Grocery Rebate Apps
We’ve all seen that lady at the grocery store. The one with more coupons than one Sunday paper could hold. They take forever. When we were teenagers it was torture to go to the grocery store when mom was in coupon mode. The worst part was when she spent 30 minutes at the checkout line scanning 513 different coupons. My mother could have been on the show Extreme Couponing. She had a 2” binder full of those card protector sheets we used for our Pokémon cards that was full of coupons. A trip to Walmart took hours. Although I’ve reconciled with coupons, and now realize all the money she saved, there is a much easier way: grocery rebate apps.
I have tried many different grocery rebate apps. The ones I use are Ibotta, Mobisave, Checkout 51, and Shopmium. I'll give a brief explainable for each one, what I like, what I don't like, and I'll show you the money, how much I've gotten back from each of them so far. Between them all I've made over $100. That's nothing to scoff at.
Ibotta
Ibotta is by far my favorite of the grocery rebate apps. I have made the most from this app, $88.50 in eight months. On average I make about $11 a month from this app. That takes care of a Netflix bill right there. My most successful facebook friend has earned $245 from ibotta.
How do you use it? After you download the app, you will be prompted to set up an account. The easiest way is to link it to your facebook account. You actually get bonuses if your friends use rebates too, and it doesn't post, so this is the best option. To be able to use rebates you have to "unlock the rebates" before you go shopping. To do this you occasionally have to read an add, answer one quick survey question, or watch a 30 second advertisement. The adds take the most time. Next you actually go shopping. After shopping, all you need to get your cash is the receipt and the item. In the app you click "Verify Purchases," at which point you scan the bar-code on each item. After you've scanned the bar-code on each item, you scan your receipt. Then, usually within about 15 minutes, the money for the rebates is added to your account. Most of the other apps follow a similar setup process, so I won't go into as much detail. All of the apps walk you through the process and its easy.
You do need to earn at least $20 before you can cash out. You can cash out in PayPal, or in different gift cards. It can take a month or two to cash out, but you do see returns from it fairly quickly. One nice little bonus is that you get a $10 bonus credit just for using it the first time. This app has the most different options of stores you can shop from. Walmart is my favorite, but you can shop with rebates at Target, Albertsons, Smith's, Winco, Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Sam's Club, Macey's, Costco, Kmart, and a host of others.
Another nice feature about Ibotta is that you can, on occasion, buy some items that are any brand. Right now in the app, you can get any brand milk, any brand oatmeal, any brand peanut butter, any brand oranges, any brand red peppers, and there are 286 other rebates at Walmart alone which are brand specific.Since i am shameless and want to be a millionaire, I am putting my referral code here. ehhbtrl
Each referral earns you a $5 bonus, so I imagine that after you get me the bonus, you'll want to get the bonus from all of your friends. I'm not opposed to you having your friends use my code though too, your call though.
MobiSave
MobiSave is my second favorite app and it is by far the easiest and cleanest. You can use it at most stores and there are also some any brand options in this app (right now there are any brand eggs, pickles, peanut butter, apples, toothpaste, dish soap, frozen pizza, and hand soap). This app links to your PayPal account. What is also nice about this app is that you don't need to reach a certain amount to cash out-- It cashes out each time your receipt is processed, which is usually within 15 minutes. All you have to do to redeem with MobiSave is take a picture of your receipt and mark which saved items are on that specific receipt.
You do have to to save each item you want to redeem before you go shopping. You have to use the rebates within seven days of saving them, or they disappear from your app.I have made $10.60 from this app in six months. It isn't as much, and there aren't as many rebates available, but it's easy, quick, and pays out instantly.
If you download this app, help a brother out: my referral code is: SJLUAXIL There is a $1 referral bonus. Not as much as Ibotta, but every little bit helps.
Checkout 51
Checkout 51 has a lot of options, but most of the products are items that I buy. While I'm not discouraging trying new things, buying an item just because you have a rebate for it is just plain silly. Setup for this app is very similar to the other two. In order to use this app you have to "star" a rebate before you can use it. You don't have to watch any advertisements when you do this, so it is quick to use. I have however, tried to redeem a product and had it not accept it, even though it was the product listed. You have to verify the product by scanning the bar-code with your phone camera. I've only earned $3.50 from this app in six months. I haven't put as much effort into this app because I am never overly impressed, but I would check it out. Right now they have a $10 rebate for starting a Sams Club membership, if you've been wanting one. If the products it shows are ones you use, this app is for you. Checkout 51 doesn't offer a referral program.
Shopmium
Shopmium is the least favorite of the rebate apps that I still have on my phone. That being said, I have removed other apps from my phone. This app has a lot of organic products. If you're into that sort of things then look into it, but the items do change over time. It also doesn't have a large selection of items on it. Right now there are only ten rebates available, however, some of them are pretty good. there is a rebate for Kraft Parmesan cheese that I would use if I hadn't recently bought some. There's also a rebate for Cache Valley Cheese, a Utah classic. I'm a Tillamoock man myself, but if this sounds good to you, check it out. This app doesn't require a minimum balance to cash out, so it doesn't hurt to try it just once or twice. This app pays out via PayPal or a bank transfer. I prefer to send all my apps through PayPal, just because it feels more secure to me. I have only made $2 from this app, but I made that on only one rebate (Malt o Meal cereal). If you find an item you like, it can pay off nicely. There is a $2 referral bonus, and my code is KYYKUCUY
I really geek out when I get to use more than one app for one item. I have gotten items for super cheap, but I haven't quite gotten any for free yet, although I have heard of people stacking rebates and getting free items. You can use coupons as well with items that you plan on getting rebates for. You might even make money on some items. This is why my wife calls me a crazy coupon lady.
I have tried other rebate apps, but I didn’t like them as much. I tried Shopkick, Shrink- coupons and rewards, and Rewardable. I wasn’t super impressed with any of them. If you have had any luck with any of these, or any other rebate apps, comment below and tell us about your experience so we can get in on it too! I'll even use your referral code.
I have tried many different grocery rebate apps. The ones I use are Ibotta, Mobisave, Checkout 51, and Shopmium. I'll give a brief explainable for each one, what I like, what I don't like, and I'll show you the money, how much I've gotten back from each of them so far. Between them all I've made over $100. That's nothing to scoff at.
Ibotta
Ibotta is by far my favorite of the grocery rebate apps. I have made the most from this app, $88.50 in eight months. On average I make about $11 a month from this app. That takes care of a Netflix bill right there. My most successful facebook friend has earned $245 from ibotta.
How do you use it? After you download the app, you will be prompted to set up an account. The easiest way is to link it to your facebook account. You actually get bonuses if your friends use rebates too, and it doesn't post, so this is the best option. To be able to use rebates you have to "unlock the rebates" before you go shopping. To do this you occasionally have to read an add, answer one quick survey question, or watch a 30 second advertisement. The adds take the most time. Next you actually go shopping. After shopping, all you need to get your cash is the receipt and the item. In the app you click "Verify Purchases," at which point you scan the bar-code on each item. After you've scanned the bar-code on each item, you scan your receipt. Then, usually within about 15 minutes, the money for the rebates is added to your account. Most of the other apps follow a similar setup process, so I won't go into as much detail. All of the apps walk you through the process and its easy.
You do need to earn at least $20 before you can cash out. You can cash out in PayPal, or in different gift cards. It can take a month or two to cash out, but you do see returns from it fairly quickly. One nice little bonus is that you get a $10 bonus credit just for using it the first time. This app has the most different options of stores you can shop from. Walmart is my favorite, but you can shop with rebates at Target, Albertsons, Smith's, Winco, Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Sam's Club, Macey's, Costco, Kmart, and a host of others.
Another nice feature about Ibotta is that you can, on occasion, buy some items that are any brand. Right now in the app, you can get any brand milk, any brand oatmeal, any brand peanut butter, any brand oranges, any brand red peppers, and there are 286 other rebates at Walmart alone which are brand specific.Since i am shameless and want to be a millionaire, I am putting my referral code here. ehhbtrl
Each referral earns you a $5 bonus, so I imagine that after you get me the bonus, you'll want to get the bonus from all of your friends. I'm not opposed to you having your friends use my code though too, your call though.
MobiSave
MobiSave is my second favorite app and it is by far the easiest and cleanest. You can use it at most stores and there are also some any brand options in this app (right now there are any brand eggs, pickles, peanut butter, apples, toothpaste, dish soap, frozen pizza, and hand soap). This app links to your PayPal account. What is also nice about this app is that you don't need to reach a certain amount to cash out-- It cashes out each time your receipt is processed, which is usually within 15 minutes. All you have to do to redeem with MobiSave is take a picture of your receipt and mark which saved items are on that specific receipt.
You do have to to save each item you want to redeem before you go shopping. You have to use the rebates within seven days of saving them, or they disappear from your app.I have made $10.60 from this app in six months. It isn't as much, and there aren't as many rebates available, but it's easy, quick, and pays out instantly.
If you download this app, help a brother out: my referral code is: SJLUAXIL There is a $1 referral bonus. Not as much as Ibotta, but every little bit helps.
Checkout 51
Checkout 51 has a lot of options, but most of the products are items that I buy. While I'm not discouraging trying new things, buying an item just because you have a rebate for it is just plain silly. Setup for this app is very similar to the other two. In order to use this app you have to "star" a rebate before you can use it. You don't have to watch any advertisements when you do this, so it is quick to use. I have however, tried to redeem a product and had it not accept it, even though it was the product listed. You have to verify the product by scanning the bar-code with your phone camera. I've only earned $3.50 from this app in six months. I haven't put as much effort into this app because I am never overly impressed, but I would check it out. Right now they have a $10 rebate for starting a Sams Club membership, if you've been wanting one. If the products it shows are ones you use, this app is for you. Checkout 51 doesn't offer a referral program.
Shopmium
Shopmium is the least favorite of the rebate apps that I still have on my phone. That being said, I have removed other apps from my phone. This app has a lot of organic products. If you're into that sort of things then look into it, but the items do change over time. It also doesn't have a large selection of items on it. Right now there are only ten rebates available, however, some of them are pretty good. there is a rebate for Kraft Parmesan cheese that I would use if I hadn't recently bought some. There's also a rebate for Cache Valley Cheese, a Utah classic. I'm a Tillamoock man myself, but if this sounds good to you, check it out. This app doesn't require a minimum balance to cash out, so it doesn't hurt to try it just once or twice. This app pays out via PayPal or a bank transfer. I prefer to send all my apps through PayPal, just because it feels more secure to me. I have only made $2 from this app, but I made that on only one rebate (Malt o Meal cereal). If you find an item you like, it can pay off nicely. There is a $2 referral bonus, and my code is KYYKUCUY
I really geek out when I get to use more than one app for one item. I have gotten items for super cheap, but I haven't quite gotten any for free yet, although I have heard of people stacking rebates and getting free items. You can use coupons as well with items that you plan on getting rebates for. You might even make money on some items. This is why my wife calls me a crazy coupon lady.
I have tried other rebate apps, but I didn’t like them as much. I tried Shopkick, Shrink- coupons and rewards, and Rewardable. I wasn’t super impressed with any of them. If you have had any luck with any of these, or any other rebate apps, comment below and tell us about your experience so we can get in on it too! I'll even use your referral code.
Hey, thanks Lance! I've been looking for more ways to cut down our grocery bill, es[ecially now that we have twins on the way, so I appreciate reading your reviews! I'll send a couple of referral bonuses your way. - Alex Merrill
ReplyDeleteAwesome Alex! Congrats on the twins! These apps do have some baby items that can really help you out! If this post really is helpful, give this a share (with your own referral codes, of course)! I love that helping others helps you with these apps! I'd also recommend the Walmart App (blog post pending). No referral code with that one, but I've made about $20 from that in six months, along with some other benefits.
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