What if you could earn money every time you fill up your gas tank, buy groceries or shop online? Cash-back apps make that possible by giving you a percentage of your purchase back — sometimes instantly. Whether you’re booking a hotel, dining out or even using a rideshare service, the right cash-back app can help you save hundreds of dollars a year.
Cash back for gas
You could earn cash back for each gallon of gas you purchase with an app like Upside, a free cash-back app that makes it easy to find the best deals at a gas station near you. Open the app, and you’ll see a map with each station’s location and how much cash back it offers per gallon. Claim the offer you want and make your purchase.
On average, you’ll get 10 cents a gallon cash back. You can also use the app to earn cash back at grocery stores and restaurants. Cash out your earnings anytime, although you might incur a $1 charge if you cash out less than $15. You can redeem your earnings directly to your bank account or PayPal or for gift cards.
Cash back for groceries
One of the most popular categories for cash back is grocery. You can earn money back from purchases when you shop your favorite brands and grocery store retailers as you usually would. If you shop at a retailer or buy at a brand with an active offer, the app will automatically add the specified reward to your account after you buy something.
Some apps require you to claim your offers before you make your purchase. For example, Ibotta requires you to add the offers you want to your shopping list in the app. Once you’ve made your purchase, you’ll scan and submit your receipt using the app.
Other apps, such as Fetch, don’t require you to claim your offers beforehand. Just use the app to scan your grocery store receipt to earn points you can redeem for gift cards.
Cash back on retail shopping
Retail shopping is one of the largest cash app categories, covering everything from brick-and-mortar stores to online shopping. In addition to cash back, these apps frequently offer immediate savings through discounts, coupon codes and bonuses for shopping at large retailers like Walmart and Target, drugstores, convenience and specialty stores.
PayPal Honey is a mobile app and browser extension that finds coupon codes when you shop online and automatically applies these discounts to your shopping cart. By activating the PayPal Rewards feature, you also earn points for your purchase, which you can redeem for cash, gift cards or PayPal shopping credits.
Cash back on dining
Several apps help you earn rewards and save money on restaurants and food delivery. Dosh lets you earn automatic cash back when dining at partner restaurants. Pay with a credit or debit card you’ve linked to the app, and Dosh will keep track of your rewards. Once you’ve reached $15, you can transfer the money to your bank, PayPal or Venmo or donate it to charity.
Another app, Seated, is available in several major U.S. cities and lets you earn up to 30 percent back in rewards when you make reservations at participating restaurants. Upload your receipt and earn rewards for brands like Amazon, Delta, Starbucks and Target.
Cash back on ride-sharing services
If you’re a frequent user of ride-sharing services, it might be worthwhile to combine your rides with a cash-back app. Ibotta offers cash back for Uber rides, while Fluz gives you cash back on past Uber rides for up to 30 days.
Cash back on entertainment
Known for its extensive partnerships with retailers, Rakuten offers cash back on entertainment-related services. On Rakuten’s events and entertainment page, you’ll find offers for concert and movie tickets, sporting events, comedy shows, streaming services and local events.
Cash back on airline flights
This is a competitive category where you might want to compare offers across multiple cash-back apps to find the best deal. Also, check whether booking directly with the airline offers better rates or rewards.
TopCashback has cash-back offers for flight bookings with multiple airlines and travel sites. It partners with online travel agencies like Expedia and Travelocity and major airlines like British Airways, United and Southwest. Cash back typically ranges from 2 percent to 10 percent.
Cash back on hotels
Several apps offer deals on hotel chains like Marriott, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Hilton. Some apps even include cash back on Airbnb and VRBO stays.
Similar to airline flights, it pays to compare offers to find the best deal for your hotel booking. Rakuten offers daily cash-back deals on many major hotel chain. The offers ranged from 2 percent to 15 percent cash back on the day we checked. The Guestbook and TopCashback are other great options.
Cash back on home improvement
Americans spend over $500 billion a year on home improvement. If you’re a DIYer looking to save money on your next home improvement project, you might want to check out cash-back apps like RetailMeNot, Fetch and Ibotta.
RetailMeNot automatically finds coupons, discounts and cash-back offers as you shop online. Fetch allows you to earn rewards by scanning receipts from any retailer, including home improvement stores like Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Ikea and Ace Hardware. Ibotta offers cash back from home improvement retailers like The Home Depot and Lowe’s. You can also browse the app for offers related to tools, paint and other supplies.
Next steps
Once you’ve chosen the right cash-back apps, take your savings to the next level by stacking rewards. Link your store loyalty cards to participating apps for automatic cash back, and consider using a cash-back credit card to boost your earnings even more.
However, be strategic — cash-back rewards only work in your favor if you stay within budget. If you’re using a credit card, be sure to pay off the balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that could cancel out your savings. Focus on smart spending, not just earning rewards, to make the most of every dollar.
Frequently asked questions
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