How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Rakuten is the best all-around cash back app for online shopping, with 3,500 or more brands and quarterly payouts.
- Ibotta suits grocery and in-store shoppers with receipt and loyalty-card offers across 50 million registered users.
- Upside suits drivers and diners with cash back on gas, groceries and dining, averaging 8 percent on grocery and dining.
- Fetch, Swagbucks, Honey, TopCashback and Capital One Shopping cover receipts, surveys, coupons and browser-based deals for different shopping styles.
Note: Cash back rates change often and vary by store, offer and membership. Treat these apps as a way to save on purchases you already planned, not as income. Always check current rates, terms and payout rules in the app before buying.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Rakuten | Online shoppers who want reliable quarterly cash back | Free | Yes |
 Ibotta | Grocery and in-store shoppers | Free | Yes |
 Honey | Shoppers who want automatic coupons at checkout | Free | Yes |
 Fetch | Turning everyday receipts into gift cards | Free | Yes |
 Upside | Cash back on gas, groceries and dining | Free | Yes |
 Swagbucks | Earning through surveys, games and shopping | Free | Yes |
 TopCashback | Shoppers chasing the highest online rates | Free | Yes |
 Capital One Shopping | Browser shoppers who want deals and rewards together | Free | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best cash back apps
#1Rakuten
Best for: Online shoppers who want reliable quarterly cash back4.6/5 on
Trustpilot (37,166 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit rakuten.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Rakuten helps you save when you shop, travel and dine out, with 3,500 or more brands and new cash back rates every day. Eligible rates include an extra 10 percent cash back as a welcome reward, with up to an extra 50 dollars on eligible offers. Cash back stacks on top of sales and credit card rewards, and the browser extension automatically applies eligible coupons at checkout.
Rewards are sent every 3 months via PayPal, Bilt Points or check, while eligible American Express card members can choose Membership Rewards points instead. Instant cashout is available with gift cards from 50 or more top brands including Amazon, Starbucks, DoorDash and Sephora. With more than 17 million members and a 4.6 Trustpilot rating across 37,000 reviews, Rakuten is the most established cash back app.
What we like- 3,500 or more brands with new rates daily
- Cash back stacks on sales and credit card rewards
- Payouts via PayPal, check, Bilt Points or Amex points
Watch out for- Rewards arrive every 3 months, not instantly
- Rates vary by store and change often
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Ibotta lets you get cash back every time you shop on the Ibotta app or in-store, making it easy, fast and safe to save on everyday purchases. Its app serves 50 million registered users, and the Ibotta Performance Network connects top brands with 91 percent of American households. Beyond the consumer app, Ibotta offers brand solutions and Rewards as a Service for retailers.
Ibotta suits shoppers who buy groceries and household goods in stores: activate offers, shop, then verify with a receipt or linked loyalty account. For in-store savings, Ibotta remains the leading choice.
What we like- Cash back on app and in-store shopping
- 50 million registered users with reach to 91 percent of American households
- Brand and retail offers nationwide
Watch out for- Offers require activation before purchase
- Homepage is now corporate-focused, so consumer details need the app
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Honey finds automatic coupons, promo codes and deals: add the free extension in seconds, shop normally, and Honey tests codes at checkout with a single click. It covers 30,000 or more stores, from pizza and shoes to travel bookings. Honey Gold adds a loyalty program where you earn gift cards on top of coupon savings, while Droplist watches items you are not ready to buy and notifies you of price drops.
Honey suits desktop shoppers who want savings without hunting codes manually. It works on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Opera. Note that Honey is now part of PayPal, so check current terms in the extension.
What we like- Automatically tests coupon codes at checkout across 30,000 or more stores
- Honey Gold rewards earn gift cards
- Droplist tracks price drops
Watch out for- Coupon savings vary and codes do not always work
- Browser-only experience suits desktop shoppers best
#4Fetch
Best for: Turning everyday receipts into gift cards4.6/5 on
G2 (19 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit fetch.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Fetch turns your receipts into gift cards: snap a photo of any receipt and earn points on the stuff you buy, foods you try and games you play. Its 4.9 star rating across 14 million app reviews reflects how simple the habit is, and users report that Fetch paid for entire holiday shopping after a year of scanning.
Fetch suits shoppers who want low-effort rewards on purchases they already make, including groceries, gas and dining. Points redeem for gift cards from popular retailers, so value depends on which cards you choose.
What we like- Earn on everything you buy by snapping receipts
- 4.9 star rating across 14 million app reviews
- Games and partner offers add earning options
Watch out for- Points, not direct cash, so value depends on gift card choices
- Receipt scanning needs a regular habit
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Upside gives cash back on what you already buy: gas, groceries and dining nearby. Claim an offer in the free app, shop as usual and pay with a credit or debit card, then earn cash back and cash out to your bank account, PayPal or a gift card. Upside cites an average 8 percent cash back on grocery and dining, more than 1 billion dollars earned by users, average first-year earnings of 255 dollars for frequent users, and a 4.8 star App Store rating across 500,000 or more ratings.
Upside stacks on top of credit, debit and loyalty rewards, and Pay with Upside offers instant rewards at some locations. For drivers and frequent diners, Upside is the most practical cash back app.
What we like- Average 8 percent cash back on grocery and dining
- More than 1 billion dollars earned by users
- Cash out anytime to bank, PayPal or gift cards
Watch out for- Offers depend on nearby participating locations
- Gas offers vary by station and day
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Swagbucks is a rewards hub where you earn points, called Swagbucks, for surveys, cash back shopping and playing mobile games, then redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards. Shopping rates on its homepage include up to 10 percent at Amazon and Nike, 8 percent at Macys and Sephora, up to 16 percent at The Home Depot and up to 2 percent at Walmart, though rates change often.
Swagbucks has paid out more than 700 million dollars in rewards, with 7,000 or more gift cards redeemed every day and 10 million members. It is free to join with no subscription. For users who enjoy surveys and games alongside shopping, Swagbucks offers the most ways to earn.
What we like- Cash back at 1,500 or more retailers plus surveys and games
- More than 700 million dollars paid out
- PayPal cash or gift cards from 1,500 or more retailers
Watch out for- Survey and game earnings are small per hour
- Points system requires tracking conversion value
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
TopCashback promises the highest cash back guaranteed, with savings of hundreds of dollars a year across more than 7,000 top brands from pizza to plane tickets, including eBay, Nike, Walmart, Macys, Walgreens, Kohls, Best Buy, Sephora, Chewy and Expedia. You can earn online or in-store and get paid how you want, when you want, with cash out at no minimum.
TopCashback suits rate-conscious shoppers who compare portals before big purchases. Its browser extension and app make it easy to activate offers, though payout timing depends on retailer confirmation.
What we like- Highest cash back guaranteed positioning with 7,000 or more brands
- Cash out with no minimum
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari
Watch out for- Payout timing varies by retailer
- Rate guarantees need checking against competitors at purchase time
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Capital One Shopping combines coupons, loyalty and deals in one browser tool, earning a commission from merchants and sharing part of it with you as rewards. Daily offers on its homepage include 7.5 percent back at Columbia, 8.5 percent at Dyson, 12 percent at PacSun, 14 percent at ThriftBooks, 16.5 percent at JCPenney and Viator, and up to 70 percent at Hollister, each capped at 1,000 dollars per purchase with exclusions.
Activation bonuses add extra value, such as 100 dollars back when you spend 100 dollars on a first ticket purchase and 50 dollars back when you spend 100 dollars on homepage offers, limited to one per user. For browser shoppers who want deals plus rewards in one extension, Capital One Shopping is a strong free option.
What we like- Daily offers with rewards up to 70 percent back at some stores
- Activation bonuses including 100 dollars back on 100 dollars of tickets
- Rewards capped at 1,000 dollars per purchase
Watch out for- Rewards vary daily and by store
- Exclusions apply to most offers
How we chose
We opened each vendor homepage in October 2026 to confirm it loads and belongs to the product named. Dosh and Shopkick homepages returned no extractable content during this research and were not listed, while Capital One Shopping was verified as the eighth tool. We weighed store coverage, payout options, ease of use and rate transparency.
What to look for in a cash back app
Start with where you spend most. Online shoppers should pick Rakuten or TopCashback, grocery shoppers Ibotta or Fetch, drivers Upside, and coupon hunters Honey or Capital One Shopping. Using two apps that cover different spending types beats forcing one app to do everything.
Next, check payout rules before you commit. Some apps pay quarterly, some instantly, some in points and some in cash. Confirm minimums, expiration rules and whether gift cards or PayPal suit you better than checks.
Finally, do not let cash back drive spending. The best saving is still not buying what you do not need. Use cash back on planned purchases, stack it with sales and card rewards, and track your actual payouts over a few months to see which app earns you the most.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cash back app overall?
Rakuten is the best all-around cash back app for online shopping, with 3,500 or more brands and quarterly payouts. Upside is best for gas and dining, while Ibotta is best for groceries.
Are cash back apps free?
Yes. The apps in this list are free to join and earn commissions from retailers, sharing part of that commission with you. None require a subscription to earn basic cash back.
How long does it take to get cash back?
Timing varies: Upside allows cash out anytime, Rakuten pays every 3 months, and TopCashback timing depends on retailer confirmation. Always check payout rules in the app.
Can I use multiple cash back apps?
Yes, but not for the same purchase, since only one portal or extension can track a given order. Use different apps for different spending types, such as Rakuten online and Upside at the pump.
Do cash back rates really change?
Yes, often daily. A store offering 10 percent today may offer 2 percent tomorrow. Check the rate in the app immediately before purchase, since the rate at checkout time usually governs.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.rakuten.com
- https://ibotta.com
- https://www.joinhoney.com
- https://fetch.com
- https://upside.com
- https://www.swagbucks.com
- https://www.topcashback.com
- https://capitaloneshopping.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.