Scanning Receipts for Money: Is It Legit?

Did you know your receipts could be worth real money? Several apps and sites have a simple but enticing proposition for Canadian shoppers: Get paid to scan your receipts. So just by doing your regular shopping, you could earn some extra cash.

But are “scan receipts for money” apps legit? Can you really turn your receipts into cash? And how much will you earn? Keep reading to find out.

Can you actually scan receipts for money?

Yes, you can. It might sound like a scam at first, but several legit apps out there will pay you to scan your receipts.

Why? Market research and advertising. These sites and apps capture all your important shopping data, such as where you shop and when, what you buy, how much you spend and so on. They then sell all that data about your shopping habits to advertisers and other brands. That’s why they’re willing to pay you to do something as easy as upload a photo of the receipt from your weekly grocery shop.

How they work is simple. You download an app, take photos of your receipts and upload them. If you shop online, you can connect your email and submit digital receipts. You earn points for every receipt you upload, and those points can typically be redeemed for gift cards or for cash via PayPal.

Some apps specialize in specific types of receipts, like groceries and everyday essentials, while others accept just about any receipt from your online and in-store shopping.

5 legitimate apps that pay you money when you scan receipts

If you’re ready to start earning, here are five reputable apps that let you scan receipts for money.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a get-paid-to (GPT) app where you can earn rewards for things like answering surveys, playing games and uploading receipts. With its Magic Receipts feature, you can scan receipts for money when you shop at supermarkets, supercentres, club stores, dollar stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and more.

• Suited for: Food, household, health and beauty item receipts
• How much it pays: Most receipts earn 1 – 5 SB (US$0.01 – US$0.05), but higher rewards are sometimes available.
• Payout methods: PayPal, gift cards.

App ratings

Reviews as of March 17, 2026

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2. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog is a cashback platform designed to turn your everyday shopping into money. No matter when or where you shop, and regardless of whether you purchase in-store or online, you can upload paper and digital receipts in the Receipt Hog app to earn rewards.

• Suited for: All receipts.
• How much it pays: 5 – 20 coins per receipt. 1,000 coins = $5, but coins are worth more when redeemed for larger withdrawals.
• Payout methods: PayPal, Visa and Amazon gift cards.

App ratings

Reviews as of March 12, 2026

3. Checkout 51

Launched in 2012, Checkout 51 is a Canadian coupon and cashback app and website. It provides weekly offers for groceries and everyday items. Choose the offers you want, buy the specific items listed, and then upload your receipt to get rewarded.

• Suited for: Groceries and essentials.
• How much it pays: $0.50 – $5.00 cashback per specific item.
• Payout methods: PayPal, cheque.

App ratings

* Reviews as of March 12, 2026

4. ReceiptJar

ReceiptJar is a rewards app that lets you scan receipts for money. It accepts receipts from over 11,000 stores across Canada, the United States and Australia, including online and offline shopping. All you need to do is shop and upload photos of your receipts to start earning rewards points.

• Suited for: All receipts.
• How much it pays: 5 – 20 Points per receipt. 1,000 Points equal $5, so you'll need 50 to 200 receipts.
• Payout methods: Electronic gift cards, PayPal.

App ratings

Reviews as of March 12, 2026

5. Caddle

Caddle is a free Canadian cashback app that lets you scan receipts for money. Simply find the offers you want in the app, then buy the specified item and upload a photo of your receipt. Caddle also lets you make money by completing surveys, watching ads and writing product reviews.

• Suited for: Groceries
• How much it pays: $0.10 – $2 per task/receipt
• Payout methods: e-Transfer

App ratings

What to watch out for

• Know how your data is being used. Check the terms and conditions to find out how the data you provide will be used. How will it be stored? Will it be sold to third parties? Are you happy sharing information about where you shop and when, plus what you buy?
• Time limits. You will generally need to scan your receipt within a certain amount of time after purchasing, with limits commonly ranging from a few days to two weeks.
• Receipt limits. Some apps will place limits on the number of receipts you can scan per day, week or month. This restricts your earning potential, so check what limits apply.
• Minimum cashout. Check the fine print for details of the minimum amount you must reach before you can redeem your points for rewards.
• Not lucrative. Scanning receipts is a simple way to earn a little extra spending money, but it’s not going to make you a millionaire.

Beyond receipts: Other ways to boost your income

Looking for other simple ways to top up your bank balance? There are plenty of options to explore.

Get-paid-to (GPT) sites or apps

The premise of GPT platforms like LEO and Testerup is simple: get paid to do stuff. And by “stuff” we could mean playing games on your mobile, completing online surveys, signing up for special offers and referring friends.

You earn points for things like answering surveys, downloading games and completing in-app tasks. Those points can then be redeemed for cash via PayPal or for a wide range of gift cards.

Play Games & Take Surveys

Freecash

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• Access a variety of tasks
• Earn up to $300 per offer
• $10 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

Testerup

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• Earn up to $800 through offers
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Paid Surveys

LEO (Leger Opinion)

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• Earn up to $100 per month in rewards
• Finder readers receive 2,000 LEO welcome bonus points
• Free, user-friendly, and secure app and website

Reward sites

While scanning receipts earns small amounts, you can find much larger payouts on reward platforms. At Finder Canada, we partner with financial institutions to offer exclusive bonuses when you sign up for financial products, like a new bank account or credit card. Other platforms like GeniusCash offer similar rewards, making it worth shopping around for the most lucrative deals.

Cashback portals

Cashback sites like Rakuten and Great Canadian Rebates reward you for doing your regular shopping. All you have to do is make a purchase through the cashback platform’s online shopping portal, mobile app or browser extension. In return, you receive a percentage of your purchase price back as cashback rewards.

Cashback rates commonly range from 1% – 10% depending on the retailer, but you might also find higher earn rates when searching for the latest offers and deals.

Bottom line

Scan receipts for money apps offer a simple way to make shopping more rewarding. There are several legit apps to choose from, and it’s worth signing up for multiple apps to maximize your earning potential. Just don’t expect your receipt-scanning side hustle to make you rich; it will make you a little bit of extra money, not a lot.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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