Snap & Save: My Favorite Money-Saving Apps That Use Your Receipts

If you’re anything like me, you want to save money without giving up quality, spending hours clipping coupons, or jumping through complicated steps. Over the past couple of years, I’ve found a few simple tools that help me do just that with just a few taps on my phone.

Today I’m sharing two of my favorite money-saving apps. These apps reward you for something you already do: shopping. All you have to do is take a picture of your receipt.

Let me tell you about Fetch and Ibotta, the two apps I actually use every week.



📲 1. Fetch: The Easiest Way to Earn Points on Groceries

Fetch Rewards is one of the easiest apps I’ve ever used. You don’t need to scan product barcodes or track down special offers. You simply take a photo of your receipt, and the app does the rest.

Why I love Fetch:

  • It requires no preparation.
    I don’t have to plan anything before I shop. I just take a picture of my receipt when I get home.

  • It rewards me for brands I already buy.
    I often earn bonus points for everyday items like Dove, Pepsi, or Breyers. These are things I would be buying anyway.

  • The gift card options are great.
    You can turn your points into gift cards for stores like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and many others. I like to save mine for the holidays or little treats throughout the year.

If you're new to Fetch, you can sign up using my referral code here to earn bonus points when you scan your first receipt.

I've been using Fetch for three years and have redeemed $230.00 in gift cards in that time. Nothing big, but the extra cash is nice.

💵 2. Ibotta: Cash Back on Groceries and Online Shopping

Ibotta takes a little more planning, but the rewards are worth it. Before I shop, I look through the app to activate offers. These are often available by store and by product.

How I use Ibotta:

  • I activate offers before shopping.
    I check the app before I go to Meijer or Kroger and select the offers that match my grocery list.

  • I scan the receipt after shopping.
    Once I’m home, I take a photo of the receipt and scan the barcodes of the items I selected in the app.

  • I earn real cash back.
    The money goes into my Ibotta account. Once I reach twenty dollars, I can transfer it to PayPal or choose a gift card.

The savings add up faster than you might expect, especially on groceries like eggs, bread, frozen meals, and cleaning products. I also like that Ibotta sometimes gives small rewards just for submitting a receipt, even if it doesn't include specific items.

Want to try Ibotta? Sign up using my referral link to earn a welcome bonus after your first offer.

I've been using Ibotta for 12 years now and have received $660.00 in cash back without much effort at all.

🧾 How I Use Both Apps Together

Yes, you can use both apps on the same receipt, and I do it all the time. Here’s how it works for me:

  1. I do my regular shopping.
    No special trip or planning needed.

  2. I scan the receipt with Fetch first.
    This takes just a few seconds and gives me points right away.

  3. Then I scan the same receipt with Ibotta.
    If I activated the offers ahead of time, the cash back usually shows up within a day or two.

This process helps me earn both points and cash back without changing my routine.

💸 List Of Money-Saving Apps That Let You Snap Receipts

App Name How It Works Rewards Best For
Fetch Snap any receipt to earn points. No need to activate offers. Gift cards (Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and more) Effortless everyday rewards
Ibotta Activate offers before shopping, then scan your receipt and items. Cash back via PayPal or gift cards Grocery savings and online cash back
Receipt Hog Upload any receipt to earn coins or enter sweepstakes. Cash or Amazon gift cards Passive receipt uploads
Shopkick Earn "kicks" for walking into stores, scanning products, and uploading receipts. Gift cards to major retailers In-store shoppers and explorers
CoinOut Snap receipts for random cash rewards. Direct deposit, PayPal, or Amazon gift cards Simple and low-effort savings

📝 Simple Wrap-Up

If you’re looking for easy ways to stretch your budget, Fetch and Ibotta are two apps I highly recommend. They’re free to use, simple to learn, and they reward you for shopping the way you already do.

Do you have a favorite money-saving app? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Sensibly and simply yours,
Kat

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Location: Michigan, USA

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