How to Get Cash Back from Shopping Online

Saving money is honestly one of my favorite things to do. Not only is it necessary as a single mom of two kids (and three fur-kids), but it also makes me feel good. I love walking away from a shopping trip knowing that I got a deal and was smart with my spending.

I am always looking for ways to save money on groceries, clothing, school supplies, etc. Other moms in my life know about my smart shopping habits, and I’ve gotten several questions about how to get cash back from shopping or how to reduce what I pay for things. Shopping online tends to give me the best deals. So, I’ve compiled this list of my three absolute favorite ways to get paid to shop online, hoping that it’ll help at least some of you keep more money in your bank account, too.

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3 Ways I Earn Money from Shopping Online

Here is how to get cash back from shopping online using my three favorite tools:

1. Honey

Honey is my #1 favorite way to earn money from shopping online. I’ve used it since 2017, and I make enough to get a gift card at least every month or so.

How Honey Works

Honey automatically checks for promo codes and discounts to use while you shop online. The magic happens when you’re on a website for a company that Honey partners with. Start shopping, add what you want to your shopping cart, and check out. At checkout, Honey searches for promo codes that save you money. I once got an extra 30% off a bed and mattress set I bought at Kohl’s, for example, with a code I didn’t know existed!

To get the deals, you’ll install a browser extension. That way, you’ll never have to think about logging into Honey to see what codes are available; instead, it tracks where you are and automatically finds codes.

Honey also gives gift card offers when available. These offers let you buy a gift card through Honey for the site you’re shopping on at a discounted rate. Usually, I get between $5-$10 off just by purchasing this way. Then, you’ll use Honey’s gift card information to complete your purchase with instant savings.

You need at least 1,000 HoneyGold (Honey’s form of rewards) to redeem for a gift card to places like Sephora, The Home Depot, Gap, Walmart, or Target. You also have the option of transferring your HoneyGold over to PayPal or using it as a shopping credit on your next shopping trip with Honey. Every 1 HoneyGold equals $0.01, so 1,000 HoneyGold equals $10.

How to Sign Up for Honey

Sign up for free at JoinHoney.com. Once there, fill out your profile, and download the browser extension to start earning every time you shop.

2. Swagbucks

I’ve used Swagbucks the longest out of any cash back shopping app, and it’s still right up there as a favorite. Use this site to earn money from shopping at your favorite retailers, playing games, taking surveys, and so much more.

How Swagbucks Works

Swagbucks is so much more than just a way to get paid to shop online, but that’s mostly what I use it for. I love its cash back shopping because I consistently earn SBs (Swagbucks points) almost every time I buy from stores online. It connects to some of my favorites, like Macy’s, Walmart, and Etsy. I use the SwagButton in my Chrome browser, which alerts me any time I’m on a site that I can collect SBs from. With the click of a button, I can earn cash back when I complete my purchase.

I easily make $20-$50 a month just from using Swagbucks to shop online. But if you don’t feel like you earn enough from shopping alone, explore the rest of the site. You can also boost your SBs through daily tasks and bonuses, polls, offers, surveys, videos, games, and more.

If you’re more of an in-store shopper, Swagbucks helps you earn that way, too. Just click on the Magic Receipts link under the Shop category to submit your receipts and earn SBs for specific purchases.

How to Sign Up for Swagbucks

You’ll earn a 300 SB bonus when you sign up with my referral link and earn at least 300 SB in the first 30 days (I promise, this is SUPER easy to do!). Don’t forget to add the SwagButton to your browser for the easiest way to earn cash back when you shop online.

3. Ibotta

Ibotta is both a website and mobile app that gives both cash back offers and rebates for specific items you buy. I’ve used Ibotta for several years now to consistently get money back on shopping trips.

How Ibotta Works

Because you can use Ibotta for shopping online or in-store, I’ll explain both methods.

How to Shop Online with Ibotta

Use the Ibotta website to shop with Ibotta online. Search for a store you want to shop with or browse the retailers or categories of stores to find what you need. Then, click the retailer. Next, click Activate & shop to go to the retailer’s website and start shopping. Ibotta tracks your shopping trip and rewards you with cash back for your qualifying purchase. For example, you can get up to 6% back for shopping with Lowe’s and up to 10% back with CVS.

How to Get Cash Back In-Store with Ibotta

Shopping in-store is my favorite way to use Ibotta. To do it, use the mobile app to find the store you’re shopping at. Then, browse the rebate offers and click the + sign on any items you want to add to your list to purchase. Shop those items at the store and complete checkout as usual. Then, snap a photo of your receipt to upload it to Ibotta. Ibotta searches for each item you have a rebate for and rewards you the rebate price into your account. I usually get my rewards within 24 hours. Some stores, like Walmart, even let you shop in-store or online to get cash back.

Once you have money in your account from shopping online or in-store with Ibotta, you can cash it out via a gift card, PayPal, or a bank account. You need $20 minimum to cash out, and I usually get at least that much per in-store shopping trip.

Ibotta Bonuses

Ibotta also has bonus offers that can boost your earnings. For example, if you buy a specific number of products from one brand, you might earn an extra $0.50. Sometimes, Ibotta gives a few extra dollars if you redeem a certain number of offers per month.

How to Sign Up for Ibotta

Click here to sign up for Ibotta on the website or through its iOS or Android apps.

Get Paid to Shop Online! Try These Cash Back Shopping Apps for FREE

These are my top three favorite ways to get cash back from shopping online. And, in case you’re wondering, you can combine these! For instance, I have both the Honey and Swagbucks browser extensions downloaded in Chrome. I can activate both of them when I’m on a mutually partnered retailer’s site to get rewarded through both. Also, when I’m shopping on Walmart.com, I can get Ibotta rebates while getting rewarded for my purchase through Honey and Swagbucks! I’m sure this works on other retailers, too, so long as the retailer is a partner of all three services.

What are your favorite cash back shopping apps? Let me know in a comment!