
Looking for ways to save money on groceries?
Cash back apps for groceries can help.
These apps let you earn cash back or rewards just for buying grocery items you normally buy anyway.
And whether you shop online or like to shop in store so you can browse the aisles of your local grocery store, using these apps can lower your grocery bill.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend more than $4,000 each year on groceries. That’s over 5% of the average income in the U.S!
So, with so much money going toward food, every dollar you cans save, matters.
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And whether you shop at Target, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Safeway or a local grocery store, these apps work nationwide.
I live in St. Louis, MO so I can use these apps to earn cashback on groceries at Dierbergs, Schnucks, Aldi, Save A Lot, and any other reginal or national grocery chains.
Let’s check out some of the best cash back apps for groceries. These apps give you rebates when you buy groceries, helping you save money on everyday groceries.
Table of Contents
What Are Cash Back Apps for Groceries?
Cash back apps for groceries are simple tools that let you earn rewards or cash back when you buy food and household items. You simply download the app, link it to your payment method, and start shopping.
These apps work by offering specific deals or discounts on items you purchase. Once you buy the qualifying products, you scan your receipt or link your store loyalty account to get the cash back.
One of the biggest benefits of using cash back apps is that they help you save money on everyday grocery shopping. Whether it’s fresh produce, snacks, or pantry staples, you can earn back a percentage of what you spend.
And signing up for most of these apps is easy. You don’t have to spend much time figuring things out. Many apps offer simple sign-up processes, making it quick to get started.
Plus, the redemption process is just as simple. Once you earn enough cash back or rewards, you can transfer the money to your bank account or use it for gift cards.
In short, cash back apps are an easy way to save money with little effort. You’ll get rewarded for shopping at the stores you already visit, making it a great tool for anyone looking to cut down on grocery expenses.
Different Types of of Grocery Rebate Apps
There are a few different ways of getting cash back for buying groceries. And different appps use different ways of giving you that cash back.
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1. Apps that give you cash back for any receipt
These apps give you a rebate when you upload a photo of any receipt. With these scan receipts apps for money you can shop at any grocery store, whether it’s Walmart or Kroger, and you’ll earn money for your receipt.
This really is such an easy way to get cashback on your groceries!
You’re not tied to shopping at any specific store.
2. Apps that give you cashback for redeeming specific offers
These types of rebate apps feature offers such as get $1 back when you buy Folger’s coffee.
So you select the offer you want, buy the item that’s featured in the offer, upload a photo of your receipt and then you’ll get a rebate.
3. Shopping portal apps that give you cashback
Cashback sites such as these or Rakuten, partner with stores, like Walmart.
When a person visits Rakuten and then shops at Walmart, Walmart pays Rakuten a commission for sending a paying customer its way.
These websites are ideal if you buy your groceries online because they get you cashback easily!
How to Use a Cash Back App for Groceries (for Beginners)
So how do you actually use one of these apps?
Using cash back apps is easier than you might think, even if you’re a total beginner.
Most grocery rebate apps work in a similar way, so this is a step-by-step guide you can follow for just about any app.
Here’s how it generally works:
Step 1. Download the App
- Obviously the first step is to install the app. Most have apps for both iOS and Android devices which you can find them in the App Store, Google Play Store or by going to the official website (I’ll link to their site below).
Step 2. Set up your account
- Ok, now that you’ve downloaded the app, it’s time to create your account. Most apps will ask for basic info, like your email address and payment method (PayPal, Venmo, or bank account). So make sure to complete your profile.
Step 3. Browse offers (for qualifying purchases)
- Before you go shopping (or while in the store), open the app and check out the available offers. Some apps, like Ibotta, require you to pick specific items you want to purchase ahead of time. Other apps show you offers for certain stores or general discounts that can be applied to whatever you buy. Make sure to “clip” or “activate” any offers you want to use.
Step 4. Shop
- Head to your grocery store or shop online as you normally would. By the way, make sure to buy the items featured in the offers you selected. Some apps may even have restrictions, like a specific brand or size of the item.
Step 5: Submit your receipt (or Link Loyalty Accounts)
- After shopping, take a picture of your receipt and uploaded it to the app, or simply link your store loyalty card to some apps. Apps like Ibotta will ask you to scan your receipt, while others (like Rakuten) can link your online shopping directly for automatic cash back. If you bought any qualifying items, you’ll earn cash back for those.
Step 6: Redeem your cash back
- Once you’ve earned your cash back, you can redeem it via PayPal, Venmo, or a gift card, depending on the app’s redemption options.
And that’s it!
Once you get the hang of it, using cash back apps for groceries becomes second nature. It’s a simple way to save a little extra money every time you shop.
Since most grocery rebate apps work similarly, this is a general guide you can follow.
Top Cash Back Apps for Groceries
Here are the best grocery store rebate apps that will actually pay you in real cash or gift cards to buy groceries:
Whether you purchase your groceries in-store or online, or at a big chain like Walmart or at a small local grocery store, these apps can get you rebates.
1. Ibotta
- App available for: Android, iOS
- Payment options: PayPal, gift cards, direct deposit
- Minimum to cash out: $20
Ibotta is one of the most popular grocery cash back apps out there. And it’s easy to see why.
You can earn cash back by selecting offers before you shop, then uploading your receipt or linking your store loyalty card.
There are cash back deals on everything from brand-name snacks to fresh produce.
And as I mentioned in my recent Ibotta review you can even earn bonuses for completing tasks or referring friends.
How to use iBotta
Before shopping, activate offers in the app. After you buy the item, snap a picture of your receipt or scan your loyalty card. Then get cash back in your account.
2. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
- App available for: Android, iOS
- Payment options: PayPal, check
- Minimum to cash out: $5.01
Rakuten is legit one of the most reputable cashback websites out there.
And while it’s mostly known for online shopping, it also works with online grocery retailers like Walmart and Instacart.
You don’t have to scan receipts or clip offers. Just shop through the app or browser extension and get your cash back automatically.
It’s great for people who do grocery pickup or delivery.
How to use Rakuten
Open Rakuten, search for the store you want to shop at, and make your purchase through the app. Cash back gets added to your account automatically.
3. Fetch Rewards
- App available for: Android, iOS
- Payment options: Gift cards
- Minimum to cash out: $3 (3,000 points)
Fetch Rewards makes it super easy to earn rewards from your grocery receipts.
With the Fetch Rewards app, you get cashback regardless of where you shop. You don’t need to browse offers or buy specific brands ahead of time. Just scan any grocery receipt, and you’ll earn points.
Now they do have items from their partnered brands. And if you want to earn more and don’t have any specific brand in mind for whatever grocery item you are shopping for, buy the same item from their partnered brands.
Why?
Because you earn more for the exact same item!
How to use Fetch Rewards
After shopping, open the app and take a picture of your grocery receipt. For every receipt you upload, you earn points.
Once you have enough points you can redeem them for gift cards for stores like Amazon, Target, Walmart and more. They also offer the generic vanilla Visa Cash Cards that you can use top buy stuff anywhere Visa is accepted.
4. Checkout 51
- App available for: Android, iOS
- Payment options: PayPal, Venmo (US only), check
- Minimum to cash out: $20
Checkout 51 works both in stores and online.
It works like Ibotta as in there is a list of qualifying items you need to buy from to earn cashback.
Each week, they post a list of offers. If you buy a featured item, you can scan your receipt and get cash back.
The offers update every Thursday, so it’s good to check often.
How to use Checkout 51
Browse weekly offers in the app. After shopping, scan your receipt to claim your cash back. Once you have $20 in earning, you can cash out via PayPal, Venmo (U.S. only), or request a check..
5. Receipt Hog
- App available for: Android, iOS
- Payment options: PayPal, Amazon gift cards, Visa e-gift cards
- Minimum to cash out: $5 (1,000 coins)
Receipt Hog is a fun and easy way to turn your grocery receipts into rewards. You earn coins by snapping photos of your receipts.
And if you like to be able to earn cashback on groceries no matter what you buy and which online or local grocery store you shop from, You’ll like Receipt Hog.
You can redeem your coins for PayPal, Amazon gift card or a vanilla Visa e-gift card.
By the way, you can also earn extra bonuses by completing short surveys and spinning a fun slot machine inside the app.
I like this little unique feature Receipt Hog has. It lets you have some fun and save some money at the same time.
How to use Receipt Hog
Shop like your normally do. After shopping, open the app and take a photo of your grocery receipt. For each receipt you upload, you earn coins. And once you have $5 (it’s about 1000 coins), you can cash out.
Other Grocery Rebate Apps
While the apps above are some of the most popular, they’re definitely not the only ones out there.
Here are a few other grocery cash back apps worth checking out:
- Mr. Rebates: A popular online cashback shopping portal, Mr. Rebates offers rebates for some grocery stores including Walmart, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Asian Food Grocer and Sam’s Club.
- Shopkick: Earn “kicks” for walking into stores, scanning items, and uploading receipts. You can use your kicks for gift cards.
- PayPal Honey: Automatically applies coupon codes at checkout and offers cash back at participating retailers.
- RetailMeNot: Offers digital coupons for in-store and online use with cash back offers.
- Swagbucks: Earn points (SB) for shopping online, watching videos, and completing surveys, which can be redeemed for gift cards.
- CoinOut: Scan any receipt to earn cash back, with no need to pre-select offers.
- Flipp: Aggregates local deals and digital coupons by ZIP code and store categories.
- Receipt Pal: Upload receipts to earn points you can redeem for gift cards. It works with both grocery and non-grocery receipts.
- TopCashBack: Offers cash back on various purchases, including groceries, by shopping through their portal.
- Upside: Earn cash back on gas, groceries, and dining by uploading receipts or checking in at participating locations.
- Capital One Shopping: Helps you find and apply coupon codes automatically at checkout and offers price comparisons.
- RebatesMe: Offers cash back on a wide range of online retailers, including grocery stores.
- Drop: Earn points by linking your debit or credit card and shopping at participating retailers; points can be redeemed for gift cards.
Some of these apps may not offer as many deals as Ibotta, Fetch or other apps that give you cashback for groceries, but they are super easy to use and when you are trying t save money, every little bit helps.
Also, some of thee apps may have other categories of shopping (like gas, clothes, etc.) as their main focus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also use them for groceries.
Grocery Cashback Apps Comparison Table
Here’s a comparison table to help you compare these apps at a glance.
App | Payment Options | Minimum Cashout |
---|---|---|
Ibotta | PayPal, Gift Cards, Bank Deposit | $20 |
Fetch Rewards | Gift Cards | 3,000 points ($3) |
Rakuten | PayPal, Check | $5.01 |
Checkout 51 | PayPal, Venmo (US only), Check | $20 |
Receipt Hog | PayPal, Amazon e-gift, Visa e-gift | 1,000 coins ($5) |
Shopkick | Gift Cards | Varies by reward (e.g. ~2,500 kicks for $2) |
PayPal Honey | PayPal, Gift Cards | 1,000 Honey Gold ($10) |
RetailMeNot | PayPal | $5 |
Swagbucks | Gift Cards, PayPal | 500 SB ($5) |
CoinOut | Direct Deposit, PayPal, Amazon Gift Card | $20 |
Flipp | N/A (deal finder) | N/A |
Receipt Pal | Gift Cards | 1,000 points ($5) |
TopCashBack | PayPal, Bank Transfer, Gift Cards | $20 (varies by method) |
Upside | Bank Deposit, PayPal, Gift Cards | $10 |
Capital One Shopping | Gift Cards | N/A |
RebatesMe | PayPal, Gift Cards | $10 |
Drop | Gift Cards | 2,500 points ($2.50) |
Mr. Rebates | PayPal, Check | $10 |
How to Maximize Your Cash Back on Groceries
Want to get the most out of your grocery cash back apps?
Here are a few easy tips that can help you earn more without changing how you shop too much.
Combine cashback with coupons!
Getting 5% cashback at Walmart is great, but what’s even greater is that 5% rebate plus a discount.
Let’s say you buy $50 worth of groceries at your favorite store. You use one of the cashback apps and get 5% back. Then you add a few coupons that save you $10. That’s double savings.
So whenever possible, stack cashback with coupons to stretch your grocery budget even further.
Some cashback apps even offer built-in coupons to make things easier.
We also have a list of the best coupon sites (including for grocery shopping), so check that out too.
Use more than one app
You know how extreme couponers use coupon stacking to save even more money (sometimes ending up getting the item 100% free)?
Well, you can do the same with grocery rebate apps!
Most of these apps aren’t exclusive. That means you can use Ibotta and Fetch and Checkout 51 for the same receipt. Just upload your receipt to each app and get paid multiple times for the same grocery trip. Now, before you do that, read each app’s rules and terms of service to make sure they don’t have anything against you doing it.
Time your shopping
I’ve noticed a little detail that a lot of users may miss. Most grocery rebate apps update their offers towards the middle of the weak (usually on Wednesday). So if you can, change your weekly grocery shopping day to align with that so you can get the best offers that earn you the most.
Watch for bonus offers
Make sure to always check the app’s extras and bonus offers. Some of them give you extra cash or points for doing things like buying from a certain brand, completing a few offers in a row, or referring friends. Doing those little extra stuff helps you rack up points or cash on top of the cashback you earn by buying groceries.
Stack with store deals and coupons
Wanna save even more money on groceries?
Combine using these apps with store sales and coupons. This is an easy way to double your savings!
Don’t forget gift card portals
Here’s another little “hack”. You know how some apps like Fetch let you redeem your points for gift cards? Well, you can use those same gift cards to pay for groceries! That’s an easy way to stack your savings.
Use a rewards credit card too
Got a cash back credit card that earns you cash back on groceries? Well, use it to pay for the same groceries you buy with those apps so you can earn rewards twice!
Check for loyalty card linking
Here’s a really cleaver way to avoid having to constantly upload or scan receipts. If your favorite grocery store offers a store loyalty card, get one . Some apps let you connect your store loyalty card so they can automatically track everything you buy. That means you don’t have to upload or scan receipts to earn cashback.
Best Grocery Cashback Strategies for Every Shopper
Not all grocery shoppers are the same!
We all have different habits when it comes to grocery shopping. Some of us like to buy in bulk, some like to buy mostly online, some hate having to upload every single grocery receipt and so on.
So depending on how you shop, certain cashback apps might work better for you than others.
Whether you’re a busy parent, a deal hunter, or someone who prefers organic products, here are a few tailored tips and apps to help you earn the most cashback based on how you shop.
Busy Shoppers
If you are like me and hate having to upload receipts one by one and just want things to be automated, or maybe you just don’t have time to scan receipts or activate offers, look for apps that track purchases automatically (like Upside or Capital One Shopping) when you link your card.
These are great for people like you and I who like to set and forget!
Frugal Shoppers
If you are a budget conscious shopper first, stick with apps that have low payout minimums (like CoinOut or Checkout 51), and be sure to combine cashback with coupons whenever possible for double the savings.
Bulk Buyers or Big Families
If you like buying grocery staples in bulk, apps that offer frequent high-value rebates (like Ibotta or Rakuten) are great for that. The earning can add up quickly when you buy in volume.
Eco-Friendly or Organic Shoppers
I don’t know of any apps that focuses only on giving you cashback for organic groceries (there sued to be BerryCart but it’s no longer around). Obviously use any app that gives you cashback for groceries. Some apps, like Ibotta, Fetch, or Checkout 51, even have featured offers that include organic and eco-conscious products.
Digital-Only Shoppers
If you do most of your grocery shopping online, apps like Rakuten or PayPal Honey work best. They automatically track online purchases and apply cashback offers without needing receipt uploads.
Popular Grocery Cashback Apps That No Longer Exist
When we originally published this post, the apps below were active and provided legit grocery cash back offers. But since then, they’ve shut down. Some of them went totally out of business, some merged with bigger apps and some changed direction and are doing entirely different.
So, to help you save time and not go searching for apps that no longer work, we’re keeping them here for archival reasons.
Dosh: Once a popular passive cash back app that gave you rewards just for shopping with a linked card. As of 2024, the app has shut down.
Jingit: This app offered cash back on groceries and watching ads. It hasn’t been active in years and is no longer available for download.
SavingStar: A well-known grocery rebate app that let you link store loyalty cards or upload receipts. It officially shut down in 2020.
Snap by Groupon: A short-lived attempt by Groupon to get into the grocery rebate space. It was discontinued a while ago and is no longer supported.
Punchcard: This app gave users points for uploading receipts from various stores. It’s no longer functioning or available in app stores.
Shopmium: Shopmium let you earn cashback by uploading your receipt after buying featured grocery items. The app shut down in 2024.
FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about apps that give you cashback on groceries purchases.
What is the best grocery cash back app?
I personally think Ibotta is the best reliable grocery rebate apps. Generally, it gives you more cashback on everyday grocery items. It also works with most major stores. Plus it offers a few different forms of payments like PayPal, gift cards, or bank deposit.
Can I use multiple cash back apps at once?
Yes! In fact, that’s one of the best ways to maximize your savings. You can scan the same grocery receipt on different apps like Fetch, Ibotta, and Checkout 51 to get multiple rebates for a single purchase.
Do these apps work for online grocery shopping?
Some do! For example, Rakuten gives cash back when you shop at online grocery stores like Walmart and Kroger. Just make sure the app or browser extension is activated before you check out.
Is there a catch with cash back apps?
Not really, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Some apps require you to select offers before you shop. Others only give rewards on specific brands or products. Always read the offer details.
How do I get paid from grocery cash back apps?
Most apps let you cash out via PayPal, Venmo, gift cards, or direct deposit once you reach the minimum payout amount. Each app has different thresholds and options.
Are grocery cash back apps legit?
Yes, all the apps we’ve mentioned are legitimate. They partner with brands and retailers to promote products and reward shoppers like you for participating.
Can I get cash back without scanning receipts?
Some apps, like Rakuten and Capital One Shopping, track purchases automatically when you shop through their links or use a linked card. But with most grocery-specific apps you still have to scan or upload a receipt.
Which app pays the most cashback?
That depends on many factors. But from my own personal experience, I’d say Ibotta and Rakuten usually give you the most cash back. If I had to choose only one, I would us Ibotta for buying groceries locally an Rakuten for online grocery shopping.
Final Thoughts: Get Paid to Shop for Groceries
As you can see, there are more than a few legit apps for earning cashback on groceries.
These apps are easy to use and using them is a smart way to save money on your grocery shopping.
By using apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and others that give you cash back on groceries, you can earn rewards on everyday purchases, from fresh produce to pantry staples. Start using these apps today and watch your grocery bills shrink!
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