These days, shopping online is more convenient than it has ever been. However, it is now more difficult than ever to determine whether or not you are genuinely receiving the most value for your money (a phenomenon that I have now dubbed “savings FOMO”). Even the reviews on Amazon aren’t to be trusted anymore because so many of them are fraudulent and paid for.
I’m sorry if I just busted your gullible bubble (gullibubble! ), but having a healthy dose of scepticism regarding the “bargains” you find as you shop is actually a very good thing to have. Sorry to be the one to do it. This mistrust works to my favour because I download apps that allow me to earn money while I shop.
Using couponing apps, you can really make money (in addition to, of course, saving money) while you are doing your online shopping. You can put away your scissors now, everyone. These programmes take care of the unpleasant tasks for you. Also, don’t forget about the best deal that’s ever been offered: if you don’t buy anything, everything is one hundred percent off. But I’m not going to get on my soapbox till another time.
Before I get into the apps that make money, I want to give the most important tip I’ve ever learned: Computers, either a desktop or a laptop, can be used to shop. I am fully aware that it is much more convenient to do your shopping on your smartphone. When you use a real computer, on the other hand, you have access to a far wider range of options, including browser extensions. Yep, it’s true. When you purchase for things using your mobile device, you run the risk of missing out on some seriously delicious savings chances.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about how you can make money while you buy by using apps to get cash back, discount codes, price comparisons, and a whole lot more.
The Top 10 Money-Making Apps:
1. Honey
Honey is one of the most user-friendly options available for making money through the use of mobile applications. Not only will they apply coupons to your online shopping basket in an automated fashion, but they will also pay you cash back in the form of Honey Gold simply for completing purchases in the manner in which you would typically do so. Honey is a free service that searches the internet for you to find bargains, discounts, and promotional codes on whatever it is that you are shopping for. In the event that you are not familiar with Honey, we will explain it below. Honey is available for download as an extension for the Chrome and Safari browsers, or you may utilise their mobile app. In addition to that, they provide a Honey Mobile Safari Extension that is compatible with your iPhone!
Honey will notify you via pop-up alerts whenever you are doing online shopping to let you know if you are receiving the best possible price. And when you check out, they will automatically check to see if you have any applicable coupons. To die for, wouldn’t you say? In addition, Honey has a feature known as Droplist. If you’ve had your eye on a pair of Apple Airpods Pro but don’t want to pay the full price for them, you can add them to Droplist and the company will inform you when they go on sale (so you don’t have to keep checking… every single day). Using Honey, I’ve been able to accumulate nearly $5,000 in savings on various purchases and earn $175 in rebates. Not too bad at all.
Coupons and cash back on purchases are provided to you automatically, which is a definite plus.
The cash back that you earn from using this app is lower compared to other similar apps.
Their revenue comes from the commission that they receive from various retailers.
How to shop: Use the app for iOS and Android or the browser extension for Chrome and Safari.
2. Rakuten
The possibility to receive cash back is Rakuten’s most appealing selling point. You can earn up to ten percent cash back just by buying at the same stores you do on a regular basis (provided that you utilise the link to Rakuten’s website whenever you shop online). They will allow you to cash out your rewards every three months and either send the money to your PayPal account or, if you want, they will cut you a physical check if you want to go with the old fashioned method. Over two billion dollars’ worth of cash has been returned to Rakuten’s members to this point. 1
But keep in mind: your actions should be deliberate. Do not just start buying without a plan. Only purchase items that you had planned to purchase in the near future. In-store purchases do not preclude the possibility of earning cash back, contrary to what you may have believed. Easily take advantage of this promotion by linking it to your debit card and making payments in-store using your card. Shouldn’t be too hard, right?
If you have the Rakuten browser extension installed on your computer, the company will notify you whenever the item you are looking at is available on another website at a lower price. For instance, I was searching for a pair of shoes on the Nike website, and Rakuten informed me that I could acquire the exact same pair at Shoe Carnival for a discount of $6. Score! In addition, new members are eligible for a cash bonus of up to ten dollars if they spend a total of twenty-five dollars within the first three months of their membership. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t spend money merely to get it back afterwards. Only spend money on things that were already factored into your financial strategy.
The advantages are that they will assist you in finding the greatest offers and that you will receive a sign-up bonus in addition to up to ten percent cash back.
The rewards are only processed once every three months.
Their commission comes from various stores and advertising, which is how they make their money.
How to shop: Use the app for iOS and Android or the browser extension for Chrome and Safari.
3. RetailMeNot
If you are someone who enjoys finding good deals, you have most likely heard of this particular one. RetailMeNot is the first website that I go to if I am doing any kind of buying online. It is simple to do, it does not take much time, and it tells me whether there is a coupon code or a discount available for whatever it is that I am going to purchase, be it a new pair of shoes or a pizza. In addition, just like Honey Gold and Rakuten, RetailMeNot gives its account holders the opportunity to earn cash back (up to $50), in this case on qualifying purchases. On the same transaction, they will even let you get cash back and utilise a promotional code for a discount at the same time. Now you’re getting where I’m going with this!
And when it comes time to cash out your winnings, they will either Venmo it to you or transfer the money to your PayPal account. Just keep in mind that the approval process for your purchases can take some time. The process takes approximately 45 days for RetailMeNot.
Advantages: You can earn cash back and receive discounts at a large number of different retailers.
Negative aspect: It can take a bit to receive the monetary rewards you’ve earned.
Their revenue comes from the commission that they receive from various retailers.
How to shop: Use the website or the app for iOS and Android.
4. Camelcamelcamel.com
There is no connection or link between this camel and the Camelcamelcamel website, which is a free Amazon price tracker. Even though you can’t really make money with this software, it’s a fantastic method to cut costs and save cash. Their price watch is one of the most important tools that they provide for customers. You are able to sign up for alerts on the items that you are interested in, and they will notify you when the price is reduced on those items. Isn’t it pretty awesome? Let’s imagine you’re looking for a new television but you don’t want to spend the full amount that it is listed for on Amazon. Because of this, they offer a free browser plugin known as the Camelizer (is that not the most rock ‘n’ roll name?). Simply sign up for notifications when prices drop, and before you know it, you’ll get an email alerting you that it’s the perfect time to make a purchase of the item in question.
This website is wonderful not only because it is free but also because it helps you save time. In addition to this, you will be able to view the pricing history of the item that you are purchasing, which will allow you to determine whether or not you are receiving the greatest deal possible.
The Amazon price tracker is provided to you free of charge.
Cons It’s possible that it won’t have all of the features you’re looking for.
Their commission comes from sales made through Amazon, which is how they make their money.
How to shop: Use the website or the browser extension on Chrome.
5. Ibotta
You can earn money by using the Ibotta app. Using this software, earning cash back incentives either in-store or online is made quite simple and straightforward. The only thing you need to do is download the app (or the browser extension), add the deals you want to take advantage of, go shopping, and then scan your receipt if you did your shopping in a physical location. The cash back offers made available by Ibotta change depending on the retailer or brand that you are purchasing from.
You can get cash back on gift cards as well, in case you’re the kind of person who likes to use such. And if your balance hits $20 or more, you have the option of transferring it directly to your bank account, PayPal, or Venmo rather than purchasing additional gift cards (which encourages even more spending). In addition to that, I feel obligated to remark that the welcome incentives are quite generous. Within the first month of using it, you have the potential to earn $20. Keep in mind that this app is all about brands, and depending on the cash back, it may steer you toward one brand over another. This is something to keep in mind. If you want to save some money, don’t buy the more expensive brand name product; that’s how they get you in the end.
Benefits: You can earn cash back on purchases made in stores as well as those made online.
Cons: You will be subjected to advertisements, you will be required to add the offers prior to making purchases, and you will be required to upload receipts after making in-store purchases.
Their commission comes from retailers and advertisements, which is how they make their money.
How to shop: Use the app for iOS or Android and the browser extension for Chrome.
6. Retrieve Your Rewards
You may also make money by using the Fetch Rewards app, and in contrast to a lot of other applications, it will allow you pay out with as little as $3 after you’ve already redeemed your points for the first time. The one and only catch is that you can only withdraw cash in the form of goods like gift cards or magazines. That is not nearly as beneficial as having actual cash in hand.
Utilizing Fetch Rewards is a simple process. Take a picture of your receipt from any store you shopped at (digital receipts are also acceptable), and you’ll get at least 25 points credited to your account for that experience. And if you really want to rack up those points, Fetch will reward you even more if you shop at certain places or buy certain types of products. The beneficial aspect of this is that you are not need to add any offers to your app in order to use it (which I love). And last but not least, Fetch gives you a full two weeks to upload your receipt once you’ve completed your purchase.
The ability to earn points no matter where you shop is a definite pro.
Gift cards and magazine subscriptions are the only things that can be cashed out for.
Their commissions come from partnerships they have with particular brands, which is how they generate their money.
How to shop: Use the app for iOS or Android.
7. Target
You’ve probably heard of Target; it’s just the best place to shop at for… everything you could ever need. You are missing out on potential savings on your purchases if you are not making use of the Target Circle Rewards feature available within the Target mobile app. One of the aspects of the Target Circle deals that I appreciate the most is that you can organise them according to the size of the discount, which can be as high as fifty percent off. Now, before you go crazy and start buying things you don’t need just because they are on sale, let me warn you: However, utilising this tool may result in cost savings on something that you were already planning to buy (remember to stick to the list!). If you are someone who, like me, doesn’t care about the brands that an item is associated with, then this is an excellent approach to save money on your upcoming shopping trip.
By using the Target app, you can earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases in addition to receiving discounts within the app. Make sure that you have the coupons downloaded on your app before you go shopping. Additionally, if you want to save even more money, you may earn an instant discount of 5% on all of your purchases by applying for the Target Debit Card, often known as the RedCard. Be cautious, however, that you do not mix it with the credit card that they provide (also called the RedCard).
The RedCard can help you save money, and the app allows you to narrow your search by discount type.
Con: In order to shop, you will first need to add deals.
They operate as a countrywide retailer, which is how they make their money.
How to shop: Use the website or the app for iOS or Android.
8. Slickdeals
Another app that can save you money when you’re shopping for a specific item is called Slickdeals, and you should keep it in mind. They market themselves as the app that makes you a more savvy shopper and helps you save more money. You can sign up for a personalised bargain alert using this app (or browser extension), after typing in the item that you are interested in purchasing. They will inform you when your item is going on sale or when there may be a deal available for it. Remember that this app does push and publicise specific offers, and those deals might not even be the very greatest deals that are available on that item at this time.
In addition to that, they offer their own own cash back programme which is known as Slickdeals Rewards. You will accumulate points that can later be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash when you make purchases via their website, app, or browser extension. These points can also be used to pay for future purchases. You are able to vote on offers and publish new deals yourself on Slickdeals, allowing you to let others in on the money-saving deliciousness without having to clip coupons. This is another one of Slickdeals’ unique features. Personally, that is the aspect that stands out to me the most.
The benefits include cash back and personalised deal alerts.
Con: The offers that are promoted may not necessarily be the greatest deals.
Retailers provide them with revenue in the form of commissions and advertisements, respectively.
How to shop: Use their website, the app for iOS or Android, or the browser extension for Chrome.
9. Dosh
The fact that Dosh is so simple to use is maybe the feature that stands out the most (no receipt scanning, offer loading, or even promo codes). Isn’t it true that the less problems there are, the better? Because Dosh requires you to attach your debit card directly to the app, the process is quite simple. Then, whenever you make a purchase, the cash back will be sent to your Dosh wallet. But here’s the most important part: Because not all debit cards are compatible with Dosh, you will need to do some research to see whether or not your debit card receives cash back. If you do end up earning cash back, once you have $25 in your cash back account, you have the option of transferring it to your bank account, using PayPal or Venmo, or donating it to a charitable organisation. That is very impressive indeed.
P.S. In case you were worried about your privacy, Dosh does not actually save any of your card information. Your data in Dosh is tokenized and vaulted using Braintree, which is a part of PayPal. If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’d like to get a little technical about this (one of the most trusted payment platforms out there). On top of that, the Dosh app encrypts all transactions that take place within it using SSL, making it extremely improbable that the data may be viewed by any unauthorised parties.
You won’t need to scan your receipts or load your offers before you make a purchase, which is a significant advantage.
Con: In order to gain points, you must first attach a card to your account (thus spending cash is ineffective).
Their revenue comes from the commission that they receive from various retailers.
How to shop: Use the app for iOS or Android.
10. Swagbucks
Swagbucks should be the next app on your download list if you are seeking for a way to make money using a mobile app. When you shop online with Swagbucks, you have the opportunity to earn points, but you also have the opportunity to earn points by completing surveys, browsing the web, making referrals, playing games, watching videos, and many other activities. When you use the browser extension known as the SwagButton (which has a name that is almost as cool as the Camelizer), you will be able to receive notifications about offers whenever you are shopping online.
In addition, when you sign up for a free account with Swagbucks, you are eligible to receive a bonus of $10 when you spend $25 at a store that is approved by Swagbucks within the first 30 days of your account. I have to mention it one more for the people in the back: the best buy is one that gives you a discount of one hundred percent and doesn’t cost you any money (because you aren’t spending any money).
The fact that you can earn cash back through activities other than spending is a definite plus.
Con: It’s possible that the points won’t be worth the work you put in.
Their commission, which comes from sales to businesses and shops, is how they make their money.
How to shop: Use their website, the app for iOS or Android, or the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox or Edge.
The Best App to Make Money
Now that you’ve used up all of the available storage space on your smartphone thanks to all of these apps (I presently have 284 apps on my phone—send assistance), I want to talk to you about the one app that will most certainly save you money on a monthly basis, and that app is EveryDollar.
You got that right. EveryDollar is, in my opinion, the best budgeting tool available, and it’s the one I use to keep tabs on my own finances and keep an eye on where my money is going. Not only is it completely free, but it also enables you to create a zero-based budget, which helps you save money each and every month. You can find money you didn’t even know you had if you look hard enough and are intentional about it, and if you stick to the budget. Now you’re getting where I’m going with this.
