Best Cash Back Apps

It costs more to buy things today than it did one year ago. A smart way to get more out of your money is with a cash back app.

According to the Consumer Price Index, prices increased 8.5% from March 2021 to March 2022. It’s the biggest jump in prices during a 12-month period since 1981.

If you’re not already using a cash back app, get started now. The apps on this list can help you find deals and put a little cash back in your pocket.

Our List of the Best Cash Back Apps

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The Best Cash Back Apps

Ibotta

Earn $3.00 cash back for a Rind Snack Purchase. Notice the scan barcode option so you can check at the store that the product aligns with this offer.

Ibotta is a cash back app that pays users via cash or gift cards when they shop.

You can download the free app and sign up for an account. From there, peruse products and stores and add deals that you’re interested in.

The app will match the deals you add with the receipt you upload. It may also ask you to verify your purchases by scanning the barcodes of some of the products you buy.

For example, you may see a deal for $3.00 back on RIND Snacks at a certain store. You can add that deal to your shopping list, buy the product and submit the receipt through the app.

You’ll want to make sure to read the fine print so you know you are getting the right product before you buy it. There’s also a barcode checker that you can click on to scan the product and verify it qualifies.

Ibotta adds the savings to your account. When you reach $20, you can withdraw the cash via PayPal, ACH payment, or gift cards. Ibotta also has bonus offers to earn even more cash.

Apple User Rating: 4.8

Android User Rating: 4.5

Pros:

Ability to connect loyalty accounts
Options to use different platforms (app, web browser, extension)
Vast relationships with many retailers

Cons:

You’ll need to check Ibotta before shopping to see what offers to add to your account
For the full range of cash back, you’ll need to click through from Ibotta when shopping online
You need to scan items you purchase and upload receipts

Rakuten

Rakuten (once called Ebates) is a cash back site offering discount codes & cash back options. You can get deals by clicking through from their site or app. Rakuten sets itself apart in its vast user base and longevity in the cash back space.

To earn cash back, either start at the app or website to peruse cash back options. Most of the deals are a percentage back on your purchase based on the subtotal (before taxes and fees). But, there are some item-specific deals.

For example, Ace Hardware offers 6% cash back as of this writing. But, when you click on the deal, the details mention that 6% is the most amount of cash back. The 6% offer is for Grills and some outdoor products. All other products are 4% back.

Apple User Rating: 4.8

Android User Rating: 4.1

Pros:

Easy to understand and find cash back deals
Choice of web browser, extension, and app
Only need $5 to cash out

Cons:

Coupons codes aren’t always valid
Cash back percentages are less than some competitors
Cash back earnings can take up to 4.5 months to get verified (see schedule)

Checkout 51

Checkout 51 is a cash back app and website offering deals on particular items. You can browse offers for products and add them to your list. Then upload your receipt to match offers with purchased items. There are some percentage cash back offerings but, those are more limited.

Additionally, users can get discounts at many pharmacies using the Checkout 51 “Prescription Savings Card.” Click here for a list of eligible pharmacies.

Apple User Rating: 4.1

Android User Rating: 4.2

Pros:

Nice cash back options at grocery stores beyond a flat percentage
Ability to earn cash back by completing surveys

Cons:

Requires a least $20 in the account to get a payout
Mainly useful for groceries
To get cash back from a gas station, you’re required to turn on location tracking, even while the app is not in use

Coupons.com

Coupons.com is a virtual coupon-clipping site with old-school print options you can use in-store. You can get cash back by adding items to your account, buying them, and then uploading your receipt to the app.

Unlike some competitors, there is not a cash back option for clicking through from their app to a website. Nor are there percentage cash back offers based on the total purchase price. Coupons.com is solely for cash back on items.

The app is simple and easy to use. Plus, the website offers printable coupons. But, the website feels a bit outdated and clunky. The app is much more seamless but with less functionality.

Apple User Rating: 4.7

Android User Rating: 3.9

Pros:

No minimum payouts on PayPal cashouts
Ability to connect to some loyalty accounts to make cashback seamless (no uploading receipt or scanning)
In-store coupons are nice for those who like the “old-fashioned” way of couponing

Cons:

To upload the receipt, you have to use the app and can’t use the website
Their website is generally outdated and not user-friendly

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot features cash back offers and loads of discount codes. However, like many sites, the discount codes often don’t work. Payouts are easy with PayPal or Venmo. What sets RetailMeNot apart are the retail guides and articles to help users find deals.

On their app, you can browse by store or featured categories such as Best In-Store Deals and Dining & Delivery. Many of the deals are mostly offers you would already find on a retailer’s website. For example, “30% off furniture” or “free shipping over $50.”

Many of the best deals are also for first-time users (“$10 off for first-time members”). They have tons of discount codes to try for each site, but after many tests, I was hard-pressed to find one that worked. Many discount codes expired or were invalid based on the items in my cart.

Apple User Rating: 4.8

Android User Rating: 4.6

Pros:

Wide array of coupon codes and deals, especially for new customers
Website has plenty of helpful articles for finding the best deals

Cons:

Tedious to find working discount codes
Most of the discount codes are also available on competitor sites or the retailer’s site

MyPoints

MyPoints awards users points for clicking through to popular websites. Points are redeemable for gift cards, cash back, or United MileagePlus miles. Users can also earn points by watching videos, taking surveys, and playing games.

MyPoints recently added “magic receipts.” This allows users to get cash back when they add items to their shopping list and upload the receipt. Magic receipts offer cash back on more generic items than competitors. For example, “any brand bananas” or “any brand milk.”

While the rewards may not be as high as competitor rewards, MyPoints does offer several ways to earn them. But, their website does not list how many points you need to earn before redeeming. Some user reviews report you need at least 700 points to redeem a $5 gift card.

Apple User Rating: 4.3

Android User Rating: 3.9

Pros:

Myriad of partners with various cash-back options
New receipt-upload features
Friend referrals can pay a high amount of points
Earn points through alternatives to shopping such as taking surveys

Cons:

Earnings are less than many of their competitors
Lacks transparency on redeeming points

CouponCabin

CouponCabin offers cash back for clicking through from their website. You can also earn points by using the app or the browser extension.

What sets them apart are their special member perks offering high cash back. An example is $50 back when spending $100 or more from Macy’s. The catch is there’s a limit for member perks. The limits are $200 a year, and $500 lifetime, and you must read the fine print to qualify.

To cash out, you can redeem for a variety of gift cards. Also, certain gift cards from CouponCabin offer bonuses more lucrative than their competitors. For example, cashing out through Amazon offers a 10% bonus. But On Befrugal (listed below), Amazon’s bonus is only 1%.

Apple User Rating: 4.7

Android User Rating: 4.7

Pros:

Higher than normal bonuses for cashing out on gift cards
Special member perks

Cons:

Requires at least $20 in the account to get a payout
After you exhaust member perks, the allure of CouponCabin fades

BeFrugal

BeFrugal is small, but mighty, with good cash back deals. It’s easy to see the returns as well as restrictions.

BeFrugal offers cash back for clicking through from the app, website, or browser extension. The cash back rates change and are subject to limitations, so it’s always best to read the fine print.

For example, as of this writing, Home Depot is offering up to 12% back on purchases in specific categories. When reading the details you’ll discover that most items in the store qualify for only 1%.

BeFrugal also offers item-specific deals. But, they don’t shine in this area and their best deals are the percentage cash back.

After you shop, you can see your cash back in your account summary. You’ll also see a date when BeFrugal verifies the purchase. This timeline is dependent on the store and can range. You can then receive cash back through PayPal, direct deposit, gift cards, Venmo, or Zelle. The minimum cash back you need to cash out varies but you can find it on the Payouts page of your account.

Apple User Rating: 4.6

Android User Rating: 4.4

Pros:

Many payout options, including cash and gift cards
Options for app, website, or web extension
Cash back percentages are competitive
Excellent transparency on when cash back is available for payout

Cons:

Not for in-store use
Few lucrative individual product deals

TopCashback

TopCashback awards users cash back for shopping by clicking through to their favorite stores. According to their website, retailers pay TopCashback for sending customers their way. TopCashback then passes 100% of the commission to the user base and makes its money on “advertisements and sponsored links.”

Users can choose to withdraw their cash back via direct deposit to a bank account, through PayPal, or with a gift card. The site also pays up to a 5% bonus for choosing the gift card method.

Apple User Rating: 4.7

Android User Rating: 3.6

Pros:

Easy-to-use and navigate website

Cons:

In my experience, cash back percentages were lackluster

Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping is an app and browser extension. Users can crowdsource coupons and apply them during check-out. Capital One Shopping helps users find better deals with bonus points you can earn.

For example, when searching for an item on Amazon, Capital One Shopping suggested I buy it on eBay to save $1. The eBay price was the same. But, after applying the bonus points from shopping on eBay, it came out cheaper.

Capital One Shopping also offers an option to read your email to identify savings. An example is if an item drops in price, you can get an alert to claim more savings (see image above).

It also has the ability to have you scan barcodes with its app to find the best deal for that product. But, when testing the barcode feature for a handful of products, the app didn’t work well. The app didn’t recognize a couple of items. For the items it did find, the app only posted Amazon.com’s price. The potential is powerful, but it is not there yet.

My favorite feature is the coupon codes from their web extension. Capital One Shopping automatically tests coupon codes, saving me time during checkout.

Apple User Rating: 4.8

Android User Rating: 4.4

Pros:

Searches for coupons and better deals
Easy to use
Cash back percentages are competitive
Clarity on when cash back is available for payout

Cons:

Many coupons are only for new users
Must use app or extension – there isn’t a web-only version

Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards offers cash back for uploading receipts and making certain purchases. Unlike Ibotta, you can use Fetch at any store. You don’t have to scan individual items, and you don’t have to preselect offers before purchasing.

Fetch Rewards is easy to use but their bonuses are not as high as some competitors like Ibotta.

After shopping, upload your receipt to Fetch. Depending on how much you spend, where, and what you purchased, you earn points. Points are redeemable for gift cards.

Apple User Rating: 4.8

Android User Rating: 4.6

Pros:

No need to check the app before purchases
Easy to use
Works with all stores
No need to scan individual items

Cons:

App only – no browser access
To use e-receipts you have to sign in to your retailer accounts through the app
Fewer offers than their biggest competitor, Ibotta
Less transparency on earnings due to their point system

Bonus Tool for Online Shoppers – Mulberry

Mulberry is a browser extension to insure purchases beyond the normal manufacturer warranty. Mulberry offers protection plans for incidents like drops, rips, cracks, spills, and pet damage for items you buy online.

You can get coverage for one year for free, or longer for a small fee. Mulberry saves all the details when you make an online purchase so you don’t have to worry about saving receipts. You can also contact customer support 24/7 via live chat. Check out Mulberry to learn more.

What To Look For in a Cash Back App

It all depends on your goals. Do you enjoy spending time hunting for deals and maximizing your spending? If so, download a few apps that offer receipt uploads and cash back on certain purchases. Think Ibotta, MyPoints, or Checkout51. Plus, some that offer more simple cash back like BeFrugal and Rakuten.

Remember some sites let you double up on receipt uploads and coupons but, many don’t. Be careful not to invalidate your purchases by violating terms. Terms can change from product to product on each site.

Are you looking for a simple way to earn cash back from everyday purchases? If so, consider using one of the cash back options that offers a browser extension. You should also choose one that allows you to link your rewards cards. This will simplify the process for you and allow you to earn cash back through little effort.

FAQs

Are cash back apps worth it?

For me, yes! I’ve been using cash back apps for over 7 years and have received over $600 in cash back through little effort.

Can you make money with cash back apps?

Though I’ve read stories of people who can, this is unlikely after exhausting sign-up bonuses. You can more easily lose money by making purchases you wouldn’t otherwise make to get 10% cash back. I always recommend first asking yourself if you need to make the purchase. If you do, see if you can buy it used (through sites like Facebook marketplace, Offerup or eBay). Note that with eBay you may be earn 1+% through some of the apps.

Should you use multiple cash back apps?

It’s best to stick to two to three apps. Otherwise, you’re spreading yourself thin and wasting your time to save a few more pennies. You also risk letting accounts sit unused and letting points expire or get devalued.

Are cash back apps safe?

Each of these apps comes with risks dependent on what information you choose to share and how you share it. Signing into your loyalty sites through the apps can make cashback more seamless. But you’ll be sharing information beyond what you may want. Allowing these apps to read email or track location may push the boundaries for some (like myself). Also, browser extensions are useful, but can also collect data on your purchases. Finally, you’ll want to cash out frequently. It’s never a good idea to leave money in these accounts. You won’t gain interest on your cash back or points and it risks a potential hacker taking your earnings.

Final Thoughts

Pick one or two cash back options and explore how it works. The best option for you depends on your personal shopping habits and time. In the end, don’t leave money on the table by overanalyzing and skipping out.