Originally posted in 2015; updated June 2018 with more current tips and recommendations for the best grocery rebate app in 2018
I love a good bargain, and an easy area to save money is groceries. I buy a lot of items that people don’t typically think of as cheap, like fresh produce, organic items, etc. but I try to be smart with the way I shop to save whenever I can.
One way I save money is with grocery rebate apps. I’ve been using grocery rebate apps for the past 4 years or so, and I’ve tried out about five different apps. When I originally wrote this post in 2015, I talked about a few different apps, but now I just use one to save time and because I think it’s the best out there, so I wanted to update this post. The one I currently used and have used for about 4 years is called Ibotta!
Here’s how it works:
1. Download the Ibotta app on the App Store if you have an iPhone or Google Play Store if you have an Android phone. You’ll get $10 just for signing up if you use the code “zhxlbg,” which lets you join my team.
2. Glance at the available rebates before you go to the store and make note of any you want to buy. You can even “claim” them so all of the offers you want to use are saved together.
3. Take a picture of your receipt when you get home, and the money will be added to your account within 24 hours. You can then chose to be paid via Paypal or Venmo.
There’s a $20 cashout minimum, but you’ll get that $10 bonus just for signing up once you make your first purchase if you use the code “zhxlbg” so you’re already halfway there!
One common complaint about typical coupons is that they only exist for “junk food,” but Ibotta has a ton of healthy options, which I love. For instance, there are options right now for HOPE Hummus, Fage and Chobani Yogurt, RX bars, Dave’s Killer Bread, Organic Girl, any type of broccoli, and more.
Just by glancing at the available rebates before I hit the grocery store, I end up saving a decent amount of extra money on things I’m buying, anyway, and it’s really quick (the best part!).
I do sometimes print paper coupons but I don’t spend much time doing that at all. If I had to only pick one, I prefer using Ibotta.
The major benefits of using a grocery rebate app like Ibotta versus paper coupons are:
1) No wasted paper or ink from printing coupons, so it’s eco-friendly and cheaper
2)You don’t have to plan ahead like you do with clipping coupons
3) There are more healthy options on the Ibotta app. I regularly save on things like hummus, kombucha, and more
BUT, good news: no one is making you pick just one, so you can use both paper coupons AND a rebate app if you want! I’ve done that on several occasions and ended up getting an item for free or even making money. You can also still use a rebate if the item is on sale, so I’ve gotten some great deals that way, too, by taking advantage of both offers.
For example, GT’s Kombucha is typically $3.50 at Whole Foods, but it was on sale for $2.50 last week. I used a $.50 Ibotta offer, and each bottle became only $2, which is a steal for kombucha. The rebate allowed me to use this deal for 5 kombuchas! And then it reloaded a couple of days later, so I bought 5 more.
And Ibotta works at a ton of different grocery stores. It also has both brand-specific offers and offers that work for any type of apple or any type of broccoli, for example.
The big question is: is it worth the time to use the app? Since it’s easy to use and doesn’t take much time at all if you’re smartphone savvy, I’d say YES! It’s at least worth it to give it a shot, claim your $10, and see if there are offers for things you buy. I bet there are!
If you’re interested, here are two other posts I wrote about saving money with grocery shopping:
Post #1: saving money without having to clip coupons.
Post #2: my tips and tricks for finding coupons, especially for trickier items like healthy foods.
Any questions about Ibotta? Are there any ways you try to save money on groceries?
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I used to have Ibotta but never used it. My sister uses it though, I just don’t have the patience to find everything I’m buying. I’m sure it’s really easy I’m just lazy haha. I shop at Target a lot so I do have their cartwheel app downloaded on my phone, but have yet to use it!
I have Cartwheel, too, and haven’t used it yet, either 🙂 And I totally understand- couponing/rebating doesn’t have to be for everyone!
I do love a good bargain!!! …great post girl!! Thanks for all the helpful, frugal tips!! 🙂
Thanks, Cailee! Hope you’re having a great week!
Agh, the college life. SO EXPENSIVE. I feel like every other day a random expense comes up and I am just shelling out money like it is nothing! It is so frustrating! I am like you- huge bargain shopper!
I have never delved into using grocery rebate apps, and though I do not think I will do so for a few months (meal plan!) this is such a great idea. Thank you Liv, for being so resourceful, and informing on a topic that I was not aware of.
I totally agree– college life gets so expensive! It’s nice to be able to cut expenses whenever possible 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week, Julia!!
I am all about the bargains too! I don’t think these apps work down under but I will absolutely check it out! Yay for student life haha 🙂
Hmm, maybe there’s something similar down under? Yesss, student life 🙂
I’ve learned so much from you and this series! Inspiring me to reign in my spending 🙂
Yay, so happy to hear that this little series has been helpful. 🙂 Thanks, Emily!
Oh this is so cool! Great idea.
I feel like mobile app or any kind of online couponing is exclusive to the states mostly, as i. Canada I find there to be less opportunity to do this kind of stuff!
New reader here, liv. 🙂
Hey Linda! Interesting to hear about the differences in Canada! Excited to have you as a new reader and thanks for stopping by!! 🙂
If there’s an app for all this kind of stuff there’s no excuse! Thanks for sharing! It’s so easy to save money if you give it a little effort haha
Haha! I feel like there’s an app for EVERYTHING now 🙂
Such great tips! I love finding a good bargain too. I can spend the money I saved on running shoes that way haha
YES!! Less money on groceries = more money for running shoes! That’s exactly how I think of it 🙂
Thanks for these, I have ibotta, but not the rest. I also have Groupon’s Snap app. I’ll have to check the others out!
Ooh, I haven’t even heard of Groupon’s Snap app! Does it have some good deals?
I’ve always been a little confused about rebate apps for grocery shopping but you do a pretty awesome job explaining and giving examples of some great options. Thanks, girl!
Thanks, Kaylin! Isn’t it crazy how there are apps for everything now, even grocery shopping?!
Great list! I agree about Checkout51. It took me a long time to reach $20, so I have been waiting to cash out. It used to be better because they sometimes offered 2 produce deals each week, but now it’s just the 1.
I also like SavingStar. Limit is only $5. They have one healthy offer of the week, which is always produce, and they have a freebie for the weekends, which sometimes is doable for me (like today’s is Hunt’s tomato sauce, which is okay). 🙂
I’m soooo close to $20, but it’s taken me forever to get there! I’m excited to finally get to delete that app haha! I agree, Savingstar is great, too. I love the freebies when they’re something good like when it was a mini Ben & Jerry’s a few weeks ago 🙂
I have all these apps except shopminum. I use them a lot some weeks and some weeks I don’t use them all that much. I love how they help me get items for a better price or even free.
I’m the same way- some weeks, I use them for multiple multiple rebates, and other weeks, I don’t use them much at all. This week, I actually MADE money on a box of Kashi cereal between an Ibotta rebate, a coupon, and a sale at the store 🙂 That’s always fun!
And Shopmium is worth getting just for the free Lindt chocolate bar offer 🙂
You are a wise shopper and great cook.
I know saving so much money is almost like getting paid extra for doing a job.
Thank you! It’s nice to be able to save money when it’s easy to do!