Groceries are one of the biggest variable expenses for most people. To help you offset that cost, there are apps where you can scan receipts for money.
Here are our top apps to check out so you can get rewarded for shopping you already do.
Apps to Scan Receipts For Money
Let’s look at these apps and tips below to earn rewards each time you shop.
1. Fetch Rewards
?Apple 4.8 / Google Play 4.6
If you like to buy name-brand items, you can earn reward points with the Fetch app.
Fetch Rewards only requires your store to provide an itemized receipt.
Scan the receipt and you will earn rewards points for each item you purchase with an active offer. For each dollar spent, you earn ten points.
These points are redeemable for Visa gift cards, retail gift cards, or future grocery visits.
Make sure to enter the referral code C8MNU to get 1000 free points. Get your free sign-up bonus of $1.00 just for scanning your first receipt!
Related Article: 12 Apps Like Fetch Rewards
2. Pogo
?Apple 4.9 / Google Play 4.6
If you’re looking for an app that automatically credits you for purchases without any work, you’ve found it in Pogo.
Link your debit or credit card, and get credit for all purchases from a grocery store, retail store, or restaurant. You can even earn points for paying your bills.
There’s no minimum to cash out; for the most part, they also don’t penalize you for double-dipping with other cash-back rewards programs.
You can cash out via PayPal or Venmo, and the payout is instant.
Receive 300 points FREE when you sign up and link your bank card.
Learn More: Pogo App Review
3. Ibotta
?Apple 4.8 / Google Play 4.5
The largest and most popular receipt rewards app is Ibotta. Maybe your friends or family have talked about it before. This app is one of the quickest ways to make money on grocery trips.
Ibotta makes it easy to earn cash back at over 300 grocery store brands. Some of the national franchises include Walmart, Target, and Walgreens.
Ibotta deposits most cash rewards into your account after 48 hours.
Plus, get a $10 bonus after your first Ibotta purchase.
Related Article: 10 Apps Like Ibotta For The Most Cash Back
4. NCP Mobile
?Apple 4.3 / Google Play 4.5
NCP Mobile works slightly differently than some of the other apps mentioned here. With most apps, you activate offers before you shop.
But with National Consumer Panel, you activate offers after you’ve paid. This app works for all grocery and non-grocery purchases. All you have to do is scan the barcode of each product you buy along with the purchase price.
With each purchase, you earn points that you can redeem for cash, gift cards, and prizes. They also have cash drawings each week, month, and quarter.
5. Shopkick
?Apple 4.6 / Google Play 3.8
To get started, download the Shopkick app (available for iOS and Android) to your smartphone and turn on your phone’s GPS within the app. You can earn points just for walking into a store.
Once inside the store, see what product barcodes you can scan and enter price amounts. Shopkick will pay you to scan the barcodes of items you don’t purchase.
Also, you can earn points by scanning items at non-grocery stores. And by browsing online stores and watching videos online.
Get a $5 new user bonus using the code WALLET5.
6. ReceiptPal
?Apple 4.5 / Google Play 4.0
One of the most flexible ways to earn money by scanning receipts is with ReceiptPal. Unlike the other apps listed here, you earn points for each uploaded receipt.
And the best part is that it can be from almost any store.
In addition to scanning grocery receipts, you earn points with most other non-grocery purchases. These include oil changes, buying coffee or booking a hotel room.
After submitting four receipts, you earn 100 points. You can earn up to 300 points (12 receipts) each week.
7. TopCashback
?Apple 4.7 / Google Play 3.4
TopCashback is an online app that can help you earn cash-back rewards for your online purchases.
Getting cashback is easy with this app. Type the store name into the app to activate your shopping session. Then, the app routes you to the merchant’s website.
Once you purchase in that shopping session, TopCashback tracks your purchase. Usually, within 24 hours, your cashback is credited to your TopCashback account.
These cash rewards are payable by direct deposit, PayPal, and gift cards including Amazon.
With the potential to earn cash back at over 3,500 retailers, you can use TopCashback for more than just grocery shopping.
8. Rakuten
?Apple 4.8 / Google Play 3.8
A favorite online cashback portal is Rakuten. You can use them to save money at online grocery stores. Some options include Vitacost, Jet, GNC and Blue Apron.
You will never have to scan your receipt because Rakuten tracks your online purchases. Within two days, most purchase rewards are credited to your Rakuten account.
Once your rewards balance reaches $5, you can get paid by PayPal or check. Rakuten pays on a quarterly basis.
You can earn between 1% and 40% at over 2,000 retailers. But you most likely won’t earn cashback at your local grocery store.
Plus, first-time users will receive a $10 cash bonus after their first $25 purchase.
9. Checkout 51
?Apple 4.0 / Google Play 4.2
Checkout 51 is available to U.S. and Canadian grocery shoppers. The offers are updated each Thursday and are available on a “first come, first serve basis.” So, if you wait too long to claim it, the offer may no longer be available.
Also, you must scan all receipts by Wednesday at 11:59 PM in your time zone. Once the weekly offers reset, you can’t claim last week’s offers.
While some offers are store-specific, you can redeem almost all at any store in-person or online.
After activating the offer(s), buy the item and upload a copy of the receipt to Checkout 51. People like using Checkout 51 because you can browse offers from your computer and the mobile app.
10. Receipt Hog
?Apple 4.7 / Google Play 4.5
Receipt Hog tries to make grocery and non-grocery shopping fun with its interactive app.
You might consider this app because you get paid for shopping at any retail store. Even when you don’t buy a single grocery item, you earn rewards. But most offers are for grocery stores.
After shopping, snap a picture of your receipt and wait for Receipt Hog to credit you with rewards coins. What makes Receipt Hog fun is the multiple ways to earn bonus points.
You get free spins each time you upload a receipt or refer a friend to join Receipt Hog.
You can redeem your reward points for Amazon gift cards, PayPal cash, magazines and sweepstakes entries. Cash payments are available when you earn 1,000 coins which is the equivalent of $5.
11. Mobee
?Apple 4.2 / Google Play 3.7
For a unique twist on shopping for groceries, you might download Mobee. It is a shopping app that pays you to shop and review your shopping experience. Also, you might have the chance to mystery shop at a local grocery store.
After answering five to ten questions, your shopping trip review will be complete. Then you receive your points within 24 hours of completing the mission.
Redeem the points for PayPal cash, gift cards and merchandise prizes.
12. CheckPoints
?Apple 4.0 / Google Play 3.4
CheckPoints is a multi-faceted app. You can earn points by scanning the barcodes of your favorite products at your local grocery store.
You can earn points for your other online activities as well.
Ways to earn points:
- Watch videos
- Answer surveys
- Shop online
- Search the web
- Play games to win more points
If you currently use Swagbucks, this site will have a familiar platform.
However, with CheckPoints, you can scan product barcodes for points. This is one task that Swagbucks doesn’t currently offer.
13. CoinOut
?Apple 4.6 / Google Play 3.6
Do you buy groceries at Walmart or Sam’s Club? Coinout is a receipt-scanning app that pays you a flat 1.8% back on all food purchases.
Fans of the TV series Shark Tank may well remember CoinOut. You don’t have to redeem any offers. CoinOut only requires you to upload store receipts. Available on IOS and on Android.
If you buy groceries at Walmart or Sam’s Club, CoinOut gives you rewards points. And you can use other apps to redeem single-item offers to boost your earnings.
Right now, it doesn’t work at other stores that sell groceries. But you can also get cash back at non-food retail partners. These include eBay, Office Depot, Hotels.com, and others.
Learn More: Coinout Review: Is This Cash Back App Worth it
Tips to Maximize Earnings Scanning Receipts
Receipt scanning apps are an easy way to make money on every grocery store purchase. However, following the tips below can maximize your efforts.
In some cases, you might only save a few pennies more. Other times, you can save a few extra dollars following these tips.
Get a Grocery Store Loyalty
Most supermarkets offer store loyalty cards. They scan these cards at checkout so you can enjoy instant discounts.
For instance, you get five items for $5 with your card. But you pay $1.25 each without your store loyalty card.
These cards are free and offer exclusive discounts such as in store cash coupons to discounts on gas if they have a gas station associated with them.
Use In-Store Coupons Too
You will need to research the terms and conditions of each app, but you can usually “double coupon.” In this case, you can use a store’s coupon plus the app discount.
Of course, not every in-app offer will have a digital coupon. But it still pays to be on the lookout for both.
Double couponing lets you earn an instant cash back discount with the in-store coupon. And earn an additional reward using the digital app.
Shop with a Rewards Credit Card
If you have a rewards credit card, you can earn rewards points for each dollar you spend. And these points are separate from any app offer.
But this advice only applies if you pay your credit card balance in full every month.
Remember, the shopping app doesn’t care how you pay for your purchase. They are looking to see if you purchased the correct product and upload your receipt promptly.
Scan Your Receipt ASAP
Save those receipts and plan your week to include scanning receipts.
Or, instead of putting away your grocery receipt as soon as you unload your grocery bags, scan it right away. Some apps might only give you three days to scan your receipt.
Waiting to scan means you are more likely to forget to submit the receipt. So if you wait too long, you will miss earning any money for that trip.
It only takes a moment to share your grocery purchase and earn cash rewards by using the free apps mentioned here.
Maybe you have already stretched your budget to buy groceries at the lowest price. If so, these apps can return more money to your wallet with each visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really get paid for scanning receipts?
Yes, you can get rewarded for scanning your receipts. The earnings will be based on each app company’s payout process. Some will pay you in points to be redeemed for gift cards. Others may use PayPal.
Is scanning receipts for cash legit?
Yes, however, make sure the company is reputable. Check reviews on the app store or Trustpilot to ensure they are legit.
Are cash back apps worth it?
Yes, because it is easy to get paid for scanning your receipts. Simply take a photo of your receipt through your favorite app, earn points, and cash out.
What do they do with the information on my receipt?
Many marketing research companies are interested in what you buy. In fact, some of the apps give you more points for certain products like brand-name baby products. If you do not mind these companies knowing what you buy at the store, then why not get paid to tell them what cereal you buy?
Summary
As you can see, making money on every grocery store purchase is possible. Some apps pay you to buy certain brands. Others give you reward points regardless of which brand you buy.
So, the next time you shop, take a few seconds to scan your grocery receipts. Because no matter how you shop, these apps put money back into your pocket.
