Super Savers, you know I’m always on the lookout for ways to stretch a dollar, and rebate apps have been a game-changer in my budgeting playbook. I currently use four rebate apps: Ibotta, Fetch, Receipt Hog, and Aisle. Here’s the lowdown on my experience so far.
Ibotta: The Cash Back Powerhouse
Ibotta offers a ton of rebates on everyday essentials—food, household goods, personal care items, and even toys, clothes, and auto accessories. Since I do most of my shopping in-store, I use itemized paper receipts to claim rebates. Walmart receipts are the easiest to process. The process is simple: I select rebate offers in the app, snap a photo of my receipt, and wait for Ibotta to approve the qualifying purchases. If you shop online or have a rewards account, you can link it to bypass the receipt-scanning step, though this isn’t available for all retailers. Online shoppers get a percentage back on the total spent rather than redeeming individual offers. Bonus: You can also get cash back by purchasing gift cards through Ibotta.
I recently discovered that Ibotta's website is much more useful than it was a few years ago. You can now add offers directly to your account via the website, and the selections appear in the mobile app too. You can also cash out through the website, and online shopping cash back is available there as well. I love that the website mirrors the app instead of the other way around. The only thing you can’t do on the website is redeem offers or submit receipts.
After a few years of using Ibotta, I’ve only ever cashed out via PayPal, using the funds to pay my cell phone bill or roll them back into my grocery budget. You need at least $20 to cash out, but once you hit that mark, the money arrives in minutes.
Fetch: The Effortless Points Collector
Fetch may not have as many rebates as Ibotta, but it partners with plenty of brands, especially General Mills through the Good Rewards loyalty program. What I love about Fetch is that there’s no need to pre-select offers. Just snap a picture of your itemized receipt, and Fetch finds any applicable rewards for you. Plus, they give you points just for submitting a receipt, even if no specific offers apply! You can also earn points through linked email receipts and online purchases.
For me, Fetch Play is the real MVP. I don’t buy a lot of qualifying products, so earning points from purchases alone can be slow. But with Fetch Play, I earn way more points while having fun. Fetch tracks my gameplay as I play qualifying mobile games. Redemption starts at around 3,000-5,000 points ($3-$5), with a massive selection of gift cards available. Sweepstakes entries are also an option if you’re feeling lucky. The only cash-like option is a virtual prepaid Visa, and gift card processing takes about three days.
Receipt Hog: The Receipt Recycler
Receipt Hog isn’t a traditional rebate app—it doesn’t reward you for buying specific products or shopping at particular stores. Instead, it gives points based on how much you spend, regardless of what you buy. More spending means a higher point payout. Paper and eReceipts both count, making it super flexible.
Redemption starts at $5, and you can cash out via PayPal, a virtual prepaid Visa card, or an Amazon gift card. I’ve now redeemed my Receipt Hog balance for $15 PayPal cash. Although they say it can take up to 7 days to receive your reward, I got my cash in just 3 days! I’ve been using it for less than a year and had been waiting for a bigger payout, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Aisle: The Text-and-Earn Rebate System
Aisle is the newest app in my lineup—I’ve been using it for just two weeks. Unlike the other apps, Aisle focuses on niche, health-focused brands, which is perfect for me since I spend a lot on those products.
Aisle’s process is unique: while an app is available, I primarily use their website to browse offers. I select the ones I’m interested in, provide my phone number, and receive a text with the offer details. Then, I simply reply with a photo of my receipt. So far, my purchases have been approved within 48 hours, and there’s no minimum balance required to cash out. Once a purchase is approved, the money goes straight to my PayPal or Venmo account.
Final Thoughts
Each of these apps has its own strengths, and I use them in combination to maximize my savings. Ibotta is great for stacking rebates, Fetch is effortless and fun with its game rewards, Receipt Hog turns all receipts into cash, and Aisle offers quick payouts on specialty items. This post is an updated version, so be sure to check out the new insights and improvements—especially the Ibotta website features! If you’re not using rebate apps yet, I highly recommend giving them a shot—you could be leaving free money on the table!
Which rebate apps are you using? Let’s swap tips in the comments!
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