I am sure you have heard of cash back programs but do you actually USE them? You should be!
Cash back programs have been around forever and are one of the easiest ways to save money on things you are already buying. You shop like normal — just start from the cash back site first — and money comes back to your account automatically.
I have been using these for close to 20 years (Ebates started in 1998!) and the savings add up fast without any extra effort.
How Cash Back Programs Work
- Sign up for free at the cash back site of your choice
- Search for the store you want to shop at
- Click through to the store from the cash back site — this opens a tracking link
- Shop and check out as normal
- Cash back is automatically credited to your account within 30-90 days
- Cash out via PayPal, check, or gift card when you hit the minimum threshold
That’s it. You are shopping anyway — you might as well get money back for it!
The Best Cash Back Programs Right Now
The trick is to check a few before you shop — payouts vary quite a bit between programs and some pay up to 40% back on certain stores. Here are the ones I actually use:
Rakuten — Best Overall
Rakuten — formerly Ebates — is the gold standard of cash back programs and the one I recommend most. It has been around forever! Over 3,500 stores participate including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Nike and hundreds more.
Cash back rates range from 1% to 40% depending on the store and current promotions. They pay out quarterly via PayPal or check — no points, no gimmicks, just real cash.
New members get a $30 bonus just for signing up!
TopCashBack — Best for Maximum Cash Back
TopCashBack consistently offers higher cash back rates than Rakuten on many stores — sometimes significantly higher. It is worth checking both before you shop to see who is offering more.
Over 4,000 stores participate. They pay via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards. No minimum payout threshold which is a huge plus.
Sign Up for TopCashBack Free Here
Capital One Shopping — Best Browser Extension
Capital One Shopping is hands down the easiest cash back tool out there — and it is completely free even if you don’t have a Capital One card.
Install the browser extension and it automatically finds coupons, compares prices, and earns you rewards on purchases at thousands of stores without you doing anything.
It just runs in the background and pops up when there is a deal. Set it and forget it cash back at its finest.
Refer friends and earn up to $300!
Install Capital One Shopping Free Here
ShopBack — Best for Amazon Cash Back
ShopBack is one of the only cash back platforms that actually works on Amazon — which is why it deserves its own spot on this list.
Most cash back programs don’t pay on Amazon purchases because Amazon won’t allow it. ShopBack found a way. Install the browser extension, shop Amazon as normal, and earn real cash back you can withdraw to PayPal or your bank account.
They also cover thousands of other retailers so it is worth having alongside Rakuten and TopCashBack.
Friends join and spend $10 and you both earn $10!
Sign Up for ShopBack Free Here
Honey — Best for Automatic Coupon Codes
Honey is a little different from the others — it is not a cash back program, it is a coupon finder. Install the browser extension and when you get to checkout on any site Honey automatically tests every known coupon code in seconds and applies the best one.
No searching, no copy pasting, no wondering if there is a better code out there — Honey does it all automatically. It also works on Amazon which makes it one of the most useful tools for anyone who shops there regularly.
Honey also has a rewards program called Honey Gold — earn points on purchases that you can redeem for gift cards. Not as flexible as real cash back but it adds up. Owned by PayPal so it is widely trusted and very secure.
Honey + Rakuten together is the power move — use Honey to find the best coupon code first then check if taking the code or keeping the Rakuten cash back saves you more. Sometimes the coupon wins, sometimes the cash back wins. Having both installed means you always know which one to use.
Quick note on Amazon cash back: Most programs including Rakuten and TopCashBack do not pay cash back on Amazon — Amazon simply does not allow it. For Amazon savings use ShopBack for actual cash back, and Honey or Capital One Shopping for automatic coupon codes at checkout. Having all three installed means you are always saving something on every Amazon purchase.
Ibotta — Best for Groceries
Ibotta is the best cash back app specifically for groceries and everyday purchases. Browse offers before you shop, buy the items, scan your receipt and get cash back instantly. Works at Walmart, Kroger, Target, Walgreens and hundreds more.
They also have a browser extension for online shopping. Perfect for stacking with store sales and coupons.
Give $5, get $10 in rewards for referring friends!
Fetch Rewards — Best for Receipt Scanning
Fetch is the easiest cash back app to use — just scan any grocery receipt and earn points on hundreds of brands automatically.
No clipping offers beforehand, no specific stores required. Just shop and scan. Points convert to gift cards. Great as a set it and forget it cash back option for your regular grocery shopping.
Sign Up for Fetch Rewards Free Here
Want to Save Even More?
Installing the right browser extensions and stacking cash back with credit card rewards can push your savings to 20-30% on a single purchase. I break it all down in these two guides:
- Best Cash Back Browser Extensions — Install These and Save Automatically — the little buttons that do the work for you
- How to Stack Cash Back With Credit Card Rewards — how to save 20-30% on a single purchase using free tools
Quick Tips
- Always start from the cash back site — going directly to a store means you get nothing
- Check Rakuten AND TopCashBack — rates vary and 30 seconds of checking can double your cash back
- Install the browser extensions — they remind you automatically so you never forget to activate cash back
- Watch for Double Cash Back events — Rakuten runs these regularly and rates can temporarily double
- Share your referral link — every program pays you when friends sign up. Drop your link in the comments — SwagGrabber is for everyone to earn and learn!
Cash Back Programs — Frequently Asked Questions
Your Cash Back Questions Answered
Are cash back programs really free?
Yes — completely free to join and use. Stores pay the cash back sites a commission for sending shoppers their way and the sites share that commission with you. No fees, no catches.
Is Rakuten the same as Ebates?
Yes — Ebates rebranded to Rakuten in 2019. Same program, same cash back, same quarterly payments. If you had an Ebates account it automatically became a Rakuten account.
Do cash back programs work on Amazon?
Most don’t — Amazon won’t allow it. ShopBack is one of the only programs that actually pays cash back on Amazon purchases. Honey and Capital One Shopping both find coupon codes on Amazon even though they don’t pay cash back there.
How long does cash back take to appear?
Most programs credit cash back within 30-90 days. The delay is because stores have return windows and cash back is confirmed after the return period closes.
Can I use cash back programs with coupons?
Sometimes — use coupon codes listed on the cash back site itself and your cash back is safe. Using outside coupon codes can void the tracking. When in doubt skip the outside code and take the cash back instead.
Looking for more ways to save money? Check out my Money Hacks section — updated regularly with the best ways to keep more money in your pocket!
