Receipt scanner apps can be great for helping you save money on nearly everything you buy. They’re easy to use as well, and you can often use the same receipt for several apps. But how exactly do receipt scanner apps work, and which ones are worth checking out?
In this article, we’re sharing the top receipt scanner apps of 2023 for rewards, how they work, and what each app’s best feature is.
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What Is a Receipt Scanner App?
There are two types of receipt scanner apps: the ones that help you get organized by allowing you to upload your receipts and other documents so they can be stored online and the ones that offer rewards for shopping.
Generally, the rewards-based apps work by paying out points or cash back when you shop at the app’s retail partners. These are often large national brands, like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.
For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on the receipt scanner apps that pay rewards.
Top Receipt Scanner Apps
The best receipt scanner apps have several things in common: they’re easy to use, they help you earn money at a wide array of retailers, and they offer attractive ways to get money back after shopping at top retailers. Here’s our list of 10 top receipt scanner apps for rewards.
1. Fetch
Best feature: Multiple ways to earn.
Fetch is a top receipt scanner app designed to help you save and earn money in four ways:
- Snapping pictures of your receipts
- Buying participating items
- Completing offers
- Referring friends
You’ll earn points for every receipt you snap a picture of with your Fetch app. Within the app, you’ll also get offers for points when you buy a particular brand name product.
In the Discover section, you’ll earn points when you take advantage of specified offers. And when you share Fetch with others using your personal referral link, you’ll also earn points.
When you’ve reached 3,000 points, you can cash out for a gift card of your choice. Fetch offers a variety of gift cards from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and many more. You can also get a head start by signing up with a Fetch referral code.
Your rewards never expire as long as your account remains active, meaning you’re still snapping receipt pictures and taking advantage of offers.
If you stop using Fetch, your points will expire after 90 days.
👉 Learn more about the Fetch App
2. Shopkick
Best feature: Shop in-store or online.
Shopkick is a receipt scanner app that helps you earn points called “kicks” for activities inside and outside of the store.
You can earn kicks simply by walking into a partner store, scanning designated products as directed by Shopkick, submitting receipts when purchasing select items, or shopping with your linked debit or credit card.
You can even earn from home by shopping online or watching videos in the Shopkick app.
When you’ve earned enough kicks, you can trade them in for retailer gift cards or PayPal Cash credit.
Participating retailers include AMC, Best Buy, Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble and more. Shopkick also offers a referral program that lets you earn kicks when a friend signs up for Shopkick using your referral code.
3. Rakuten
Best feature: Up to 50% cashback on online shopping purchases.
Rakuten helps you earn cash from the comfort of your living room. All you need to do is shop online at one of Rakuten’s 3500+ retail partners from the Rakuten app. When you complete your purchase through the app, you’ll earn cash back.
Each store offers a designated cash back percentage on your purchase, and you’ll know what that percentage amount is before you shop.
Rakuten also works in-store. All you have to do is link store offers with your credit card and then pay with that same card when you complete a purchase.
Rakuten will pay you your cash back automatically every three months via PayPal or you can have a check sent to you. Rakuten also has an option for you to donate your earnings to one of its partner charities.
4. Ibotta
Best feature: Earn straight-up cash, not points
Ibotta is a long-running receipt scanner app that allows you to earn cash back both in-store and online when you shop.
When you’re shopping in-store, search for the product offers Ibotta shows you on the app. You might see offers for products of any brand, such as eggs, bread, or milk.
Click on the deals you want to take advantage of, and Ibotta will add them to your Ibotta cart. After you purchase the items, scan your receipt, and Ibotta will pay you for the correlating items. If you link your store loyalty account to your Ibotta app, you’ll earn even faster.
When shopping online, you can earn cash back either by using the Ibotta browser extension or by visiting retailers through the Ibotta app on your phone. When you complete your purchase through Ibotta, you’ll earn cash back on your purchases.
Ibotta also offers bonuses to members for specific purchases. Visit your Ibotta account for details on bonus offers. You can also earn cash by referring friends to Ibotta. And when you’re ready to withdraw your earnings, Ibotts will deposit the money directly into your bank account or your PayPal account.
Ibotta also allows you to convert your cash earnings to gift cards from a number of popular retailers.
5. TopCashback
Best feature: TopCashback pays 100% of its affiliate commissions to its members.
TopCashback will pay you when you shop online. You’ll start by accessing your favorite retailers through the TopCashback website.
TopCashback partners with thousands of retailers, such as Walmart, Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Walgreens.
Each retailer offers a percentage of cash back to sites like TopCashback, and the cashback shopping sites split that cash back percentage with members. However, TopCashback says it gives all of the cashback it receives to its members, not just a percentage.
When you’re ready to receive your earnings from TopCashback, you can choose to get your money transferred to your bank or PayPal account, or you can choose to get retailer gift cards. You may get bonus earnings if you opt for retailer gift cards.
Top Cashback made our list of the top cashback shopping sites.
👉 Learn more about TopCashBack
6. Drop App
Best feature: Multiple options for redeeming rewards
The Drop App lets you earn points as you shop through the app. You can also link your credit and debit cards to the app, and Drop will automatically give you points when you use the linked cards to buy reward items.
Every 1,000 points you earn with Drop equals $1.00 in rewards. When you’re ready to redeem your rewards, you can choose from several redemption options:
- Retailer gift cards from popular retailers
- Collectibles
- Donations to partner charities
- Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum
You can also use your points to gain entries into Drop app contests, which are held regularly. The Drop App is available on both Apple and Android devices.
7. ReceiptPal
Best feature: Easy to earn on Amazon purchases.
You can get started with ReceiptPal by downloading their free ReceiptPal app to your Android or iOS device.
Then, use the app to snap a picture of receipts from any and all shopping trips. You can submit receipts from purchases at gas stations, restaurants, department stores, pharmacies, and more. ReceiptPal will credit you with points within 72 hours of when you upload your receipt.
Note that the receipt photo must be clear and that you must snap a photo of the entire receipt in order to get credit. Also, the receipt must be from a purchase that you or someone living in your household made.
Bonus: When you connect your Amazon account to your ReceiptPal app, you can earn on Amazon purchases as well. Use the points you earn to get gift cards from popular retailers.
8. Dosh
Best feature: Earn points from thousands of hotels
Dosh is an app that makes it super easy to get cash back when you shop at your favorite retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and more.
After you download the Dosh app (available on Android and iOS), connect your debit and credit cards to the app. When you shop at participating retailers and pay with your linked cards, Dosh automatically puts the cash you’ve earned into your Dosh wallet.
Dosh also integrates with Venmo and Jelli. Partner retailers include Costco, Sam’s Club, Lyft, Shake Shack, American Eagle, partner hotel chains and more. There are over 10,000 places where you can earn cash back with Dosh.
Once you’ve accumulated at least $15 in cash, you can have your cash transferred to PayPal or Venmo. Or you can have the money donated to your favorite charity.
9. Checkout 51
Best feature: Great partnership benefits with over 5,000 gas stations
The Checkout 51 app is available on Apple and Android devices. It’s easy to use; download the app, browse through the available offers, and add the offers you like to your shopping list.
When you’re finished shopping, tap “redeem” so that the app knows what products to look for on your receipt.
Then upload your receipt to your Checkout 51 app and wait for the receipt to be approved. Be sure your photos are clear and readable. After your receipt is approved, your cash back will be credited to your Checkout 51 account.
When your Checkout 51 account balance reaches at least $20, you can cash out, and Checkout 51 will mail you a check. New offers are uploaded to your account every week, so there will always be new ways for you to earn money.
10. Receipt Hog
Best feature: Monthly sweepstakes giveaways
Receipt Hog has been paying people for uploading receipts since 2011. All you need to do is download the app to your Apple or Android device, and then scan your receipts to the app. You can take photos of paper receipts when you shop in person or upload digital receipts from purchases you make online.
You’ll earn points for each receipt you submit. Bonus: You can also earn points when you take surveys in the app. There are two types of points you can earn with Receipt Hog: Coin-receipt points and Spin-receipt points.
Coin-receipt points are used to earn rewards such as free retailer gift cards. Spin-receipt points give you entries into Receipt Hog’s monthly sweepstakes drawing.
Visit the Receipt Hog website to see which retailer purchases will earn you which type of points.
Summary
If you enjoy making extra money with paid survey apps, the receipt scanner apps I’ve featured above may interest you.
While you won’t get rich scanning receipts, the apps are free to join and are a great way to save money and earn some extra cash for shopping at your favorite stores.
You can maximize your earning potential by signing up with multiple apps, although I recommend starting with one app, like Fetch, Rakuten, or Drop, and going from there.