The Best Cash Back & Money-Saving Apps I Actually Use (And Trust)

With busy kids, a house full of pets, and a calendar that never slows down, my goals every year are pretty simple: Accomplish more, save time, and save money

And if I can do all three at once? Even better.

There are so many money-saving apps out there. Instagram alone will convince you to download 47 of them before breakfast. I’ve tried a lot over the years — some were great… until they weren’t.

Some had tons of offers but glitchy functionality.

Some mysteriously stopped working right when it was time to cash out.

Some technically paid… but only pennies that didn’t feel worth the effort.

So today, I’m sharing the cash back and rebate apps I actually use and trust — the ones that have consistently paid out real money and worked reliably for our family.

These are listed in order of my personal favorites.

Affiliate Disclosure:
This post contains affiliate and referral links. That means I may earn a commission or receive a bonus if you click a link and sign up or make a purchase — at no additional cost to you. I only recommend apps and services I personally use and genuinely believe provide value to families. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

1. Rakuten (formerly Ebates) – My Favorite for Online Shopping Cash Back

If you’ve been around awhile, you probably remember this app as Ebates. It rebranded to Rakuten years ago, and yes — the name doesn’t exactly scream “cash back,” but don’t let that fool you.

This is hands-down my favorite cash back app for online shopping.

We use it constantly. I have it installed as a browser extension, and it automatically pops up when I’m shopping at participating stores. My husband uses it almost religiously — especially for online orders with in-store pickup.

We’ve earned cash back on:

• Holiday clothing, gifts, and makeup
• Everyday Target and Walmart online orders
• Pet supply orders (including last-minute cat litter runs)
• Auto parts store pickup orders
• Flower and cookie deliveries
• Even cell phone and internet signups

That’s real money back on things we were already buying.

How Rakuten Works

• Install the browser extension or app and Join Rakuten. **If you join through my link, for a limited time, there is a $50 reward for us both if you make a qualifying purchase within 90 days of joining.
• Click through their portal before shopping
• Earn a percentage of your purchase back

Cash back rates vary by store and promotion. Some payouts take longer to finalize (for example, Black Friday purchases may not finalize until February), but in my experience, the support team is responsive if something doesn’t track correctly.

The do not pay at a payout threshold--they pay quarterly via PayPal or mailed check — which means actual cash, not just points. I have earned $8.25 checks--and I've had payouts for a couple hundred. 

For families who do regular online shopping, this one is a no-brainer.

2. Upside – My Pick for Everyday Gas, Groceries & Restaurants

If Rakuten is my online go-to, Upside is my local savings app. Once called GetUpside, it has downsized the name a bit.

We use it regularly for:

• Gas
• Groceries
• Restaurants

What I love most is the map feature. When we’re traveling or even just running errands across town, we can quickly see which nearby locations are offering cash back.

Here’s something I’ve personally noticed (and this is where paying attention helps):

• Some grocery stores increase their offer percentages early in the day and lower them later
• Certain restaurants run better weekday incentives than weekend ones

The offers change frequently — sometimes even within the same day — so it pays to check before filling up or checking out. Most offers must be claimed before purchase and you will verify after purchase by uploading a receipt or a credit card verification.

If your family spends a lot on gas (and whose doesn’t?), this is an easy way to earn a little back consistently.

Download Upside with my link or use my code ANGELA38483 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash back on your first restaurant or grocery purchase! (I will receive incentive bonuses from your purchases too at no cost to you!)

3. Fetch – Easiest Receipt Scanning App

Fetch is one of the simplest rebate apps I’ve used.

You scan receipts.
You earn points.
You redeem points for gift cards.

It’s straightforward, which I appreciate.

Years ago, they offered more bonus “spin” incentives, and I did rack up points faster then. Even so, I still earn enough for a dinner-out gift card every few months.

What I personally love:

• Clean, easy-to-use interface
• E-receipt connections (Amazon, email accounts, etc.)
• Reliable payout system
• No weird glitches over the years

For me, this app basically funds an occasional date night. And that feels like a win.

Download the app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

4. Ibotta – Best for Specific Grocery Rebates

I used to use Ibotta a lot more when our grocery buying habits matched more of their featured offers.

Here’s how it works:

• Browse and “claim” offers before shopping
• Scan your receipt
• Or link your store loyalty card
• Verify via barcode scan when required

They often include:

• Specific brand rebates
• “Any item” rebates
• Produce offers
• Occasional “any receipt” points

If you’re flexible with brands or like planning shopping trips around deals, Ibotta can be great.

Right now, my product choices don’t always line up with what’s featured, so I use it more selectively. But I still check before each weekly grocery trip to see if anything applies.

Download Ibotta and use my code 'xrieyiw' to get started. 

5. Upromise – Long-Term College Savings Builder

Upromise is probably the app I’ve put the least effort into — but it has still quietly delivered value.

I registered credit cards, and most of our earnings have come automatically through participating restaurants. That part is key — it’s passive.

You can earn rewards through:

• Dining at participating restaurants
• Online shopping
• Grocery offers
• Their dedicated credit card

I personally found that Rakuten often had higher online percentages, and grocery logging could feel tedious for small amounts. But the restaurant rewards built up over time.

In fact, I linked my Upromise to our Ohio 529 college plan and cashed out directly to the plan account. I earned enough to cover my middle daughter’s freshman-year textbooks — and I’m planning to apply earnings toward law school textbooks this year.

It’s not a fast earner for us. It’s a slow, steady build. But because it’s largely automatic, I don’t mind.

Here is my signup link if you are interested in checking it out! 

Are These Cash Back Apps Worth It?

Here’s my honest take:

None of these apps will replace your income.
None of them will magically eliminate your grocery bill.

But layered together? They absolutely add up.

For busy families already spending money on:

• Groceries
• Gas
• Clothing
• School supplies
• Pet food
• Restaurants

It makes sense to earn something back.

The key is choosing reliable rebate apps that actually pay, and not overwhelming yourself trying to manage 20 different platforms. I work with these five pretty exclusively without feeling like I'm wasting time scanning, uploading or searching offers. 

These five have worked consistently for our family.

And in this season of rising costs and full schedules, I’ll take every small win I can get.