Want To Get Paid To Shop? Try These 19 Legit Apps!

With the growth of the gig economy, finding a weekend side hustle is now easier than ever. You can even get paid to shop. 

There are plenty of gig and reward apps that pay you to shop, and each one works differently. Some apps pay you to shop for others, while others may require you to spend money to earn rewards. 

Depending on your needs and income goals, you can find an app or site that suits you. 

The Best Ways To Get Paid To Shop

There are plenty of ways to make money shopping, but each has different requirements in terms of effort and personal investment. 

Some are more suitable if you’re looking for a side hustle that pays weekly, while some are ideal if you want to make autopilot money. 

It’s essential to exercise caution when using apps that require you to spend money before you earn. You may spend money on items you don’t need to cash out higher rewards, which would be counterproductive. 

Here are the top 19 apps that pay you to shop:

1. Instacart

Instacart is one of the highest-paying apps that pay you to shop and one of the most popular side gigs. 

Instacart is a grocery delivery service you can sign up for and make money either shopping or shopping and delivering groceries to customers.

If you’re looking for a flexible side hustle where you can make up to $20 an hour, Instacart would be ideal. However, you must be prepared to put in the effort. 

As a gig economy app, the requirements are simple. To qualify, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have access to a car
• Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
• Be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Pass a background check

Once you’re approved to join the platform, you can start working immediately. You can log into the app and choose the batches you want to accept. 

Instacart shoppers are independent contractors, so you’d be in charge of your schedule and how much you work, ultimately determining how much you make. 

Instacart makes payments weekly, and you’ll receive your payment via direct deposit to your bank account.

Instacart is sometimes slow, so you may not get enough batches. Some shoppers use batch grabbers to grab more batches, but it’s risky.

2. Shipt

Shipt is another high-paying app if you’re looking for gigs like Instacart. As a Shipt worker, you would work as a personal shopper and deliver food and other household essentials.

Like Instacart and other gig economy apps, Shipt allows you to set your schedule and accept orders depending on your availability. 

You’re an independent contractor when working for Shipt, so with the right strategies, you can effectively maximize your income on the platform. 

Shipt shoppers typically make between $15 and $20 per hour in busy markets and keep 100% of customer tips. 

To qualify for Shipt, you must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have a valid driver’s license and car insurance
• Own a reliable vehicle
• Be able to lift up to 45 pounds
• Own a smartphone for the Shipt app

Shipt also allows interested candidates to sign up for Shipt Driver if they simply want to make deliveries without shopping for the items.

You can read my detailed Shipt Review to find out if it’s the best gig for you.

3. Drop

Drop is a popular rewards app you can use to get paid for making everyday purchases. Drop essentially pays you to shop at your favorite retail stores and e-commerce brands, which is a win-win.

It’s relatively easy to use Drop. Simply download the Drop app and link your debit or credit card to earn points effortlessly. 

Next, you’ll select the brands you’d like to purchase from within the app. Drop partners with over 500 major brands, including:

• Amazon
• CVS
• Uber
• Adidas
• Sam’s Club
• Walmart
• Sephora

Whenever you shop at these brands using your linked card, you’re rewarded with Drop points, which you can redeem for gift cards to your favorite stores. 

Besides shopping, Drop also rewards users for answering short surveys, playing games, and watching videos. 

While you won’t make much with the app, Drop is a great way to earn something back when you shop. 

4. Pogo

If you’re looking for shopping rewards apps that enable you to earn on autopilot, Pogo should be one of your top choices. 

With over 40,000 reviews on the App Store and a 4.9-star rating, it’s one of the most well-rated apps that pay you to shop.

Most people are understandably wary of sites that promise free cash, but Pogo is a trusted, legitimate app that pays you to shop. 

Download the Pogo app and link your card, after which you’ll start earning points every time you shop. You can also increase your points by answering short surveys within the app. Once you get to 3000 points, you can cash them out for $3. 

One of the advantages of using Pogo is you can cash out your points for PayPal cash, not just gift cards. 

5. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is a cash-back app that works like Drop. This reward site pays you for shopping at various retail brands that partner with the platform. 

Fetch Rewards is one of the best get-paid-to sites for shopping lovers. If you do a lot of shopping online, you can use the site to earn some of your cash back. 

You can start by downloading the Fetch Rewards app for iOS or Android and registering your account. On the dashboard, you’ll find various offers and discounts you can use when making purchases. 

You earn points every time you purchase items from eligible partners and upload the receipt. 

Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards to your favorite brands. 

While you shouldn’t expect to make a lot of money with apps like Fetch Rewards, the rewards can really stack up, especially if you shop a lot. 

Fetch Rewards also regularly has special offers that require you to purchase specific items or from a specific brand, and you earn more from these offers than from regular offers. 

6. Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping, a shopping browser extension, is another site you can use to earn as you shop.

One unique feature of Capital One Shopping is it does all the work for you. All you need to do is add it to your browser, and it automatically scans and applies coupons you’re eligible for to help you save money. 

Capital One Shopping has plenty of discount deals and coupons you can use to save money as you shop. 

You can also use Capital One Shopping to earn shopping credits when buying items from eligible partners. These shopping credits can be redeemed for gift cards after you reach the $5 minimum threshold. 

Capital One Shopping is one of the best cash back apps that can help you save money as you shop online. Plus, you still earn shopping credits for shopping at partner brands. 

7. Shopkick

If you’re interested in mystery shopping gigs, consider Shopkick. It’s an excellent platform that offers rewards for both online and in-store purchases. 

With Shopkick, you can get paid to scan barcodes for money, purchase specific products, watch promotional videos online, or take photos of in-store products. 

Apps like Shopkick earn money by partnering with companies with specific marketing goals, such as increasing content views. From this commission, Shopkick rewards the users who complete the tasks. 

Shopkick rewards you with “kicks,” which you can use to redeem gift cards to your favorite retail brands or PayPal cash. 

You shouldn’t expect to earn a lot from the platform, but you can use plenty of Shopkick cheats to increase your earning potential. 

8. Nielsen

Nielsen is one of the biggest insights, data, and analytics companies. It’s best known for Nielsen ratings that measures audiences for media markets. 

You can also sign up for Nielsen and get paid for your data. Companies pay for insights into consumer behavior and trends, and you can get paid by signing up for Nielsen Homescan. 

To make money using Nielsen Homescan, you scan the barcodes of the grocery products you purchase into the program and get points you can redeem for various prizes. 

As a Nielsen Homescan panelist, you’ll also be automatically entered into sweepstakes, where you can take surveys to increase your earnings. 

9. Rakuten

Rakuten is another rewards site you can use if you want to get paid to shop. Formerly Ebates, Rakuten is one of the oldest and most trusted cash-back apps.

It lets you earn cash back when you shop using their portal. You can install Rakuten’s browser extension and get notified of the best deals whenever you shop. 

Rakuten partners with major retail brands, including Shein, Macy’s, Adidas, Walmart, and Target. It also gives you access to coupons and discount deals that help you save as you shop. 

One of the advantages of Rakuten is you get paid in cash, which you can receive via check or PayPal. 

The downside is payments are made quarterly, so it’s not the best choice if you want to make quick money. 

10. Ibotta

You should also consider Ibotta if you want a cash-back site that pays you for both in-store and online shopping.

Like most shopping reward sites, you can use Ibotta to find deals and discounts from your favorite retail stores and e-commerce brands. 

A major perk of using Ibotta is earning cash back for buying products across categories like health and beauty, clothing, groceries, and travel. 

Ibotta even allows you to earn cash back for booking specific hotels or rental car services. 

To maximize your earnings on the platform, you can use Ibotta cheats, like using its shopping extension, to find discount deals and promos. 

Ibotta lets you cash out via gift cards to your favorite retailers, PayPal, or Venmo. It’s one of the few sites that pay you in actual cash. 

Extra Reading – Apps Like Ibotta

11. Honey

Honey is another option if you want a shopping extension that does all the work for you.

You can add the Honey extension to your browser for free, and it will automatically search and apply coupons you’re eligible for every time you shop online. 

Honey works just like Capital One Shopping, but the difference is that you can use Honey even when purchasing from international stores. 

Another way to earn using Honey is to shop at eligible Honey partners. Every time you make a purchase, you’re rewarded with Honey Gold, which you can redeem for gift cards to retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy. 

You can also read my post about Honey vs Rakuten to find out which one saves you more money.

12. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog, a market research company, is another legitimate platform you can get paid to shop.

Unlike most sites that require you to shop at partner brands to earn rewards, Receipt Hog rewards you for scanning receipts from any store in person or online. 

Whenever you purchase items, take a photo of the receipt, upload it, and get your points. 

Receipt Hog has a system where receipts from convenience, grocery, or discount stores earn cash directly, while those from other retailers earn you entries into spins and sweepstakes. These spins and sweepstakes allow you to earn gift cards, bonus cash, and other prizes. 

Once you’ve accumulated enough coins on Receipt Hog, you can redeem them for gift cards, magazine subscriptions, or PayPal cash. 

The secret to increasing your earning potential on Receipt Hog is being a frequent, active user. 

You’ll receive bonus opportunities like completing surveys for gift cards, scanning barcodes, spins on Hog Slots, and sweepstakes. 

13. Swagbucks

Arguably the most popular get-paid-to site, Swagbucks is another app that pays yout to shop and complete other simple tasks.

One of the perks of using Swagbucks is the various ways you can make money. Swagbucks rewards users for completing tasks like:

• Taking paid surveys
• Shopping online
• Playing games
• Watching promotional videos

You can use Swagbucks’ online shopping portal to earn rewards for shopping at over 7,000 online stores. 

Every time you purchase an item, you earn ‘Swagbucks,’ reward points you can redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards to over 1,500 retailers. 

You can also use Swagbucks to find exclusive deals and coupons that enable you to save money as you shop. 

14. Dosh

Dosh is one of the reward sites with simple systems where you don’t have to scan barcodes or scan receipts to earn rewards.

With Dosh, all you have to do is link your debit and credit cards, and each time you use the linked cards to make purchases, you earn cash back. 

Once you’ve set up your account and linked your card(s), your only job is shopping, and the cash rolls in. You can earn up to 10% cash back on your purchases depending on what the individual retailer is offering. 

You get credit for purchasing products from participating stores, and you’re not required to buy specific items to be eligible. 

You can also use Dosh to earn travel cash-back by selecting your travel destination and the type of hotel you’re looking for in the app. 

You’ll be given a list of hotels offering cash back per night, and you can choose the most suitable deal. 

15. Checkout 51

Checkout 51 is another great app to save on groceries and other essential items. The app is currently available in Canada and the US, and you can sign up within minutes. 

You can start by downloading the app for free from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Next, create your account by entering the required details. 

Once you’re all set up, you can use the app to find offers you can use to shop. Add the orders you want to your account, shop for the items, and scan your receipt to get rewards. 

Checkout 51 offers deals for specific products, but you can purchase them at any store. 

Your rewards will be transferred to your account once your receipt has been approved. You can cash out via PayPal or a check once your balance reaches $20. 

16. Walmart Spark

This is a gig economy app that works like Uber Eats and Instacart. As a Walmart Spark driver, you’d get paid to deliver groceries and other items to Walmart customers. 

Walmart Spark is easy to join. The process can take between 3 and 7 days, depending on the company’s need for drivers in your city. 

To join Walmart Spark, you must meet the following qualifications:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have access to a vehicle
• Have auto insurance and a valid driver’s license
• Own a smartphone
• Be able to lift up to 50 pounds without assistance
• Pass a background check

After being approved to join the platform, you can start taking orders and making deliveries. 

Each order request displays details like the size, delivery distance, and estimated payout. You can choose to accept or reject an order. 

As a Walmart Spark driver, you can make between $10 and $20 an hour depending on factors like how busy your market is. 

17. Care.com

While Care.com is primarily a site used to connect caregivers with people needing the services, it’s not just for babysitting and providing elderly companion services.

You can also use Care.com to find clients who want personal shoppers or personal assistants or just need help with errands for the day. 

One of the duties you may have to fulfill when providing senior care is shopping for essential items, so technically, you also get paid to shop. 

Simply create your service profile on the platform, specifying your services, location, and rates. You’ll start connecting with families seeking your services, and you can make money. 

18. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is one of the best gig economy platforms to find odd jobs. Sites like TaskRabbit enable you to make money by connecting you with clients needing your services. 

The most popular tasks on TaskRabbit include:

• Yard work
• Furniture assembly
• Moving help
• Cleaning

Still, since the app lets you determine your services, rates, and availability, you can offer personal shopping services as well. 

When setting your rates, consider what other Taskers are charging to avoid pricing yourself out of business. 

19. Mystery Shopping Gigs

Lastly, one of the best ways to get paid to shop is to find mystery shopping gigs. As a mystery shopper, you would get paid to shop at a specific store and give honest feedback about your experience. 

Brands are interested in their customers’ experiences, and mystery shoppers give them the feedback they need to improve their services. 

As a mystery shopper, you may be required to complete tasks like taking photos of products, checking the prices of items, and rating your overall experience in the store. 

Mystery shopping is a fun, relatively easy side hustle you can do to earn a few extra bucks in your free time. 

Some of the sites and apps you can use to find mystery shopping gigs include:

• IntelliShop
• GigWalk
• Pinnacle
• Secret Shopper

Tips for Getting Paid To Shop

As you consider ways to get paid to shop, here are a few tips you can use to guide you in the process:

• Set realistic expectations: It’s important to set income goals, as this will guide your selection of the ideal app. You shouldn’t expect to make a lot of money with cash back sites. Consider platforms like Instacart or Walmart Spark to make decent money. 
• Use multiple apps: You can significantly increase your earnings by using multiple apps or sites simultaneously. This way, you’ll determine what works best for you. 
• Read terms and conditions: It’s essential to read the fine print every time you sign up for an app or service that pays you. Some offers may be limited or tied to specific actions. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know where to get started, you should be able to make money shopping in no time. 

You can choose gig economy platforms like Shipt or Walmart Spark, which have a high earning potential. 

If you’re looking for more passive ways to earn money for shopping, you can use reward apps like Drop and Pogo. 

Your decision on how to get paid to shop should be informed by your availability and income goals.

Looking for other ways to get paid? Read these posts:

• Companies That Pay You To Sleep
• Sites That Pay You To Read Books Aloud
• Legit Ways To Get Paid To Talk To Lonely People