I mentioned to my brother that I would be posting about cash back sites and apps today. He’s generally pretty savvy, so I was surprised that he didn’t know about any of these cash back programs. If you didn’t know you could get cash back on nearly every online purchase and some in-store purchases too, don’t feel bad– my cool little brother didn’t know either!
While there are tons of rewards programs around, I want to focus on the programs that give you cash back. Of all the prizes and rewards available, cash is universal and useful to everyone. You can get cash back from credit card points, taking surveys, online purchases, grocery shopping, and more.
Online Shopping
Before I buy anything online, I always check to see what cash back is available. Each site has a different list of online stores that give a cash back incentive. The cash back percentage varies on different cash back sites, so it’s nice to have an account with all of them to compare the offers, especially if you’re making a larger purchase. If you make online purchases, get in the habit of going through a cash back site every time. Every little bit adds up!
Ebates
Ebates is the cashback site I use most often. They have over 1,800 online stores to choose from. They regularly have double cash back specials on popular stores. I’ve been using Ebates since 2009. I love that the minimum payout is only $5.01. They payout once a quarter via check or PayPal. When you sign up and make a $25 purchase, you’ll get a bonus $10 gift card or $5 credit in your Ebates account.
ExtraBux
ExtraBux is a little different than other online shopping rebate sites. You can search by the store or the product. If you search by the product, you can use their compare tool to compare the prices at stores across the internet and factor in the cashback rebate as you compare prices. They start you out with $5 when you sign up. The minimum payout is $10 and is paid through credit card, PayPal or check.
Topcashback
Topcashback claims to give the best payout of all cashback sites. Instead of taking a cut from the commissions that retailers offer, they just earn money from the ads on their site. They often have “free after cashback” deals when you sign up. You can get your payout as cash or as an Amazong gift card (you get a 5% bonus with this option).
In-Store Shopping
Cash back on online purchases has been around for years, but cash back for in-store purchases, credit card benefits aside, is relatively new. In-store cash back is more limited than online shopping cash back, but I expect that it will expand as time goes on.
Checkout 51
Checkout 51 offers cash back on grocery items. Each Thursday Checkout 51 gives a list of cash back offers that are good through the next Wednesday. Some are for name brand products, while others are general, like any brand of milk or fresh tomatoes. After you purchase the items, you take a picture of your receipt and mark the offers included on the receipt. You’ll receive cash back when your total reaches $20. Checkout 51 works on a smartphone or on your computer. You can use regular coupons in conjunction with Checkout 51 cash back.
Ibotta
Ibotta is a free app for your smartphone or device. You can see the offers available at over 50 popular retailers. When you find items you’re going to buy (includes both brand name and generic), you scan the bar code with your phone, then upload a picture of your receipt. There are other bonus activities you can complete as well. You can cash out anything over $5 through PayPal or Venmo. If you prefer a gift card, they’ll do that too. If you use my link or enter WQIYXFA when you sign up, you will get a $10 welcome bonus after you redeem your first rebate!
Shopmium
What other ways do you earn cash back? What are your favorites?
Note: Some of the links in this post are my referral or affiliate links. For more info see my disclosure policy.
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Can you use one receipt for multiple rebate apps? Let’s say there are two scenarios:
1) Checkout51, Ibotta, and Shopmium all offer a $0.25 rebate on milk, for example. With all 3 apps, does that mean I can get $0.75 back?
2) Checkout51, Ibotta, and Shopmium all offer rebates for separate items. Let’s say Checkout51 has a rebate on bread, Ibotta is eggs, and Shopmium is cereal. Can I buy them all at one time and use one receipt, or do I need to break one shopping trip into 3 receipts?
Thanks
I love the idea of cashbacks! you should try http://www.gwazoo.com
I am an avid Ibotta user, and have a lifetime rewards total over $180 since signing up last August 1.
I also use Receipt Hog (app) which doesn’t care what you buy (unless it is gas-only) but you upload pictures of your receipts and get points, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash. It’s taken me about 6 months to get $5, but that’s a free $5. They recently updated their app and pay out differently (higher) than they used to.
Great post — I love these types of sites / apps. I also do a lot of shopping through Swagbucks for the same kind of benefits.
A similar type of app that I like is the type where you take photos of your receipts for small amounts of cash (not necessarily linked to a specific store or product).
ReceiptPal and Receipt Hog are probably the best examples — I was actually just working on a post about them (not online yet).
ReceiptPal pays for just about any receipt you take a picture of.
Receipt Hog is slightly more limited (though it still takes a lot of receipts), but has more “features.”
Neither of these will make you rich, but you can make a little bit of cash for literally seconds of effort.
Hi! There’s Snap by Groupon for getting cash back on groceries, too!
I have not tried TheCashBackApp yet but it seems to give you back money for gas and more as well as groceries. Jingit also seems to do more than just give cash back but I haven’t looked into it either as yet. Sadly there are only so many hours in the day.
I appreciate the information you all posted as well as the opening article. Thank you all very much!
victoria, I too love Walmarts Savings Catcher App!!! Especially like you said right now TIL the 28th, whatever lower price difference they find, they will double that if you put it on their BlueBird card. This card can only be used in Walmart, BUT just this month I only shopped twice, small $ amount trips might I say, and with what they found & than applying it on my BB card I made an easy $20 bucks!!! On your smart phone in the app you can just scan the bar box on the bottom of receipt & they do the rest
I love WalMart’s Savings Catcher App (through the WalMart App). Since I started using it in August 2014 I have saved over $50.00. One of the perks is that between now & Feb. 28, 2015 any money that you save & redeem onto a BlueBird Card will double (it’s like getting money for free). 🙂 All you have to do is scan/or type in the TC code & the days date & they do all the rest. It compares prices with the stores around you & if they find it cheaper somewhere else, you get the difference back.
For people downunder in Australia I thought I would mention that CashRewards.com.au is a brilliant cashback site in australia. They also have tons of coupons and deals!
I’m an ebates girl. Used it since 2011 and so far I’ve been paid out $944.27
Wow Liz! That is a lot of money!! Ebates is the site that I’ve used for the longest, and is the first place I check.
I’ve been using topcashback.com and it’s been very easy to use and worth my time. With very little effort (and really not much shopping), I’ve earned quite a bit. Your payout is higher if you get it as an Amazon gift card, but you can also just get cash. The downside is that the money can take a long time to show up in your account as payable, but I think that depends on the retailer.
Thanks Sarah! That’s one I haven’t heard of!
I recently started using Shopmium. They have an app, and it works like Ibotta. The awesome thing is the cash back gets deposited directly into your PayPal acct (or your bank account) each time you shop. You don’t have to wait to reach a certain amount like all the others. They also have some of the same rebates as Ibotta so you can double up. Stephanie, if you want to sign up, I would appreciate it if you signed up thru me. You can email me if you would like, and I will send you my referral link. If not, no worries.
That’s awesome that you don’t have to wait until you reach a certain minimum to get a payout and that you can double up with other offers. I’m going to have to try it!
Shopmium is a good one…especially when Ibotta, Checkout 51 and Shopmium are all running the same special. You can use all 3 on the same item plus coupons…score!
That’s awesome that the offers overlap and you can use both!
My ears perked UP when I read about the cash back program that can be applied to student loans!!! I realize the amount is probably very small…but who cares, it all helps 😉 🙂 I’m definitely going to look into that further!!!!!
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California,
Heather
P.s. I did get my budget for the next four weeks…or estimated budget since I won’t know what the actual hours worked will be…until after that week is completed…but I always over-estimate for taxes, so that I’m not caught by surprise 😉
Yes! I love that SmarterBucks apply directly to student loans. Your savings won’t get lost in your budget, but will go straight to your loans. It’s nice to have “someone” else contributing to our student loans, even if it isn’t huge.
I tried ibotta and thought it was a bit of a hassle to use and they didn’t update their products often (sorry if they are an affiliate, that was just my experience). I hear great things about ebates.com so I think I’ll sign up for that one. Thanks for the post!!
I think ibotta isn’t a good fit for everyone. It took me a bit to get it figured out. Ebates is great!
SavingStar is another one. You link it to your shopping rewards cards for places like CVS, Harris Teeter (grocery store in our area), etc. It sort of works like Ibotta in that you choose the items that you are going to purchase and when you make the purchase using your rewards card it shows up in your account in around 7 business days. What I like about it is that many times they line up with sales and coupons. For example at Harris Teeter many times I have found sale items have a paper coupon (which doubles), an ecoupon with the rewards card and SavingStar. You can actually make money on a purchase. They also have a free weekly item or 20% off a produce item that changes each week. Payout is when you reach $5. I usually get Amazon gift cards.
I’ve heard of SavingStar, but never tried it. That’s nice that you can stack it with coupons! Thanks Christie!
One site I like to use (no affiliation) is evreward.com – you can look up what the best “reward” is for the store you are wanting to shop at. Helps when you’re a member of multiple programs.
Thanks! That’s one I’ve never heard of.