How To Use The Best Cash Back Apps To Save Extra Money Every Month
There are many ways to save extra money with minimal effort. Today, let’s discuss how to effortlessly save extra money via the best cash back apps out there. Whether you just need a few extra bucks a month, or a few extra hundred bucks a month, cash back and rebate apps can help you meet that goal.
*Please note, some of these links are affiliate links. That means, if you use my link to purchase, I'll earn a little cash. That cash helps support my business and keeps me truckin' along, sharing all the goodness with you! 🙌 It also just might make you a rockstar, in my opinion!*
Do cash back apps really work?
Yes. Cash back and rebate apps let you earn cash back or other rewards when you make a purchase through a qualified retailer. Think the opposite of coupons, okay? So you don’t get the deal upfront, you first buy the product and get your reward once you’ve met the requirements.
Some apps have offers that you choose first, before making your purchase. While others offer percentages back on your total purchase, usually once you’ve met a minimum reward amount. We’ll discuss each type throughout this post.
An Unforgettable Thanksgiving Starts with premium turkey and ham, sides and desserts from Perdue Farms!Which app gives the best cash back?
While some of this depends largely on what industry you’re expecting cash back from, it’s my personal opinion that the all around best cash back app is Ibotta. We all need food to survive, right? So we all buy groceries often, too.
Ibotta is my very favorite grocery shopping app. You browse the app or website and add offers to your list depending on what retailer you’re shopping. Then, you purchase those items from the retailer and collect cash back after your purchase has been verified, either by receipt or store loyalty account.
When I actually go into the store, I check it beforehand to see if there are any good rebates to use. The quality and quantity of rebates and stores has expanded tremendously since I first fell in love with Ibotta.
Now, you can use it to pay for your purchases both in store and online and earn cash back as a result. They have a browser extension, too! If you’re a fan of grocery shopping online, use the Ibotta browser extension to save even more when you use a grocery pickup service!
Related: How To Go Grocery Shopping Online and Save Money
Plus, as you start redeeming offers, you can qualify for bonuses to earn even more cash back. There are new offers added all the time, so it’s really worth checking out before getting your weekly groceries!
It’s no secret that Ibotta is my most used, favorite cash back app. One year, I was able to pay for airline tickets to Florida for our family of five’s (at the time) family vacation just from my Ibotta earnings alone. Not to toot my own horn, but.. Toot! Toot! I recently became part of the $1,000 Ibotta club, a club exclusively for those who have earned at least $1,000 with Ibotta. Not too shabby for just buying groceries, right?
Another amazing grocery cash back app that requires even less effort than Ibotta is FetchRewards. Fetch Rewards is one of my favorites because it’s so simple and flexible. You earn points by uploading a picture of your receipt or linking your email to get credit for digital receipts. That’s it. Just shop as usual and take a picture of your receipt.
With Fetch, you can browse offers before shopping so you can see which items will earn you more points. But, you also earn points for every receipt scanned, regardless of whether or not you purchased any of the items with offers. Then, redeem your points for one of the numerous rewards. You can even donate your earnings to a charity if you’d rather.
What apps pay you instantly?
Define instantly? Haha. In all seriousness, the best cash back apps will pay you instantly via paypal or your bank account once you’ve met the minimum payout amount. This amount varies by app, but generally, it’s somewhere around $10-$25.
Once you’ve reached that minimum, you can cash out your rewards. Again, the cash out methods vary, but you can usually cash out via PayPal. Sometimes, you can cash out via gift card and earn just a little extra, too.
Related: Can Frugal Living Help You Get Out of Debt?
Some apps like Rakuten, will send out your earnings automatically via your chosen payout method, once you’ve met the minimum payout amount. Others, like TopCashBack, wait for you to select a payout method. Again, it all depends on the app or website, and sometimes, your preferences.
How do cash back sites work?
Each cash back app or reward site works a little differently. Some have offers to choose from that you use to make a list before shopping. Others have flat cash back percentages that vary depending on the retailer. While some others reward your purchases with point after you’ve linked your card or e-mail account.
Honey
Honey is a browser extension and/or app that finds and automatically applies promo codes and coupons with just the click of a button. You can also earn Honey Gold back on purchases. Honey Gold, like points, can be used towards gift cards of your choice.
Plus, Honey has a great watchlist feature. Add items to your Droplist to watch for drops in price. Super helpful for bigger, more expensive items!
Rakuten
Rakuten, formerly Ebates, is an everything-in-one type company where you can get cash back for shopping at over 2,500 stores. It’s tied with TopCashback for my favorite all around cash back site. Like all the other sites and apps mentioned, it’s free to join. Get paid every three months, plus earn a cash bonus when you join and shop through Rakuten.
With Rakuten, you can use the browser extension, app, or link your card to take advantage of the cash back offers. They make it super easy to earn cash back and actually receive it by automatically sending your payout once you’ve met the minimum.
Fetch
Fetch Rewards is one of my favorite apps for grocery shopping online. A quick recap from earlier in this post: Fetch allows you to enter your receipts for points that you can then use to redeem rewards. You can link your email so that your eReceipts are counted, too. There are grocery offers you can use to redeem extra points.
It’s one of the most simple, flexible, and best cash back apps out there. Highly recommend using Fetch Rewards in addition to a few others, also. Turn some of your receipts into gift cards with Fetch Rewards. I promise, it really is that simple. Plus, sign up now and earn 2,000 free points after you scan your first receipt!
Related: How To Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons
TopCashback
Gone are the days of logging into TopCashback before shopping online. No, that’s too difficult. It’s much easier to install the browser extension and let technology do the work for you. Much like Rakuten, TopCashback works by offering a certain percentage of cash back at qualifying retailers. They also have promo codes you can use, depending on the retailer. TopCashback allows you to save money at over 4,000 retailers with just the click of a button.
Because it’s so easy to use, I highly recommend installing the extension if you’re a regular online shopper! If mobile shopping is more your thing, they have an app, too! Plus, TopCashback is one of the few options where you can earn extra on top of your reward, depending on the payout method you choose!
Drop
Drop is one of those effortless apps that allows you to link your card and earn points on your purchases automatically. Much like Fetch Rewards, Drop also has offers you can take advantage of to earn even more points.
Drop has more offers than just grocery items, featuring tons of retailers each with various offers available. Again, because it’s so easy and simple, highly recommend Drop alongside a few other cash back options.
Drop also has games and surveys available for you to earn extra points. You can then redeem your points as gift cards. Its simplicity and flexibility make Drop one of the best reward apps out there!
Ibotta
You heard me rave and rave about Ibotta earlier, so I’ll spare you the repetition. Just know that Ibotta is an amazing way to earn cash back, especially on groceries. There’s an app and a browser extension so it’s really flexible.
While not as simple as some of the other options, the amount and variations of offers makes it worth it, in my opinion.
Which cash back site is best?
That’s a tough one. It largely depends on what your preferences are and/or your shopping habits. To get the most bang for your buck, I recommend utilizing a few cash back apps or websites. That may sound a bit overwhelming, but once you get the hang of how sites and apps like this work, I promise, it’s not that scary.
Let’s get started with some browser extensions, shall we? Browser extensions take virtually all of the work out of earning cash back. You simply setup your account, download the extension onto your preferred internet browser, and shop as usual.
The extension will automatically prompt you when you’re on eligible sites, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to choose offers. It will pop up with details of the current offer and ask you to activate so you can earn cash back.
My favorite extension is Honey, but Capital One Shopping is way up near the top, too. If you’re a big Amazon shopper, both of these can help you save money up front and get cash back!
Can you use multiple cash back apps?
Yes. Actually, that’s what I recommend. In order to get the most cash back for your time, it’s worth it to have multiple options. Many of them you can use together, also. So on one item you could earn cash back from a couple different offers. *I actually use every single one of the apps and sites mentioned in this post, and have for years!
For example, you can use Ibotta to grocery shop, but also scan that receipt through Fetch and/or Drop and earn even more on top of your Ibotta earnings. Why wouldn’t you want to earn multiple streams of cash back on just one trip to the store?
Are cash back websites worth it?
Yes. Absolutely. Companies make it so easy now to have multiple cash back and rebate apps or accounts. Many of them, like Fetch or Drop, allow you to link your card or email address. That way, you can earn rewards from your online shopping with just the click of a button. It really is that easy.
In no time at all, you can be earning extra cash every month. All it takes is a little work up front, registering for accounts, and then simple tasks throughout the month to make sure you’re getting credit for your purchases! What cash back apps or sites do you currently use?
Bonus Savings Tips – Especially for Amazon Lovers!
If you’re an Amazon shopper, check out Capital One Shopping. It’s a browser extension you can add that allows you to compare prices AS you shop. Yes, it even compares Amazon sellers. So you’re guaranteed to get the right price.
Plus, it has a watchlist feature so you can monitor an item for price changes, helping you buy it at its lowest price. And, like Honey, it will let you know if there are promo codes you can try to save even more.
Lastly, if you’re an avid online shopper, you must check out Paribus! Monitor price drops, late deliveries, and even return windows all with Paribus. Personally, I think Paribus is worth it simply for monitoring late deliveries. If your order arrives even a day late, Paribus will help you request a refund on your purchase! The refund amounts on late deliveries are usually small, but as you know, every little bit adds up! Paribus keeps track of everything for you, so you don’t have to worry about it!
There you have it, folks! Now, the question is, which will you try first?
Until next time,
Stay Courageous,
Alisha
Alisha (she/her) is a mama of four, group B strep advocate, nonprofit Founder, multi-passionate CEO, and the brains behind Thriftin and Livin. // Alisha believes there is SO much more to motherhood than survival mode on repeat. She has decades of experience with frugal living, some by choice, others by force. Either way, girl knows how to help you save a buck. With over ten years of parenting under her belt, she knows a thing or two about raising babies, too. // At Thriftin and Livin, Alisha blends humor, sarcasm, and her wide range of life experiences to serve mamas from around the world. Her quick tips and helpful hacks will help you thrive in motherhood rather than simply survive. // Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest \\
4 Comments
Logan Keopke
Right when I started reading this post, I was like I wonder which is her fav and which one she makes the most from. You immediately answered that q! I’ve been thinking about for signing up for one soon, so it might be Ibotta 🙂
thriftinandlivin
🙂 Yes! Ibotta is for sure my favorite, obviously! haha. I love that I can try new foods or products at a discount without clipping coupons and remembering to use them! Highly recommend giving any of them a shot because every penny counts! 🙂
Dee
Thanks for a very useful post! I will be signinf up to Ibotta!
thriftinandlivin
Thanks so much for reading! 🙂 I would love to hear what you think of Ibotta!