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Apps that pay you to shop seem like the shopaholic’s dream. Apps like the ones included on this list can all help you earn money with just your phone, and pay you to do things you would already be doing, like buying clothes or groceries.
While every app rewards you differently, it will typically be based on what products you buy and where you buy it. For example, if you spend $50 shopping for groceries, an app might pay you back $5. While you do have to spend money to make money, it’s on things you would have been buying anyway. Think of these apps as a great way to save money when you are out shopping.
Of course, you should always consider the rewards system carefully for each app before signing up for it. Even if an app will pay you money for buying a certain object, you should first think if it is something that you actually want. If you are buying things you don’t need, then you are wasting money just to get a few dollars back.
Instead, you should use these apps in your everyday life to supplement your regular spending habits. Take it out when you shop, and you could be earning hundreds of dollars a year by using these apps.
The apps on this list have been around a while and are in good standing with the online community at the time of writing this post. Here are the ten worthwhile apps that pay you to shop.
1. MyPoints
MyPoints is an app that works at many of your favorite stores. Once you start using MyPoints.com, you can see what the latest deals and promo codes are at thousands of stores like Kohl’s, Amazon, Macy’s, Target, and more. MyPoints members can up to 40% cashback at popular retailers.
On every purchase, you earn points that you can then accumulate and cash them in for gift cards or transfer money into a PayPal account. At the time of writing this post, you can get a $10 bonus when you sign up, as long as you spend $20 or more in the first thirty days of joining.
2. Ibotta
Ibotta is one of the most popular apps for saving money and is one I have been using for many years. You can get cashback, or “rebates,” when you make purchases both online and in-store when you are shopping for home, travel, clothing, groceries, and more.
Before you go shopping, you should add offers to qualify for rebates. After you shop, take a picture of your receipt and you automatically earn rebates on all qualifying purchases.
Ibotta has recently introduced a new way to pay for your shopping in the app. By using your credit card or debit card to purchase straight from the app, you can get instant rewards at more than 30 restaurants and retailers.
To maximize your earnings with Ibotta, you can take advantage of bonuses and streaks. If you buy the same products or brands consistently across multiple shopping trips, you can earn more money and higher bonuses. You can also earn money for referring friends, or get extra bonuses for following Ibotta on Facebook and getting their email newsletter.
3. Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten was founded in 1998. For the past two decades, the company has given its users between 1% and 40% back on nearly everything they buy. However, if you want to qualify, you must purchase everything through the Rakuten links.
Rakuten is very easy to use. The stores that are linked to the Rakuten website can be found by searching through the search bar. With more than 2,500 partnering stores, like Nordstrom, Kohl’s, Walmart, and Amazon, you are sure to find something to work for you. If you install the browser extension, Rakuten will let you know when you are shopping on a partner website.
The amount of cashback that a store offers might vary depending on the product. For example, Amazon might give 5% cashback on furniture purchases, but just 1% on all home supply purchases. Those percentages might change at any time and depends on the store deals they are offering. Rakuten also offers a referral program for its members.
One of the biggest drawbacks of Rakuten is that it sends out your cashback checks quarterly. If you want more control over your payments, then this could be a problem for you.
4. Shopkick
Shopkick rewards you for both your in-store and online shopping. They call their reward points “kicks” and you can redeem them for a wide variety of gift cards. Not only do you get points for making purchases, but you can also get points for visiting a store or its websites, viewing selecting products, or scanning products in-store. You can also earn additional kicks by watching videos in the app.
Shopkick has partnered with over 250,000 retail locations like Yankee Candle, Best Buy, TJ Maxx, Kraft, marshalls, Shoe Carnival, and much more. It is very easy to earn rewards for a gift card. According to the Shopkick website, many Shopkickers earn enough kicks to cash in for a gift card in their first week.
5. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most well-known shopping apps you can find. They offer many different ways to earn points like shopping online, watching videos, searching the web, answering surveys, and more. Once you have earned enough, you can redeem your points for gift cards from retailers like Walmart or Amazon. You can also choose to trade in your rewards for cash back from PayPal.
At the time of writing this post, Swagbucks gives you a $10 free bonus when you sign up, as long as you spend at least $25 within the first 30 days at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. Some of their partnered stores include Home Depot, Macy’s, Amazon, JCPenney, Best Buy, and more. According to their website, they give out 7,000 gift cards every day and have paid their members more than $381 million.
6. GigWalk
Gigwalk is a mobile app for Android and iOS that helps you to find quick small gigs in your area. The gigs take between five minutes to a couple of hours and will pay between $3 to $100. Most gigs seem to pay you about $5 a gig, and the amount of time that each gig takes could vary. If you want to earn a little bit of extra cash and live in an urban city that has a lot of gigs available in close proximity, then it could be worthwhile.
Many times, the gigs will be verifying the products that are on the shelves, looking to see if the pricing is correct, or what the condition of the stores is in. If you are already planning on going shopping in a particular store, then GigWalk could be a great option to help supplement your income.
Reviews of this company do seem to be mixed, with most of the complaints regarding a failure to get paid and low customer service. While not everyone has had a problem, it does seem worth noting.
7. Field Agent
Field Agent is another app that connects businesses with on-demand workers who want to make additional money. Currently, Field Agent has more than 1.4 million active “agents” across the US and operates in seven countries. The business has partnered with more than 1000 retailers.
When you are working on this app, you can choose from a variety of jobs. You will have to visit different retailers and complete projects, take photos or videos, and/or any other card of data that the business might want.
8. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is targeted more towards your grocery store spending, allowing you to earn money each time you go shopping. Regardless of where you are going shopping, it doesn’t matter because the rewards are based more on the brands.
Every time you go shopping, scan your receipt to earn points on thousands of different products. Some of the partnered brands include Scott, Crystal Light, Cottonelle, Lipton, Propel, Pepsi, Blue Moon, and many more. Once you have earned a certain amount of points, you can cash in for hundreds of available rewards. Some of the rewards include gift cards to AMC, Aeropostale, Columbia, Old Navy, or for cashback.
9. Checkout51
Checkout is yet another app that lets you earn money back on your purchases. Before going shopping, make sure to browse your offers and then buy those products at any store. Each week, new offers go live, so you must upload your receipts in that time period if you want to get credit. Some offers can be claimed multiple times, but the same receipt can only be used one time.
The offers are only available in a limited quantity. Therefore, you should make sure that the offer is still active before you go shopping. Some of the offers available right now are for deodorant, chips, yogurt, tortilla chips, marshmallows, and more. The cashback amount ranges from $.25 to $5 or more.
You can cash out when your account amount surpasses more than $20 and Checkout51 will send you a check for your amount.
10. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is another app that you can use that helps you turn your receipts into cash. You aren’t restricted to a certain store or what you buy. By scanning your receipts, you can earn rewards. All types of retailers are included, such as grocery, supercenters, clubs, health, mom-and-pops, toy stores, and much more.
Receipt Hog also has other options for making money, like playing Hog Slots and taking paid surveys. By doing these bonuses, you have the chance to win free shopping trips and more. Once you have earned a certain amount of points, you can trade-in your coins for Amazon Gift cards, magazines, or cash via PayPal.
These ten apps are just some of the apps that you could be using to earn more money online. Here is my list of the top 17 apps to make money online. Apps include selling books, walking dogs, investing in the stock market, and getting paid to walk. Changes are, you will find something for you on the list.