Did you know your shopping receipts can actually make you money? Today, I’m sharing some of the best cashback apps that pay you for receipts.
Shopping is expensive. And if you are going to go shopping for groceries and home supplies, you might as well make some money back doing it.
You can’t deny how easy it is to take a picture of your receipt, upload it to your favorite cash-back apps, and watch the rewards come in!
When you know where to look, there’s a world full of phone apps you can use to earn rewards and real cash. Luckily, you don’t need to go far. I’ve curated all the best options for your spending (and saving) needs.
The Best Apps That Pay You for Receipts
These apps are all super easy to use, and creating an account on them is free.
Fun fact – You can use all of them simultaneously! This means you could get even more rewards than if you just used one of them.
And there are even more ways to earn rewards through these smartphone apps, too. Some of them let you shop through their apps and even offer special discounts to their members.
These are the top apps that will give you money or other rewards for scanning physical and digital receipts. Scroll to find the best receipt-scanning app for your needs.
1. Fetch Rewards
One of my favorite ways to earn cashback from scanning receipts is with Fetch Rewards. It’s really easy to use, and there are deals within the app that give you even more points back for buying certain brands or products.
For each receipt that you scan and upload to the app, you’ll earn a varying number of Fetch rewards points that can be redeemed for:
- Sweepstake entries
- Gift cards
- Cash via MasterCard or Visa prepaid cards
You can also earn additional points for connecting your email and Amazon accounts – eReceipts. They also reward you for referring friends to the app. One thousand points equals $1, and you can use those points for retail gift cards. Be sure to check out Holly’s full review of Fetch Rewards.
- Fetch Rewards gets a 3.9-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
2. Ibotta
Another popular receipt-scanning app is Ibotta! Scanning and uploading receipts is just one of the many ways you can earn cashback from this app.
Before you shop, complete the tasks related to your favorite brands and companies. Then, go shopping online or in person, scan the barcodes of the items you purchased, and snap a photo of your receipt.
As soon as your transaction has been verified, your account will be credited with the specified cashback amount.
This app also rewards you when you refer your friends! After your account accrues at least $10, you can request a payout via PayPal or Venmo or receive your rewards as gift cards from Best Buy, Amazon, Starbucks, Sephora, Walmart, and a bunch of other retailers.
In my opinion, Ibotta is one of the best cash-back apps. I’ve been using the Ibotta app for years now, and during this time, I’ve earned over $1,700 cashback!
- Ibotta gets a 3.8-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
3. Receipt Hog
Lots of people enjoy using Receipt Hog to earn cashback by taking pictures of your receipts.
After you scan and upload a receipt, you will earn virtual coins within the app. You can then trade these coins for cash via PayPal (easily transferred to your debit card), a Visa prepaid card, or an Amazon gift card.
It takes 1,000 virtual coins to earn $5. You can earn even more coins by taking surveys and connecting your Amazon account!
Please note: There is a limit on submitting receipts. You can submit 20 per week with this app!
4. Checkout51
Another app you should download and use is Checkout51 – it’s surging in popularity. It works similarly to the other apps on this list! Download the app and then scan and upload receipts to it.
I recommend checking out the app before you go shopping. They have lots of offers, and you can use these offers at any store.
Your account has to reach $20 before you can cash out, and they will mail you a check. Read their terms and conditions for more details about how it works.
5. Coupons.com
One of the most robust apps (and one of my favorites) is the one from Coupons.com. It can do much more than just scan receipts!
I love using this app to clip and save coupons. After I do that, I use these coupons in the store.
One hack I wanted to share with you is adding coupons to your store’s loyalty cards so you can save money at the store.
You can also take a photo of your receipts to get money back from your purchases. All the cashback you earn is sent to your PayPal account!
- Coupons.com gets a 2.6-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot, but it only has four reviews.
6. Receipt Pal
One of the easiest apps to use and understand is Receipt Pal. Like most of these apps, keep your receipts, scan them, and upload them to the app after you go shopping.
What I love most about this one is that it’s very clear how much you will earn. Every four receipts will give you 100 points. So, save your points and trade them for sweepstake entries, Amazon gift cards, and other retail gift cards!
Tip: If you connect your email address, you will earn a 300-point bonus. Then, the app will automatically scan all of your e-receipts and give you even more points when you shop online.
7. Shopkick
One of the best apps that pays you for receipts, Shopkick, gives you lots of ways to earn “kicks,” – and uploading receipts is just one.
Here is how you earn “kicks” through the app:
- Scan product barcodes
- Walk into stores
- Upload receipts
- Make an online purchase
- Watch in-app videos
- Make a purchase with your Visa or Mastercard
The earning potential is easy to understand, too (250 kicks equal $1 in gift cards). You can use those points for gift cards to places like Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, iTunes, and many more!
8. CoinOut
CoinOut is another smartphone app where you can earn points for your receipts. To get started, download the app, create an account, and verify your email address. With CoinOut, you can earn coins (points) for snapping pics of your receipts, connecting your email address, and connecting your Amazon, Walmart, Target, Instacart, Kroger, and Starbucks accounts. You can also earn additional coins from playing CoinFrenzy, taking surveys, and referring others to the app.
The coins you earn can be redeemed for Venmo, PayPal, Amazon gift cards, and gift cards from other retailers. You can cash out with as little as 3,000 coins, equal to a $3.00 Amazon gift card.
9. Upside
The Upside app, available for Android and Apple devices, offers cashback on essential purchases, including groceries, gas, and restaurants. They claim to offer up to 3x more cashback compared to other apps.
Simply install the app, sign up for an Upside account, and browse cashback offers available in your area.
Upside uses your zip code to show you the best deals in your location. When you’ve found a cash-back offer you like, claim the offer. Then, shop as usual through your credit or debit card.
Not all offers need a receipt, making this app extra convenient. Often, their “check-in” feature through your linked card is all that’s required.
When you’re ready to cash out, choose between gift cards, PayPal, or direct bank transfer.
10. TopCashback
TopCashback is partnered with over 7,000 retailers to earn you cashback at your favorite stores when shopping online through their portal.
They also offer “Snap & Save” promotions, giving cashback for receipts uploaded to their app or website. Through both functions, their members earn an average of $450 in cashback per year.
New members will earn a $5 cashback bonus after spending a minimum of $25 through the platform. Payout options include direct bank transfer, PayPal, and gift cards. You’ll even earn a small incentive if you choose to cash out through gift cards.
11. ReceiptJar
The ReceiptJar app is classic in function – upload your receipt from an online or in-store purchase and earn points in return. These points add up to cashback, redeemed through electronic gift cards. They also offer PayPal gift cards for more flexibility in your spending.
To earn bonus points, you can also play games or take surveys through the app. They even offer referral bonuses, giving you 200 points (equivalent to $1) for simply sharing your referral code.
12. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another great way to earn cashback, offering rewards for surveys, online and in-store shopping, playing games, and watching short videos.
They also have a receipt-scanning feature called “Magic Receipts.”
To take advantage of this feature, browse offers through the Swagbucks app or online portal. When you find an offer you like, add it to your shopping list. Purchase the product, take a picture of the receipt, and earn points once the purchase has been verified.
Points, or “SBs,” will vary based on the promotion. They can be traded for cashback through PayPal or gift cards to popular retailers.
More Ways to Make Money When You Shop
Beyond these apps that pay you for receipts, there are a few other ways you can earn cashback.
Rakuten
If you could earn 2-50% cashback on your purchases, why wouldn’t you? One of the easiest ways to do it is to shop through Rakuten.
It’s super easy to use!
Just create an account, log in, and find the stores where you want to shop. Rakuten records your transaction and pays you cashback via PayPal or check quarterly.
Rakuten also offers cash referral bonuses for referring friends and family to the platform. While there are numerous cashback sites to choose from, my favorite is Rakuten. Holly’s been using it since 2013, and during that time, she’s earned over $3,246 just shopping online!
- Rakuten gets a 4.5-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Credit Card Rewards
Another way to earn cashback is by using a credit card. Many credit cards will give you cashback rewards, which can be lucrative as long as you completely pay off your balance each month. For example, for each dollar spent — you can earn 1 point, and it takes 100 points to equal $1.
Apps That Pay You for Receipts: Final Thoughts
Who knew you could earn so many rewards and even cash just by scanning and uploading your receipts? It’s so easy!
The more apps you use, the more money and rewards you can earn. When you download and use these apps, pay attention to the minimum value you need before you cash out. Most of them will reward you for getting friends and family members to sign up for them, too, so share away!
Moving forward, be sure not to throw away your receipts! Turn your trash into cash and even rewards like gift cards to your favorite stores.
Originally published March 22, 2021. Content updated March 2025.