Best Cash-Back Apps for 2023
Cash-back apps can save you money on your everyday purchases by giving you a percentage of your money back. Here are the 6 best cash-back apps for 2023. You go to the grocery store or shop online at least once a week if not every day. For purchases you already make, it may make sense to receive points or, better yet, cash back for your trouble.
All of your payment systems, as well as your cash-back possibilities, are now available on a single device. Saving money and making money now go hand in hand, and everything is at your fingertips.
Which Apps Provide Free Cash?
Some cashback applications allow you to earn real money, while others award you points that may be redeemed for cash-back rewards such as PayPal transfers or gift cards from your associated bank account. These can still be valuable, but cash reigns supreme. Here are several apps that provide you with cold, hard cash-back offers in exchange for utilizing them.
- Rakuten: Best for big-name retailers.
- PayPal Honey: This is best for PayPal users.
- Ibotta is best for loyalty programs.
- Advantage: Best for petrol and food.
- Freebird is best for ridesharing and restaurants.
- Dosh: Ideal for shopping, cuisine, and hotels.
1 – Rakuten.
Rakuten provides cash back at over 3,500 stores, including Target, Nordstrom, and Best Buy. Rakuten.com, the Rakuten app, and the Chrome extension are all options for shopping. You’ll get your money back every three months, by PayPal or check. Rakuten also has a Cash Back Visa credit card that offers an additional 3% cash back on Rakuten purchases.
Make sure you add your address to your account before redeeming your cashback. Select if you want your money by check or PayPal. You will receive your payback 45 days after the end of the quarter in which your payments were made. So, if you earned cash back between January 1 and March 31, they’ll send you a check on May 15.
Pros
- $10 welcome bonus after spending $25 in the first 90 days
- 3,500+ cash-back locations
Cons
- Get your money returned every three months, rather than on demand.
- To receive cash, you must earn at least $5.
2 – PayPal Honey
Honey, which is now owned by PayPal, offers cash back in exchange for Gold points, which you earn when you spend at specific merchants. Honey offers up to 5% cash back at over 30,000 participating stores, including Walmart, Apple, Trip Advisor, The Home Depot, and more. If cashback isn’t your thing, your points can be redeemed for PayPal credit or gift cards.
Go to the Redemption page to redeem your Gold points. Select the desired gift card by clicking on it. A $10 gift card can be obtained by redeeming 1,000 Gold points.
Pros
- 30,000+ stores
- Notify you about your favorite item price drops you want to buy
- Automatically searches for coupon codes
Cons
- Rewards Availability is limited in every Honey store
- Limited customer service
3 – Ibotta
Ibotta offers cash back at thousands of online and in-store stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Old Navy, Chewy, Groupon, and more.
Ibotta can be used in-store by attaching your store loyalty card or providing a photo of your receipt. You can use the Ibotta app on your mobile device or the browser extension on your computer when shopping online.
To redeem your cashback, head to the app’s Account area and tap Withdraw Cash. Choose between PayPal and a gift card. If you select PayPal, you must connect your PayPal account to your Ibotta account
Pros
- To earn cash back automatically link your store loyalty card.
- In-store you can get opportunities for cash-back earnings.
Cons
- Minimum amass $20 before you can get the cash.
- they will charge you on your Inactive accounts a $3.99 monthly fee until your balance is zero.
4 – Upside
When you buy Gas, fast food, or other ordinary items, Upside will pay you cash back. With a focus on petrol stations, you may use Upside at Exxon, Shell, Mobil, Sunoco, Racetrac, and other places – over 45,000 in total. You can also use it at Popeyes, Burger King, Piggly Wiggly, and other restaurants.
You locate an offer on the app, pay with a credit or debit card, and then check in to receive your money back. If you are unable to check-in, you may photograph and upload your receipt. You can get your money back using PayPal, direct deposit into your bank account, or as an e-gift card. Unlike some programs, there is no minimum amount of cash back required to cash out.
To redeem your Upside cash, tap the balance amount in the upper right corner of the app. Tap Cash Out and select a bank transfer, gift card, or PayPal payment. Then, simply follow the steps.
Pros
- Cash withdrawal at any time.
- Thousands of locations.
- Physical coupons are not required.
Cons
- Mostly for some fast food retail stores and gas.
- The transaction verification Process three days.
5 – Freebird
When you use rideshare services and eat at local eateries, Freebird pays you cash back. You connect your Uber and Lyft accounts to Freebird to earn points for rides. You may also link your credit card and earn points when you use it to pay your bill at participating bars and restaurants.
To cash out, use the app to request a transfer to your debit card. Transfers to credit cards or prepaid debit cards are not available with Freebird.
Pros
- Links with your Uber and Lyft accounts
- Get Rewards for going to local restaurants and bars
Cons
- Local or regional Restaurants only.
- A debit card is the main source to get paid.
6 – Dosh
To use Dosh, you must first connect your payment cards to the Dosh app. You can connect your Venmo account as well. When you use those cards to make qualifying transactions, cash-back is automatically credited to your Dosh wallet. Before you may transfer funds to your bank, PayPal account, or Venmo account, you must first accumulate at least $25 in your Dosh wallet. You can also donate your cashback to a good cause.
Tap the wallet symbol at the bottom of the screen to cash out. Tap the transfer option, then select the account to which you wish to transfer funds. Enter the amount to be transferred, then press Next, examine the details, and finally tap Transfer.
Pros
- Gets you cash back automatically after Linking your card.
- Payout options are Multiple.
- Available at local and national stores
Cons
- Must have $25 before you can cash out
- Inactive accounts face a $5 maintenance fee.
Apps That Give You Rewards (Honorable Mention)
Other apps will reward you for using them with points, which can be redeemed for gifts. These are frequently gift cards for various stores, but some also offer additional incentives. Before you sign up for one of these, make sure the perks are worthwhile to you.
- Fetch prizes: With Fetch Rewards, you earn points for purchasing specified products that you can redeem for gift cards and other prizes. You scan your receipt from any store or restaurant, and you earn points when you buy brands that participate in Fetch Rewards.
- Drop: With this app, you can earn rewards points that can be used for cash back on future purchases. You can earn more points by playing games and taking surveys in addition to shopping using the Drop app.
- MyPoints: By completing surveys and other activities, you can earn coupons, deals, and promo codes in addition to points that you can redeem for gift cards or transfer to your PayPal account. Click on the gift box symbol to redeem your points.
Final Words
The prospect of receiving cashback is always appealing. However, never make a transaction you would not have made otherwise solely to obtain the points. Similarly, don’t redeem your points for gift cards to stores where you wouldn’t shop.
Finally, only you can decide whether the work required to obtain the cash or incentives is worthwhile. The bottom line with cash-back apps is that if they’re simple to use and earn you points on items you’d buy anyway, they may be a wonderful way to put some money back in your pocket.