Money Back Apps That Can Really Save You Money on Shopping
Over the past couple of years, there have been plenty of apps promising to give you money back for whatever you buy, but half of them are more pain in the ass than they are worth. Here are the ones that you really should take a look at (and the ones that will just waste your time).
Apps to help you save money
The apps below have a fairly wide range of cashback offerings that are really useful, not to mention really significant savings. If you’re looking to put a little extra cash in your pocket, it’s worth checking out.
SavingStar
The SavingStar app (free for iOS and Android ) lets you link your grocery store loyalty card to your account and search for money back offers to use on your next trip. When you buy a product that meets the refund criteria, you use your loyalty card at checkout or send a photo of your receipt and get money added to your SavingStar account. Once your account reaches $ 5, you can request payment via PayPal, bank transfer, or Upromise account. The SavingStar website also allows users to shop online and get paid back at popular retail stores.
If your grocery store doesn’t use a loyalty or bonus card, you can still submit a photo of your receipt to get your money back. This includes stores such as Walmart, HEB, and Target. Alternatively, if you don’t have a smartphone, you can submit receipts through the SavingStar website.
BerryCart
If you regularly buy organic, gluten-free or non-GMO foods, the BerryCart app (free for iOS and Android ) is worth installing . The app lets you browse products that offer money back, many of which you probably buy anyway. Cashback offers range from fifty cents to a few dollars depending on the item. After you buy the products, just submit a picture of the receipt and they will send you money via PayPal or various gift cards. The app can be used at any store that has a valid receipt.
Before you get paid, you have to put up with what BerryCart calls “detailed analysis of each product.” This includes short fun facts, quizzes, and testimonials. If you’re following a healthy lifestyle, these “ideas” are probably easy to swallow and can provide useful information.
Ibotta
The folks at Ibotta (free for iOS and Android ) claim they are “better than coupons” and I think they might be right. Ibotta starts where many other money back apps stop. They offer refunds and discounts for grocery and retail stores. You will unlock cashback refunds before you go shopping by completing simple tasks. For example, I was able to get $ 5 off Aeropostale by answering one simple question in a survey and reading one fact about the company. It literally took less than 30 seconds. Then, after I made my purchases at Aero, I photographed my receipt and received $ 5 in my Ibotta account. Once your account balance reaches $ 10, you can redeem it through PayPal or various gift cards.
Alternatively, by connecting to Facebook, you can create a Facebook team or join with friends who also use Ibotta. By doing this, you can get even bigger bonuses. For example, everyone on my team just received a $ 10 Teamwork Bonus due to an increase in our rebates.
Ibotta doesn’t have many downsides. The biggest complaint from users is the difficulty in scanning the receipt into the app. The app now provides the ability to scan QR codes, which should streamline the process of sending receipts.
Apps aren’t worth your time
Of course, for every great app, there is another one that just misses the mark. Here are a few apps that have generated some hype but have fallen short when it comes to the suggestions you’ll actually use.
Basket
The CartSmart app (free for iOS and Android ) lets you create a smart list for your next grocery trip. When you buy products from your list that qualify as Smart Deals, you will get your money back after checking your check. Current smart deals include popular merchandise such as olive oil, salad dressings, and groceries. Your payment is sent via PayPal, no minimum balance is required. The coolest feature of the app is the store flyers available to you when planning your next trip.
However, the number of products available for a refund is not large enough to make it worthwhile. Spending more on a few select items just to get a little bang for your buck is a waste of time. When we checked, there were less than twenty items available. Is not nobody got time for that. Also, while the store flyer feature is a good idea, the number of stores available is actually very limited and currently only includes Safeway and Kroger.
Cashier 51
Checkout 51 (free for iOS and Android ) lets you browse grocery deals and coupons, select the items you’re going to buy anyway, and get paid for them. In my area, the app offered $ 0.50 a gallon of milk, $ 1 for Clorox wipes, and $ 3 for a bottle of Advil. You can request payment by check when your bill reaches $ 20.
When you analyze the available cashback offers, the application does not suit me. Many of them are products that I will never buy, and it seems like they can never be replaced with better deals. Although new offers are updated every Thursday, the app would be more useful if there were just more of them . Plus, if Checkout 51 increases the number of core products available for refunds, the app will truly become a must.
Snap by Groupon
Groupon (free for iOS and Android ) entered the money-back app market last year with its Snap app. The app will refund you money for products regardless of which store they were purchased from. You simply scan your receipt, tell the app which eligible refund items are on the receipt, and they fund your Snap account. Once your account reaches $ 20, you can request payment by check.
The usability of the application is worth paying attention to. Unfortunately, the limited number of products available for refunds prevents me from truly recommending it. Currently, only 40 cashbacks are available in the application. You might think that for a company with a lot of reach in the coupon market, Groupon could do better.
In terms of usability and functionality, some of these apps are clearly superior to others. Personally, I find the Ibotta and SavingStar app to be great. They have a wide variety of money back offers and they both do exactly what they say in an easy-to-understand way. But more importantly, the savings they provide easily outweigh the time they spend using.