Key takeaways
- Ibotta, Rakuten and Upside are the biggest names outside Fetch, each covering thousands of retailers between groceries, gas and online shopping.
- Check the cashout minimum before you commit. Upside and CoinOut let you cash out with no fixed floor, while Ibotta and Checkout51 make you wait until you hit $20.
- Cash advance apps are a different product entirely. EarnIn and Brigit put real cash in your account ahead of payday instead of points or gift cards.
Six receipt-scanning cash back apps worth trying if you want real dollars instead of points, plus two cash advance apps for quick cash.
Fetch is a free rewards app (iOS and Android) where you snap a photo of any receipt to earn points, then redeem them for gift cards. You can also earn by shopping through Fetch Shop or playing games in the app.
Per fetch.com, more than 13 million people earn with Fetch monthly and the app has paid out more than $1 billion in rewards. Most rewards need at least 3,000 points to redeem, and Fetch only unlocks the $10, $25 and $50 tiers on your first cashout, smaller $3 and $5 rewards open up after that.
Below, we compare six apps like Fetch plus two cash advance apps, with every detail verified only from that company’s own site.
Our picks
- Ibotta — best for shopping at the widest range of retailers
- Rakuten — best for earning cash back on everyday online shopping
- Upside — best for gas, groceries and dining with no cashout minimum
- Receipt Hog — best for casual receipt snappers who want a low $5 floor
- CoinOut — best for earning something on every receipt, no matter how small
- Checkout51 — best for weekly targeted grocery and gas offers
Plus two cash advance apps for when you need real cash rather than points:
- EarnIn — best for accessing wages you’ve already earned
- Brigit — best for a cash advance bundled with budgeting tools
Earning potential at a glance
| Provider | Cashout minimum | Payout format | Signup bonus / earning potential (per its own site) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibotta | $20 | Cash to bank account, PayPal or gift card | Users earn an average of $150+/year, per its own Chrome extension listing |
| Rakuten | $5 | Cash via check or PayPal, paid quarterly; or Amex/Bilt points | $10 Welcome Bonus, per rakuten.com |
| Upside | No minimum | Cash to bank account or gift card | $255 average first-year earnings for frequent users, per upside.com |
| Receipt Hog | 1,000 coins ($5) | PayPal, or Amazon/Visa gift card | Not listed as a fixed amount |
| CoinOut | No fixed minimum for bank/Amazon gift card; other rewards vary by level | Amazon or Your Choice gift card, Venmo or PayPal | Not listed as a fixed amount |
| Checkout51 | $20 | PayPal, Venmo (US only) or mailed check | Not listed as a fixed amount |
| EarnIn | N/A (wage access, not a rewards app) | Cash to bank account | Up to $150/day, max $1,000/pay period |
| Brigit | N/A (cash advance, not a rewards app) | Cash to bank account | $25–$500 nationally ($25–$250 in Maine); average advance $73 |
Ibotta — best for shopping at the widest range of retailers
Earning potential: Users earn an average of $150+/year
Cashouts from: $20
Signup bonus: Not listed as a fixed amount — ibotta.com runs rotating promotions (recently $10 after spending $30)
Ibotta is a free cash back app (iOS, Android and browser extension) that pays real dollars, not points, on purchases at more than 2,000 retailers. You link a store loyalty account or upload a receipt, and cash back lands in your account once the offer clears. Once your balance hits $20, you can withdraw to your bank account, PayPal or a gift card.
Pros
- 2,000+ retailers, in-store and online
- Referral bonus of $10 once a friend redeems an offer
- Multiple cashout options: bank, PayPal or gift card
Cons
- Minimum of $20 before your first withdrawal
- Some banks don't support direct transfers
- Some gift cards need a separate $25 minimum
Rakuten — best for earning cash back on everyday online shopping
Earning potential: Not listed as a fixed rate
Cashouts from: $5
Signup bonus: $10 Welcome Bonus
Rakuten is a shopping portal (website, app and browser extension) that’s paid members cash back since 1999. Click through Rakuten before you check out at any of its 3,500+ partner stores, and Rakuten shares a cut of what the retailer pays it. Rakuten pays cash back every three months once your balance passes $5, via check or PayPal, or you can take Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt points instead of cash.
Pros
- 3,500+ partner stores online
- Option to earn Amex or Bilt points instead of cash
- Long track record — paying members since 1999
Cons
- Quarterly payouts, not right away
- Extra click-through step before every purchase
- Cookies and ad blockers can block tracking
Upside — best for gas, groceries and dining with no cashout minimum
Earning potential: $255 average first-year earnings for frequent users
Cashouts from: No minimum, cash out anytime
Signup bonus: Up to 25¢/gal cash back on your first fill-up
Upside is a free app (iOS and Android) that pays cash back on gas, groceries and dining at participating locations. You claim an offer in the app before you pay, then pay as usual with your linked card. Upside’s own site says users earn an average of 8% cash back on groceries and dining, and it’s paid out more than $1 billion in cash back to date. There’s no redemption minimum, cash out to your bank account or a gift card whenever you want.
Pros
- No cashout minimum, withdraw anytime
- Up to 25¢/gal cash back on your first fill-up
- Stackable with credit card and loyalty rewards
Cons
- Offers depend on your location and can be spotty
- Average grocery cash back varies widely by market
- Offer claims required before paying, not after
Receipt Hog — best for casual receipt snappers who want a low $5 floor
Earning potential: Not listed as a fixed rate
Cashouts from: 1,000 coins ($5)
Signup bonus: Not listed as a fixed amount
Receipt Hog has been turning receipts into coins since 2011. Snap a paper or digital receipt from any store — grocery, health and beauty receipts earn the most, up to a 100-coin weekly cap on coin-earning receipts. In-app surveys and a slot-machine bonus feature add extra coins on top. Once you hit 1,000 coins, cash out for $5 via PayPal or an Amazon or Visa gift card.
Pros
- Low $5 cashout minimum (1,000 coins)
- Bonus coins from surveys on top of receipts
- Choice of PayPal, Amazon or Visa gift cards
Cons
- Only 100 bonus-eligible coins per week from paper receipts
- Coin values are small per individual receipt
- Best suited to casual, not serious, earners
CoinOut — best for earning something on every receipt, no matter how small
Earning potential: Not listed as a fixed rate
Cashouts from: No fixed minimum for bank or Amazon gift card cashouts; other reward tiers vary by account level
Signup bonus: Not listed as a fixed amount
CoinOut pays a small, randomized cash reward for any receipt from any retailer, there are no specific offers to hunt down. Snap the receipt, or connect your email for automatic e-receipt credit, and cash lands in your account. Redeem for an Amazon or Your Choice gift card, Venmo or PayPal, though some reward tiers unlock only once you reach a higher account level.
Pros
- No fixed minimum for bank or Amazon gift card cashouts
- Receipts accepted from virtually any retailer
- Multiple cashout options: Amazon, Venmo or PayPal
Cons
- Reward amounts vary by account level
- Per-receipt payouts are small and randomized
- Some cashout options require reaching a higher level first
Checkout51 — best for weekly targeted grocery and gas offers
Earning potential: Not listed as a fixed rate
Cashouts from: $20
Signup bonus: Not listed as a fixed amount
Checkout51 refreshes its offers every week — Sundays in the US — giving cash back on specific grocery items and gas purchases at any store, no loyalty account needed. Snap your receipt after buying, and approved cash back lands in your account. Once your balance reaches $20, cash out via PayPal, Venmo (US only) or a mailed check.
Pros
- New targeted offers each week
- No loyalty account needed, works at any store
- Gas cash back included alongside groceries
Cons
- Minimum of $20 before you can cash out
- Offers rotate weekly and can run out fast
- Only specific products qualify each week, not your full receipt
Cash advance apps: a different route to quick cash
If what you actually need is money before payday rather than points or gift cards, cash advance apps are a different type of product. Here’s how two popular options compare.
EarnIn — best for accessing wages you’ve already earned
EarnIn is an earned wage access app, not a loan. You’re accessing wages you’ve already earned rather than borrowing. New users typically start around $20–$100 a day and can grow toward the $150/day, $1,000/pay-period cap based on account history. Standard transfers are free and take one to three business days. Lightning Speed delivers funds in minutes for a fee starting at $3.99. There’s no mandatory interest or fees, tipping is optional.
Pros
- No mandatory fees or interest
- Pay-period cap can grow to $1,000 over time
- Optional Balance Shield low-balance alerts
Cons
- New users start well below the maximum
- Instant transfer costs extra
- Bank account and employment info required to connect
Brigit — best for a cash advance bundled with budgeting tools
Brigit’s Instant Cash advance ranges from $25 to $500 nationally ($25–$250 in Maine), with no credit check, no interest and no late fees, per Brigit’s own pricing page — average advance $73. That advance range applies on either paid plan, the difference between them is what else you get. The Plus plan ($8.99/month) includes Instant Cash with standard delivery always free, plus an optional paid Express Delivery for money within 20 minutes. The Premium plan ($15.99/month) adds Credit Builder and makes Express Delivery free.
Pros
- No credit check, no interest, no late fees
- Budgeting tools and credit-monitoring features included
- Free repayment extensions available
Cons
- Paid monthly subscription required to access advances
- Express Delivery costs extra unless you're on the pricier Premium plan
- Credit Builder is Premium-only
How to choose the best app for you
- Decide what you actually want. If you need quick cash rather than points or gift cards, EarnIn or Brigit fits better than a cash back app.
- Check the cashout minimum. Some apps let you cash out anytime, while others make you wait until you hit $20 or more.
- Decide between receipts and points. If snapping receipts feels like a chore, points-based platforms like Freecash and Scrambly reward you for playing games and completing offers instead, a different earning style worth comparing if you want more variety.
- Look at how many ways you can earn. Some apps combine groceries, gas and dining in one place, while others focus on receipts alone.
- Check payout methods. Decide whether you’d rather have cash to your bank, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards.
- Read recent app store reviews. Ratings and complaint patterns shift over time, so check current feedback before committing.
Alternatives to consider
- Cash advance apps. If a rewards app is too slow, cash advance apps like EarnIn and Brigit give you access to cash before payday without borrowing against future income the way a loan does.
- Small personal loans. If you need more than a cash advance covers, a small personal loan spreads repayment over months instead of your next paycheck.
- GPT apps for gaming. If snapping receipts isn’t for you, get-paid-to apps that reward you for playing mobile games are a more hands-on alternative.
- GPT apps for surveys. Survey-focused platforms skip receipts and shopping entirely, paying you instead for sharing your opinion.
Compare get-paid-to sites:
Bottom line
Fetch isn’t the only receipt-scanning rewards app out there. If you want real cash rather than gift-card-only points, Ibotta, Rakuten, Upside, Receipt Hog, CoinOut and Checkout51 all pay out in dollars. If what you actually need is quick cash rather than rewards, EarnIn and Brigit offer a different route to money in your pocket ahead of payday.
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