Both Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are only available in the United States
Ibotta has more everyday and online shopping offers than
Fetch is more passive and easier to earn with than Ibotta
Ibotta has more reward options than Fetch, including PayPal money
Fetch is much faster to cash out with than Ibotta
About Fetch
Fetch, formerly known as Fetch Rewards, is a grocery rewards app that began in 2012. But, the app has only recently risen in popularity during the last few years, making it a newer player in the space.
Groceries are Fetch's main focus, although the app also lets you earn points for buying household essentials, personal care products, and even magazines.
The app is available for free on Android and iOS. It also has a 4.6 star rating on Google Play and over 5 million downloads to date.
About Ibotta
Ibotta is probably the most popular receipt scanning app out there and largely set the standard for what to expect from a grocery reward app.
The company began in 2011. Unlike Fetch, Ibotta has more brand partners and also expands well beyond the grocery store.
With Ibotta, you can get paid to shop for groceries, household products, apparel, electronics, and even travel expenses!
Ibotta is also free and available on Android and iOS. The app has a 4.5 star rating on the Google Play store and over 10 million downloads to date.
Ibotta vs Fetch
Fetch is a better app than Ibotta if you want to earn free gift cards for grocery shopping. It's also superior if you want an easier way to earn points since you don't have to buy sponsored products. However, Ibotta is better than Fetch if you want to earn cash rewards and want more offers.
That's just a quick summary of these two reward apps. However, I'm going to compare unique features of Ibotta and Fetch so you can make the right choice for you.
I've also used both apps to save money on groceries and everyday expenses for years. I currently prefer Fetch since it's more passive, but Ibotta has more offers and higher-paying ones as well.
Overall, there are several key differences between these leading reward apps that might make one app superior for you depending on your shopping habits. Let's take a look!
1. Availability & Partners
One main factor in deciding if Fetch is better than Ibotta or not is how many partners each app has.
After all, if an app doesn't let you shop at your favorite stores, there's no real point in using it.
Fetch Partner Stores
As mentioned, Fetch focuses on groceries and partners with dozens of popular brands. Some notable ones include:
Betty Crocker
Cheerios
Hellmann's
Lipton
Kraft
Maxwell House
Pepsi
Starbucks
You can view a list of available partners on its website.
Additionally, the app lets you earn points for shopping at various medication brands, alcohol, magazines, personal care products, household goods, and baby products.
So, it's a little more comprehensive than an app like Checkout 51, but it doesn't really extend far beyond the grocery store.
Ibotta Partner Stores
Ibotta has more partners than Fetch and is much more flexible in terms of shopping categories.
The app partners with over 1,500 brands, making it much larger than Fetch. You can also earn cash back for categories like:
Clothing and accessories
Entertainment
Health and beauty
Home and auto
Kids and baby products
Groceries
Pet supplies
Online shopping
Restaurants and bars
Sports and outdoors
Travel
You can view a list of all of Ibotta's store partners on its website.
Winner: Ultimately, Ibotta is more flexible for users, so it's easier to earn cash back with than Fetch.
2. How The Apps Work
Another massive difference between Fetch and Ibotta is how you actually earn points with each app.
Again, on the surface, both apps seem identical. However, Fetch Rewards is better for passive earning whereas Ibotta takes a bit more effort. Let's take a look.
How Fetch Works
Fetch is better than Ibotta if you don't want to spend a lot of time building a grocery list before you go shopping.
This is because Fetch pays you points as long as a partner brand appears on your receipt.
So, unlike Ibotta, you don't have to preselect offers you want to shop for and then upload a receipt to get paid; as long as you shop for a partner brand and it's on your receipt, you get paid.
Oh yeah, that's another difference: Fetch only cares about brands whereas many Ibotta offers are store-specific.
So, Fetch might pay you 100 points for buying a pack of Kraft singles since Kraft is a partner. In contrast, Ibotta might pay you for buying Kraft singles from Walmart and Publix.
How Ibotta Works
Unlike Fetch, you usually have to put some effort in to make money with Ibotta.
Here's how the Ibotta app works:
You scan the Ibotta app for offers
You add offers to your virtual shopping list
You shop and buy those offers
You upload a picture of your receipt using Ibotta's app for proof of purchase
You earn cash back
As you can see, this extra step of adding offers to your grocery list means taking time to scan for offers, whereas you can just upload receipts with Fetch and get paid (even if you didn't realize what you were buying was eligible for points).
But, in fairness, Ibotta has one perk that Fetch doesn't: loyalty card linking.
That's right, Ibotta lets you link store loyalty cards to your Ibotta account from over 100 partners, including Meijer, Hannaford, and Wagmans.
When you link a loyalty card, you still have to add offers to your shopping list but you automatically earn cash back when you buy them so you don't have to upload receipts.
This is a cool feature, although I still think Fetch is more user-friendly and takes less time to earn.
Winner: Fetch is more passive since you just upload receipts to earn points and don't have to preselect offers.
3. Reward Options
The entire point of using reward apps like Fetch and Ibotta is to get extra cash in your pockets.
So, what do both apps let you redeem for rewards?
Fetch Redemption Options
If you're looking for PayPal cash or direct deposit, Fetch isn't the app for you.
But, you can redeem points for dozens of free gift cards, including ones to retailers like:
Gift cards are subject to change, but generally, you won't have trouble finding a massive retailer to redeem gift cards for.
Ibotta Redemption Options
Ibotta has more variety than Fetch in terms of what prizes you can redeem. With Ibotta, you can cash out with:
Dozens of free gift cards
Direct deposit
Free PayPal money
Venmo
Image courtesy of Ibotta.
Ibotta's gift card selection is basically the same as Fetch, so this isn't a weakness either.
Winner: Ibotta has more reward options than Fetch and also lets you redeem real cash.
4. Cash Out Minimums
Ibotta has better reward options, but what about cash out requirements? Well, here's where it gets a little interesting!
Fetch' Cash Out Requirement
You need 3,000 Fetch points, which is worth $3, to redeem certain gift cards. Other gift cards start at 5,000 points or 10,000 points, but generally, Fetch has one of the more generous cash out requirements out of all reward apps.
Really, Swagbucks and Mistplay are some of the only comparable money-making apps since you can redeem prizes starting at $1 and $0.50 respectively.
Extra Reading – Apps That Pay You For Playing Games.
Ibotta's Cash Out Requirements
Ibotta requires $20 worth of earnings to cash out. This is the case for all redemption options, so it takes much longer to earn rewards with Ibotta than Fetch.
So, I think you can earn a free gift card with Fetch after a shopping trip or two. With apps like Ibotta, it's likely going to take a few weeks.
This isn't exactly a con unless you want to earn free money as fast as possible for an upcoming purchase.
Winner: Fetch lets you redeem prizes significantly faster than Ibotta.
5. Online Earnings & E-Receipts
Both Ibotta and Fetch let you earn cash back for uploading photos of your shopping receipts. But, what about online receipts?
Fetch E-Receipts
You can now earn points for shopping online thanks to Fetch E-Receipts, a new addition to the platform.
Essentially, the app can link to your email address and Amazon account and scan your inbox for online shopping receipts to pay you for shopping at various partners.
Ibotta Online Shopping
Ibotta used to have a similar e-receipt function to Fetch. However, Ibotta is completely different now and actually lets you earn for online purchases with two methods:
In-App Shopping: Shop at online retailers through Ibotta's app and earn cash back.
On Your Computer: Download Ibotta's browser extension and earn cash back for shopping from your computer.
Honestly, I think this update is a massive win for Ibotta.
Shopping through your app or computer is way easier than remembering to upload e-receipts. Plus, Ibotta lets you shop online at several hundred partners whereas Fetch E-Receipts only work for a few dozen stores.
I still think cash-back websites like Rakuten are better than Ibotta for shopping online.
Plus, you can use better money-saving browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shoppingto apply available coupon codes at checkout.
Winner: Ibotta has more online partners and ways to get paid to shop than Fetch Rewards.
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up using the links provided.
6. Referral Programs
In my opinion, referral programs shouldn't massively sway your decision in the Fetch vs Ibotta debate. But, if you're still unsure which app to use, this could be a deciding factor.
Fetch Referral Program
When you sign up for Fetch, you get a unique Fetch referral code you can share with other people.
You can also use the code “FRHELP” to enter as your referral code when you sign up. This code usually pays out 3,000 points, so it's a pretty awesome way to score a free gift card when you sign up.
Ibotta Referral Program
Ibotta also lets you invite new users or use someone's unique referral code to get a welcome bonus. Ibotta pays $20 in total sign up bonuses, but you have to put in a bit of work.
Specifically, here's what you do to unlock every Ibotta welcome bonus:
Bonus #1 ($10): Earn $10 for redeeming an in-store offer.
Bonus #2 ($5): Earn $5 for completing a mobile shopping offer.
Bonus #3 ($5): Earn another $5 for redeeming another in-store or mobile shopping offer.
In my opinion, this is a super easy way to at least earn $10 for free. And, this is similar to websites like Rakuten or MyPoints that require you to make a qualifying purchase before you earn a $10 to $20+ welcome bonus.
You can read my post on the best 20 dollar sign up bonuses for even more ways to earn.
Winner: Fetch is faster but Ibotta is more lucrative, so it's up to you what you prefer.
Extra Reading – The Best $50 Sign Up Bonuses.
Does Fetch Pay More Than Ibotta?
A lot of Fetch offers can pay out a few cents to a few dollars if you buy a sponsored offer. In contrast, I find Ibotta has slightly higher paying offers, but that's mostly because Ibotta has more partners and more offers in general, so you can cherry-pick the best paying ones.
However, this is a pretty hard question to answer since it depends where you shop and what products you buy.
Both apps are great for earning cash back on things like medication, beauty products, and personal care items however.
I think Fetch pays more for some groceries, or at least, it's easier to use so you might earn more in the long-run or earn without having to put effort in.
But if you want to earn cash back for electronics, apparel, or other categories that aren't on Fetch, Ibotta is best, especially if you use some Ibotta hacks to earn even more!
Extra Reading – How To Earn More Points With Fetch Rewards.
Pros & Cons
Fetch Pros:
More passive way to earn
Cares about brands, not stores
Low redemption minimum
Great gift card selection
Fetch Cons:
Can't redeem real cash rewards
E-Receipts needs some development to add more brands versus Ibotta
No loyalty card linking
Ibotta Pros:
Variety of redemption options, including real cash
Strong welcome bonus program
Links with loyalty cards
Versatile online shopping options
Ibotta Cons:
$20 cash out requirement so it's slower to redeem rewards than Fetch
You have to pre-select offers before shopping which takes time
Should You Use Fetch Or Ibotta?
In my opinion, Fetch is the best reward app if you want to quickly save money and keep things passive.
I love that you just have to upload your receipts to Fetch to see if you earn. There's no need to pre-select offers before shopping, so it saves time versus Ibotta.
Verdict: Use Fetch if you don't want to spend a lot of time or effort to save money on groceries.
In contrast, Ibotta is more robust than Fetch and has more partners and shopping categories.
Plus, Ibotta's online shopping offers are also better than Fetch's E-Receipts program. But, you have to be okay with putting some time into the Ibotta app to pre-select offers before shopping.
Verdict: Use Ibotta if you want to earn real cash rewards, do a lot of online shopping, and want more shopping categories.
Can I Use Fetch And Ibotta Together?
According to users on Reddit, you can use receipts for both Fetch and Ibotta. In fact, you can use other receipt scanning apps as well, like Receipt Hog, Receipt Pal, and CoinOut.
Receipt Hog, another popular receipt scanning app.
Really, it's Checkout 51 and Upside that get a bit picky about stacking receipts with other reward apps.
If you do most of the shopping for your household, I suggest using both apps.
I think Fetch is better for groceries because you don't have to preselect offers. And, you can always use Ibotta for online offers or categories outside of groceries. Plus, receipts can work for both apps, so try and double-dip on rewards if possible!
Extra Reading – How To Make Money On Autopilot.
Final Thoughts
I hope our Fetch vs Ibotta comparison helps you decide which app is right for you.
Personally, I like using passive income apps, and Fetch is a little closer to that side of things than Ibotta. But, Ibotta is still super popular and can help you save more money, so I think both apps deserve a spot on your smartphone.
I still think you should use extensions like Rakuten and Capital One Shoppingfor online purchases. But for everyday spending, I hope Fetch and Ibotta help you save more of your hard-earned money.
Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
Two of the most popular reward apps out there are Fetch and Ibotta.
I've used both of these apps over the years in my effort to save money. And today, I'm breaking down Ibotta vs Fetch to cover how both apps work, how much money you can make, and which app is ultimately the best choice for you.
Looking for other easy ways to earn free gift cards? Checkout:
Branded Surveys: Share your opinion to earn PayPal cash and gift cards!
Capital One Shopping: Automatically apply available coupon codes at 30,000+ stores!
Key Takeaways:
Both Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are only available in the United States
Ibotta has more everyday and online shopping offers than
Fetch is more passive and easier to earn with than Ibotta
Ibotta has more reward options than Fetch, including PayPal money
Fetch is much faster to cash out with than Ibotta
About Fetch
Fetch, formerly known as Fetch Rewards, is a grocery rewards app that began in 2012. But, the app has only recently risen in popularity during the last few years, making it a newer player in the space.
Groceries are Fetch's main focus, although the app also lets you earn points for buying household essentials, personal care products, and even magazines.
The app is available for free on Android and iOS. It also has a 4.6 star rating on Google Play and over 5 million downloads to date.
About Ibotta
Ibotta is probably the most popular receipt scanning app out there and largely set the standard for what to expect from a grocery reward app.
The company began in 2011. Unlike Fetch, Ibotta has more brand partners and also expands well beyond the grocery store.
With Ibotta, you can get paid to shop for groceries, household products, apparel, electronics, and even travel expenses!
Ibotta is also free and available on Android and iOS. The app has a 4.5 star rating on the Google Play store and over 10 million downloads to date.
Ibotta vs Fetch
Fetch is a better app than Ibotta if you want to earn free gift cards for grocery shopping. It's also superior if you want an easier way to earn points since you don't have to buy sponsored products. However, Ibotta is better than Fetch if you want to earn cash rewards and want more offers.
That's just a quick summary of these two reward apps. However, I'm going to compare unique features of Ibotta and Fetch so you can make the right choice for you.
I've also used both apps to save money on groceries and everyday expenses for years. I currently prefer Fetch since it's more passive, but Ibotta has more offers and higher-paying ones as well.
Overall, there are several key differences between these leading reward apps that might make one app superior for you depending on your shopping habits. Let's take a look!
1. Availability & Partners
One main factor in deciding if Fetch is better than Ibotta or not is how many partners each app has.
After all, if an app doesn't let you shop at your favorite stores, there's no real point in using it.
Fetch Partner Stores
As mentioned, Fetch focuses on groceries and partners with dozens of popular brands. Some notable ones include:
Betty Crocker
Cheerios
Hellmann's
Lipton
Kraft
Maxwell House
Pepsi
Starbucks
You can view a list of available partners on its website.
Additionally, the app lets you earn points for shopping at various medication brands, alcohol, magazines, personal care products, household goods, and baby products.
So, it's a little more comprehensive than an app like Checkout 51, but it doesn't really extend far beyond the grocery store.
Ibotta Partner Stores
Ibotta has more partners than Fetch and is much more flexible in terms of shopping categories.
The app partners with over 1,500 brands, making it much larger than Fetch. You can also earn cash back for categories like:
Clothing and accessories
Entertainment
Health and beauty
Home and auto
Kids and baby products
Groceries
Pet supplies
Online shopping
Restaurants and bars
Sports and outdoors
Travel
You can view a list of all of Ibotta's store partners on its website.
Winner: Ultimately, Ibotta is more flexible for users, so it's easier to earn cash back with than Fetch.
2. How The Apps Work
Another massive difference between Fetch and Ibotta is how you actually earn points with each app.
Again, on the surface, both apps seem identical. However, Fetch Rewards is better for passive earning whereas Ibotta takes a bit more effort. Let's take a look.
How Fetch Works
Fetch is better than Ibotta if you don't want to spend a lot of time building a grocery list before you go shopping.
This is because Fetch pays you points as long as a partner brand appears on your receipt.
So, unlike Ibotta, you don't have to preselect offers you want to shop for and then upload a receipt to get paid; as long as you shop for a partner brand and it's on your receipt, you get paid.
Oh yeah, that's another difference: Fetch only cares about brands whereas many Ibotta offers are store-specific.
So, Fetch might pay you 100 points for buying a pack of Kraft singles since Kraft is a partner. In contrast, Ibotta might pay you for buying Kraft singles from Walmart and Publix.
How Ibotta Works
Unlike Fetch, you usually have to put some effort in to make money with Ibotta.
Here's how the Ibotta app works:
You scan the Ibotta app for offers
You add offers to your virtual shopping list
You shop and buy those offers
You upload a picture of your receipt using Ibotta's app for proof of purchase
You earn cash back
As you can see, this extra step of adding offers to your grocery list means taking time to scan for offers, whereas you can just upload receipts with Fetch and get paid (even if you didn't realize what you were buying was eligible for points).
But, in fairness, Ibotta has one perk that Fetch doesn't: loyalty card linking.
That's right, Ibotta lets you link store loyalty cards to your Ibotta account from over 100 partners, including Meijer, Hannaford, and Wagmans.
When you link a loyalty card, you still have to add offers to your shopping list but you automatically earn cash back when you buy them so you don't have to upload receipts.
This is a cool feature, although I still think Fetch is more user-friendly and takes less time to earn.
Winner: Fetch is more passive since you just upload receipts to earn points and don't have to preselect offers.
3. Reward Options
The entire point of using reward apps like Fetch and Ibotta is to get extra cash in your pockets.
So, what do both apps let you redeem for rewards?
Fetch Redemption Options
If you're looking for PayPal cash or direct deposit, Fetch isn't the app for you.
But, you can redeem points for dozens of free gift cards, including ones to retailers like:
Gift cards are subject to change, but generally, you won't have trouble finding a massive retailer to redeem gift cards for.
Ibotta Redemption Options
Ibotta has more variety than Fetch in terms of what prizes you can redeem. With Ibotta, you can cash out with:
Dozens of free gift cards
Direct deposit
Free PayPal money
Venmo
Image courtesy of Ibotta.
Ibotta's gift card selection is basically the same as Fetch, so this isn't a weakness either.
Winner: Ibotta has more reward options than Fetch and also lets you redeem real cash.
4. Cash Out Minimums
Ibotta has better reward options, but what about cash out requirements? Well, here's where it gets a little interesting!
Fetch' Cash Out Requirement
You need 3,000 Fetch points, which is worth $3, to redeem certain gift cards. Other gift cards start at 5,000 points or 10,000 points, but generally, Fetch has one of the more generous cash out requirements out of all reward apps.
Really, Swagbucks and Mistplay are some of the only comparable money-making apps since you can redeem prizes starting at $1 and $0.50 respectively.
Extra Reading – Apps That Pay You For Playing Games.
Ibotta's Cash Out Requirements
Ibotta requires $20 worth of earnings to cash out. This is the case for all redemption options, so it takes much longer to earn rewards with Ibotta than Fetch.
So, I think you can earn a free gift card with Fetch after a shopping trip or two. With apps like Ibotta, it's likely going to take a few weeks.
This isn't exactly a con unless you want to earn free money as fast as possible for an upcoming purchase.
Winner: Fetch lets you redeem prizes significantly faster than Ibotta.
5. Online Earnings & E-Receipts
Both Ibotta and Fetch let you earn cash back for uploading photos of your shopping receipts. But, what about online receipts?
Fetch E-Receipts
You can now earn points for shopping online thanks to Fetch E-Receipts, a new addition to the platform.
Essentially, the app can link to your email address and Amazon account and scan your inbox for online shopping receipts to pay you for shopping at various partners.
Ibotta Online Shopping
Ibotta used to have a similar e-receipt function to Fetch. However, Ibotta is completely different now and actually lets you earn for online purchases with two methods:
In-App Shopping: Shop at online retailers through Ibotta's app and earn cash back.
On Your Computer: Download Ibotta's browser extension and earn cash back for shopping from your computer.
Honestly, I think this update is a massive win for Ibotta.
Shopping through your app or computer is way easier than remembering to upload e-receipts. Plus, Ibotta lets you shop online at several hundred partners whereas Fetch E-Receipts only work for a few dozen stores.
I still think cash-back websites like Rakuten are better than Ibotta for shopping online.
Plus, you can use better money-saving browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shoppingto apply available coupon codes at checkout.
Winner: Ibotta has more online partners and ways to get paid to shop than Fetch Rewards.
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up using the links provided.
6. Referral Programs
In my opinion, referral programs shouldn't massively sway your decision in the Fetch vs Ibotta debate. But, if you're still unsure which app to use, this could be a deciding factor.
Fetch Referral Program
When you sign up for Fetch, you get a unique Fetch referral code you can share with other people.
You can also use the code “FRHELP” to enter as your referral code when you sign up. This code usually pays out 3,000 points, so it's a pretty awesome way to score a free gift card when you sign up.
Ibotta Referral Program
Ibotta also lets you invite new users or use someone's unique referral code to get a welcome bonus. Ibotta pays $20 in total sign up bonuses, but you have to put in a bit of work.
Specifically, here's what you do to unlock every Ibotta welcome bonus:
Bonus #1 ($10): Earn $10 for redeeming an in-store offer.
Bonus #2 ($5): Earn $5 for completing a mobile shopping offer.
Bonus #3 ($5): Earn another $5 for redeeming another in-store or mobile shopping offer.
In my opinion, this is a super easy way to at least earn $10 for free. And, this is similar to websites like Rakuten or MyPoints that require you to make a qualifying purchase before you earn a $10 to $20+ welcome bonus.
You can read my post on the best 20 dollar sign up bonuses for even more ways to earn.
Winner: Fetch is faster but Ibotta is more lucrative, so it's up to you what you prefer.
Extra Reading – The Best $50 Sign Up Bonuses.
Does Fetch Pay More Than Ibotta?
A lot of Fetch offers can pay out a few cents to a few dollars if you buy a sponsored offer. In contrast, I find Ibotta has slightly higher paying offers, but that's mostly because Ibotta has more partners and more offers in general, so you can cherry-pick the best paying ones.
However, this is a pretty hard question to answer since it depends where you shop and what products you buy.
Both apps are great for earning cash back on things like medication, beauty products, and personal care items however.
I think Fetch pays more for some groceries, or at least, it's easier to use so you might earn more in the long-run or earn without having to put effort in.
But if you want to earn cash back for electronics, apparel, or other categories that aren't on Fetch, Ibotta is best, especially if you use some Ibotta hacks to earn even more!
Extra Reading – How To Earn More Points With Fetch Rewards.
Pros & Cons
Fetch Pros:
More passive way to earn
Cares about brands, not stores
Low redemption minimum
Great gift card selection
Fetch Cons:
Can't redeem real cash rewards
E-Receipts needs some development to add more brands versus Ibotta
No loyalty card linking
Ibotta Pros:
Variety of redemption options, including real cash
Strong welcome bonus program
Links with loyalty cards
Versatile online shopping options
Ibotta Cons:
$20 cash out requirement so it's slower to redeem rewards than Fetch
You have to pre-select offers before shopping which takes time
Should You Use Fetch Or Ibotta?
In my opinion, Fetch is the best reward app if you want to quickly save money and keep things passive.
I love that you just have to upload your receipts to Fetch to see if you earn. There's no need to pre-select offers before shopping, so it saves time versus Ibotta.
Verdict: Use Fetch if you don't want to spend a lot of time or effort to save money on groceries.
In contrast, Ibotta is more robust than Fetch and has more partners and shopping categories.
Plus, Ibotta's online shopping offers are also better than Fetch's E-Receipts program. But, you have to be okay with putting some time into the Ibotta app to pre-select offers before shopping.
Verdict: Use Ibotta if you want to earn real cash rewards, do a lot of online shopping, and want more shopping categories.
Can I Use Fetch And Ibotta Together?
According to users on Reddit, you can use receipts for both Fetch and Ibotta. In fact, you can use other receipt scanning apps as well, like Receipt Hog, Receipt Pal, and CoinOut.
Receipt Hog, another popular receipt scanning app.
Really, it's Checkout 51 and Upside that get a bit picky about stacking receipts with other reward apps.
If you do most of the shopping for your household, I suggest using both apps.
I think Fetch is better for groceries because you don't have to preselect offers. And, you can always use Ibotta for online offers or categories outside of groceries. Plus, receipts can work for both apps, so try and double-dip on rewards if possible!
Extra Reading – How To Make Money On Autopilot.
Final Thoughts
I hope our Fetch vs Ibotta comparison helps you decide which app is right for you.
Personally, I like using passive income apps, and Fetch is a little closer to that side of things than Ibotta. But, Ibotta is still super popular and can help you save more money, so I think both apps deserve a spot on your smartphone.
I still think you should use extensions like Rakuten and Capital One Shoppingfor online purchases. But for everyday spending, I hope Fetch and Ibotta help you save more of your hard-earned money.
Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
Groceries are Fetch's main focus, although the app also lets you earn points for buying household essentials, personal care products, and even magazines.
The app is available for free on Android and iOS. It also has a 4.6 star rating on Google Play and over 5 million downloads to date.
With Ibotta, you can get paid to shop for groceries, household products, apparel, electronics, and even travel expenses!
Ibotta is also free and available on Android and iOS. The app has a 4.5 star rating on the Google Play store and over 10 million downloads to date.
Additionally, the app lets you earn points for shopping at various medication brands, alcohol, magazines, personal care products, household goods, and baby products.
So, it's a little more comprehensive than an app like Checkout 51, but it doesn't really extend far beyond the grocery store.
You can view a list of all of Ibotta's store partners on its website.
Winner: Ultimately, Ibotta is more flexible for users, so it's easier to earn cash back with than Fetch.
So, unlike Ibotta, you don't have to preselect offers you want to shop for and then upload a receipt to get paid; as long as you shop for a partner brand and it's on your receipt, you get paid.
Oh yeah, that's another difference: Fetch only cares about brands whereas many Ibotta offers are store-specific.
So, Fetch might pay you 100 points for buying a pack of Kraft singles since Kraft is a partner. In contrast, Ibotta might pay you for buying Kraft singles from Walmart and Publix.
As you can see, this extra step of adding offers to your grocery list means taking time to scan for offers, whereas you can just upload receipts with Fetch and get paid (even if you didn't realize what you were buying was eligible for points).
But, in fairness, Ibotta has one perk that Fetch doesn't: loyalty card linking.
That's right, Ibotta lets you link store loyalty cards to your Ibotta account from over 100 partners, including Meijer, Hannaford, and Wagmans.
When you link a loyalty card, you still have to add offers to your shopping list but you automatically earn cash back when you buy them so you don't have to upload receipts.
This is a cool feature, although I still think Fetch is more user-friendly and takes less time to earn.
Winner: Fetch is more passive since you just upload receipts to earn points and don't have to preselect offers.
Gift cards are subject to change, but generally, you won't have trouble finding a massive retailer to redeem gift cards for.
Essentially, the app can link to your email address and Amazon account and scan your inbox for online shopping receipts to pay you for shopping at various partners.
Honestly, I think this update is a massive win for Ibotta.
Shopping through your app or computer is way easier than remembering to upload e-receipts. Plus, Ibotta lets you shop online at several hundred partners whereas Fetch E-Receipts only work for a few dozen stores.
I still think cash-back websites like Rakuten are better than Ibotta for shopping online.
Plus, you can use better money-saving browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shopping to apply available coupon codes at checkout.
Winner: Ibotta has more online partners and ways to get paid to shop than Fetch Rewards.
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up using the links provided.
In my opinion, this is a super easy way to at least earn $10 for free. And, this is similar to websites like Rakuten or MyPoints that require you to make a qualifying purchase before you earn a $10 to $20+ welcome bonus.
You can read my post on the best 20 dollar sign up bonuses for even more ways to earn.
Winner: Fetch is faster but Ibotta is more lucrative, so it's up to you what you prefer.
Extra Reading – The Best $50 Sign Up Bonuses.
