8 Great Cash-Back Apps and Why Each Stands Out
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Cash-back apps won’t make you rich, but they can help you save money on the things you buy. We found some that are worth a look.
What is a cash-back app?
A cash-back app gives you a rebate on a purchase or provides a coupon for an additional discount. Some apps offer points that can be redeemed as a price break on subsequent purchases, or cash.
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Best cash-back apps of 2024
Read on or jump to an app in the list:
Fetch Rewards
In a nutshell: Redeem receipts from nearly anywhere for points; cash them in for gift cards.
Details: Fetch Rewards has risen in popularity, particularly when it comes to saving on groceries, but the company says shopping anywhere earns points. Snap a picture of your receipt from any purchase or shop through the app, and you'll earn rewards points redeemable for gift cards or cash cards.
Standout feature: You can earn points on just about everything you buy if you’re diligent about snapping receipts.
Apple App Store rating: 4.8/5.
Google Play rating: 4.6/5.
Shopmium
In a nutshell: It’s an app for getting cash back on supermarket essentials.
Details: Shopmium features saveable deals on a limited number of staple grocery store items at any given time. Think a dollar off a pack of Activia yogurt or a bottle of Tide stain remover, or 25 cents off a box of Huggies. Like with other cash-back apps, you buy the product, then snap and submit a picture of the receipt (and product barcode) to build your cash-back balance.
Standout feature: The small selection of offers available (there were 23 at the time of writing) is easy to sort through, and less overwhelming than apps that pack in endless offers.
Apple App Store rating: 4.9/5.
Google Play rating: 4.3/5.
RetailMeNot
In a nutshell: A cash-back program from a company known for coupons.
Details: One of the original cash-back apps born from a website, RetailMeNot allows you to find and shop with coupon codes and is primarily a coupon finder, but it also allows users to activate offers for cash back. Cash back is paid out via PayPal or Venmo. You can use the RetailMe Not Deal Finder browser extension, too.
Standout feature: You can stack coupon codes and cash-back offers to net more savings on purchases.
Apple App Store rating: 4.8/5.
Google Play rating: 4.8/5.
Upside
In a nutshell: Get cash back on gasoline (and food) purchases with this app.
Details: Upside aims to provide cash-back offers from grocery stores, restaurants and — most notably — gas stations. Claim offers in the app, pay at the store or gas station, then “check in” at the location or scan a receipt. You can redeem cash back through PayPal, e-gift cards or bank transfers.
Standout feature: Upside lets you earn by paying with the credit or debit card you already use.
Apple App Store rating: 4.8/5.
Google Play rating: 4.6/5.
Ibotta
In a nutshell: Score cash back on a wide variety of shopping options.
Details: Ibotta promises cash back whether you're shopping in person, online, or while traveling or dining out. There are no promotional codes or coupons to track. Before shopping, you search the app for offers you like, then upload a photo of your receipt after the purchase. Transfer your rewards to PayPal, your bank account or gift cards. There’s also an Ibotta browser extension for desktop shopping.
Standout feature: You can also buy the items with a linked loyalty card in-store or start online transactions with partnering retailers through the Ibotta app to bypass receipt uploads.
Apple App Store rating: 4.8/5.
Google Play rating: 4.5/5.
Dosh
In a nutshell: Earn automatic rebates on purchase categories without scanning receipts.
Details: Dosh adds hotels into the retail and dining-out discount mix. By linking a credit or debit card to the app, cash-back offers are deposited into the Dosh wallet. Then, cash can be transferred into bank accounts, PayPal or Venmo. Rewards can also be donated to charities.
Standout feature: The luxury of not having to scan receipts and the option to donate cash back to charity differentiates Dosh from others.
Apple App Store rating: 4.7/5.
Google Play rating: 4.5/5.
Receipt Hog
In a nutshell: An app that adds an element of fun to shopping rewards.
Details: In addition to offering cash back for shopping, this app gamifies the process with sweepstakes, surveys, bonuses and slot spins that can pay out “coins.” Rewards can be redeemed for gift cards or cash to your PayPal account.
Standout feature: A gamified experience makes Receipt Hog unique.
Apple App Store rating: 4.7/5.
Google Play rating: 4.6/5.
Rakuten
In a nutshell: A cash-back app that provides direct payments every three months.
Details: Rakuten is a high-profile cash-back app claiming to cover over 3,500 stores and issuing payments through PayPal or by check. It also features travel savings on airfare, hotels and car rentals.
Standout feature: The ability to shop at thousands of stores within the app and get your cash back in the form of a check makes Rakuten unique.
Apple App Store rating: 4.8/5.
Google Play rating: 3.6/5.
Other cash-back apps to consider
Cash-back apps are about saving small amounts of money over a period of time, so you'll probably want to find an app that you enjoy using and that doesn't require a lot of effort. While these apps didn’t make the list above because they have fewer reviews or are rated slightly lower, they are still worth considering.
Shopkick
Rewards, known as "kicks," are available in-store or online and are payable as gift cards. You can earn rewards in multiple ways, including by visiting stores, scanning product bar codes and submitting receipts.
CoinOut
CoinOut is another receipt-scanning cash-back app. You don't have to shop at a specific retailer, find a coupon or hunt down a deal. You upload a receipt, and the app does the rest.
Swagbucks
Like with the other apps on this list, you can get cash back on certain purchases through Swagbucks. You can also earn points that can be redeemed for money or gift cards by taking surveys to share your opinion on products.
» MORE: 9 of the best money-making apps
Credit cards do cash back, too
If the digital nickels and dimes aren’t adding up fast enough, try using a cash-back credit card in conjunction with your favorite cash-back app to increase savings. Adding 3%-6% in credit card rewards (depending on the card and purchase category) to the 1%-3% you could get from a cash-back app can make savings more substantial.
Earn up to $250/year in cash rewards
With a NerdWallet+ membership, it's easy to rack up rewards for the smart decisions you're already making, like checking your credit score.
How we picked the apps
We considered apps with at least 4.7 stars and a minimum of 20,000 ratings in the Apple App Store (Google Play store rating is noted, but wasn't considered). We read reviews from users for more insight.
We also factored in the number of participating stores and eligible spending categories, ease of use and reward amount thresholds. Opportunities for higher percentages of cash back and options to link store loyalty accounts were considered a bonus.
