Ibotta 101: The Guide to Earning Cash Back (What is the Ibotta App?)

Looking for an easy way to earn cash back on everyday purchases? Check out one of my favorite cash back apps, Ibotta. This Free app provides simple opportunities to earn money on groceries (including beer and wine!) and even unconventional offers like hotel stays and online purchases.

My favorite part about this app is how easy it is to earn money. Instead of coupons, Ibotta offers thousands of rebates to receive cash back on items you’d purchase normally. Check the app before shopping, activate offers, and pay normally at checkout. Redeem. Within a specified time frame (usually 48 hours), the cash will be deposited to your account automatically. Once your account reaches a balance of $20 or more, you can withdraw your money.

Redeeming is easy with over 500,000 locations to choose from – everything from big box retailers like Target and Walmart, to restaurant offers, and online deals. Click here for a full list of supported retailers. This comprehensive guide will document everything you need to know to get started.

Getting Started with Ibotta:

• Create a FREE account here. By signing up, you’ll also join my Ibotta team 🙂
• Download and install the Free Ibotta app. Sign in with the account you just created.

Redeem at least 10 offers in the app within 14 days of registering and you’ll get a FREE $20 Bonus, sweet! Keep reading below for a step-by-step guide of how to start earning:

Types of Ibotta Offers:

• Receipt-Scan Offers: This is the most common offer type. Activate an offer before shopping, submit your receipt through the app, and receive cash back within 48 hours.
• Loyalty Card Offers: Select retailers offer this option. No receipt submission is required – simply link your store loyalty card, activate offers, and shop! Cash back will be credited automatically.
• QR Codes: Similar to loyalty card offers, QR codes streamline the redemption process. Best Buy is currently the only retailer to offer this option, but more retailers will soon follow.
• Mobile In-App Purchases: Shopping at one of your favorite online retailers, such as Amazon or Target? Earn a percentage in cash back on your purchases by shopping through the Ibotta app!

Let’s cover each offer type in more detail:

1.) Receipt Scan Offers (Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club…)

The majority of Ibotta offers are redeemed by scanning your receipt. This method is similar to what you’d see with other cash back programs like SavingStar and Checkout51.

Here’s What to Do:

• Activate your favorite offers by clicking on the pink plus sign. Some offers may require a short activity for you to complete, such as a poll or watching a video.
• Shop! While shopping, click on the “My Offers” tab to view all current, activated offers.
• After purchasing, redeem offers by clicking the “Redeem” button at the bottom of the app.
• Upload a clear picture of the entire store receipt if specified. Note: some stores like Walmart may have you scan the QR code at the bottom of the receipt instead.
• Confirm offers you’d like to redeem. That’s it! You’ll receive your earnings within 48 hours.

2.) Loyalty Card Offers (Kroger Affiliates, Food Lion, Rite Aid…)

Select retailers, such as Rite Aid, offer loyalty card linking. With this hassle-free option, you’ll earn cash back on eligible activated offers instantly – no receipt submission required. Here’s how to redeem:

How to Link Your Loyalty Card:

• Open the app and select your desired retailer. Use the search bar to locate quickly.
• If the retailer offers loyalty card linking, there will be a “Connect Account” option at the top of the screen, allowing you to connect your existing account or create a new one.
• Follow the prompts and verify your loyalty card info. Your card is now linked!

How to Redeem Offers:

• Before your trip, activate offers by clicking on the pink plus sign.
• At checkout, scan your card or enter the phone number associated with your account.
• Cash back will be credited within 48 hours on eligible purchases. Sweet!

3.) QR Code Offers (Best Buy, Other Retailers To Be Added)

Best Buy is currently the only retailer offering QR Code Offers, but other retailers will soon move to this format. At checkout, you’ll scan your unique QR code to redeem your rebates.

How to Use QR Code Offers:

• Navigate to “Find Offers” in the Ibotta app
• Search “Best Buy” as your retailer
• Activate your favorite offers – right now, they’ve got 1% cash back on ANY in-store purchase. That’s a given to activate! Other offers vary weekly, from battery rebates to home electronics.
• At checkout, present your Ibotta QR code before providing payment.
• That’s it! Your cash back will be awarded within 48 hours.

4.) Mobile In-App Purchases (Amazon, Hotel Stays, Food Delivery…)

With Ibotta, rebates aren’t limited to grocery and produce. Whether you’re booking a hotel, ordering food from your favorite restaurant, or grabbing those Amazon impulse buys – you can earn cash back!

How to Earn on Online Purchases:

• Navigate to “Find Offers” on the Ibotta app
• Choose “Online Shopping” as your category (over 100 online retailers available!)
• Select a store from the list and click Shop
• You’ll be directed to the store’s website through the Ibotta app. Important: do not exit out of the app before purchasing. If so, the purchase will not be counted.
  After completing your purchase, ensure you see the “welcome back” screen. At this point, you’ll receive an estimate of when the cash back will be applied to your account. So easy!

Once you get in the habit of checking the Ibotta app before online shopping, this option is a no brainer to earn easy money on items you’d be purchasing anyway!

Other Ways to Earn Money with Ibotta:

Any Item, Any Brand Offers

These are my favorite because they’re So easy to redeem. Ibotta frequently offers these, allowing you to earn cash back on things you already purchase like milk and juice.

• Any Item offers are just that: purchase anything, upload any grocery receipt, and earn cash back!
• Any brand offers allow you to purchase your favorite brand on products like chocolate milk or eggs. After purchasing, upload your receipt and receive credit for your purchases.
• To easily find these offers, select a store in the app and swipe right until you reach the Any Item category.

Ibotta Bonuses

Got the hang of redeeming rebates? Earn even more cash back by completing Ibotta bonuses! Each bonus has unique requirements to complete. When finished, you’ll earn a nice bonus reward!

To Locate Ibotta Bonuses:

• Click on the Account button at the bottom of the screen
• Navigate to Bonuses to see all current bonuses – check back often: new offers are added weekly!
• Click on an available bonus to view specific requirements.
• Once a bonus is completed, you’ll receive cash back within 48 hours!

Stack Ibotta Rebates with Manufacturer’s Coupons

Most Ibotta rebates can be stacked with manufacturer’s coupons! When activating, be sure to read offer details, as offers that cannot be stacked will be specifically listed. Otherwise, you’re in luck! Here’s an example scenario of how stacking rebates and coupons can score you huge savings:

► Buy 5 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal (13.5 oz) @$1.99/ea = $9.95
Use one $3/5 Kellogg’s Cereal coupon = -$3
Pay: $6.95
Submit for $0.60/1 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Ibotta Cash Back (limit 1, x5/22)
Final Price: $1.27 each $6.35 for all five (Regularly $4.99 Each!)

Be sure to check out our Store Deals, as we offer weekly matchups that list several Ibotta and coupon stacking breakdowns for your favorite stores like Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Restaurant & Convenience Store Offers

Ibotta rebates don’t stop at retail stores and online shopping. Select restaurants and convenience stores like Circle K, 7-Eleven, and Sheetz, also offer cash back options! Here’s how to locate these offers:

• Click on Find Offers in the Ibotta app
• Select “Restaurants & Bars” or “Convenience” to locate all available rebates. I spotted offers like $3 back in Budweiser, and 50¢ back on Mountain Dew. Love!

Referrals: Earn Up to $45 Easily

Share the Ibotta love with your friends and get paid to do it! Each friend referred will earn you $5. Plus, each month, Ibotta releases new referral bonuses. Currently, refer three friends and earn $30 – that’s a total of up to $45! Here’s what to do:

• Get your unique referral link or code here and send it to your friends
• Your friends must create a NEW Ibotta account with your referral link or code and redeem a qualifying offer to receive the referral credit.
• Referral bonuses will automatically be credited to your account, sweet!

In addition to the referral benefits, each friend you refer will join your team, giving you opportunities to work towards teamwork bonuses each month! Need more info? Click here.

Cash Out! (Balances of $20 or More) 

As soon as your Ibotta account hits a balance of $20 or more, you can cash out! Funds can be transferred via Venmo, PayPal, or redeemed as a gift card to one of your favorite stores like Target.

With Venmo and PayPal withdrawals, you’ll receive your cash within minutes! If you opt to redeem a gift card (available options include Bath & Body Works, Target, and Starbucks), you will receive an email containing your gift card within 24 hours. 🙂

Follow Along: Step-By-Step Guide 

Now that you’ve gotten through the guide, it’s time to redeem your first offer! We’ll start with an Any Brand offer, as these are super easy to redeem on everyday grocery purchases. Let’s get started:

#1. Before & During Shopping:

• Open the Ibotta app and select a store, like Walmart.
• Activate your favorite offers by clicking the pink plus sign and completing activities as required.
• Head to your favorite store and pick up your activated offers.
• Check out. Make sure to get a receipt!

#2. After Shopping – Redeeming Offers:

• Grab your receipt. Hit Redeem (middle button) in the Ibotta app.
• If you shopped at Walmart, scan the QR Code at the bottom of the picture as pictured.
  If you shopped at another retailer, scan the entire receipt.
• After scanning, a pop up should appear showing the number of matched offers.

• Confirm. If any items are missing, you can enter them manually by selecting “Add Offers“.
• Ready to redeem? Hit “Collect Purchases“.

• That’s it! Your cash back will be deposited in your account within 24 hours. So Simple!

New to Ibotta? Click here to see me explain it in detail on video: how it works and tips for maximizing your savings.