I shop, you shop, we all shop… online. So why not save a little money and make some cash back at the same time? None of us want to spend more than we need to on our purchases, and if we can earn a little money back from our purchases, I see that as a WIN-WIN.
Some of my favorite ways to get the best deal when shopping online are through using a few key apps and my favorite browser extension. Save yourself the time of hunting for the coupons and scrambling for the price-checker. Here’s my favorite four ways you can earn cash while shopping online at the stores you gravitate to anyway.
Happy saving!
1. Ebates
As the most popular and widely-known rebate (or cash-back) website, Ebates has a variety of ways for you to earn back a portion of your shopping purchase. And with generous cash back percentages, those savings can add up fast.
How Ebates Works
- Visit and login to Ebates to do your online shopping (or use the app). You’ll find exclusive deals and discounts available at online stores through Ebates, so it’s worth starting your online search here.
- Select the store you want to shop with and complete your order like usual.
- With your purchase, you’ll earn a specific percentage of your purchase back, which can be paid to you via check or PayPal. Stores pay Ebates a commission for sending members like you to their websites, and Ebates shares it with you. It’s that simple.
You can also earn cash back with Ebates by shopping in-store (which most other cash-back sites don’t offer). Check the Ebates app often as they’re always updating stores and available offers. Earn extra cash bonuses by referring your friends to Ebates too.
They even have their own Ebates Cash Back Visa card that will earn you an extra 3% cash back on your Ebates shopping and 1% cash back anywhere Visa is accepted. Hello money.
That gives you FOUR different ways to earn money with Ebates through shopping you’re already doing anyway. #score
Tips to Help You Earn More
- Install the Ebates Cash Back button in your browser. This button will help you find cash back while you shop, and even applies coupons automatically at checkout so you’ll always get the best deals.
- Watch for DOUBLE Cash Back Stores and promotions via the Ebates website.
- Use the Ebates app for app-only promotions and daily deals on trending items.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another mega-website dedicated to helping you earn money online. Not only can you earn cash back from your online shopping, you can also earn “swagbucks” for taking surveys, playing games, watching videos and more.
In fact, last time we checked, there were at least EIGHT ways for you to earn cash and gift cards with Swagbucks (including using the cool Swagbucks app). Here’s the breakdown…
How Swagbucks Works
- Visit and login to Swagbucks.
- Choose from several activities available to begin earning Swagbucks, including shopping online with 1500+ major retailers, watching entertaining and educational videos, searching the web, answering surveys or playing games online. Your Swagbucks will automatically accrue in your account as you complete your online purchases or activities.
- Redeem your points for free gift cards to your favorite retailers like Amazon or Walmart, to name a few, or get cash back from PayPal.
Let’s go through the EIGHT ways you can earn money online with Swagbucks…
1. Shopping
Your online shopping through Swagbucks will earn you SB points for every dollar you spend plus get access to exclusive deals and coupons to your favorite retailers.
2. Answering Surveys
Share your opinions by answering surveys will get you free gift cards FAST. Earn SB points when you answer fun surveys and polls.
3. Watching Videos
Watch entertaining, educational or news videos to earn SB points for watching playlists that Swagbucks puts together just for you.
4. Discovering Special Offers
You’ll be on the fast track to earning free gift cards when you check out exclusive deals and offers from well known brands. You earn SB points when you sign up for new services, check out free samples, and more.
5. Searching the Web
Earn extra (and sometimes BONUS) SB points when you search the web using Swagbucks’ Yahoo! powered search engine.
6. Playing Games
If you’re an online gamer, you’ll be excited to learn that you can earn Swagbucks for playing games you already love online. You can earn SB points when you make in-game purchases through their partners at GSN, or play their original free games and earn randomly.
7. Mobile App
Earn free gift cards when you shop, answer surveys and watch videos on the go!
8. Referring Friends
There are SO MANY WAYS to earn Swagbucks, why not share the fun with your friends? Show them the 8+ ways they can earn a few extra dollars (or gift cards) in their spare time (or in the school pickup line, like I do).
Learn more or get started earning cash back with Swagbucks here.
3. Ibotta
Earning cash back with Ibotta while you’re shopping can be fun and easy. Ibotta has THREE different ways that you can earn money from your purchases: sending in your receipt, linking your store loyalty card, or making mobile in-app purchases.
How Ibotta Works
- Before you shop, login online or open the app and select offers on great grocery products.
- Buy the products you selected at any participating store (like Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens and 270+ more stores). Don’t forget your receipt!
- Redeem your offers by submitting a photo of your receipt. Ibotta will match the items you bought to the offers you selected and give you the cash back.
- Your cash back will be deposited into your Ibotta account within 48 hours. Once you’ve earned $20, you can receive your earnings via PayPal or a gift card to Starbucks, Amazon, Best Buy or other stores.
4. Honey
Honey is a browser extension that finds the best prices and coupons for you while you’re shopping online and can automatically add them to your cart to get you the best deal.
How Honey Works
- Visit Honey to install the browser extension. It’s super simple and fuss-free.
- Then go shopping online at your favorite store’s website, like Amazon, Target, WalMart, Etsy and more. On Amazon, the Honey extension will price-check items for you as you shop.
- When you’re ready to checkout, the honey extension will pop up with any available coupon codes to save you money.
- You’ll also earn Honey Gold, their member rewards program, which is accumulated by the purchases you make and has a cash value. Honey Gold can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite stores (100 Gold = $1 USD).
Learn more or get started with Honey here.
