Everyone wants to save an extra buck or earn for their spending. But with so many options, many are hesitant to take a step towards extra savings. There are a plethora of apps and websites claiming to offer free cash back or promotions for joining their clubs. Which ones should you choose? Which ones can you trust? I'm here today to help you understand how these apps work, their benefits, and why adding these helpful apps to your existing shopping routines is a no-brainer. For those who want to let their money work for them, I'll also present investing brokers who offer an easy way to help you get started and reward you for funding an account. All apps are available on desktop, IOS, and Android.
Best-Of List Summary
Best Passive Savings App - DO$H
Best Semi-Passive Savings App - FETCH
Best App For Earning Crypto - lolli
Best No-Expense App - SwagBucks
Best Pre-Purchase Everyday Savings App - Ibotta
Best Savings App for Online Shopping - Rakuten
Best Savings App for Gas & Local Shopping - Upside
How do they work?
What's the catch? It's a great question! Though there is a simple answer. The companies running these cash-back incentive apps agree with big box retailers or individual brands to promote their products on their apps. Depending on the cash-back type (% cash-back, points, available discounts), these deals are advertised to you as a way to achieve savings on your purchases. You receive savings, and the companies running these incentives make their buck straight from the retailers they are advertising. As for the stock brokers, they net a small amount of cash when you make a trade on their platform. Commission free doesn't mean they aren't making money! But it does mean you pay nothing in return.
For frugal spenders, those looking to invest money, and shopping fanatics, there is a way to save for everyone! Without further ado, here are the companies I found most helpful:
Cash-Back
DO$H: Best Passive Savings App
Summary: DO$H is a standout because of the low effort required to net rewards. You can link your credit or debit card directly to the app. Whenever you make a purchase, DO$H identifies qualifying purchases and automatically issues cash-back rewards! No effort is required! Of course, the app offers a suite of features. The app list links to all qualifying retailers, so you can shop cash-back benefits straight from the app before you buy. A map feature showing cash-back supporting retailers nearby. And a hotel booking feature if you are looking for a booking site. DO$H is my personal favorite for the automatic earnings feature. The incentives are issued as straight cash that you can transfer to your bank account, Venmo, or PayPal. There is also an option to donate to charities of your choice.
iOS app rating: 4.7 • 130.5K Ratings
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FETCH: Best Semi-Passive Savings App
Summary: FETCH is the twin sibling of DO$H. This app offers automated earnings on all purchases linked through your Amazon account. You'll also be given the option to connect your email. FETCH can then scan your inbox for receipts to redeem points toward rewards automatically! I say points because that is the form of incentive currency offered. You'll be given a catalog of gift cards, swag, and vouchers to redeem with your points! Along with the automated receipt scanning, you may also scan your receipts manually. They claim nearly all receipts are redeemable for points. hopping isn't complete until you scan your receipts!" As always, you can search offers on the app to find products you can purchase for bonus points. These promotions continually rotate, so there I always something new to try.
iOS app rating: 4.8 • 3.9M Ratings
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Lolli: Best App For Earning Crypto
Summary: Lolli offers its cash-back rewards in Bitcoin. I may not be the biggest crypto guy, but when it's free, it's free. The app has a card link feature to identify your purchases for redeemable cash-back offers. They deal exclusively with retailers, so there is no need to seek out any individual product for rewards. Just shop at your favorite retailers either in-store or online and earn. Just use your linked card, and you're golden. A bit of icing on the cake is that the app also offers a "Daily Stack" this is a little chest that you open once a day for entirely free Bitcoin. Don't expect much, but for the simple cost of checking in on the app, you can't ask for much more.
iOS app rating: 4.8 • 17.4K Ratings
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Swagbucks: Best No-Expense App
Summary: Swagbucks allows you to earn points completely free of charge, but they do have paid offers, usually in the form of partnerships with brands offering trial runs. But hey, if you were going to nab that trial anyway, you might as well get a bit more incentive. Swagbucks method of earning completely free points (SB: short for Swagbucks) comes in the form of surveys and mobile app game advertisements. Put your time into answering surveys that take as little as 1 minute or up to 20 minutes for even more SB. Mobile games usually require you to reach certain progress milestones before you are issued the total amount of SB. But you'll often find the offer or two where you can try the game once and cash out. This app is complete with receipt scanning as well! Like previous examples, you can check the app for offers, compile a list and submit a photo of your receipt. Have I mentioned you can redeem the same receipt for multiple apps? (free hint right there)
iOS app rating: 4.4 • 85.5K Ratings
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Shop & Save
Ibotta: Best Pre-Purchase Everyday Savings App
Summary: Ibotta takes some effort but is well worth it. These offers are displayed via the individual retailer. (HEB, Walmart, Target, etc.). When a merchant is selected, you will see all offers for items you can save on. Think of it as an extra coupon center that you can use on top of in-store coupons! You add all the deals you'd like to redeem, shop, submit a photo of your receipt, and boom, and you are on your way to getting extra cash back. Online shopping is also supported. All you need to do is link your account from the merchant's website to Ibotta (the app makes it easy), and you can skip the receipt scanning because Ibotta does the rest for you. Remember that you still have to "clip" the deals for Ibotta to earn. With so many supported retailers, you'll find saving on items you are already buying easy. I use this for every grocery trip I make. Cash can be withdrawn straight to your bank account, PayPal or redeemed as gift cards.
iOS app rating: 4.8 • 1.6M Ratings
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Rakuten: Best Savings App for Online Shopping
Summary: This one is simple: Use the app, find deals, & save on the spot. They offer cash-back on purchases from supported retailers and a "deals" tab linking you to promo codes for even more direct savings. The app directs you to the retailer's website, so don't worry about verifying purchases or scanning receipts. You'll always be sure that your cash-back incentive is linked when you make your purchase. I use this less since I'm more frugal, but if you're an online shopper, this one is a must!
iOS app rating: 4.8 • 358.2K Ratings
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Upside: Best Savings App for Gas & Local Shopping
Summary: Upside is the local version of Ibotta. This app teams up with local stores to offer savings. Most notably, discounts on gas! Simple to use. Search the app for a local shop offering a deal and claim it. After you make the purchase, go to the app and ok that you made the transaction. Cash-back is rewarded once verified. Simple! By linking your credit card, the app identifies the purchase. So there is no scrambling for receipts. A smooth no-receipt redemption makes this one stand out. I'd be remiss not to mention Upside partners with local restaurants. So you know you're supporting the local eatery when you go out. Spend at your favorite local business and earn. Cash-back will be redeemed as a gift card or directly deposited to your bank account or Paypal.
iOS app rating: 4.8 • 360.6K Ratings
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Investing
STASH: Best Investing For Beginners (Tie)
Summary: STASH is flexible. It's an investing app that caters to beginners or could be tailored to an intermediary level. On the front end, STASH offers a "Smart Portfolio." This feature allows you to put your invested money in STASH's hands to allocate for you. The feature helps ensure proper investment portfolio diversification and manages your investment, a great starting point for those with limited or no investing experience. You may choose individual companies to invest in at any time, but if that's the plan from the get-go, I'd suggest another platform. Still, having the option to be a more active investor when you feel comfortable managing your wealth is always a plus. STASH offers the best gateway for beginner to experienced investors due to its extensive library of educational tools and user-friendly features. A bonus offer from STASH includes a stock back card. A debit card you fund from your existing bank account that, when used, will earn a percentage back in stock direct to your account! This is a great way to grow your portfolio if you are okay with shifting your spending from your existing card to a new one.
iOS app rating: 4.7 • 289.3K Ratings
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Acorns: Best Investing For Beginners (Tie)
Summary: Acorns is the most beginner-friendly app for investing. Investing for your future may seem like a daunting task but not here. When you sign up, you're asked questions to help Acorns define your goals, risk tolerance, and the amount of money you'd like to put forward in your newly opened portfolio. When your needs or means change, you can adjust all preferences manually or by retaking the questionnaire. Your portfolio is set up automatically for you. No need to pick individual stocks at all. Acorns invest in fractions of stocks across the market and bonds, so you can be sure your portfolio is well diversified. To fund your account, you may allow monthly or weekly deposits from your bank. Or, through '"Real-Time Round-Ups," invest the change rounded to the nearest dollar from all purchases. You may do this through your existing cards. Or you may also open a checking account through Acorns to receive a rewards debit card that allows additional percent cash back on all purchases. That's a big commitment, but this is it if you're looking for an all-in-one banking and investment portfolio. Of course, you can do all of this through your existing bank account. Just link your account and get to saving for your future.
iOS app rating: 4.7 • 852.8K Ratings
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Webull: Best Investing for Experienced Users (Tie)
Summary: With Webull you will have advance tools to make trades and monitor every detail of your investments. Along with a community to banter. This platform is for those with base knowledge of investing. It can be used traditionally to buy and hold but also well suited to day trading. My favorite part of Webull is the clear charts and tools that make it easy to plot, for example, support and resistance lines in order to create a personalized experience when reading charts right from your phone. Webull offers bonus incentives regularly for making deposits and making referrals. Along with detailed charts the app boasts a robust market overview tab. For all in one investing, information, and news, look no further.
iOS app rating: 4.7 • 283.8K Ratings
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Moomoo: Best Investing for Experienced Users (Tie)
Summary: Moomoo offers just about the same as Webull. And no not because their titles are based off cattle. Take the same robust charts, social interaction, news feed, market overview and put it in another app. One thing Moomoo has Webull does not is a detailed learning center. No matter your experience, having more information at your fingertips is always a good thing. Bonus incentives are available here too, currently they are offering up to 14 free stocks for making a deposit of $1000. I sure did. But if you are choosing this app as your first investing platform because of that sweet promotions, be sure this is the app you want to stick with in the long run.
iOS app rating: 4.6 • 14.7K Ratings
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And that's the list! These are all apps I use every day, personally. I wrote this up to help educate and provide accessibility to easy savings for others. My only stake aside from spreading information is that I get a small kickback when any individual downloads an app with my referral code. If you choose to use any of these apps, use the Get button! All links on this page are connected to my referral codes. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me using the contact info below. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. All given advice is my personal opinion backed by professional financial advice articles. I am not paid to present these companies. All investments are subject to loss. Please invest with only the money you can afford to spare.
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