6 Cash-Back Apps That Are Totally Worth the Effort

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. However, when it comes to cash-back shopping apps, what sounds too good to be true actually can be true. Cash-back apps allow you to earn money by doing things you normally do — such as shopping at your favorite stores, eating at your favorite restaurants, and taking Ubers and Lyfts — and getting rewarded requires little more effort than downloading an app to your phone. There are dozens of free shopping apps out there that will allow you to earn cash back, and we've rounded up some of the best to help you earn some extra cash (which you can then spend on more shopping, of course).

01
Rakuten
Rakuten

Rakuten

When you use Rakuten, you're refunded a percentage of your purchase in the form of cash back (up to $50 on a single purchase) while giving them referral credit for your purchase in exchange. In order to get that cash back, you simply type in the store of your choice in the search bar, and then click on any referral link to visit the store's website and shop as you normally would. There are more than 2,500 stores on the app where you can claim rebates, and when you sign up, you're offered either a $10 Rakuten cash bonus or a $10 Walmart gift card.

02
Dosh
Dosh

Dosh

Just like Rakuten, Dosh allows you to earn cash back by shopping as you normally would. Rather than shopping through an online portal, however, you simply link a credit or debit card to your Dosh account, and the app provides you with cash back when you use that card at a participating store, including Walmart, Sam's Club, Shoe Carnival, Walgreens, and Target, among thousands of others. While the average cash-back rate through Dosh is two to three percent, some stores pay up to 10 percent cash back, which is added to your Dosh account automatically and easily transferable to your bank or PayPal account.

03
Drop
Drop

Drop

Rather than providing you with cash, Drop allows you to earn points that you can later redeem for gift cards. Like Dosh, Drop gives you credit for making purchases with a linked credit or debit card, and once you link your card, you'll be prompted to choose five of your favorite stores or brands, such as Uber, Trader Joe's, Starbucks, or wherever you spend the most money. You'll then earn points whenever you use your linked card at the five brands you've selected, and when you accumulate at least 5,000 points, you can redeem those points for a $5 gift card to a wide variety of stores.

04
Swagbucks
Swagbucks

Swagbucks

When you use Swagbucks, you can earn cash back by doing all your normal online activities through the Swagbucks portal. As well as offering a cash-back shopping portal, this app allows you to earn credit by watching videos, taking polls, using Yahoo!, answering surveys, playing games, referring friends, and more. After you earn credit, or Swagbucks, you can redeem your earnings via PayPal or gift card, and you're also given a $5 sign-on bonus.

05
Freebird
Freebird

Freebird

If you often use rideshare services, then Freebird is the app for you. Freebird is a cash-back and rewards app for Uber and Lyft passengers, which allows you to earn cash and rewards on every ride just by using the Freebird app. All you have to do is connect the app to your Uber or Lyft account and link a debit or credit card, and you'll earn at least 250 points for each ride you order through the app. Once you reach 5,000 points, you'll get $10 cash back, and you can also earn cash back by using your linked card at participating locations.

06
Pei
Pei

Pei

Just like Dosh and Drop, Pei allows you to earn cash back when you link your credit or debit card and shop as usual at your favorite retailers. Here's where it's different: Pei is the first app to give cash-back rewards in cryptocurrency, and you can earn up to 20 percent cash back in either cash or Bitcoin. Pei is affiliated with thousands of retailers — including Target, Trader Joe's, and Sephora, among many others — and each retailer offers a different cash-back percentage, ranging anywhere from one percent to 20 percent. When you use your linked card at those stores, you'll earn cash back on your purchase.