10+ Apps to Scan Receipts For Money (Like Fetch & Ibotta)

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.

Key Takeaways

You can scan receipts with your phone to get paid in cash or gift cards
Some apps will work at any store, while others only work at grocery stores
There are also apps where you can link a credit card and get rewards for your purchases

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

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!

2. Pogo

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.

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; the payout is instant. Receive 300 points FREE when you sign up and link your bank card.

Learn More: Pogo App Review

3. Ibotta

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 earning cash back at over 300 grocery store brands easy. 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.

4. NCP Mobile

NCP Mobile works slightly differently from 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. Just scan the barcode of each product you buy and 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

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 WALLET.

6. ReceiptPal

One of the most flexible ways to earn money is by scanning receipts with ReceiptPal. Unlike the other apps listed here, you earn points for each uploaded receipt. The best part is that it can submit receipts from almost any store.

In addition to scanning grocery receipts, you earn points on most other non-grocery purchases, such as oil changes, coffee purchases, or hotel room bookings.

After submitting four receipts, you earn 100 points. You can earn up to 300 points (12 receipts) each week.

7. TopCashback

TopCashback is an online app that allows you to earn cash-back rewards for online purchases. It makes getting cashback easy. Type the store name into the app to activate your shopping session. Then, the app routes you to the merchant’s website.

Once you make a purchase in that shopping session, TopCashback tracks your purchase. Usually, your cashback is credited to your TopCashback account within 24 hours. 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 grocery shopping.

Read our TopCashback review.

8. Rakuten

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 be paid by PayPal or check.

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. First-time users will receive a $10 cash bonus after their first $25 purchase.

9. Checkout 51

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 served basis.” So, if you wait too long to claim an offer, it 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 they can browse offers from their computers and mobile apps.

10. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog tries to make grocery and non-grocery shopping fun with its interactive app. You might consider this app because you get paid to shop at any retail store. You earn rewards even when you don’t buy a single grocery item. 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 when 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 equivalent to $5.

11. Mobee

For a unique twist on grocery shopping, check out Mobee. It is a shopping app that pays you to shop and reviews your shopping experience. You might also have the chance to mystery shop at a local grocery store.

Your shopping trip review will be complete after you answer five to ten questions. You will receive your points within 24 hours of completing the mission.

Redeem the points for PayPal cash, gift cards, and merchandise prizes.

12. CheckPoints

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, CheckPoints allows you to scan product barcodes for points, a task that Swagbucks doesn’t currently offer.

13. CoinOut

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.

If you buy groceries at Walmart or Sam’s Club, CoinOut gives you rewards points. You can also use other apps to redeem single-item offers and boost earnings.

Right now, it doesn’t work at other stores that sell groceries. However, you can also get cash back from non-food retail partners like eBay, Office Depot, Hotels.com, and others.

Learn More: Coinout Review: Is This Cash Back App Worth It

Tips to Maximize Your 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 free cards offer exclusive discounts, such as in-store cash coupons and gas discounts if a gas station is associated with them.

Use In-Store Coupons Too

You must research each app’s terms and conditions, but you can usually use a “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 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 to 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 money for that trip. Using the free apps mentioned here, you can share your grocery purchases and earn cash rewards in just a moment.

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, cash-back apps are worth it because it is easy to get paid for scanning receipts. 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. Some 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, why not get paid to tell them what cereal you buy?

How To Scan Receipts for Money – 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, scan your grocery receipts for a few seconds. Because no matter how you shop, these apps put money back into your pocket.

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