For Colleen Rice, the perks of using a cash-back app were clear from the start.
“It kept me from living on Ramen,” she says.
The Savinly email marketing manager shares that she’s been using the cash-back app Ibotta since 2013 and has brought in $307.60 in savings so far.
When she and her then-boyfriend relocated to Florida that year, Rice recalls, “We were so broke … It’s really helped me a lot.”
Even though she’s moved past those rough months, she still relies on the app consistently. She appreciates that she’s getting money back on purchases she’d already be making.
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The app isn’t limited to grocery savings, although Rice enjoys stacking deals at Publix and Target.
She’s also used Ibotta to pocket cash at spots like Jo-Ann Fabrics (during a jewelry-making streak) and Hotels.com, where she scored about $45 back on one road trip.
“If you can make anything a challenge, I like that,” she says. “Plus it’s more portable than coupons, and it introduces me to brands I’d otherwise not try.”
How Does Ibotta Work?
Hold up — what exactly is Ibotta?
Ibotta is a cash-back app that returns actual dollars (not points or store credit) on everyday purchases. It gamifies couponing, like Rice mentioned, and it’s all handled from your phone. No torn newspaper inserts needed.
It also provides rebates across many retailers: from Amazon to Forever 21 to Walmart.
Here’s how to use Ibotta:
1. Download the free app and create an account.
2. Browse the cash-back deals available.
As Rice found, Ibotta is useful for finding cash back not only on pantry staples but also at online stores and travel booking sites. She also uses it to test new brands. For instance, she previously only bought Viva paper towels. But when she can snag $3 back on a pack of Bounty, why not give it a try?
3. If you’re shopping in a brick-and-mortar store, add offers to your account before you go by tapping the plus icon beside each offer.
When shopping online, use the Ibotta portal: open the retailer’s offer, then tap “Shop.” You’ll be redirected to the merchant’s site.
4. After you pay in the store, redeem offers by snapping a photo of your receipt and scanning barcodes when needed. Typically within 48 hours, Ibotta will add the cash to your account.
For online purchases, Ibotta will display the expected timeframe for when the refund will post to your account.
5. Once your balance reaches $20, you can withdraw via PayPal or Venmo. You also have the option to redeem rewards as a gift card.
Alternatively, you can link your store loyalty cards so cash back is applied automatically after you add offers to your account and complete your purchase — no receipt photos or barcode scans required.
What About an Ibotta Reward Code?
Lots of people ask about Ibotta reward codes. Unfortunately, there aren’t any secret codes that instantly boost your earnings.
That said, we do have an Ibotta sign-up perk to mention. Sign up for Ibotta through this link, and you’ll receive a $20 sign-up bonus after redeeming your first 10 offers within 14 days.
There’s also a referral code for Ibotta. Locate your unique code by going to “Account” and “Invite Friends.” Share that code and earn a $5 bonus once your friend starts redeeming offers.
Don’t forget to explore Ibotta’s bonuses too — go to “Account” and “Bonuses.”
There you’ll find occasional special promotions, like an extra $10 reward for every $250 spent using the app’s mobile shopping category or a $1 bonus for buying two specific Organic Valley products.
(Note: These examples were available at the time of publishing.)
Ibotta’s Best Practices
No, Ibotta won’t make you wealthy. But, as Rice notes, it’s a handy little influx of cash for things you’d buy anyway. And it’s a practical way to avoid subsisting on Ramen noodles.
Below are tips to squeeze the most value from Ibotta:
Ibotta Isn’t Just for Groceries
Because Ibotta started with grocery rebates, many people still associate it with supermarket savings. But the app keeps adding partners, including a growing list of non-grocery merchants.
Here are a few unexpected retailers that were offering cash back when we checked:
- Groupon: Earn around 5% back on Groupon purchases — a platform that already helps you save. You’ll usually cap out at $30 back per order, which is still a nice return.
- Hotels: If you have upcoming travel plans, booking lodging through Ibotta-linked partners can yield substantial rebates. Hotels aren’t cheap; for example, booking via certain hotel partners can return up to 15% cash back.
- Alcohol: Ibotta lists many offers for beer, wine and spirits at restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores. Deals range from $5 back on a case of Bud Light to $2 back on a bottle of Seagram’s gin. You can even get cash back on combo food-and-drink purchases at participating bars and eateries.
- Jo-Ann Fabrics: Jo-Ann often shows up with brand-specific rebates, like $1 back on certain yarns, and sometimes offers around 15% back on in-store purchases. Stack that with the store’s coupons for big savings.
- Hulu: If you’re finally cutting the cord, sign up for Hulu through Ibotta and you could snag $15 back on a basic subscription.
There are many other non-grocery deals available, but those examples give you a sense of the range.
Don’t Overspend Just to Chase Cash Back
I won’t pretend it’s not tempting to splurge when you see $5 back available for a pricier boutique brand of toilet paper.
So, we put togethera set of recommendationsto help you avoid unnecessary buys.One handy rule is to avoid browsing the app’s offers until after you finish your shopping list. That prevents the “ooh, shiny” temptation that can lead to impulse purchases.
If you’d like to try Ibotta,download the app. After you redeem your first cash-back offer, they’ll drop $5 into your account as a welcome reward.
To boost your earnings further, consider pairing Ibotta with other money-saving tools. For related ways to save and earn, check out this helpful resource on ibotta free school supplies.
We also recommend exploring other cashback and money-making apps we like to stack savings.
Jenna Morris is a staff writer at Savinly. She’s earned more than $120 in cash back with Ibotta; one month those rewards helped her cover rent.
