery, gas, and pharmacy shopping, some Checkout 51 alternatives you can try include:

• Caddle (for Canadians)
• Upside (the best gas rewards app)
• Pogo (one of the better passive income apps)
• Receipt Hog
• Ibotta
• Fetch Rewards
• ReceiptPal
• Drop
• Ampli

I also made a video on some of my favorite cash back apps that you can use as Checkout 51 alternatives.

None of these apps will pay for all of your groceries/everday purchases, but free money is never a bad thing!

My personal favorite apps are Drop and Ampli, but all of these apps have the potential to unlock some free cash and gift cards if you stick with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Checkout 51 Work With Coupons?

Yes, Checkout 51 can work with coupons. However, it’s important to check the details of the Checkout 51 offer you intend to use if you’re wanting to stack it with coupons, as certain ones have restrictions against this.

Otherwise, you're free to combine your coupons with Checkout 51 offers and double up on your savings!

Can You Use Checkout 51 With Food stamps?

 YES. As long as you have a receipt indicating that you purchased those items, it doesn’t matter how you paid for them. 

Can I Redeem A Receipt Multiple Times?

NO. Every receipt is only good for one use, so make sure you’ve added all the offers that apply to your purchase. 

Can I Redeem An Offer Multiple Times?

This sometimes works. Once again, it’s important to read the details of the offer in order to figure this out, as some can be used multiple times.

This does mean that you have to make separate purchases, since the receipt itself is only good for one use. 

Final Thoughts

When used properly, Checkout 51 is a legitimate way to make some extra money and save on groceries, essentials and gas.

It definitely won’t be the thing that makes you rich, but it can help ease the monthly costs of groceries and gas, with the opportunity to cash out every once in a while.

Plus, you can always stack Checkout 51 with other money-making apps to maximize the money in your wallet.

Thanks so much for reading!

Hopefully, our Checkout 51 app review clarifies what you should expect and how to maximize your savings with this app!

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