Ibotta is an app and website that says it can help shoppers get cash back on the things they want to buy. It’s essentially a paperless coupon system, allowing you to use your smartphone instead of having to cut coupons out of the paper and bring them in to the store. But can you really save with this, and are there any catches to using it?
Overview
Poor newspapers, they just can’t catch a break. First people start getting their news and information from the Internet, and now they are trying to do away with clipping coupons. But you can’t stop progress, and it’s about time an app like this came along that is trying to make getting cash back from your purchases easier, and less of a hassle.
The Claim
Ibotta claims that in just 4 easy steps you can start getting cash back from your purchases. The first step they want you to take is to choose products that you want to buy so that you can get money back on them. The next step is to go buy them from pre-approved stores in their network. The third thing you should do is take a picture of the product as well as scan the barcode as proof that you bought it.
The list of stores they cover pretty much means you won’t have trouble finding a place to buy the products at. They’ve got the world’s largest retailer on board with Wal-Mart, and they follow that up with stores like Target, Kroger, CVS, Publix, Meijer, Vons, Smith’s and more. They say that this network is always growing, but even right now they’ve got the majority of big cities covered. The more they grow, the more demographics they can reach, so it’s in their best interest to keep things expanding.
The Hype
The hype comes from so many positive reviews for this app, and the fact that it ranks highly on the non-paid apps page due to its popularity. This creates a positive spiral, with more and more people becoming aware of it and trying it out, and then coming back to give it a high rating.
The Cost
It’s free to sign up and use the app, and should actually save you money instead of cost you. They make their money from the affiliate relationships they have in place with the retailers that are linked to inside the app. Like most of the applications out there, it does ask for your permission to a lot of your information though, including your location, and personal details about how often you call contacts in your contacts list. This might be too much of an invasion of privacy for some to tolerate.
The Commitment
The more you use this, the more you could get back, but it also means that you’ll be buying more things that you otherwise would have if you wouldn’t have joined. Also, they try to make the 4 step process sound easy, but it’s still just as much of a hassle as clipping out coupons, it’s just that the magic happens post-purchase and in the privacy of your home, rather than at the point of purchase in front of everyone.
Evaluation
With Ibotta there’s no point system or credit system, your balance in your account is actual money that you get to decide what to do with. You can even have the money transferred to a PayPal account so you can spend it anywhere. They also give you the option of donating if you want to.
They have a pretty generous referral bonus, giving you $1 for each person you refer to the service, with no limit on how many you can invite. If you know a lot of people it could be a quick way to make a few dollars.
Final Ibotta Review
Ibotta gets the Thumbs Up rating from us. It’s doing a good job of streamlining the coupon process, and as they add more and more stores to their network it will only get easier to use. They’re already in some of the biggest store chains, so it’s not like you have to go out of your way if you live in a decent-sized city. So many people have already tried this out and have given it the green light, verifying that it actually does what it says.
Our Recommendation
Since it’s free to sign up, it doesn’t hurt to see what products they have listed and see if any match up to things you buy regularly, or have wanted to buy but just haven’t yet. If you like the idea of coupons but don’t like the actual process of clipping out the little piece of paper and presenting it in the store, this is a way to circumvent that, while still getting discounts on products you like.
I was very skeptical, but it is true! You will get cash back from submitting your grocery, Uber, Groupon, Amazon, electronic, clothing, hotel, travel, restaurant, bars, liquor store receipts.
Go to and sign up for free and get your free $10
https://Ibotta.com/r/urcakis
Apply this code “skqhfht” to get first 10$ cash back
Hi there! I have a question.
Can. Still use my Walmart savings catcher when use Ibotta?
I absolutely LOVE using Ibotta. The fast that I can get cash back on items I was already planning on purchasing while using additional coupons is amazing. My favorite is the receipt bonus…Just upload a receipt from a particular store and earn an extra 25 cents or more!! Use my code to join my team : gtlngoi
I’ve been using ibotta for about 4 months now and have earned about 110 dollars so far. I really enjoy the app and it works pretty smoothly in my opinion! When really trying i can earn around $30 a month or more. if anyone would like to use my referral code its hclhdfe. thank you!
Love this app because you make real money without any gimmicks! I find it super easy & fun to use as well! Sign Up today using my code: “SJNPFOR” & get a $10 welcome bonus when you redeem your first rebate!
https://ibotta.com/r/ajufuly
Use this code: ajufuly to get a $10 when you open an ibotta account. I use IBOTTA and I think it is a great way to save money. I only get the products that I need but that also I can stack with coupons and store promotions. For instance, today I used with a product POISE which I had a coupon of $5 and the product was $11.49 and TARGET is giving a $5 gift card when you buy $20 on health including this product. Just give it a try!! You have nothing to loose!
https://ibotta.com/r/qcrhbuq
Use this link to download ibotta and get $10 if you are a first time user.
Yes, all the points mentioned are true, but you need a minimum of $20 earned to get any of the cash back. Clipped coupons are instant savings. With Ibotta, is a rebate. So you’re getting the money back you’ve already paid out.
I went in through your link also and nothing came up about you and or being with any group. In fact, it was almost like nothing had happened at all. The only way I knew it took was because my name was in the right hand top and I hit log out to well you know… log out. There was no welcome screen or anything… hummmmm, just seemed odd. Well, I tried, sorry.
I absolutely loved it initially!!
Then I started emailing a few concerns about some legit rebates I wasn’t getting credit for.
Right-hand-to-God…
Words escape me when trying to explain the painfully, and unbelievably, UNsatisfactory customer service.
I don’t know if all these customer service issues are making ME wiggy, or if unlocked rebates are credit earned are really disappearing…
I love the concept, but saving money shouldn’t be this stressful 🙁
How much can I keep before I cash out?
Also I’m up to having earned $123 now! There are usually bonuses every week or two so if u time your shopping or submitting receipts after a bonus comes out u can usually get a few extra dollars in addition to the team bonuses
Glad my review helped you, i was skeptical when i first started so i wanted to share my experience….& Hmm that’s weird it should show me on your team did you use the link before downloading the app? I think you use the link and fill out the account info first then it will download, you can’t download first or you won’t get the bonus… Hopefully it worked for you but thanks for trying I have a tiny team so it helps alot if people wanna join me please do! Also it’s a free $10 bonus this month when you sign up through a referral ( if you use the link). I think it’s a special for Feb and you have to redeem atleast one rebate within like 2 weeks or something to get the $10…. Here’s my link if anyone wants to join me…..https://ibotta.com/r/rabqxm . Ty!
I downloaded Ibotta about a month ago and I am loving it so much! I already have over $50 and am contemplating cashing out sometime soon. It’s great to get money back for items that are always kept in the house and also can get you to try some new products. The teamwork and item bonuses are also really helpful–they give you something extra.
It’d be nice to add more people to my team as well 🙂 You can get $10 when you complete your first rebate too! Here is my referral link: https://ibotta.com/r/moxibfd
Hope you enjoy the app as much as I do!
I love ibotta. My favorite thing is the “buy any brand” coupons for things like carrots, eggs and milk. I joined in November and have already made $60 with NO other team members. Here is my referral link if anyone needs one:
https://ibotta.com/r/kkvcxil
Hi – was just searching for info and found this write-up with your comment and referral link so I used it to join- clearly I haven’t purchased anything but I clicked on teammates and it’s not showing that I have any (was thinking it might show you as I used your referral link). Anyway just wanted to let you know I used your link!
This app definitely works if products they offer are ones that you buy. And they do refresh and add new products over time. To be honest it really isnt that hard to save up and withdrawal your earings quick if you shop at like Walmart or Target. Plus they give bonuses for reaching 5 offers(which is easy) that will give you extra cash. I earned like $10 the first day because my sis just went shopping. But yea, if youre willing to take sometime out of you shopping day to do id say its definitely worth it. And if you do decide to join, use my referral code: fsjfrfi when you sign up and youll join my team. The more people on a team, the quicker we reach goals which gives us all extra cash. Cha-ching!
I love the ibotta app! I’ve only had it for not even a month and already have close to $60 in my account. Not only from the rebates but the offer bonuses. I have gotten 2 November bonuses already amd the gobble bonus worth $5, plus there are brand bonuses too. It’s great. I plan my grocery shopping around local sales, coupons and ibotta rebates. If you do allot of grocery shopping, or household shopping or even makeup, apparel, wine spirits & liquorx you gotta get this app. They even have shoes and electronics rebates. Which is nice for my Christmas shopping list! I give it 5 stars! Definitely!.
I’ve been using ibotta for just a week or two and I have over $7 already. It takes a few minutes to pick your offers before you shop, but if you willing to spend a small amount of time it can definetely save you money. One of the things I think is really cool is that they give offers on items that never have coupons anywhere else like produce, milk, bread, and offers that are good on any brand like shredded cheese or chips and it doesn’t even matter what brand you buy!
There are also teamwork bonuses where you get free dollars when you pass certain amounts. Right now I don’t have many team members so if you haven’t joined ibotta yet please use my link and we can work together towards the bonuses…so far I can get the first few alone but I need more teammates to reach the highest level. Also if you sign up through my link ( activate account through link THEN download the app) you will get a free $1 for joining!
So if this review helped you and you are just going to download from the playstore anyway please use my link and join my team and we can help each other. https://ibotta.com/r/rabqxmg Thanks!
Also you can use ibotta at the same time as paper coupons so its a bonus on top of what you are already saving!! And I forgot to mention, for stores with loyalty cards you just enter your loyalty # and it is automaticaly submitted for you so there’s no need to submitt receipts for grocery stores!
Great Video!
Concise, informative, and well organized. Thank you for sharing.
P$….here in Seattle, there is no coupon doubling…..big ouch! But now at least I have IBOTTA.
It works well if it’s the products you want to purchase. Ibotta can refresh it more often with products though. it’s been about 3 weeks since I’ve used it because the products they refresh with I do not want to purchase. For me it does not replace the paper – clipped or internet printable coupons because most supermarkets double the coupons up to $1.00 or truly doubles the coupon. So for me, if there’s a product I want to purchase and it’s on ibotta and there is a “paper” or printable coupon for the product, that is when you will really $ave and build up your account on ibotta. It has been good for me because I have used it successfully with paper and printable couponsg to maximize my savings. I have PayPal and use it to purchase items from the money I earned through ibotta.
I’m very surprised to learn that they have so many big merchants on board with their program. I shop at Walmart, so I’m covered, but I do drop by Target and CVS time to time so that’s a big plus as well. If it’s free to join and use, why would anyone in the right mind not want to save money? Unless of course you won the lottery yesterday.