6 Best Apps To Save Money on Groceries

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There a lot of ways to save money on groceries, but if you want to use technology to save even more, these apps can help.

This article was updated in February 2024 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

What Are the Best Apps To Save Money on Groceries?

There’s no shortage of apps that can help you save money on groceries, but they don’t all work the same way. There are a few basic categories:

  • Coupon Apps: Offer coupons and other savings at the point of sale
  • Store-specific Apps: Exclusive electronic offers available at specific stores (like the Kroger app)
  • Rebate Apps: Scan and upload your receipt after purchase for cash back rewards

While it’s probably best to use a few grocery-saving apps in concert, you need to get the lay of the land first to see which apps are the best fit for your shopping routine. In this article, I will review some of Team Clark’s favorite grocery coupon and rebate apps, listed in alphabetical order:

  1. Checkout 51
  2. Coupons.com
  3. Fetch
  4. Ibotta
  5. Rakuten (formerly eBates)
  6. Target (formerly Cartwheel)

1. Checkout 51

Checkout 51 makes it easy to shop as you normally would and save money while doing it. Just download the free app, select your grocery store and see the current list of offers. Anytime you buy something that’s on the list, you’ll get cash back.

The app has a built-in camera to take perfect shots of your receipt so you can start building up your savings. You can cash out when you have at least $20 in your account. Payment methods include PayPal or check.

Before you download Checkout 51, be sure to read our full review of the app.

2. Coupons.com

Coupons.com has a mobile app that promises you can save hundreds of dollars with free paperless grocery coupons.

Using it is easy. Simply link your store loyalty cards to the app to add coupons for each store. Then you save instantly at checkout.

If your store doesn’t have a loyalty program, you can submit your receipt after you shop to get your cash back. It’s as easy as snapping a pic and submitting it.

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Best of all, you can get cash back each time you shop; there’s no minimum you have to build up in your account before you can cash out!

To learn more about maximizing your savings from Coupons.com, check out these four tips.

3. Fetch

Fetch lets you scan your receipt from any grocery store and earn points for the products you probably buy already.

The “Special Offers” tab lists the most valuable deals, but you can usually earn a minimum of 25 points per receipt without those offers.

When you reach 3,000 points, you can redeem them for gift cards to dozens of major retailers including Amazon, Target, Panera Bread, CVS Pharmacy and Visa.

If you’re thinking about trying out Fetch, be sure to read our full review first.

4. Ibotta

Ibotta is pretty much the big dog when it comes to apps to save money on groceries.

You can earn cash by adding offers, shopping and uploading a photo of your receipt. If you link your store loyalty card, you don’t have to upload pictures. Here’s a list of supported retailers.

You can withdraw cash from your Ibotta account when you reach $20. If you upload photos of your receipt, you can get your cash within 24 hours.

Like a lot of the apps on this list, Ibotta mostly features products from national brands. But even if you buy generic brands, you can take advantage of “Any Item” rebates for about 25 cents per receipt you upload.

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For more information on how to get started with Ibotta, check out our full review here.

5. Rakuten

You may not think of Rakuten (formerly eBates) as an app to save money on groceries; it’s better known as an online shopping cash back site.

But there are several grocery stores on this app including Safeway, Albertsons and Tom Thumb. Some partner stores offer cash back, and others offer coupons.

You must have a minimum of $5 in your account to cash out and payments are sent quarterly via PayPal, physical check or American Express Membership Rewards® Points.

To learn more about Rakuten before you download the app, read our full review here.

6. Target

Unlike the other apps on this list which let you shop most anywhere you want, the Target app, as you might expect, is tied only to Target.

With this app you can browse Target Circle offers and get app-only coupons. It also integrates with the REDcard to give you 5% savings on everything you buy at Target — not just groceries.

Final Thoughts 

While there are a variety of apps you can use to save money on groceries, most work one of three ways. They either track your store loyalty card and offer point-of-sale savings by the specific retailer, provide electronic coupons to be scanned at the point of sale, or they require you to add offers and then upload a photo of your receipt.

These apps provide low-hanging fruit if you’re looking to put more money in your wallet. Almost anyone can download an app and upload a picture of their receipt. It usually takes just a few seconds. So it’s easy to enjoy the fruits of your labor with very little actual labor.

If you’re looking for more ways to lower your grocery bill, be sure to check out our 20+ ways to save money on groceries!

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What are your favorite apps for saving money on groceries? Let us know in the Clark.com Community!

Article Updates
  • February 11, 2024: Changed Fetch redemption options, and main link
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