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.
Features
Plus two cash advance apps for when you need real cash rather than points:
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 $200/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.
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.
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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