The Only Legit Cash-Back Apps You Need in 2023

Introduction – The Pros & Cons of The Digital Shopping Era

The rise of e-commerce has called for various innovations in the world of shopping. That’s why people are looking for the only legit cash-back apps. There are folks who still prefer traditional in-store shopping as just with anything else, online shopping comes with its own set of pros and cons. Convenience seems to be the number one factor for people to turn to online shopping because it does not require any physical activity. In the old days, you had to visit the store physically to buy stuff and if you were looking for something not commonly used, your chances of finding it in the market were slim. The beauty of online shopping is that it has put together even the rarest finds just one search away.

If we talk about its shortcomings, you know looking at something in a picture or video will not be the same as looking at it in person. That seems to be a major problem arising in the online fashion market. You do not get the luxury of trying things on before you make a purchase, which leads to sizing and fitting problems for clothing. A very handful number of top online stores have tried to address this by shipping out clothes for you to try on first and then make your decision. However, it’s nowhere near an actual in-store experience because shipping items back and forth is time-consuming.

Despite all this, e-commerce is still a booming industry. New ideas and techniques are making their way in on a regular basis. Each day, new shops are being added and more and more people are turning to the internet to meet their customary demands. This underscores the importance of implementing effective measures to help customers save money as they shop online. Take coupon hunting for instance. Although it has been around for a while, platforms like Honey have transformed it by identifying and applying coupons and promotions as you shop automatically. There are several other apps and browser extensions of this kind that will cover you in this regard.

What are Cashback Apps?  Free Cash?

You might also be familiar with the term ‘cashback’. A fairly new concept that has revolutionized how consumers shop. These apps, readily available on smartphones and web browsers, partner with a wide array of retailers, both online and offline, and help shoppers save a significant amount of money by returning a percentage of the amount spent to customers. This straightforward concept allows shoppers to earn money while making the purchases they would have made anyway. Cashback apps are user-friendly and often provide multiple payment options, such as direct cash deposits, gift cards, or rewards points. Combining cashback with coupons and discounts makes these apps a very valuable tool for people who love to stack savings. If you are a regular shopper, adding cashback apps to your shopping habits can result in major long-term savings.

How do cash-back apps work?

 Apps that easily provide a way to earn seem sketchy at first because you get to wonder how they make their money since they are free to use and give you money back but here is how it works. You see, cash back apps make deals with stores through which they offer cashback. It works something like this – anytime you use a cash-back app to buy something, they earn a commission from the store. Think of it like affiliate marketing but on a grand scale. I’ll introduce you to two such apps that you can seamlessly integrate into your daily shopping so let’s dive right in without further delay.

Top Cash-Back Apps for 2023

We’ll split it into two parts: one for our regular daily shopping and the other for gas, both of which we do routinely.

Rakuten Rewards 

What could be a more fitting way to begin than with Rakuten Rewards? Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is undoubtedly one of the best apps in the world to get cash back. I am personally vouching for it because I have been a satisfied Rakuten member for about four years and have earned cash back and rewards through several stores while shopping online. They recently introduced a feature with which you can shop in-store and earn cash rewards. It even works in grocery stores like Instacart and the best part is that you do not have to scan your receipt to earn rewards. Although a lot of apps claim to make you money but through them, you usually earn points which you need A LOT of to turn into cash. SwagBucks is an example. The problem with such apps is that they require too much time and energy, and the payouts are very small.

Rakuten Rewards, on the other hand, doesn’t use a complex point system; instead, you receive cash rewards directly, providing a better way to save money. The amount of cash back varies from store to store and depends on the total amount of the purchase. Your reward will be reflected in the app in less than a day from the purchase and you have the option to either receive a physical check or cash out via PayPal. Here is something to keep in mind, as of right now, you cannot cash out whenever you want. The payments are sent every three months according to Rakuten’s schedule which is as follows.

Upside: Cash Back – Gas & Food

Let me start off by telling you how much I made in 4 months with the Upside app- a solid $100, all from my routine fuel purchases. Now I want to mention that they throw in some extra deals & referral programs every now and then that give your earnings a boost. One of the best sources of extra cash is gas offers and no one else does it better than the Upside app. For many of us, purchasing gas on a regular basis is a must to support our daily routines, including commuting to work, running errands, and staying connected to our communities. We have to put fuel in our vehicles anyway so why not earn money while doing so? It’s not even an inconvenience since I’m sure you use apps to check gas prices. How about replacing that with Upside, which doesn’t require much effort at all?

Once you fire up the app, you will be presented with a map displaying all participating gas stations in your area. It will show you the price you will get your gas for but keep in mind, you will pay the gas station’s listed price and the adjustment will be credited into your account. You have to register your credit or debit card once while setting up your account. After that, all you have to do is select the gas station where you will be getting your fuel and let the app know that you have paid. You will receive your reward in a day or two.

For the takeout lovers out there, it provides some nifty cashback offerings at restaurants too. Upside provides a handier method for cash outs. It lets you transfer directly to your bank or choose from a selection of gift cards from Amazon, Google, etc. Given the continually increasing gas prices, I highly recommend using this app.

Conclusion

The internet is a good source of information; however, it cannot be trusted at all times. Not everything you see comes from trustworthy sources. We come across numerous apps on informative websites that usually showcase top cashback apps. After we try them out, they do not live up to our expectations. In contrast, these two apps have undergone personal testing and have been my trusted companions for quite some time. These apps have helped me save a substantial amount of money and I believe they can do the same for you.