Let’s face it: grocery shopping can take a big bite out of your budget. If you’re like most people, you probably cringe a little when you see the total at checkout. But what if I told you that you could slash those costs just by using a few handy apps? Yep, saving money on groceries has never been easier—thanks to tech!
Here, I’m breaking down the best shopping and coupon apps that’ll help you save on your next grocery run. Get ready to put those savings back in your pocket!
1. Ibotta: Earn Cash Back on Groceries (and More!)
Ibotta is like having a little cash-back genie in your pocket. The app partners with a ton of major retailers, making it super easy to earn rewards on your grocery purchases.
How Ibotta Works:
- Browse offers before you shop: Check out available deals on products you plan to buy.
- Snap a picture of your receipt: After shopping, upload your receipt, and Ibotta verifies your purchases.
- Earn cash back: Once verified, you’ll get cash back deposited into your Ibotta account. Cash out when you hit $20—super easy!
Pro Tip:
Link your loyalty cards from stores like Walmart, Target, or Kroger directly to the app. That way, you won’t have to mess with receipts, and you’ll earn cash back automatically.
2. Rakuten: Cash Back for Groceries and Beyond
Rakuten isn’t just for online shopping—it’s also a powerhouse for earning cash back on groceries. The app partners with stores like Walmart and Costco, allowing you to earn cash back both in-store and online.
How Rakuten Works:
- Activate offers through the app: Check out the latest deals and cash-back offers from stores near you.
- Shop as usual: After activating a deal, head to the store, buy your groceries, and use your connected credit card.
- Earn cash back: Rakuten tracks your purchase and gives you cash back, which you can withdraw via PayPal or check.
Pro Tip:
Install the Rakuten browser extension. It’ll pop up whenever you’re shopping online to remind you of cash-back opportunities—so you never miss out on free money.
3. Honey: Automatic Coupons for Easy Savings
Honey is a browser extension that does all the heavy lifting for you. While it’s known for finding discount codes when you shop online, it also works with grocery delivery services like Instacart, helping you save on groceries without lifting a finger.
How Honey Works:
- Download the extension: Add Honey to your browser, and it’ll automatically search for coupon codes when you’re ready to check out.
- Apply the best deals: Honey applies the most savings possible to your cart, whether it’s free shipping, percentage discounts, or other offers.
- Earn Honey Gold: For every dollar spent, you earn points, which you can later redeem for gift cards.
Pro Tip:
Use Honey with grocery delivery services like Instacart. The extension will find and apply any available coupons, potentially saving you a chunk of change on delivery fees or groceries themselves.
4. Flipp: Your Ultimate Circular Finder
If you love browsing store circulars for deals but hate dealing with all that paper, Flipp has you covered. This app brings all your local store circulars together in one place, so you can quickly compare prices and score the best deals.
How Flipp Works:
- Search for items on sale: Enter the grocery items you’re planning to buy, and Flipp will show you where they’re on sale.
- Add to your shopping list: Create a list within the app, and Flipp will organize it by store, making it easy to map out your trip.
- Clip digital coupons: You can even clip and apply digital coupons directly through the app—no paper needed!
Pro Tip:
Turn on notifications for your favorite stores so you get alerted when new circulars or exclusive deals are available. That way, you’ll never miss a sale on your go-to groceries.
5. Coupons.com: All Your Coupons in One Place
The Coupons.com app is exactly what it sounds like: a treasure trove of digital coupons for groceries and household items. You’ll find everything from product-specific coupons to savings on your entire purchase.
How Coupons.com Works:
- Browse and clip coupons: Clip the coupons you want and link them to your loyalty cards from stores like CVS, Safeway, or ShopRite.
- Use at checkout: When you check out, the savings will be automatically applied to your total.
- Earn rebates: In some cases, you can even upload your receipt to earn cash back on select items.
Pro Tip:
Check the app before you head to the store, and sync coupons to your loyalty card. It’s a simple way to save big without fumbling through paper coupons.
6. Fetch Rewards: Earn Points for Your Receipts
Fetch Rewards is a little different from the other apps—it gives you points for snapping pictures of your grocery receipts, which you can redeem for gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants.
How Fetch Rewards Works:
- Scan your receipts: Just upload a photo of your grocery receipt, and Fetch will reward you with points.
- Redeem points for gift cards: Choose from a variety of popular retailers and restaurants like Amazon, Starbucks, or Target.
- Bonus offers: Fetch frequently has extra point offers for specific brands, so keep an eye out for those to rack up points even faster.
Pro Tip:
You can scan receipts from any store, even gas stations. So, don’t limit yourself to grocery runs—Fetch rewards you for a variety of purchases.
7. Shopkick: Get Paid to Walk Around
With Shopkick, you can earn points (called “kicks”) just for walking into stores or scanning products. You don’t even have to buy anything to start earning rewards!
How Shopkick Works:
- Walk into participating stores: Open the app as you walk into a partner store like Target or Walmart to earn kicks.
- Scan products and earn kicks: Earn more kicks by scanning specific products in the store.
- Redeem kicks for gift cards: Cash out your kicks for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, and Best Buy.
Pro Tip:
If you’re already in the store, take a few extra minutes to scan products listed in Shopkick for extra kicks—it’s an easy way to boost your rewards without spending any money.
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to drain your wallet. With these shopping and coupon apps, you’re well on your way to saving money on groceries. Pick a couple of these apps to try out on your next grocery run, and watch those savings add up!