5 Best Cashback Apps for Online Shopping That Everyone Should Consider Using

If there’s one cashback app I’m most excited to try, it’s Rakuten. Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is the big name everyone talks about, and for good reason. With over 12 million U.S. users and more than $1 billion paid out in cash back, it’s clear they’re doing something right.

Rakuten stands out as one of the best cashback apps for its sheer size and versatility. The app partners with 3,500+ retailers—think stores you already shop at regularly, like Target, Walmart, Macy’s, and Sephora. It even offers cash back for booking hotels, which immediately caught my eye. Planning a family trip is never cheap, so getting cash back on hotel stays is a huge win.

Even better, Rakuten often runs special promotions. For example, a store that typically offers 2% cash back might bump up to 10% during a limited-time deal. And with birthdays and holidays on the horizon, I can already see how those savings could add up.

Signing up is free and easy, and Rakuten sweetens the deal with a $30 welcome bonus after you spend $30 within the first 90 days.

I also constantly hear good things about Ibotta. People have been recommending it to me for years, and every time I mention how much I spend on groceries, I think to myself, “Why am I not using this yet?”

Ibotta is a dream for anyone buying groceries or making everyday purchases (so, basically all of us). It partners with over 300 retailers, big names like Walmart, Kroger, Target, and even online options like Amazon. 

One feature my friend swears by is the ability to link loyalty cards. Once connected, Ibotta automatically gives you cash back without needing to scan receipts, a major time saver for anyone juggling a busy schedule. 

The numbers speak for themselves: Ibotta has a 4.8/5 rating on the App Store and 4.5/5 on Google. The only downside is that their sign-up bonus is a less-than-exciting $5 after redeeming your first offer, yet it’s better than nothing. 

Honestly, if I can earn even a few dollars back each grocery trip, it’ll make using this app worth it.

Related: Need Some Fast Cash? 17 Ways to Make Good Money Over the Weekend

When it comes to the best cashback apps, Dosh feels like the ultimate no-fuss option, perfect for someone like me who doesn’t have time to track receipts or click through extra steps. It works automatically by linking my credit or debit card, and the second I make a purchase at a partner store, cashback rolls in. That’s it, no scanning, no uploading, no forgetting.

What I’m most excited about, though, is using Dosh for school supplies. They partner with online retailers like Staples, a place I rely on every year to stock up on notebooks, stationery, and more. With kids growing out of everything faster than I can keep up, saving a little on school supplies adds up quickly.

Dosh makes it easy to stack savings, too. I can shop the sales like I always do and still earn cash back on top of the deals. Plus, the app has stellar ratings, 4.7/5 on the App Store and 4.5/5 on Google Play. It’s clearly a platform that people trust.

If I’m being honest, I know I won’t stick with all five apps on this list forever. I want to test them out, see which ones actually work for me, and then stick with the keepers. TopCashback might just be one of those keepers, and its unique perks are what make it stand out.

The first thing that caught my attention? No minimum payout threshold. That means whether I earn $0.50 or $50 in cash back, I can cash it out whenever I want. Most apps make you wait until you’ve hit $10 or more, which can feel frustrating, especially when you’re just starting out.

Another feature I love is the option to redeem earnings as gift cards, often with a bonus percentage. For example, if I cash out as a gift card for a store like Amazon, I could get an extra 2-5% added to my payout. For someone who shops on Amazon regularly for home essentials and gifts, that’s basically free money.

TopCashback also claims to offer some of the highest cashback rates because they share 100% of the commissions they earn with their users. They partner with over 7,000 retailers, so whether I’m shopping for clothes, home goods, or holiday gifts, there’s a good chance I’ll earn cash back.

The flexibility alone makes TopCashback hard to ignore — and the gift card bonuses just sweeten the deal.

If there’s one app on this list that feels like a little extra hustle, it’s Swagbucks, and I mean that in the best way. Unlike other cashback apps that focus solely on shopping, Swagbucks gives you multiple ways to earn. You can rack up cash back just by doing small things in the background, like watching videos, taking surveys, or even searching the web. For someone like me who’s always looking for ways to make the most of my time, this is a game changer.

A friend of mine, who swears by Swagbucks, keeps telling me how quickly the points add up. She uses the app here and there throughout her day and says the rewards start to feel pretty satisfying after a while. Judging by the reviews, 4.4 out of 5 on both the App Store and Google Play, she’s not alone.

Swagbucks calls these rewards “SB points,” and there are a variety of ways to earn them. Shopping through the app works just like a regular cashback program, but it’s the little extras that really caught my attention. I can have short videos running in the background while I’m cooking or folding laundry, take a quick survey during a morning coffee break, or even earn points by simply searching the web using Swagbucks’ built-in search engine.

What I really like is how easy it is to redeem rewards. There’s no waiting around for weeks or months to cash out because Swagbucks has a low redemption threshold. Once I hit $5, I can choose to redeem points for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, or Starbucks, or transfer the cash directly to PayPal. Plus, Swagbucks offers a $10 sign-up bonus for spending $25 through the app within the first 30 days — an easy win.

Cashback apps might sound too good to be true, but they’re surprisingly simple to use. The process is quick, and straightforward, and doesn’t require much effort to start earning money back on purchases you’re already making.

First, you download and install the app on your phone or browser. Once it’s set up, you’ll need to create an account and, in some cases, link your credit or debit card for seamless tracking of purchases. Don’t worry, the best cashback apps use secure systems to protect your information.

Next, you browse the app for deals and activate offers before you shop. This might mean clicking on an online retailer through the app or selecting specific products eligible for cash back. From there, you simply make your purchase either directly through the app or using your linked accounts, depending on the platform.

Once the purchase is confirmed, the app does the rest. Your cashback earnings show up in the app’s wallet, ready for you to withdraw once you hit the minimum threshold, if there even is one. Many apps allow you to transfer funds directly to PayPal, Venmo, or your bank account.

But how do these apps actually pay you? Cashback apps earn money through affiliate commissions. When you shop through their links, retailers pay the app a small fee for sending them business. The app then shares a portion of that fee with you as cashback. It’s a win-win for everyone, you get rewarded for shopping, and the retailer gains a customer.

Also Read: Want to Save at Costco? 12 Tips and Tricks That Put Money Back in Your Pocket

Cashback apps are potentially one of the easiest ways to save money on the things you’re already buying. There’s no need to change your shopping habits, you simply earn a percentage of your purchase back. It’s like getting rewarded for doing something you’d do anyway.

Beyond earning cash, these apps often give you access to exclusive deals and promotions you won’t find elsewhere. Many retailers offer limited-time cashback bonuses through these apps, meaning you can snag higher percentages of cashback just by clicking through their links before you shop.

What really makes the best cashback apps is how you can stack savings. For example, you might use a cashback app during a big sale at your favorite retailer, combine it with online coupons, and then pay with a credit card that also earns cash back. That’s savings on top of savings. 

Cashback apps make saving easy, accessible, and automatic. It’s no wonder the cashback industry is growing and evolving every year. 

One of the most common questions people have about cashback apps is whether they’re safe to use. The good news is that reputable cashback apps take security seriously. They use encryption and other measures to protect your personal and financial information. After all, these apps rely on user trust to succeed.

That said, it’s always smart to be cautious when connecting your payment methods to any app. Before downloading a cashback app, take a moment to review its privacy policy. This will help you understand how your data is used and what measures the app has in place to keep it secure. Look for apps with a strong reputation and plenty of positive reviews, this is usually a good sign that they’re legitimate and trusted by other users.

Also, make sure to use strong, unique passwords for your accounts. Regularly check your linked bank or credit card accounts to ensure all transactions look correct.