5 of the Best Reward and Cashback Apps

They say nothing in life is free. Well, “they” clearly have never read a list of the best cashback apps. Or a list of any rewards apps at all. 

Many credit cards provide some form of cashback offers, but with the right personal finance apps, you can take your cash rewards game to the next level. 

Many of these reward apps are free to use, unless you consider the time you spend downloading them to be an investment. Even if you do, it is probably an investment worth making, cause a little time could help you save money. 

Reward App No. 1:  Sweatcoin

Maintaining your finance goals and maintaining your fitness goals are two of the most annoying parts of being a human being in a modern society. If only there was a way to address these two challenges at the same time. 

Enter Sweatcoin. 

Sweatcoin counts your physical steps and converts those steps into a currency that can be spent on Amazon offers, gift cards, Paypal cash, and other specific products, including many connected to exercise and living a more healthy lifestyle. 

Sweatcoin has big goals, claiming the following on their site: “Soon Sweatcoins will be a universally accepted form of payment.” Whether or not Sweatcoin achieves that dream any time soon is another story. However, it’s a free app, so what do you have to lose? At the very least, it’s a way to turn your smartphone into a step tracker. 

Reward App No. 2:  CashKarma

Do you like taking surveys? Probably not. What if you could earn perks in exchange?

CashKarma offers rewards in exchange for your time taking their surveys. The more surveys you take, the more points you will receive, and then you can drop those points on rewards from Walmart, Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and more. 

There’s a sign-up bonus and additional points when you earn certain “achievement” badges. It’s free to use, so there’s no risk to try it out, but be aware that Play Store reviews suggest there have been some bugs with the Android version for some users.

Reward App No. 3: Ibotta

A store loyalty card can save you a lot of extra cash in the long run. But odds are you shop at more than one store. 

Ibotta lets you earn instant rebates when shopping at a wide variety of stores, such as electronic outlets like Best Buy, grocery stores like Whole Foods or Kroger, pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS, as well as many online shopping options.

Essentially, your Ibotta account gives you the benefit of having a vault full of different loyalty cards and promo codes all in one mobile app. They have so many different partnerships, odds are their collection includes some of your favorite stores.

There are a few different methods you can use to earn your payout. Some stores will be able to scan a bar code inside the Ibotta app, while you may have to take a photo of your receipt to redeem other offers. Online stores have their own methods. You can find more info on their "How Does It Work" page.    

Reward App No. 4:  Checkout 51

Checkout 51 is similar to Ibotta. It also allows you to redeem offers on products and earn extra money by taking a picture of your receipt. Unlike Ibotta, it is more specifically focused around grocery shopping. 

Online purchases aren’t always quite as easy to redeem as they are with Ibotta. You always have to take a picture of the receipt and submit it. On the other hand, Checkout 51 does allow you to curate your preference for the kinds of deals it can show you.

Whether you try one, the other, or even both, it’s a modern replacement for the coupon clipping that used to precede a trip to the grocery store.

Reward App No. 5: Swagbucks

Swagbucks allows you to earn points by doing a variety of designated activities across the internet, including playing games, watching videos, using their search engine, and shopping online. The points you earn can be converted into free gift cards or converted to cash to fill out your bank account.

If that sounds like something that  might interest you, then feel free to check out the mobile app. 

The best things in life are free, but proceed with caution

Most of these apps are free to use, so you should feel free to try out as many as you would like or google other cashback sites as well. Just make sure to always read reviews so you aren’t rewarded with a scam.