Is Shopkick Legit? My Honest Review

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Shopkick Review

Shopkick is an app that allows users to earn rewards points, which can be exchanged for gift cards at many popular retailers. 

However, it will take some time and energy to build up points through Shopkick. Here’s what you need to know about this rewards app. 

shopkick logo
4.2
Overall Rating

Summary

Shopkick provides an opportunity to earn kicks for shopping at your favorite stores in person or online. You can redeem these points for popular gift cards. But expect that it can take some time and energy to complete kick opportunities.

  • Ease of use

    5

  • Cost

    5

  • Earning potential

    2.5

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Earn kicks without spending
  • Earn kicks for referring friends

Cons

  • Time consuming to visit stores
  • Must provide location information
  • May have limited opportunities in some locations

What is Shopkick?

shopkick app home page

Shopkick is an app that allows you to earn rewards points called ‘kicks’ that can be redeemed for gift cards. You can earn kicks online, in person, or through referrals.

Once you build up your points, you can exchange them for a gift card. There is no shortage of options for choosing a gift card. You’ll find a wide selection of stores available. 

A few stores where you can get gift cards include: 

  • Amazon
  • AMC
  • American Eagle
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Best Buy
  • Disney
  • Starbucks
  • Target
  • Ulta

You can continue building points for as long as you’d like. While it may sound too good to be true, the app is a legitimate way to earn rewards points you can cash in for gift cards.

Is Shopkick legit?

Yes, Shopkick is a safe app to download. Millions of users have successfully used it since its launch. 

If you link your debit or credit card, it’s important to note that Shopkick won’t store or display your card’s information. Instead, the data is safely and securely stored with Mastercard or Visa.

Who is Shopkick For?

If you are already a regular shopper at Shopkick’s partner stores, you can likely earn a few dollars in gift cards each week by checking in regularly. 

These rewards could help you cover smaller expenses or have ‘treat yourself moments’ without compromising your budgeting goals. The app is excellent for people who live in major metropolitan areas since it works with large retailers.

If you live in a big city, you’ll have a higher chance of earning kicks. Additionally, Shopkick is ideal for people who shop online at companies that partner with the app.

Who Shouldn’t Use Shopkick?

If you need to earn money quickly, Shopkick is not for you. The platform is not a get-rich-quick scheme, so it may not have a significant impact on your long-term financial plans. Consider pursuing gig opportunities on the other side if you need to make money fast.

Furthermore, if you are concerned about privacy, Shopkick might not be the right platform since you have to allow the app to track you. Consequently, you might decide that the invasion of privacy isn’t worth it.

How Does Shopkick Work?

Are you interested in trying Shopkick? Here’s a closer look at how the app works. To get started, you’ll need to download the app. Shopkick is available on iOS and Android devices.

After you download the app, you’ll be asked to choose a gift card you’d like to work towards earning. The platform says you can change your selection at any time. Next, you’ll enter your email, choose a password, and add your birthday.

You can also register using your Apple, Google, or Facebook account. The app will then request location access so you can earn nearby kicks. The goal of a Shopkick user is to earn kicks. Here are the different ways you can make that happen. 

Earn Kicks In-store

The first method of earning kicks is to visit your local brick-and-mortar stores. Before you go shopping, you can check in with the app to see which stores are participating in your area. 

Keep in mind that you’ll need to turn on your location and allow the app to track your movements throughout your visit. 

Once in the store, you can see which product barcodes can be scanned for kicks. With each scan, you will earn kicks. You’ll still receive some kicks if you decide not to buy the product. 

However, you can purchase the items for even more kicks at the end of your shopping experience. If you buy the items, you must scan your receipt as proof of purchase. 

Here’s where you will see available kicks:

shopkick activities to earn rewards

Earn Kicks Online

You don’t have to leave your house to find opportunities to earn kicks. There are a couple of ways to earn rewards from the comfort of your couch.

First, you can rack up kicks online without making a purchase. Shopkick will reward you when you watch videos or take the time to learn about new products within the app. Each video and learning experience will come with points attached. 

Beyond that, you can earn kicks by shopping online through the app. You will earn kicks if you make your online purchases through the Shopkick interface. Plus, you can earn kicks for linking a credit or debit card to your Shopkick account for easy purchasing. 

Here’s what you’ll see when shopping online through Shopkick:

Shopkick app screenshot with Hulu and Sephora rewards

Earn Kicks By Referring Friends

The final way to earn kicks is by referring your friends to the app. You can earn up to 25,000 kicks by inviting friends to sign up. That’s equal to 100 friends.

How to Redeem Your Points From Shopkick?

shopkick kicks center

After earning kicks, you can redeem them for gift cards or get paid cash via PayPal.

You’ll see your progress towards a particular gift card goal along the way. Depending on the type of gift card you choose, you may receive a digital gift card that is available immediately. In other cases, the gift card will arrive in the mail. 

How Much Can You Earn on Shopkick?

As with all income opportunities, the amount you can earn with Shopkick will vary based on the time you put into it. With Shopkick, it can take a substantial amount of time in the store to build up points. 

Although the number of points you earn per scanned item will vary, it may not add up as quickly as you’d like. In most cases, 250 kicks are worth $1. As a result, it can take considerable time and effort to build up points without making any purchases. 

If you make purchases through Shopkick, you may find that the points add up more quickly. However, you’ll need to consider the cost of the purchases you make. 

Based on this information, a frequent shopper could earn a few dollars per week using Shopkick. If you are already at the store, this could be a nice little boost to your wallet. Don’t count on Shopkick replacing any substantial portion of your income. 

Shopkick FAQs

Before you sign up for Shopkick, you may have additional questions. Here are some answers that can help you determine if the platform is right for you.

Is Shopkick safe to use?

Yes. Shopkick is a safe app to download. Millions of users have successfully used Shopkick since it launched. 

If you link your debit or credit card, it’s important to note that Shopkick won’t store or display your card’s information. Instead, the information is safely and securely stored with Mastercard or Visa.

Is Shopkick legit?

Shopkick is a legit app that will reward you for your time. Although it may take some effort to build up kicks for the gift card of your choice, you can expect a real gift card in exchange for your efforts. 

The company is able to provide these gift cards because brands compensate Shopkick anytime you interact with a new product. 

What customer service options does Shopkick offer?

You can reach out to Shopkick through their email request form. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a phone number to call if you run into any issues. 

Do I have to spend money to earn kicks?

No. However, you will earn kicks faster and be able to get gift cards sooner if you make purchases.

Is Shopkick worth it?

You will likely only earn a few dollars each week through Shopkick. If you already frequent Shopkick stores, then you might want to take advantage of this opportunity. 
That said, if you aren’t a frequent shopper, the app likely isn’t worth it for you. 

Other Shopkick Reviews

Shopkick sounds like a valuable way to earn some extra money during your store visits. But what do their current users have to say?

Shopkick earned 3.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. With 825 reviews, around 70% of users reported an excellent experience. 

Here are a few Trustpilot reviews about Shopkick:

“This is an excellent app that offers plenty of opportunities for people to get kicks. They always give gift cards for your kicks.”

Trevor D.

“I shopped through here to get money back and never got my money for shopping with Shopkick.”

Chrissy

Shopkick earned higher ratings on the Apple Store and on Google Play.

Over 68.7k Apple App Store users gave Shopkick 4.6 out of 5 stars. Shopkick also earned high praise on the Google Play store with a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on over 229k reviews. 

Here are some reviews Shopkick users have shared on the various app stores:

“Works great was able to get $100. In gift cards last year.” –

Lisa M.

“I’ve tried repeatedly to get my gift cards from this app! But every time I attempt to fulfill my reward, I get an error on the app, and it tells me that it’s unable to fulfill my request at this time.”

Summary

Shopkick can be a fun way to earn a few dollars while you shop. However, it will not replace your income. Nevertheless, it does offer a way to earn rewards. As a result, if you are looking for an easy way to get some free gift cards, Shopkick could be a great option.

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