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 cashback app for online shopping, with rebates at thousands of stores.
- Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are best for groceries, paying you for receipts and in-store purchases.
- Upside pays cash back on gas, groceries and restaurants, which covers everyday spending other apps miss.
- Swagbucks suits people who want many ways to earn, from surveys to videos, though payouts are slower.
- No rewards app makes you rich: use one or two consistently, and treat earnings as a discount, not income.
Quick comparison
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The best rewards apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Rakuten, formerly Ebates, is the largest cashback site in the United States, paying a percentage back on purchases at more than 3,500 stores. Shop through the Rakuten app or browser extension, and a share of the purchase comes back as cashback, paid quarterly by PayPal or check. Rates vary by store and promotion, from 1 percent at some retailers to 10 percent or more during sales events.
The extension is the key habit: it alerts you when cashback is available on a site you are already visiting, so you rarely need to remember to start at Rakuten. A welcome bonus for new members adds to the first payout, and referral bonuses reward inviting friends.
Cashback is not instant, and it can be declined if you use another coupon code or return the item, so read the terms for each store. But for regular online shoppers, Rakuten is the simplest way to get money back on purchases you would make anyway.
What we like- Cashback at thousands of stores
- Browser extension and app
- Quarterly payouts by PayPal or check
Watch out for- Cashback rates vary and change often
- Must start shopping through Rakuten to earn
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Ibotta pays rebates on groceries, household goods and other everyday purchases. Before shopping, activate offers for specific products or brands in the app, buy them at any supported store, then scan your receipt or link a loyalty account to claim the rebate. Cash accumulates in your account and can be withdrawn to PayPal, a bank account or gift cards once you reach the threshold.
Bonuses are where Ibotta shines: streaks, team challenges and monthly bonuses can add significantly to base rebates for regular users. The app also covers online shopping and some services, though groceries remain its core.
The main friction is activation: you must select offers before you shop, and some offers are brand-specific, so a generic shopping list earns less. Earnings can also expire after inactivity, so cash out regularly. For households that plan grocery trips, Ibotta is one of the most rewarding apps available.
What we like- Rebates on groceries and everyday brands
- Bonuses for streaks and teams
- Cash payouts
Watch out for- Offers must be activated before shopping
- Earnings expire if inactive
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Fetch Rewards takes the simplest approach in this list: snap a photo of any grocery or retail receipt, and you earn points, regardless of what you bought. Bonus points apply to specific brands and products, but even a receipt with no bonus items earns base points. That simplicity makes it the easiest rewards app to use consistently.
Points convert to gift cards for hundreds of retailers, restaurants and entertainment brands, though there is no direct cash payout to PayPal or a bank account. The value per receipt is modest, so Fetch works best as a passive habit: snap every receipt, watch points build, and redeem a gift card every few months.
Fetch also includes games and surveys for extra points, but receipts are the core. If you want cash rather than gift cards, pair Fetch with Ibotta or Rakuten. If you want the lowest-effort rewards habit, Fetch is the easiest start.
What we like- Snap any receipt to earn points
- No need to pre-select offers
- Gift card rewards
Watch out for- Points value is modest
- Gift cards only, no cash payout
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Swagbucks is the veteran of rewards apps, offering points, called SB, for surveys, watching videos, shopping online, playing games and searching the web. Points convert to PayPal cash or gift cards, with a low minimum payout that new users reach quickly. The variety means there is almost always something to do, whether you have two minutes or twenty.
The trade-off is rate: individual surveys and tasks pay little, and surveys sometimes disqualify you after several questions, which frustrates users. Shopping cashback through Swagbucks is decent but usually lower than Rakuten's for the same store, so use Swagbucks for tasks and Rakuten for shopping.
Swagbucks suits people who enjoy surveys and small tasks in spare moments. Treat it as pocket money, not a side income, and cash out regularly rather than hoarding points.
What we like- Surveys, videos, shopping and games in one app
- Many payout options
- Long track record
Watch out for- Earnings per task are low
- Surveys can disqualify you partway through
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Upside covers spending that other rewards apps miss: gas. Claim an offer at a nearby station in the app, fill up, and cash back lands in your account, either by scanning a receipt or, at participating stations, automatically through a linked card. The app also covers groceries and restaurants, making it a broader everyday cashback tool.
Gas cashback rates vary by station and promotion, often from a few cents to 25 cents or more per gallon, which adds up for commuters. Payouts go to PayPal, a bank account or gift cards, with real cash rather than points, which many users prefer.
Coverage depends on location: cities have many participating stations, while rural areas may have few. Check your area before relying on Upside, but for drivers in covered regions, it is the best gas rewards app available.
What we like- Cash back on gas, groceries and restaurants
- Real cash payouts
- No receipt scanning for linked cards
Watch out for- Gas offers vary by location
- Some areas have fewer participating stations
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Shopkick rewards you for shopping activity itself, not just purchases. Open the app in a participating store to earn kicks for walking in, scan barcodes on featured products for more kicks, and earn further kicks when you buy and scan your receipt. Kicks convert to gift cards for popular retailers and restaurants.
That walk-in mechanic makes Shopkick fun for people who already visit malls and big stores regularly, since you earn without spending. The app also includes online shopping rewards and lookbooks for browsing products.
Earnings are slow compared with cashback apps, and rewards are gift cards only, not cash. Shopkick is also US-focused. But as a passive, game-like rewards app for regular shoppers, it is an enjoyable addition to a cashback setup.
What we like- Earn kicks for walking into stores, scanning items and buying
- Gift card rewards
- Fun for regular shoppers
Watch out for- Earnings are slow
- Gift cards only
- Some features are US-only
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Receipt Hog turns receipts into coins and a bit of fun. Snap any receipt from a grocery, convenience, drug or other store, and you earn coins based on the total, plus entries into a slot machine game that can award bonus coins. Surveys and a hog levels system add more ways to earn as you use the app.
Coins convert to PayPal cash or gift cards once you reach the threshold, though the value per receipt is low and reaching a payout takes consistent use over weeks or months. The app accepts receipts from many store types, which makes it easy to snap everything.
Receipt Hog will not replace Ibotta or Fetch for serious earners, but it is a simple, entertaining second app: snap the same receipt here as in Fetch, and you earn twice for one habit. Just keep expectations modest.
What we like- Earn coins for any receipt
- Slot machine game for bonus coins
- Surveys for extra earnings
Watch out for- Coin value is low
- Payouts take time to reach
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
PayPal Honey, formerly just Honey, is a browser extension and app that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout, saving you the search for promo codes. At supported stores, you also earn Honey Gold, which converts to PayPal rewards, on top of any coupon saving.
The extension is the core experience: it pops up at checkout, tests available codes, and applies the best one, which often saves more than a cashback percentage alone. Droplist alerts you when a watched item's price drops, which helps with planned purchases.
Honey Gold is only available at supported stores, and the extension works best on desktop browsers, with a more limited mobile experience. For online shoppers, pairing Honey's coupons with Rakuten's cashback, where allowed, gives the best total saving on many orders.
What we like- Automatically finds and applies coupon codes
- Honey Gold rewards at supported stores
- PayPal integration
Watch out for- Rewards are limited to supported stores
- Extension works best on desktop
How we chose
We compared apps on earning rates, payout options, ease of use, store coverage and reliability of payments. Rates and offers change frequently, so we focus on how each app earns rather than quoting a single cashback percentage that may be outdated next week. We also read public user reviews to confirm which apps actually pay out smoothly and which ones frustrate users with expiring earnings or disqualifications.
Stacking rewards without overdoing it
The best strategy is one cashback app for online shopping, one for groceries, and one for gas, used consistently. Rakuten plus Ibotta plus Upside covers most spending without turning every purchase into a chore. Snap receipts into Fetch as a passive extra, and use Honey for coupons at checkout. More apps than that usually means more effort for little extra return.
Treat rewards as a discount, not income
Rewards apps pay pennies and dollars, not a salary. The real value is the habit: a few hundred dollars a year back on spending you would do anyway. Never buy something just for the reward, never pay for a rewards app that promises big returns, and cash out regularly so points or earnings do not expire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rewards app for groceries?
Ibotta is best for targeted grocery rebates, especially with bonuses, while Fetch Rewards is easiest because any receipt earns points. Use both: activate Ibotta offers before shopping, then snap the receipt into Fetch as well.
Can I use more than one rewards app for the same purchase?
Often yes. You can usually claim a receipt in both Ibotta and Fetch, and combine Honey coupons with Rakuten cashback where terms allow. Check each app's terms, since some purchases qualify for only one reward.
How do rewards apps make money?
They earn commissions from retailers for driving sales, and share part of that commission with you as cashback or points. Survey apps earn from market research companies. You are not the product in the usual sense, but your shopping data does have value to these companies.
How long does it take to get paid?
It varies. Rakuten pays quarterly, Ibotta and Upside pay once you reach a threshold, often within days of requesting, and Fetch and Swagbucks pay in gift cards after you redeem points. Cash out regularly to avoid expiry.
Are rewards apps safe?
Reputable apps like Rakuten, Ibotta and Fetch are safe and widely used, but they do collect shopping data. Read privacy policies, use a strong password, and avoid apps that ask for unnecessary permissions or payment to join.
Which rewards app pays the most?
It depends on your spending. Online shoppers earn most from Rakuten, grocery shoppers from Ibotta, and drivers from Upside. Track your earnings for a month in each app you use, and keep the ones that pay best for your habits.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.rakuten.com
- https://ibotta.com
- https://fetch.com
- https://www.swagbucks.com
- https://upside.com
- https://www.shopkick.com
- https://receipthog.com
- https://www.joinhoney.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.
Rakuten
Ibotta
Fetch Rewards
Swagbucks
Upside
Shopkick
Receipt Hog
PayPal Honey