Make Money From Receipts with 4 Easy Apps: On a budget? View and learn how to use the best money-saving apps that allow you to make money by scanning your receipts!

Last year, after just two months of use, I shared a post on The Best Money Saving Apps. Now, after over a year and a half of trying multiple receipt scanning apps, I felt that it was time for an update. Below, I’ll share the names of the apps I still use, a report of how much money I’ve made (even with imperfect use), and steps on how to use them.

The Four Apps I Use:

ibotta, Receipt Pal, Walmart, Receipt Hog

How Much I’ve Made:

Note: This is with imperfect use over an eighteen month time-frame. During busy weeks I’ve let receipts go unscanned.  Others have been scanned after they expired, or with poor image quality. (See picture to the right) Even if you don’t have time to scan every receipt, these apps can make you money!

• Ibotta: $69.15
• Receipt Pal $55
• Walmart: $35.79
• Receipt Hog $35

Total: $194.94

How to Use the Apps:

Let’s start with the easiest first. If think you don’t have time to scan receipts, I’d suggest trying the Walmart App, and Receipt Pal, for at least a week. Both are incredibly easy to use!

How to use the Walmart app (in 2 steps!):

1. I only use the Savings Catcher portion of the app. When you open the app, scroll down until you see the green piggy bank labeled Saving Catcher and click there.

2.Once it loads, select “Add a Walmart Receipt”. This will open the scanner. Just point it at the QR code or bar-code on your receipt and that’s it!

Additional information:

The app will scan sales fliers for all surrounding area stores. If you bought an item at Walmart that was on sale elsewhere, they will credit the money you would have saved to your account. You can then cash out for a Walmart gift card.
Here’s an example of a recent receipt I scanned:

I earned $1.82 on 3 items. I had no idea salsa was on sale at Dollar General or Publix, but earned the money anyway. I love that the app price compares for me.
The savings catcher will only accept receipts less than 7 days old, so I try to scan these receipts as soon as I get home from the store.

How to Use Receipt Pal (in 2 steps!):

1. Open the app, and you’ll see four blue cameras. Click one to activate the camera.

2. Snap a picture of your receipt, including the entire length in the shot. That’s it!

Additional Information:

The more points you bank before cashing out, the bigger the reward. You can redeem a $1 gift card for 400 points, but a $100 gift card takes just 19,000 points (not 400,000 points).
Receipt pal accepts multiple kinds of receipts, which is one of the things I appreciate about the app. You can find out more about the app on their FAQ page here.
Receipts must be submitted in the same month as the purchase, or by the third day of the following month.

How to Use Receipt Hog (in 3 steps!):

1. Open the app and click “camera”.

2. Take a picture of your receipt. Long receipts will require you to take a picture of the receipt in multiple segments.

3. Select who went shopping (adult male, adult female, boy, girl) and rate your experience out of 5 stars and you’re finished!

Additional Information:

Receipt Hog does not accept receipts from as many places as Receipt Pal. However, they do accept receipts for any store that sells groceries, health items, beauty products and more. You can learn more about qualifying receipts here.
Each receipt earns “coins” that go towards a cash out in either PayPal or Venmo. 1000 coins equals $5, with a max cash out of $30 equaling 4500 coins.
Receipts must be submitted within 14 days of the purchase date to qualify.

How to Use Ibotta:

1. Open the app and select a category. (I only use the grocery category)

2. Select a store.

3. Browse the available items. It’s similar to digital coupons, but instead of cash off your purchase upfront, you will receive a rebate for items purchased. There are brand specific rebates, along with generic rebates (such as $0.25 back for 1 gallon of white milk).
4. Select the item you’ve purchased, and click “Unlock”. You may be redirected to a short video to watch (usually less than a minute long) or a short survey to complete (usually with just one or two questions) before the item is unlocked.
5. Once you’ve unlocked all of the items you’ve purchased on one receipt, select “verify purchases”.
6. Use the camera on your phone to scan the barcodes on the products purchased.
7. Scan or take a picture of the receipt and you’re done!

Additional Information:

You can cash out using PayPal or Venmo once you reach $20, or select one of many gift cards.
To earn your first $10 towards a cash out, sign up using my referral code RCBNCGK or click here (affiliate link). You’ll get $10 for scanning your first receipt within thirty days of signing up!

What apps do you use to make or save money? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below.