Top 15 Cashback Apps for Earning Rewards in 2024

In recent years, a proliferation of shopping-focused cash back apps has emerged, offering free ways to cut costs on a wide array of retail experiences. Since 2015, I’ve rigorously tested various cash back apps, narrowing down the selection to a few standout options that continue to deliver value.

Our extensive research even inspired us to develop our own cash back solution, the DollarSprout Rewards browser extension. Drawing on the best features of existing apps and refining others, we’ve crafted a tool that we confidently place at the forefront of our recommendations.

Top Cash Back Apps for 2024

1. DollarSprout Rewards: Best Overall Cash Back App
2. Capital One Shopping: Best for Online Shopping
3. Rakuten: Best User Experience
4. Ibotta: Best for Grocery Shopping
5. Upside: Best for Gas Discounts
6. Fetch Rewards: Best for Scanning Receipts
7. Honey: Best for Amazon

DollarSprout Rewards

• Price: Free
• Sign-Up Bonus: None
• Best for: Overall Cash Back
• Features: Desktop-only browser extension for Chrome and Safari, offering cash back on eligible merchant websites. Rewards are tracked in cash, not points, and paid out monthly via PayPal with a $5 minimum.

Capital One Shopping

• Price: Free
• Sign-Up Bonus: None
• Best for: Online Shopping
• Features: Browser extension and app that alerts you to available coupons and price comparisons, with a focus on building brand recognition for Capital One.

Rakuten

• Price: Free
• Sign-Up Bonus: Spend $30,Get$30
• Best for: User Experience
• Features: Mobile app and browser extension offering cash back and rebates, with a user-friendly interface and a $30 welcome bonus.

Ibotta

• Price: Free
• Sign-Up Bonus: Spend $30,Get$10
• Best for: Grocery Shopping
• Features: Offers cash back on groceries and retail purchases, with a card-linked option and the ability to manually upload receipts.

Upside

• Price: Free
• Sign-Up Bonus: 25¢/gal
• Best for: Gas Discounts
• Features: Provides cash back on gas, groceries, and restaurants, with a map feature to locate the best deals and a referral program.

Fetch Rewards

• Price: Free
• Best for: Scanning Receipts
• Features: Earns points for scanning receipts from any store, with points awarded even for non-partner brands and the option to connect email for eReceipts.

Honey

• Price: Free
• Best for: Amazon
• Features: Browser extension that automatically finds and applies discount codes, with additional features like price comparison and droplist alerts for price tracking.

Honorable Mentions

• Shopkick: Earns points for tasks like walking into stores and scanning barcodes.
• Dosh: Offers cash back with linked debit or credit cards, with a $25 minimum cash out.
• Drop: Rewards points for everyday spending with linked cards and additional bonuses for referrals.
• RebatesMe: Known for high daily cash-back offers and a Cash Back Protection Program.
• TopCashBack: Stands out with a model that passes on 100% of commissions to users.
• Receipt Hog: Offers points for scanning receipts and additional ways to earn through surveys and games.
• Checkout 51: Provides rebates on grocery shopping with a simple receipt upload process.

How Cash Back Apps Work Cash back apps function as affiliate marketers, earning a commission on sales they generate for retailers. They then share a portion of this commission with users in the form of cash back, creating a win-win scenario.

Types of Cash Back Apps

• Mobile Cash Back Apps: Require manual input and pre-selection of offers.
• Card-Linked Cash Back Apps: Automatically record purchases made with linked cards.
• Receipt Scanning Apps: Require users to upload receipts post-purchase.
• Cash Back Browser Extensions: Offer the most automated form of cash back, working across an entire order.

Features of the Best Cash Back Apps

• High cash back rates.
• Diverse merchant participation.
• Low payout thresholds.
• Strong privacy protection.

Maximizing Rewards

• Use multiple apps for varied offers.
• Leverage referral programs and bonuses.
• Combine rebates with coupons for double savings.
• Shop through app portals for increased discounts.
• Adhere to app rules to claim all possible offers.

By strategically utilizing these cash back apps, you can enhance your savings on a regular basis, making the most of your shopping experiences.