Best Coupon Apps to Save You Money
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It’s the 21st century, so you shouldn’t be clipping coupons the old-fashioned way anymore! Admittedly, it wasn’t until my sister told me that I could earn rewards shopping online during Black Friday with a browser add-on called Rakuten that I was first turned on to the wonders of coupon apps. From offering price comparisons and digital coupons to helping you save money with daily deals, the following money-saving apps make saving on your online shopping purchases even easier.
Whether you’re looking for cashback on purchases from your favorite stores or are interested in promo codes and rebates, here are the best coupon apps to help save you money.
Overview of the best coupon apps to save money
App | Best for |
iBotta | Everyday purchases |
RetailMeNot | Promo codes |
Groupon | Local offers |
Rakuten | High cashback earnings |
ShopKick | Casual browsers |
SnipSnap | Coupon clippers |
CouponSherpa | App-first couponing |
Honey | Online savers |
Dosh | Automatic cash back savings |
SavingStar | Grocery shoppers |
Cartwheel | Target stans |
Reasons To Use Stash For Investing
- Get $5 to Make Your First Investment
- Invest in Stocks and ETFs with $1 or Less
- Receive Your Paycheck up to 2 Days Faster
- No Overdraft Fees or Minimum Balances
Best coupon apps to save money
iBotta
Launched in 2012, iBotta is a cashback app that rewards you for shopping like you usually would at various brands and retailers. Depending on where you’re shopping, you may earn a predetermined dollar amount or a percentage of your purchase.
Most people associate iBotta with trips to the grocery store; however, many items on your shopping list may be eligible for cashback earnings with iBotta. For example, if you spend money on crafting supplies, car rentals, or hotels, some purchases may be eligible for rewards with iBotta. You could even get $20 back on your Amazon Prime subscription!
There are several ways to link your iBotta account with your purchases. For starters, if you already have a loyalty card with a retailer, you can connect your accounts using the mobile app or website. Another way you can verify your purchases is by taking a photo of your receipt and submitting it for rewards.
Beyond earning cashback on your purchases, you can also make a little extra money by referring friends (good for $5 per referral) or having a streak of purchases from the same store in a row. When it comes to payouts, you can get the money you’ve earned via Venmo or PayPal. There’s also the option to convert your earnings into gift cards.
RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot is a website offering a variety of ways to save money on your purchases. The main two aspects of its offering are online coupon codes and a cashback reward system. There is also an app that you can download for in-store shopping deals.
When it comes to online coupon codes, some sites can be hit-or-miss in terms of their accuracy. RetailMeNot has addressed those issues by letting users rate different coupon codes to help verify that they work. This can help you navigate the swath of different coupon codes that pop up when you search for a popular store or restaurant on the platform.
It’s also worth noting that RetailMeNot’s cashback option has a lower minimum than some other coupon apps. Once you’ve accrued $5 in cashback using the platform, you can send that money to yourself using Venmo or PayPal.
While there’s a lot that RetailMeNot gets right, you should know that some other apps out there likely offer higher cash-back perks. However, when finding coupon codes, RetailMeNot has a big advantage, mainly because it lets users confirm that codes are still active.
Groupon
You’ve probably heard of Groupon before, and for good reason.:Groupon offers a wide range of deals on products, services, and travel. They’re also one of the platforms I’ve used the most on this list, booking a honeymoon to Costa Rica for an incredibly low rate and buying a gigantic box of more than thirty bottles of wine for just $45.
Groupon keeps things local by asking for your location, making it a helpful resource at home or while traveling if you’re looking for something to do. It categorizes its offerings in a few areas: Local, Goods, Hotels & Travel, and general coupons. From there, you can dive deeper by exploring subcategories of offers such as “things to do” or “food and drink.”
If you’re new to Groupon, you can save even more money on your first purchase with the website. Right now, that means an additional 30% off of whatever product or service you’re hiring, with only some categories not included in that promotional offer. Another nice thing is that you can often get cashback offers from services like Rakuten or Honey layered on top of your Groupon purchase.
While Groupon offers coupons for stores like Amazon, Target, and Walmart, the big advantage of using this platform is the exclusive local deals they offer. Whether you’re looking for a massage or want to save money on a fun activity like axe throwing, checking on Groupon first is a great way to ensure you aren’t missing out on an easy way to save money.
Rakuten
Rakuten is a cashback platform installed as an extension on your browser to help you save money while shopping online. Your cashback can be pretty substantial depending on where you’re shopping and what you’re buying. Some Rakuten offers earn you as much as 40% back.
A convenient aspect of using Rakuten is that it will pop up in your browser whenever offers are available. Sometimes, these offers are on other websites that already offer discounts (like Groupon), meaning you can double-dip on your savings.
You can get paid out via PayPal or receive a physical check mailed to you. Unlike other cash-back apps, Rakuten only pays you once a quarter, so you’ll need to be a bit patient while waiting for your earnings.
Overall, one of the biggest advantages of using Rakuten is that you don’t have to think much about it. When you’re browsing a website and might make an eligible purchase, the notifications in your browser will make sure that you save.
Shopkick
Have you ever been strolling through a store when a sales associate stops you to ask if they can help you find anything? If you’ve ever answered their question by sharing that you’re “only browsing,” then Shopkick might be your app. That’s because it will help you earn money by just checking into or scanning items in various stores—even if you don’t make a purchase.
It sounds a bit too good to be true, but it is a viable way to earn some extra pocket change while you’re running errands already. Once you have downloaded the app and created an account, you can earn “Kicks” each time you check in at a specific store or scan your receipts after making a purchase.
While the ability to earn rewards for visiting certain retailers is a great perk, there are some limitations to Shopkick. For example, you can only get paid out in gift cards when redeeming the Kicks you’ve accrued, so its uses are a bit narrower than with other apps. Additionally, your earning threshold is lower than other similar apps (although you don’t need to make purchases to get rewards).
It’s also worth pointing out that Shopkick could encourage some impulse buys even if you feel like you’re only going to a store to “check-in.” If you’re a recovering shopaholic, this might be an app to avoid.
Snipsnap
If you’re tired of having to track down paper coupons or offers you get in the mail, Snipsnap is an excellent solution. In simplest terms, Snipsnap lets you turn any paper coupon into a digital one using your smartphone’s camera.
You might think you already have the technology to do this if your phone has a good enough camera. While you’re not wrong, having everything in one centralized couponing repository is helpful. Snipsnap also has some other features that help make the app more valuable than relying on your phone’s camera roll.
For starters, Snipsnap has a few notification reminders that can ultimately ensure you use your coupons. If you’ve ever forgotten a coupon at home or used a coupon too late, you’ll be happy to know that the Snipsnap app will give you location-based reminders and alerts when a coupon expires soon. That’s certainly not something a paper coupon can do just sitting in your wallet or glove box.
Beyond serving as a digital coupon bank for any offers you may have received via email or mail, Snipsnap also has digital coupons you can search for.
Coupon Sherpa
Another popular couponing app, Coupon Sherpa, has been around since 2009 and is a frequent favorite among its peers. Coupon Sherpa is an excellent mobile-first approach to couponing with features like the ability to favorite certain retailers you love or shop at often, as well as reliable coupon codes that have been verified to work.
As far as how Coupon Sherpa organizes its discounts, you have two options to consider. For starters, you can use location-based lists with your favorites to quickly locate deals near you. You can also search for specific stores ahead of time if you’re planning a trip to a mall or some other shopping destination.
Since Coupon Sherpa has been designed from the ground up for mobile devices, you’ll likely find that the entire user process is quite smooth. A mobile-first approach also means you benefit from using location services and setting some of your favorites when setting up your free account. For example, your favorite stores will also send you push notifications if there’s a new offer.
When redeeming your coupons is time, your phone will display the barcode you need to scan. Whether at a cashier or a self-checkout, the process is as smooth as it would be with a paper coupon.
Honey
Honey is similar to Rakuten because it helps you save money using a browser plugin. However, whereas Rakuten is focused on earning cashback, Honey is focused on saving you money at the time of purchase. It does this in a few different ways, both through the accrual of Honey gold and a tool that lets you search for coupons with the click of a button.
Whenever you’re at the checkout page of any website, Honey will automatically search up and apply various coupons and promo codes for you. Any code that can be applied will automatically be entered so that you can save on your purchase. Sometimes, you can even score obscure coupons that you’d otherwise never have been able to find on your own, like employee discounts!
Another way that Honey helps you save money is by helping you compare prices across different online retailers. This can help you determine if you’re getting it for the best possible deal or would be better off shopping elsewhere. You can even monitor price changes and trends on a graph using the browser plugin to see if your timing is right for a purchase.
Another neat perk of Honey is the ability to automatically buy and use online gift cards to save a buck or two on an overall purchase. Sometimes when ordering via DoorDash, I’ll get to pay $38 for a gift card worth $41.89. It’s not a ton of savings, but every dollar saved is worth it, especially with pricier food delivery apps because of service fees and other add-ons.
Dosh
Dosh is another option to consider when it comes to cashback savings apps. Unlike other apps that require you to add digital coupons to your account or verify receipts, Dosh’s rewards are automatic once you’ve connected your account. This makes it easy for on-the-go shopping and saving.
There are a lot of popular retailers to shop from using Dosh. Purchases can be made online or in-store, and cashback can be withdrawn as soon as you reach a minimum of $25 in rewards. Payments are made via Venmo, PayPal, or transfer to your debit card.
Dosh also has a pretty robust referral program, allowing you to earn $10 for each new user you refer and an additional $5 if they link their debit card with the app. That means each friend or family member you share Dosh with can net you $15!
Regarding cashback rates, Dosh generally offers 2% or 3% back. However, some retailers may run promotions to get as much as 15% back on your purchase. The app also promises to help you save up to 40% off hotel bookings, making it a great go-to app for vacation planning.
SavingStar
Accessible on your computer or mobile device, SavingStar brings rebates and coupons to you so you can stop printing and clipping coupons and save. SavingStar is mostly focused on helping you get cashback and coupons on trips to the grocery store, so it’s an app you want on hand if you’re stocking up on groceries for the week or planning food for a holiday gathering.
SavingStar partners with major retailers, including CVS, Target, and Kroger. They also have a few different incentive programs, such as their healthy eating program, which gives you extra discounts on foods each week selected as part of their “Healthy Offers” program. You can also earn bonuses for setting and achieving shopping goals via their “One or Many Offers” program.
You can link your existing grocery store loyalty card with your free SavingStar account or upload photos of your coupons if you’d prefer to do that (or a loyalty program isn’t available). This makes it easy to get your perks no matter where you’re shopping.
SavingStar offers three options for cashing out your earnings. Once you’ve accrued $20, you can send that money to your PayPal or bank account or redeem it for gift cards. SavingStar also allows you to donate your cashback earnings to a charitable organization of your choice.
Cartwheel
Unlike other savings apps on this list, Cartwheel is only specific to Target stores and Target stores. It used to be its own app but has since integrated with Target’s existing mobile app to offer customers in-store savings.
While shopping, you can use the Cartwheel feature of your Target app to scan various items to see if they are eligible for discounts. You can also plan your Target run ahead of time by browsing different categories and adding offers to your account. This makes it easy always to get a great deal while shopping in-store.
Target’s Cartwheel app offers shoppers a wide range of discounts and savings. Generally, you can expect to save at least 5% on certain purchases with the app. However, some items get majorly marked down and offer savings of up to 50% off. (Fun fact: while I was writing this, a notification on my Target app popped up for 50% off Hawaiian sweet rolls. You can expect These sorts of deals with the app installed!)
Cartwheel makes using your savings a breeze when you're ready to checkout. All you have to do is open the app on your phone and head to the Wallet tab to access your coupons. While this adds an extra step to the checkout process, saving even more on your Target trip is well worth it.
Reasons To Use Stash For Investing
- Get $5 to Make Your First Investment
- Invest in Stocks and ETFs with $1 or Less
- Receive Your Paycheck up to 2 Days Faster
- No Overdraft Fees or Minimum Balances
Best coupon apps to save money summary table
App | Platform | Offers |
iBotta | Web/iOS/Android | Cashback |
RetailMeNot | Web/iOS/Android | Coupons, Cashback |
Groupon | Web/iOS/Android | Coupons |
Rakuten | Web/Browser Plugin/iOS/Android | Cashback |
ShopKick | iOS/Android | Cashback |
SnipSnap | iOS/Android | Coupons |
CouponSherpa | iOS/Android | Coupons |
Honey | Web/Browser Plugin/iOS/Android | Coupons |
Dosh | iOS/App | Cashback |
SavingStar | Web/iOS/Android | Coupons, Cashback |
Cartwheel | iOS/Android | Coupons |
FAQs
Are the apps on this list free?
Yes! None of the apps or websites on this list cost any money to create an account for.
How much can you save or earn with these apps?
For the most part, there’s no cap to the amount you can save or earn with any of the above apps. Of course, not every deal will be something you’re interested in taking advantage of, but even with casual use, you can still save anywhere from $5 to $50 a week using these apps.
How time-intensive are the apps on this list?
Honestly, it depends on how much time you’re looking to sink into them. Each platform is designed for ease of use and efficiency, so it shouldn’t take you more than five or ten minutes to find coupons or offers and redeem them. Of course, if you want to take a deep dive into each app’s Black Friday deals, that may be a long time commitment, but that’s totally up to you.
Reasons To Use Stash For Investing
- Get $5 to Make Your First Investment
- Invest in Stocks and ETFs with $1 or Less
- Receive Your Paycheck up to 2 Days Faster
- No Overdraft Fees or Minimum Balances
Why you should (or shouldn’t) use coupon apps
Suppose you want to save money on everyday things or larger purchases such as vacations or hotels. In that case, there’s no legitimate reason not to use any of the above couponing apps. Each one has its own vibe and some pros and cons, so you may want to try a few different services out before you find your go-to app. Especially with how easy it is to scan barcodes using an Android or iOS app, there’s no excuse other than a lack of time or interest not to use any money-saving apps.
The bottom line
Couponing has become a much more streamlined process than it used to be, thanks to smartphones and the internet. From browser notifications during the online checkout process to instant savings with digital coupons, the apps above offer a variety of ways to help put more money back into your pocket.
As long as you have a few go-to apps to check before swiping your card, there’s likely a way to save money on almost anything you’re interested in purchasing. Best of all, many cashback offers can stack with credit card cashback to offer an even bigger boost to your bank account. This allows you to really maximize your earnings, ultimately saving even more money in the long run.
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Writer
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff is a Chicago-based writer, stage director, and filmmaker with a background in digital marketing and content creation. In addition to Joy Wallet, Brent has written for Complex, Volkswagen, HowlRound, Picture this Post, and Third Coast Review, among others. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago. Brent graduated from Ball State University with Academic Honors in Writing.
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