Cash back or reward apps that save money are a dime a dozen these days, and that’s for good reason.
According to the Colloquy Loyalty Census Report, loyalty program membership in 2017 growth grew by 15% to 3.8 billion, largely due to cash back incentives.
However, finding the best reward apps can be a difficult task however, especially considering just how many choices there are. So, I’ve decided to break down the best shopping reward apps into one comprehensive list, so get ready and start earning some free money!
The Best Reward Apps
1. Freecash
Freecash is a new rewards platform I've been using the last few months. And it's basically a discovery rewards platform with 100+ earning options.
All you have to do is sign up with your email. You can then earn by answering surveys, installing apps, shopping online, watching videos, and more.
I like Freecash's shopping offers since some of them pay $50 to $100+ in cash back. The real cash games are quite lucrative too. Just make sure you download a few mobile games or answer some surveys after you sign up so you start earning.
Freecash lets you cash out right to PayPal. There's over a dozen gift card rewards and crypto up for grabs as well.
2. EarnIn
Want access to your paycheck much earlier? Then EarnIn could be the app for you.
This U.S. cash advance app lets members borrow up to $100 per day and $750 per pay period to get their paychecks earlier. And it's a great way to get quick cash if you need to pay rent or other bills.
The app works by connecting to your bank account to view your paycheck history. It then determines how much you can borrow, and you can steadily increase your limit over time.
We like EarnIn because it doesn't charge interest or require a credit check. And you just pay back your advance once your paycheck hits. However, you need stable paychecks to qualify for EarnIn, so keep this in mind.
3. Upside
With gas prices on the rise, another one of the best reward apps you can use right now is Upside, formerly known as GetUpside.
This app lets you earn up to $0.25 per gallon of gas at thousands of participating stations across the United States. And you can also earn cash back for restaurant and grocery store purchases as well.
Here's how Upside works:
- Claim a cash-back offer within the app
- Pay for that offer and get your receipt
- Submit the receipt through the app
- Earn real cash back
You can redeem your cash back for PayPal cash as well as a variety of free gift cards to companies like Amazon. And the best part is that Upside works with 45,000+ brand locations nationwide, including most major gas stations and many fast food joints.
If you're tired of overspending on gas and want to save more money, Upside is a good reward app to try out.
4. Scrambly
Scrambly is a new discovery rewards website and app that's currently available in the United States and Canada.
I've been using Scrambly for the last year and have since earned over $400. It lets you earn by downloading new apps, playing games, shopping, and by signing up for new products and services.
The team at Scrambly adds new offers all the time to keep things interesting. And it also launched an Android app recently which is pretty cool.
You can cash out via PayPal at only $1 as well which I like. Scrambly also has a variety of gift cards for you to choose from.
5. Discover Cashback Debit Card
Alright, this one isn't an app. But it is a super easy way to earn up to $360 in free money per year, just for your everyday shopping.
Say hello to the Discover Cashback Debit Card – a fee-free debit card that pays you 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in spending per month.
We're massive fans of this card for a few reasons. For starters, it lets you earn on autopilot just for your regular shopping. It doesn't impact your credit score either since this is a debit card and not a credit card.
Discover has tons of other perks too. You can get paid up to two days early, and there's even a network of 60,000+ fee-free ATMs you can use.
Start earning cash back with Discover!
6. Rocket Money
Tired of wasting money on expensive subscriptions and overspending? Then Rocket Money is the app for you.
This all-in-one money app helps you automatically create a budget that works for you. And it helps you save more money by monitoring your subscriptions and notifying you of ones you might want to cancel.
You can also check your credit score and monitor your net worth with the app. But the real power comes if you upgrade to Rocket Money Premium.
That's because Premium members get even more budgeting tools. Plus, they can work with Rocket Money's team to have them contact their phone, internet, and cable providers to negotiate lower bills on their behalf.
This is a passive way to save more each month. And we love that Rocket Money is a rewards app that focuses on budgeting and saving first.
7. Kashkick
If you live in the United States and want to get PayPal cash in your spare time, you need to check out Kashkick.
This rewards website pays you to complete short surveys. It also lets you make money with real money games and by downloading and discovering new apps.
My favorite part is that Kashkick pays you right to PayPal once you earn $10. And it's one of the fastest-growing gpt sites in the industry.
8. Self
Self is a powerful website and app where you can boost your credit score ASAP in a couple of ways.
For starters, Self has a free tool that reports your on-time rent and bill payments to all three major credit bureaus. And this is a super simple (and free) way to begin improving your credit score quickly.
Self also has innovative credit builder loans. This is basically a small installment loan where you make small monthly payments into Self's partner bank. Self reports these payments to credit bureaus, when your loan term is over, you get your money back.
Over 3.5 million people have already been using Self to build or repair their credit scores. On average, members see a 49 point boost too. And we love that there's both free and premium plans available to help you get back on track.
Start boosting your credit score with Self!
9. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a versatile way to make money online, and lets you earn with surveys, gaming rewards, download offers, videos, and shopping rewards.
Swagbucks has a fairly extensive list of partners, including Amazon, Sephora, Macy’s, RONA, Home Depot, Nike, and Roots. Plus, you can even get paid to scan barcodes if you use Swagbucks Magic Receipt, a new grocery rewards section the platform has.
Overall, this is a very robust get-paid-to website with plenty of freebies up for grabs if you're willing to put in the effort! And it's a realistic way to get paid to shop if you take advantage of the cash-back offers.
10. InboxDollars
Another U.S. rewards site that I've used over the last few years is InboxDollars.
This website is similar to Swagbucks and lets you earn by uploading receipts and completing shopping offers. It also has cash surveys, games, and a juicy $5 sign up bonus for new members.
Signing up is also completely free. You can cash out at $10 to $15 with PayPal money or dozens of gift cards from major retailers. And if you like the idea of InboxDollars, you can check out its sister website, MyPoints, and snag another easy $5 bonus.
11. Ark7
Want to earn passive income while adding real estate to your portfolio? Then Ark7 could be the perfect fit for you.
This investing platform lets you invest in shares of income-generating rental homes. And with shares starting as low as $20, it’s incredibly accessible and is democratizing real estate investing.
We also love Ark7 because it sends out distributions from rental profits monthly. So, you can buy shares and then begin earning steady payments as a shareholder.
What makes Ark7 stand out is that it also has an active trading marketplace where you can sell shares. This helps ensure liquidity, and it lets investors sell their shares to benefit from property appreciation.
Take the Atlanta T-3 property as an example. This property originally sold at $20 per share. But its peak price soared to $35, allowing investors to achieve over 50% appreciation.
We also like that Ark7’s team hand-screens and properties and adds new investment opportunities regularly. So, browse its marketplace today to find exciting new investment opportunities.
12. Cash Giraffe
Do you have an Android device? If so, you need to check out Cash Giraffe.
This is an exciting app that pays you for playing games. And it's our favorite reward app if you spend time gaming on your phone each week.
All you have to do is download the free app. You then choose games in your games library to download and play.
The more you play, the more you earn. And Cash Giraffe lets you cash out with PayPal money and free gift cards.
Don't have an Android? Don't sweat it! You can also check out our guide on the top iPhone money games paying people right now.
13. Capital One Shopping
If you shop online regularly and live in the United States, Capital One Shopping is a must-try shopping extension. In fact, it's one of the best ways to save money at home the next time you need to shop online.
With Capital One Shopping, you automatically apply coupon codes at thousands of online stores in the United States. This saves you the time of digging up coupon codes yourself, and the savings are instant if codes work.
Furthermore, you can also earn shopping credits by shopping at select partners. Credits are redeemable for a wide variety of free gift cards once you earn $5 in credits. Plus, you can use the Capital One Shopping app to save while shopping on your phone.
Start saving with Capital One Shopping!
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided links.
14. Bridge Money
Bridge Money is a new U.S. rewards app that lets you earn passive rewards when you shop with linked cards, just like Pogo.
The app also has numerous other ways to earn, including online surveys, cash games, sponsored shopping offers, and referral bonuses. And you can cash out to your bank account once you earn $4.
Most transactions pay $0.02 to $0.20 worth of coins. The more active offers are more lucrative, and you can also upgrade your account to a paid Earn+ membership to earn even more cashback when you shop.
Bridge Money is also rolling out a savings account that pays an impressive 5% APY. And if you like passive income, this app definitely belongs on your smartphone.
15. HealthyWage
Want to get paid to workout and lose weight? Then you need to try the HealthyWage app.
This innovative rewards app pays you for setting and completing a weight loss goal. You place a wager on yourself to reach your goal. If you do, you get your wager back plus a cash prize for your efforts.
HealthyWage has tournaments too paying up to $10,000. And this app is an exciting and encouraging way to earn money while improving your fitness.
You can use HealthyWage's calculator to see how much you can potentially earn. Our HealthyWage review also has more details if you're curious to learn more.
16. Bonus Bucks
One new and exciting rewards platform you can use to get free gift cards is a website called Bonus Bucks.
With Bonus Bucks, you earn free gift cards by completing quick online deals and tasks. And you can even earn $750 gift cards to major brands like Amazon, Sephora, Walmart, and Cash App.
Tasks you have to complete can include tasks like installing apps, signing up for free trials, shopping online, and completing surveys. Once you complete enough deals for a certain gift card threshold, Bonus Bucks then sends you your gift card reward electronically so you can enjoy it.
17. Shopkick
Shopkick is another popular rewards app, and you can benefit from shopping online or in-store with Shopkick.
Shopkick users can earn ‘kicks' for buying partnered products online or in-store, but you can also earn points for simply scanning items as well or walking into stores.
Kicks are redeemable for gift cards to companies like Target, Starbucks, Subway, or Amazon. And Shopkick is currently partnered with more than 250,000 retail locations, so you can definitely find a way to earn cash back with this app if you live in the United States.
If you want a mix of a rewards app, cash back portal, and mystery shopping gigs, apps like Shopkick are definitely for you.
Pro Tip: Sign up for Shopkick with my promo code TOW to get a $5 bonus after you earn your first kicks!
18. Rakuten
Rakuten is a popular reward app and website that pays you with cash back for shopping at thousands of different partners.
It's basically a massive cash-back shopping portal, and you can usually find deals ranging between 0.5%-8% cash back, or even higher depending on the partner.
Amazon, Sephora, Groupon, Old Navy, Home Depot, Forever 21, and so many other stores are partnered with Rakuten and have products available.
Rakuten pays you quarterly as long as you have at least $5 in your account, which is pretty easy to earn with a few purchases.
I’ve earned $1,200 in total by referring friends to Rakuten and shopping at some of its partners. You can checkout my review of Rakuten to learn more.
You can also sign up for Rakuten with my referral code! You’ll help me out, and new Rakuten members receive a sign up bonus of $30 when they spend $30 or more within 90 days.
19. Pogo
When it comes to earning PayPal cash passively, Pogo is one of the best reward apps out there right now.
This app pays you with small amounts of cash every time you shop and share your transaction data. All you have to do is sign up, link your cards to the Pogo app, and then you get paid whenever you shop.
I like Pogo since it's completely passive, so you basically get paid for doing nothing. And the fact you're earning real cash is a bonus. You can also answer short surveys to earn more cash. Pogo lets you cash out at just $3, which is also a pretty low threshold.
Extra Reading – The Best Passive Income Apps.
20. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free receipt scanning rewards app and is available for iOS or Android devices. Fetch Rewards is only available in the United States, but this app is a tad different than other reward apps.
See, Fetch Rewards pays you for being brand loyal, not store loyal. As long as your receipts contain partnered brands, you earn points. It doesn't actually matter where you shop, provided you are in the United States.
Fetch Rewards has plenty of popular brand partners, including Pepsi, Kraft, Heinz, Dove, and Taco Bell. The cash out minimum is also conveniently $3. Gift card options include Amazon, Target, Walmart, Dunkin Donuts, and plenty of other major retailers.
21. Drop
Drop is an easy-to-use iOS and Android app that rewards you for shopping and aims to “supercharge your credit and debit cards. And it's one of the best reward apps out there if you regularly shop through your phone.
All you have to do is link your debit or credit cards to Drop, and you will earn Drop Points when you spend on active offers.
Drop Points are redeemable for a variety of rewards such as gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, and many popular restaurants. Payouts happen fairly quickly, and users are notified of their awaiting rewards via email. You can also use the Drop app to make money playing video games and by answering short brand surveys.
To date, I've earned roughly $50 from Drop without putting in any effort, so it's definitely an effective rewards app to try out!
22. NCP Mobile
Like other leading rewards apps, one nifty app that pays you for sharing your opinion about the products you enjoy is NCP Mobile.
NCP Mobile, or the National Consumer Panel app, is a rewards app that pays you to upload info about the products you buy and then complete short surveys about your experience.
The app is available for Android and iOS if you live in the United States. Once you're a member, you just use the app's barcode scanner to scan and enter your daily purchases to begin earning.
If you consistently scan products and answer surveys, you can probably cash out a couple $10 gift cards with this app each year.
23. Amazon Shopper Panel
Speaking of free Amazon gift cards, another must-try rewards app if you live in the United States is the Amazon Shopper Panel app.
This app is owned by Amazon, and it lets you earn free gift cards for uploading your shopping receipts. All you have to do is upload at least 10 non-Amazon receipts per month to get a $10 Amazon gift card credit in your account.
This is over $100 in Amazon gift cards every year for just a bit of effort. And the app sometimes has short surveys you can complete to earn more.
Extra Reading – The 20+ Highest Paying Apps.
24. Dosh
Dosh is undeniably one of the best reward apps on the scene despite the fact the app has only been around since 2017.
Dosh, like Drop, is very straightforward. Just connect your card to the app and then enjoy cash back when you shop at a variety of stores.
Some popular stores you can earn rewards from include Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Nike, Forever21, and Guess.
Apps like Drop make you pre-select shopping offers to earn shopping rewards. In contrast, Dosh automatically detects when you spend and pays you accordingly. This makes Dosh a pretty humble yet effective source of passive income, and it's definitely a must-download reward app.
25. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 is a popular receipt scanning app that is similar to Fetch Rewards. The app partners with almost major grocery stores and companies like Costco, Canadian Tire, Dollarama, and Walmart.
When you purchase eligible items and upload a receipt for proof of purchase, you earn cash back. Items typically earn less than $1 in cash back, but occasional offers like razors or beauty products can earn more.
If you frequently grocery shop and enjoy the Checkout 51 offers, you can expect to earn around $20-$30 per month.
Extra Reading – 12 Ways to Make & Save Money In A Pinch.
26. Ibotta
Ibotta is a popular receipt scanning app that lets you earn rewards for purchasing from select stores and partners. Simply go shopping, send a picture of your receipt with the Ibotta app, and earn cash back on eligible products.
Ibotta currently partners with over 500 retail chains, including Walmart, Publix, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Target, and many more popular shopping destinations.
Groceries are really where Ibotta shines, but the app can also earn you cash at certain hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, or home good stores.
You must earn $20 before cashing out, and payment methods include PayPal or various gift cards. You can also read our post on Ibotta vs Rakuten to find the right cash back reward platform for you!
Extra Reading – Fetch Rewards vs Ibotta.
27. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is yet another popular rewards app where you earn money for scanning receipts. And the main perk of this receipt scanning app is that you can upload any kind of receipt to earn ‘coins.'
With your Receipt Hog coins, you can redeem Amazon gift cards, pre-paid Visa cards, or PayPal cash. 200 Receipt Hog coins is equal to $1, and most of the receipts I’ve uploaded have granted me 20 coins, or $0.10. It's a slow process, but it's easy.
On the bright side, Receipt Hog also has a Hog Slot game where you unlock spins by uploading more receipts. Prizes include bonus coins and cash, and you never know when you'll get lucky.
You can also try out ReceiptPal if you want a similar app to ReceiptHog.
Extra Reading – How To Earn $1,000 In 24 Hours.
Final Thoughts
None of the apps in this list are going to earn hundreds of dollars per month (unless you have a serious shopping budget). However, if you take advantage of a few of these popular reward apps, you might be surprised at how much you can earn annually.
They might seem tedious or irrelevant at the start, but even completely passive reward apps like Dosh or receipt scanning apps like Receipt Hog can make a difference over time.
If you implement a few of these apps, you will earn a couple of free gift cards every year, so you might as well try them out!
Looking for other ways to make extra money? Checkout:
- How To Make Quick Money In A Day.
- The Best Apps To Earn Amazon Gift Cards.
- Benjamin App Review – Is It Legit?
- How To Make $300 Dollars Per Day.
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