Best Grocery Cash Back Apps to Save and Earn Money

For many people, saving money is a gratifying and satisfying activity. And as the wave of inflation continues to rise in the US and many countries of the world in 2022, getting the best value when we shop for groceries and other items is not an intelligent choice, but a necessary one.

You should be if you’re not already using a grocery cash back app to save money on your groceries. These apps are easy to use, and best of all? They are completely free!

This article has compiled a list of the best apps you can use to save and earn money while grocery shopping.

PS: if you’re looking for a complete list of the best cash back apps overall, make sure you check out this article!

 

1. Dosh 

Dosh is one of the best grocery cash back apps, that gives you money back on grocery shopping. In addition to grocery, you can also earn rewards when dining out or booking hotels (we’ve talked about how to earn cash back on hotels here).

The amount of money back you’ll get from each retailer varies, but many offer between 2% and 3%. Some retailers may offer up to 10% or 15%, while others will give only 1.5%

Dosh’s partnership with several retail stores and online vendors means you can make purchases at over 100 different merchants and get a percentage of your purchase as a refund right back into your bank account.

When you earn rewards on Dosh, they will go into your dosh wallet, which you can cash out from when you accrue up to $25. It takes three to five business days for the cash to be deposited into your preferred account after cashout. You can choose to use PayPal, Venmo, or your bank debit card to receive the funds.

 

Pros

• Rewards are automatic
• Earn rewards for referrals
• Earn rewards for hotel bookings
• Features many popular and local retailers
• Flexible payout methods
• Earn $5 when using a referral code

 

Cons

• Linked debit card must be used to earn rewards
• Inactive accounts are subject to maintenance fees
• Only available in the United States
• You can’t link all cards.
• Doesn’t pay as much as other referral programs

 

2. Ibotta

Ibotta is an app with a browser extension that allows you to earn cash back on your grocery shopping by uploading your receipts. It is free to install and use, and you can easily download the app from the app store or Google Play Store.

Ibotta was founded in 2012 and has since paid more than one billion in cash to over 35 million users, based on company reports. Ibotta has partnered with over 300 companies and convenience stores, offering rebates for grocery and non-grocery shopping items, including pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations, and more.

Here’s how it works -once you’ve created an account, you can find your favorite/nearest retailers and browse through offers so that all available cash back opportunities are easily accessible when it comes time to shop.

To redeem an offer, simply click the “Redeem Offer” button and add it to your shopping list. When you are buying in store or online shopping, ensure that any item in your cart is eligible for discounts before checking out.

Once you’ve made the purchase and submitted your claim through Ibotta you should wait for your account to reach $20, and then transfer that money from Ibotta into a bank account of your choosing!

 

Pros

• Product variety. You may get money back on groceries and non-grocery purchases with Ibotta. This is a free app.
• Discover deals. Whether you’re shopping in the app, using the browser extension, or looking for specialized or “any brand” rebates, offers are easy to find and claim.
• Rapid refund. You can link loyalty accounts or upload receipts to earn cash back within 24 hours.
• Payment options. You can transfer earnings to a bank or PayPal account or buy free gift cards.

 

Cons

• Offers can’t be applied after purchase. To earn cash back from Ibotta, you’ll have to claim offers before you make a purchase. 
• Account maintenance fees. If you do not use Ibotta for 180 days, it will deduct $3.99 from your earnings unless you redeem at least one offer during that period.

 

3. Fetch Rewards

Fetch is among the best apps to get money back on your grocery shopping. You can also earn cash back on pharmacy purchases, and more.

It’s free to download, and you can earn 2000 points ($2) as a sign-up bonus. You can sign up with your email address or through Facebook. Once you do, you’ll get a welcome email with a link to activate your account. You can also earn 5% back on all purchases made through the app by using Mastercard.

Once that’s done, you must shop at any of Fetch’s partner stores and scan their QR codes at checkout. You can also enter your receipts manually if necessary. You can also link Fetch with your loyalty cards, allowing the app to track your purchases automatically and add them to your account.

When you use Fetch at checkout it will help you fetch rewards, it will search for available offers from its retailers. You’ll then see which ones are eligible for cash back and how much money you could earn from each one.

You can earn money back in the following categories: Home, apparel, beauty and health, electronics, food and beverage, general merchandise, and grocery stores.

 

Pros

• Easy to use: No offers to unlock or barcodes to scan
• Takes 10 seconds to upload a receipt
• Gift cards are delivered quickly after redemption.

 

Cons

• Fewer offers compared to similar apps
• Limited points are awarded for receipts with no Special Offers
• No cash back redemption option

 

4. Checkout 51

With Checkout 51 you can also get discounts at restaurants and stores, including Amazon. It’s free to download and use, and the app is available on the app store and Google Play Store. As a bonus, the app will automatically find the best coupon codes for your purchases, so you don’t have to search for them yourself!

Checkout 51 has a few ways to earn money back: The first is through “digital coupons” that you can redeem at certain stores or restaurants. These are usually limited-time offers and range in value from $1-$5 per transaction.

The second way to earn money back with the app is by scanning UPCs on grocery receipts where specific items were purchased.

 

Pros

• This is a free app
• Most grocery offers aren’t store-specific.
• You can claim some offers multiple times
• You can use coupons
• You can link your loyalty cards
• There are sweepstakes offers
• Low minimum cash out at $20

 

Cons

• Offers are only available temporarily
• Limited payment options
• You must add offers to earn cash back
• You must upload receipts by a weekly deadline
• Online redemptions require a packing slip

 

5. Coupons.com

Coupons.com is a free website and app that helps you save money on groceries and other items by providing coupons, linking your loyalty accounts, and giving you cash back for uploading your receipts after certain online purchases.

You can easily access coupons and offers from the website or app, then use them at stores like Target and Walmart. You can also earn money back by uploading receipts after certain purchases. The site has a variety of features that make it easy to save money while shopping: The Coupon Database lets you search for specific coupons or browse by brand, product category, and store.

The Loyalty Card Manager lets you add loyalty cards from participating retailers, so you don’t have to carry physical cards in your wallet.

The service is free to use, but be aware that you need to pay attention to the fine print on any coupons or offers you redeem. For example, some may expire if not used within a certain timeframe and others require you to buy specific product brands. 

Coupons.com is available via its website and through its app for iOS and Android devices.

The site has an extensive list of grocery coupon offers from across the country and allows you to search by zip code so that you can find deals near where you live. Plus, it’s possible to get free shipping on orders over $50 (though this will change depending on your location).

 

Pros

• You can choose between printable or digital coupons
• The app is free to use
• There’s no minimum cashout threshold 
• Cash back goes straight to your PayPal

 

Cons

• Some printable coupons are limited to two per account
• You’ll need to activate some cash back offers before you can shop for qualified items

 

6. Flipp

Flipp is an app that gives you money back when you shop at your favorite grocery stores. You can use Flipp to save on the items you buy and get rewarded for doing so.

First, download the app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play to use Flipp. Then select the store where you would like to start earning cash back. You’ll also have to choose which card(s) will be used with Flipp: credit card or debit card only, or both credit card and debit card (including Apple Pay). Once this is done, it’s time to start shopping!

Flipp shows users what they can earn in rewards before they check out by scanning their receipt(s) after each transaction made using one of these linked cards and then showing them exactly how much money they’ll receive back once all transactions are completed successfully within 24 hours.

This also includes transactions made using free gift cards and coupons redeemed at checkout counters.

 

Pros

• intuitive and easy to use
• Best for grocery shopping
• Great search functionality
• you can easily download and use it without signing up

 

Cons

• Only available in the US and Canada
• Limited categories of items to shop

 

7. BeFrugal

Be frugal is one of the best apps to save money on groceries. Be frugal app promises a cash back of up to 40% across five thousand stores, including Amazon and Walmart. The app is available on both the app store and Google Play Store.

The app is quite simple and easy to use. All you need to do is click on the store, add whatever item you want from that store and wait for it to get delivered. Once it arrives at your doorstep, simply take a picture of your receipt and upload it to the app.

 

Pros

• User-friendly interface with all features available right on the home page
• Cash back as high as 40% on most purchases
• No minimum spend limit – earn even if you buy only one item from a store!
• Plenty of payout options
• Over 5,000 cash back stores
• No minimum payment thresholds

 

Cons

• No cash back for in-store purchases
• Cash back can take a long time to be credited

 

8. Rakuten

Rakuten is an e-commerce site that offers money back on grocery shopping and helps save money. Rakuten is unique. It’s like a digital supermarket and allows you to buy groceries from all over the world, including Australia and the United States.

There are a variety of stores available on Rakuten, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The selection of products offered by Rakuten is quite impressive as well; they have everything from spices and sauces to shampoo or beauty products. All these items can be shipped directly to your home address through their website or app!

To earn cash back with this rewards app, users must create an account by providing basic information such as name and email address (be sure not to share any personal information). Once logged in with this account name/email address – users will see all available offers at their fingertips!

There are many ways one could earn some extra money back when online shopping at this site: making purchases through partner sites like Groupon before going onto Rakuten itself; checking out daily deals found within each category section, for example, Food & Drink.

Also, you may earn discounts for answering questions on the platform. Just navigate the product description for the selected item on the platform and answer the relevant questions. Depending on how fast you answer, if correct, you may instantly win a discount for that particular product.

 

Pros

• It’s free to download and use – no hidden fees.
• It’s easy to use
• You can get money from referring your friends.
• There is a huge number of retailers on there, so you will likely be able to get cash back from them.
• You can get money back on purchases you were going to make anyway.
• Low payment threshold ($5)

 

Cons

• You won’t get any cash back if you return the item you purchased.

 

Other Ways to Get Money Back from Grocery Shopping

 

Credit Cards

A cash back credit card is a type of rewards credit card that provides its users with cash back on their purchases. These cards can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted and offer a wide range of consumer benefits, including significant discounts at the grocery store. 

Some popular credit cards with this feature include Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card, Citi Double Cash Card – 18-month BT offer, and Bank Americard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card.

 

Crypto Cards

Crypto cards are another option for those looking to save money on grocery shopping. These cards can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted and come with various benefits, including discounts at the grocery store. 

Some popular crypto credit cards include BitPay Visa® Prepaid Card, Crypto.com Card, and Xapo Debit Card.

 

Store Loyalty Cards

Store loyalty cards are another option for those looking to save money on their everyday shopping. These credit cards can be used only at select stores and come with various benefits, including discounts at the grocery store. Some store loyalty cards include CVS ExtraCare Card and Rite Aid Pharmacy Savings Card.

You can also get cash back from shopping by using a cash back credit card, a rewards credit card, or a cash back debit card. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t charge an annual fee and still offers good rewards, check out the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard®.

This card gives you 2% back on every purchase with no limit and allows you to redeem your rewards as statement credit or miles towards travel purchases.

 

Store-Specific Rewards

Suppose you already have an existing rewards program at one of your favorite grocery stores like Kroger, Publix, or Wegmans. In that case, it’s worth checking out their specific programs before signing up for something new. For example:

Wegmans has its reward program called Wegmans Rewards, which offers bonus points on gas purchases at Shell stations when you use your registered store loyalty card at checkout. 

Publix’s loyalty program, ‘Plus,’ will award members an extra 5% off each week if they spend $100+ over six weeks.

 

Monetha

Monetha helps users shop smartly and earn rewards across multiple merchants from various categories. All you would need to do is sign up and make purchases from approved retailers.

For each purchase, you get points, and once you have accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards, crypto coins, and even make donations to charity.

 

Conclusion

The best grocery cash back app for you will depend on your location, budget, and needs. Some apps have higher money back rates than others, and others offer special promotions or discounts only available through the app and not with other grocery stores.

It is also important to remember that some apps require a minimum order before they can pay out any money.