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This Ibotta review will go over is Ibotta legit, is it a scam, how does it work, and tips and hacks for getting the most out of the app.
If you’re looking for ways to save money on groceries, you’ve likely run across Ibotta. It’s a free phone app that pays you to shop for groceries and household products.
But is Ibotta legit? Or a scam?
And more importantly: Is Ibotta worth it? Or is too much hassle?
In this Ibotta review, we’ll go over how the app works and how to use it as another money saving tool in your frugal arsenal.
Ibotta Review: Is Ibotta Legit?
Before we go any further, let’s settle one thing: Ibotta is a legit app that gives you cash back for buying groceries. I’ve been using it for several years and can attest that it works!
Related: Here are other easy ways to save on groceries
The iPhone version of the Ibotta app has nearly 600K ratings and 4.8 stars that support its safety and effectiveness.
It’s a safe, quick, and easy way to make money buying groceries and other household items such as paper towels, milk, salsa, and even dog food.
If you’re not using it, you’re giving up free (and easy!) money.
Ready to try it out? Download the Ibotta app and get your $10 bonus!
Want more details? Keep reading.
Is Ibotta a Scam?
No, Ibotta is not a scam. I’ve been using the app for several years and can attest from personal experience that there is nothing scammy about it.
How Does Ibotta Work?
So how does Ibotta work, anyway? Here’s the scoop:
- Download the Ibotta app (and get a free $10 gift card)
- Find the store where you plan to go shopping
- Select the offers you are interested in and add them to your account
- Go shopping
- Take a photo of your receipt with your phone and hit “redeem”
- Cash out your earnings for free gift cards
It really is that easy. Just follow the steps above and cash in your earnings for gift cards to popular stores, including:
- Starbucks
- Target
- Best Buy
- Whole Foods
- World Market
- Jamba Juice
Would you rather have cold, hard cash? You’re in luck! You can also cash out your earnings using PayPal or Venmo.
Review of FAQs about the Ibotta App
While I’ve been using Ibotta for a few years and know it is legit, I realize you may still be on the fence about downloading the app. Let’s look at some of the most common questions about Ibotta.
How does Ibotta make money?
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is Ibotta legit or are they trying to scam me?”, the answer to this question will help.
When you are offered free money through apps like Ibotta, it’s only natural to be skeptical. The Internet is full of scams, so it’s important to understand how these companies make money.
When you click on a link through Ibotta, the company gets paid a referral commission when you buy something. It shares some of it with customers to draw in more users and keep them happy.
This is a win-win-win for Ibotta, the brand offering the commission, and the customer (you). Companies that are pushing certain brands offer cash back since it increases the chances that you will buy this particular item.
In addition, Ibotta earns money through ads in the app. For example, sometimes you will be asked to watch a short ad to unlock an offer.
Can you really make money with Ibotta?
Yes, you can. Ibotta is a legit way to make money for items you were already planning to buy. Earnings can add up, especially since Ibotta runs promos that can increase how much you make.
I will also share some Ibotta tips and hacks further down that will help you make more money with less effort.
Before you know it, you can cash out your earnings for a $25 Starbucks gift card and enjoy your free lattes.
How do you get the money from Ibotta?
Once you use Ibotta for a few shopping trips, your earnings will accumulate (along with your $10 free sign up bonus).
If you want to redeem your cash for a gift card, you will need a minimum of $20 in your account. Prefer getting cold, hard cash? You will also need at least $20 to withdraw the funds using PayPal or Venmo.
You will need to add your phone number so Ibotta can verify your account. Once you finish setting up your account, just hit the “withdraw cash” button and follow the prompts. Easy peasy!
Ibotta vs Ebates (Rakuten): What’s the difference?
If you have used Ebates before (now Rakuten) you may wonder how does Ibotta vs Ebates stack up. I’ve been using both Ibotta and Ebates for years and they are both legit ways to get free money for shopping.
The big difference between the two is that Ibotta focuses on in-store grocery and drugstore purchases, while Ebates is great for online shopping. Ibotta is only an app while you can use Ebates both on a computer or through a mobile app.
Check out my Ebates review here to find out how it can save you money.
Ibotta App Tips, Hacks & Tricks
Get the most out of Ibotta by checking out my tips, tricks and hacks for maximizing your earnings. Here’s how to get the most out of this free app:
Get paid $10 to try out Ibotta today
First things first: download the Ibotta app and get paid $10 after you redeem your first rebate. That’s free money just for trying out an app that pays you for the stuff you already buy. Crazy, right?!
Check out Ibotta bonuses and earn faster
Ibotta often runs in-app bonuses that helps you earn more for certain stores or brands.
When you go to redeem your cash, you may also get a bonus for using your earnings for certain gift cards. For example, Ibotta just offered me a $3 to redeem at least $20 of my earnings in iTunes gift cards. Since I have an iPhone, that’s a sweet deal!
Join an Ibotta team to up your earnings
Connect your Ibotta app to Facebook and invite your friends to join with your referral code so they will be added to your team.
You can work together as a team to achieve monthly goals and earn free money bonuses. The bigger your team is, the faster you earn and reach your goals. Win-win!
Look for limited time bonuses
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes Ibotta runs limited time bonuses that pay you extra for shopping at a certain store or buying a certain brand. Use these to supercharge your earnings and get free gift cards faster.
Stack Ibotta with coupons
While Ibotta by itself is a great way to save money on groceries, even on organic food, don’t let your savings stop there. A little-known fact is that you can stack your Ibotta rebates with coupons to maximize your savings.
Here are other ways to save money on organic food.
How does this work? Let’s say you have a coupon for $1 off Colgate toothpaste. In addition, Ibotta is offering you $0.75 via the app for buying Colgate toothpaste at Target.
On your next Target run, you pick up a $2.50 Colgate toothpaste and use the $1 off coupon in store. When you get home, you scan your receipt and get an additional $0.75 cash back through Ibotta. Your Colgate toothpaste ended up costing you just $0.75. Cool, huh?
Use bonuses multiple times
Here’s another little-known secret – you can redeem the Ibotta app bonuses more than once. This also means you can stack them with coupons more than once.
I’ll let your inner frugal fanatic do the quick math on all the savings waiting for you.
Is Ibotta Worth it?
As I mentioned in this Ibotta review, the app is not only worth it but a great tool to add to your frugal tool belt. Use it to make money on your regular grocery runs with minimal hassle.
In fact, this can be a great way to pay for birthday and Christmas gifts without breaking the budget. Redeem your earnings for gift cards or use the cash to buy gifts for family and friends.
After using Ibotta for several years, I can confidently say the app is legit and a great way to earn free gift cards and cash.
Download the Ibotta app today and get your $10 welcome bonus!
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Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels
do you have a referral code for Ibotta?
Hey Allison, yes I do! My Ibotta referral code is HAYXDEF. Thanks for stopping by!