Last updated Nov. 22, 2022 by Peter Jakes
One of the easy ways to save money while shopping for groceries is to leverage a cashback app for your expenses. Apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards reward you with cashback for purchases you’re already making. With this offer, you can get massive discounts on purchases and spare extra money for other expenses.
Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are arguably the two best cashback apps for groceries. However, in this Ibotta vs. Fetch Rewards comparison, you’ll learn how both apps work, which is best for you, and their overall differences. Knowing this will help you decide the best cashback app for your shopping needs and personal finance goals.
What Is Ibotta?
Ibotta is a cashback reward mobile app that rewards you with real cash for purchases when you shop. Ibotta offers numerous ways for consumers to earn cash rewards on their purchases by partnering with over 2,700 brands and retailers.
Whether you’re buying groceries, electronics, clothing, wine, or beer, Ibotta pays you cash for purchases. Since its founding in 2012, Ibotta has paid out over $1.2 billion in cash rewards to over 40 million users.
How Does Ibotta Works?
Initially, Ibotta started as a platform that rewards users for scanning receipts, and now it has evolved to become a payment app and a browser extension. However, Scanning receipts is still very much one of the app’s major features because in-store offers are always available to save money on shopping.
For in-store shopping, compare Ibotta to your grocery list and include any relevant offers to your Ibotta account before shopping. Once you’ve made the purchases, submit the receipt, and you’ll earn cash back on every eligible offer you included.
The Ibotta app also has a section where you can buy gift cards and instantly earn cashback. Gift card offers are available from over 80 popular retailers, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, and Sephora.
Furthermore, if you’re shopping for groceries online, you can also use the Ibotta app or browser extension to earn cash rewards. Simply choose from the offers available, make your purchases, and earn cashback.
How Much Can You Earn With Ibotta?
The amount you can earn with Ibotta depends on the rate you shop, how consistently you use the platform, and the types/numbers of offers you take advantage of.
For example, sometimes you can find offers that build up your earnings, like the 3% cash back at Expedia.com available on the app. Those who take advantage of these kinds of offers to book a vacation or a couple of work trips will relatively earn more off of Ibotta than those who only clip a few yogurt coupons.
Likewise, if you have a large family, you’re going to earn more cashback from groceries than those who buy groceries for only a few.
Overall, most users can earn at least a few dollars weekly by shopping for essential groceries. However, doing some planning and buying some new items, it’s very feasible to reach a $20 threshold monthly with Ibotta.
What Is Fetch Rewards?
Fetch Rewards is a free online shopping app that rewards points in exchange for scans of your shopping receipts. You can then redeem those points for cashback or gift cards.
Fetch accepts receipts from varieties of stores. And for each eligible scan, you’ll get a minimum of five points. More so, the app features certain products and brands at any given time, so you can earn bonus points for an eligible purchase.
However, one of the advantages of Fetch Rewards is that you don’t need to do any planning to earn. So, always remember to compare shops for the best price instead of chasing points. You only need to do your everyday shopping, and the Fetch Rewards app will do the rest.
You can also redeem your points for gift cards once you’ve earned a specific amount of points. Usually, 1,000 points are equivalent to $1.
How Does Fetch Rewards Work?
Currently, one of the best online shopping platforms, Fetch Rewards, rewards you for scanning receipts of your purchases. Scanning receipts to earn points or rewards isn’t a relatively new idea, but Fetch Rewards has made the process easier than some alternatives.
For example, you must take a quick picture of the physical receipt or use the eReceipt button in the app to earn points. It doesn’t matter the item you buy or where you shop — Fetch Rewards rewards users for uploading receipts from any store.
In addition, the Fetch Rewards app provides special offers for users to earn extra points. Purchases on specific participating brands will earn you bonus rewards as usual, but sometimes limited-time offers on select items can offer a lot of value.
These rewards are added to the ones you’ll receive for scanning a receipt. And to make it even simpler, you don’t have to include these offers to use them — they’re automatically applied!
How Much Can You Earn With Fetch Rewards?
On Fetch Rewards, shoppers earn as much as 250 to 2,000 points for each offer (1,000 points will give you $1). Unlike other rebate apps that reward you with real money, Fetch Rewards allows you to exchange your points with gift cards for retailers such as Amazon, Target, or CVS.
You can donate your earnings to the Red Cross if you’re feeling charitable (once you’ve accumulated a minimum of $3).
Here are some of the rules and regulations for earning points on Fetch Rewards:
- Receipts uploaded must be less than 14 days old.
- You’re only allowed to submit 14 receipts every seven days.
- Expired receipts cannot be exchanged for points.
- Receipts may be used only once.
- Points will expire when your account is inactive for 90 days.
Ibotta vs. Fetch Rewards
Now that you’re familiar with both cashback apps and their condition, it’s great that you pick the best for your shopping needs. However, not everyone shops the same, and what works for you may not work for others.
Ibotta and Fetch Rewards provide straightforward opportunities to earn cashback rewards on your grocery shopping. For example, you can scan your grocery receipt with either app to earn your rewards.
However, you aren’t limited to using only one cashback app at a time, so you can scan the same grocery receipt using both apps and get rewards from each.
Using both apps simultaneously can offer a lot of value, but it still may not be the best strategy for everyone. The manner you shop and the items you buy play a massive role in determining how to save money with cashback apps.
You may find one of these cashback apps aligns more with the way you spend
and your financial habits. So it’s great that you evaluate both apps and pick one to serve your saving needs. Here is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of Ibotta and Fetch Rewards.
Pros of Ibotta
- Free to use
- Features over 350 retailers
- You will earn up to $20 as welcome bonuses
- The referral program pays you when you refer friends
- You can cashback on gift card purchases
- The minimum cashout is $20.
Cons of Ibotta
- You need to include offers before shopping
- You must snap and upload receipts
- Offers are store-specific
- Most offers are brand-specific
- The app contains ads
- You must make online purchases on the app
Pros of Fetch Rewards
- The platform is free to join, and the app is free to download.
- The app has a user-friendly interface, and scanning receipts is an easy process!
- You don’t need to activate offers to claim them.
- Aside from cashback rewards, you can also earn gift cards on the app.
Cons of Fetch Rewards
- Fetch Rewards features a point system that only rewards users with gift cards, unlike other rebate apps, like Ibotta, which rewards users with real money.
- Fetch Rewards’ point equivalent to the dollar is relatively low: 1 point = $0.001.
- A lot of users complain of technical glitches, such as the app freezing when scanning receipts.
How Does Ibotta Compare To Fetch Rewards?
Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are arguably two of the best shopping apps for grocery shopping. However, both apps have strengths over the others in different areas.
Fetch Rewards, for example, is easier to use than Ibotta and consumes less time. On the other hand, Ibotta offers a better welcome bonus, flexible redemption options, and the best selection of offers.
Overall, the main difference between Ibotta and Fetch Rewards is that using Ibotta requires a little more effort and offers the potential to save more money. It’s also possible to use both apps simultaneously, so you don’t need to choose one over the other.
Nonetheless, they’re both free, legitimate, and trustworthy shopping apps that reward users for buying featured items and uploading their retail receipts. You can use them for your shopping needs and save money from groceries purchase, which is helpful to your financial life.
Related article: https://paypant.com/receiptpal-review-is-it-legit-or-a-scam/
What Is The Downside Of Fetch Rewards?
Fetch Rewards only offers gift cards as rewards, whereas similar apps like iBotta send real money to your PayPal. Additionally, if you don’t scan receipts of your purchase with those “Special Offers” or participating brand products, Fetch Rewards may not be a great app for you. Lastly, the pay is relatively low, as your balance only increases by 25 points per grocery receipt.
Some Frequently Asked Questions relating to Ibotta:
Which Receipt App Pays The Most?
Ibotta stands as the best app that pays the most due to its variety of opportunities to earn and its long-ranking history. Ibotta started as one of the very first rebate apps that pay for grocery shopping.
The app ranks high due to its high rebate amount. Sometimes, you can get as much as $5 for a product, which constantly increases with new product rebates launching every week. The best part is that you’ll get a $10 bonus when you redeem your very first receipt.
What App Is Better Than Ibotta?
Fetch Rewards is a better app than Ibotta. Like Ibotta, it also works directly with popular brands to offer you savings on thousands of products daily, regardless of where you get your groceries. However, Fetch Rewards is better because you don’t need to waste time picking offers from different stores as you must with Ibotta.
Which Is The Best App To Buy Grocery?
Instacart stands as the best app for grocery shopping. It provides same-day delivery of fresh and shelf-stable on-demand products at variable costs. Their company is available in hundreds of locations, delivering groceries from famous supermarkets and brands to your door as fast as possible and at a lower delivery price.
What Is The Best Way To Pay For Groceries?
Paying with cash is the best way to pay for groceries. The best way to ensure you’ll end up with a lower bill is to create and stick to a grocery budget and pay with cash. When you go shopping with money in hand, you’ll know the exact amount you can spend, and once the money finishes, that’s it.
Is Fetch Rewards Better Than Ibotta?
The Fetch Rewards app is easier to use than Ibotta. However, Ibotta offers a better welcome bonus and a better offers selection, as well as flexible redemption options. Nonetheless, both are free, legitimate shopping apps that reward you for buying featured items and uploading your retail receipts.
What App Gives You Cashback For Groceries?
Ibotta is a free app that gives users cash back on purchases at grocery stores, online retailers, travel, and more. To join the platform, you’ll need to download the app and create an account either using your phone or the browser extension on your PC.
Is There Something Better Than Ibotta?
Receipt Hog is a receipt-scanning app similar to Ibotta. But unlike Ibotta, you can earn cashback on more than grocery items. With Receipt Hog, users can shop for any item and then scan their receipt to receive coins. Partner restaurants and stores include McDonald’s, Costco, and Ulta.
