Does Shopkick Actually Pay You to Shop? The Rewards App Explained

Ever wondered whether your shopping spree can earn you money, instead of emptying your wallet? Well, Shopkick is a free-rewards app that can help you do just that.

When you shop at stores, you can use the Shopkick app to do some low-effort activities to earn points, called kicks. Later, you can trade these points for physical rewards such as PayPal dollars or gift cards.

But does Shopkick actually work? Read our Shopkick review and find out if you should download the app for yourself.

What is Shopkick?

Shopkick is a free rewards app available for iOS and Android. With Shopkick you get rewards for scanning products, entering stores, making in-store purchases, shopping at partner websites, and more.

For performing these simple tasks, the app awards you kicks—in-app points—as payment. After that, you can cash out using PayPal cash or a large selection of gift cards.

The main goal of Shopkick is to gamify the shopping experience while promoting affiliated goods and gathering insightful marketing data. So, you’re not the only one benefitting from using the app.

Is Shopkick Legit?

You may already be asking "Is Shopkick legit?". We understand that you’re doubtful that any app would simply give you money for seemingly unimportant tasks, but we can assure you that Shopkick is legit.

Founded in 2009, Shopkick has become one of the biggest shopping rewards apps and now has millions of users worldwide. However, remember that it can be geographically restricted due to the app's partnerships.

You’ll see that Shopkick has a 4.6 rating on the Apple Store and a 3.8 out of 5 on the Google Play Store. Thousands of these reviews talk about the user experience.

How to Make Money With Shopkick

You can use Shopkick practically everywhere you shop because the company has worked with some of the biggest retailers in the industry.

However, if you want to fully understand the earning potential of the site, you should know there are multiple ways to engage with the app. Let’s see how Shopkick works:

1. First download the Shopkick app

All you have to do is go to the Shopkick website and scan the QR code to download the app. Or look for the app in your app store (iOS for Apple and Google Play for Android). Depending on which store you use, you’ll be redirected to the app page, where you can download it to your device for free.

Open the app and you’ll be prompted to register or log in. Select "Register" by tapping the bottom of the screen. You will then be prompted to select a password and enter your email address and name on a new screen. There’s even an option to register using your Facebook account.

Once you’ve started using the app, you should set up your profile, activate Bluetooth, and turn on notifications so you never miss an opportunity to earn more points. You should also check the app to see any product changes and kick amounts.

Just make sure you have the most recent, functional version of Shopkick by updating the app whenever there is a new release.

2. Next, use Shopkick to earn rewards while in store

If you want rewards for scanning things as you go into stores, including pharmacies and grocery stores, you should select the "Nearby" option.

Yes, you can start saving money with this app without actually having to buy anything. Ensure your WiFi, Bluetooth, and microphone are turned on. Simply open your app while at a store, navigate to the "Kicks Nearby" section, and check to see if the store is available for check-in. If so, all you have to do to get the reward is click the button.

It really is that easy. You can even check in at some stores without entering, and make money merely by passing by. So, if you find yourself in a shopping center, check your app to see which stores are partnered with Shopkick.

Keep in mind, however, that the number of times you can participate per store is limited. You've most likely reached the limit if you’re unable to check in any longer. Since Shopkick collaborates with over 250,000 retailers, there should be many more opportunities for you to make money here.

There are a two different ways that you can earn rewards while shopping - scanning barcodes and paying with a linked card. Here's how to do both.

Scanning product barcodes

If you want even more kicks when shopping at a Shopkick partner store, you can additionally scan certain product barcodes. Head to the "Earn" tab and look for the "Kicks Nearby" option. Choose the correct retail address for the store you are in. 

Once you’ve completed that, press and hold the scan icon for the barcode. When the camera opens, you’ll see a white box with a blue line running through the center. All you have to do is align the barcode with the blue line and box.

What’s great is that you can qualify for this option even if you don't buy anything from the store. The point is that Shopkick merely wants you to go to particular stores and interact with its partners' merchandise.

However, it usually pays less than $1 for your work, just like walk-in offers. If you're already in a Shopkick store though, it just makes sense to earn some extra cash while shopping. Ensure you have the correct item and store location and that you are scanning in well-lit conditions.

Paying with your card linked to Shopkick

You can earn some kicks when you pay for purchases using debit or credit cards connected to your Shopkick account. However, for the Shopkick app to track your purchases and give you kicks, you must attach a Visa or MasterCard.

Once you link your card, you might have to wait for a 24-hour verification period. When that’s over, you can receive kickbacks for purchases made at participating stores.

This is undoubtedly one of the better ways to get kicks, and the benefits are far greater compared to just going into stores or scanning barcodes.

Earning ‘kicks’ with receipts

It’s also possible to earn kicks by scanning receipts from participating retailers. Once you’re on the app, click on the "Earn" tab and go to "Kicks Nearby." You’ll have to choose which store the receipt was from and then choose the "Receipts" icon.

To maximize efficiency, look through the list of available products that qualify for a receipt before you purchase anything. When you buy the eligible item, submit the receipt as verification of the transaction. If you’ve bought something already, just refer to the list and then scan it if it qualifies. 

Once you've submitted your Shopkick-partnered receipt, you’ll see your kicks added to your account.

3. Make more money with in-app purchases

If you want to do your shopping without going to the store, go to the "Earn" tab and hit "Kicks Online." You’ll choose an offer from any of the partners that Shopkick has promoted. Once you’ve bought the product, you’ll have to wait 72 hours before the kicks show on your account.

You can even take part in their cashback programs, which are similar to what you expect from a cashback website. Simply go to "Kicks Online" and scan through the list of retailers displayed. Pick your favorite store and check if any special offers catch your eye.

Then it’s just a matter of buying what you want to receive your kicks. Don’t worry about your options being limited; there are plenty of stores to choose from.

Already at the store? There’s even an option to take advantage of in-store cashback promotions. Simply select the store location from "Kicks Nearby."

4. Watch videos for extra income 

We’ve all watched some pesky pop-up videos when using the free version of some app. But have you ever thought you could get some money if you watched them?

Well, watching advertisements and videos on Shopkick is another way to earn money. They’re usually easy to digest, and you can watch a couple in a row if you have that sort of patience. But we’ll warn you that the kicks you receive from watching videos won't make you rich by any means. In fact, out of all the Shopkick tasks, this one is probably the lowest-paid option. 

So, if you want to add a few extra points to your account for doing essentially nothing, this is a useful option, especially when you want to round up for cashing out.

5. Earn referral fees by bringing friends to the app

Although this isn’t shopping-related, it is a way to make money with the app, so we’ve included this option in our Shopkick review. 

You will receive 250 kicks for introducing friends to the app. So, if you’re referring 100 friends, you can get up to 25,000 kicks! All you have to do is share a link and referral code created by the app with your loved ones. You'll gain extra points when they sign up using your coupon or link.

Plus, as your friends and family continue earning, you'll get a share of their kicks, which will increase your points in total. That's basically passive income. So, what are you waiting for? Get everyone you know on the app so you all have the chance to earn.

How Much Can You Earn With Shopkick?

On Shopkick there is no cap on how much you can make. You will receive kicks for every action you take with the app. After that, you can use the kicks you've earned to buy gift cards.

Typically, you earn $1 for 250 kicks, $2 for 500 kicks, and so on. Even if you only visit some stores, scan barcodes in-store, and view videos at home, you can easily earn enough money for a $5 gift card.

Scanning barcodes while browsing in stores could only make you $1 or 2, but it’s worth it if you’re already shopping. The payment for buying something is typically much more, but you'll need to spend money before you'll see any real returns. If a partner store is giving 4 kicks for every dollar spent, you’ll need to spend thousands before you can make $10.

Usually, videos can only provide 50 kicks or less, so you'll need to play them for a long time to get a few kicks. However, you can get up to $100 in kicks by encouraging friends to download the app.

How much you earn varies depending on the options available as well as discounts and how much time you spend on the app. Staying up to date with the most recent offers will help you earn more.

A great way to do this is to look at the app's Discover tab, where you can spot new deals and get paid extra. If you want to get more kicks, you can also watch videos and find hidden bonuses.

Cashing Out Your Shopkick Rewards

The kicks you earn through Shopkick can be exchanged for gift cards to popular businesses, such as:

• Starbucks
• Kindle
• Disney
• Target
• eBay
• Google Play
• Best Buy
• TJMaxx
• Apple
• Uber Eats
• Amazon
• Nike
• Walmart and more.

In most cases, you need at least 500 kicks to receive a gift card. 

Another alternative is to use PayPal to redeem your kicks. However, you’ll have to have a verified account linked to Shopkick and at least 2,550 kicks (worth about $10). The transfer comes with a 50-kick transaction fee. There are options to redeem actual prizes, with options starting at 12,500 kicks for a Yeti Rambler.

When you collect enough kicks to receive a gift card, it will show up under "My Rewards" in the app. You can view all of the digital gift cards you've earned there. Remember that each card has terms, conditions, limitations, and usage guidelines. 

Be sure to remain active on Shopkick - if you don't use the connected card or access the app for six months, your kicks will expire. 

Is Shopkick Worth It?

In case you need a refresher, Shopkick has a 4.6 rating on the App Store and a 3.8 rating on Google Play, which means it’s well-trusted by its users. But is it a good way to make money?

Some users have said that Shopkick is a good enough app for cashback since you can get free cash by scanning receipts or through walk-ins. They’ve also received free merchandise and found purchases can become profitable ventures.

However, there are complaints about Shopkick's security systems mistakenly freezing authorized users on occasion. The Shopkick system periodically freezes accounts as part of ongoing protocols and processes to combat security issues within the app. Now, the team is trying to find a solution to the problem and decrease the amount of valid users who are blocked. Shopkick is well aware that a large number of users are unable to use their kicks. Your only option in this situation is to contact the company's customer service department and hope they can unfreeze your account. 

Unfortunately, there are some conflicting opinions on Shopkick's customer support department. You can see a lot of inquiries are covered in Shopkick's extensive FAQ section. They’ve also written down all of the fundamental guidelines for what must be done to earn. You can use the contact form on their website to email Shopkick, and you’ll find that their mobile app provides access to the same contact form. But you likely have to be patient if you call Shopkick, though. We’ve seen from multiple people that support isn’t very helpful in most cases.

Shopkick Alternatives: 3 Options to Consider

Now that you’ve gone through our review of Shopkick, you might be on the fence about using Shopkick as your go-to cashback app. That’s why we’ve come up with three alternatives so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs (and helps you earn the most money!):

1. Swagbucks

Similar to Shopkick, it’s completely free to download and use Swagbucks. You can use Swagbucks as a web search engine, take part in daily polls, complete online surveys, shop, or even just play games. These tasks earn you digital currency (called SB points).

While it's true that Swagbucks pays out for each of these activities, getting enough points to receive a payout may take some time. For every 10-20 searches, you should anticipate earning 10-20 SB points. The search queries will determine the final total. This can amount to several hundred dollars after searching daily for several months.

Plus, you can complete a few quick surveys every day, which can be a pretty pleasant side source of income.

Typically, these surveys take 3-20 minutes to finish. You’ll earn from 20 to 100 SB (or occasionally much more) depending on the survey. In addition, there is a quick daily poll offering another SB. There are options to scan receipts, take part in free online games, and more. You’ll find what you can do in your daily to-do list on the app.

As of September 2024, Swagbucks has spent over £650 million in cash and gift cards, and it has over 35,000 reviews on Trustpilot with a "Great" rating.

2. Fetch Rewards

If you’re looking for an app similar to Shopkick that helps your family, Fetch Rewards is one of the options you can check out.

You get paid by this app when you buy things from its partner businesses and then submit your shopping receipts. Unlike Shopkick, it doesn't matter what kind of product is on your receipt from a brand partner, Fetch Rewards will reimburse you in points. You’ll find that you can buy anything from Huggies, Kraft, and Lipton to Betty Crocker, Pepsi, and more.

Fetch Rewards compensates users with gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, Subway, Target, and other popular retailers. You'll need to redeem your Fetch Rewards points for this. You need a minimum of 3,000 Fetch Rewards points, or around $3. 

While 25 points for scanning a receipt might not seem like much, the points can add up quickly with almost no time or effort. You'll be shocked by how many products can award substantial additional points.

The more you use the app, the more points you can gain, along with some bonus points. If you want to use Fetch Rewards for your medications, Fetch has partnered with GoodRX, so that you can claim points from both programs. You will receive 10,000 Fetch points for your first prescription refill and 1,500 for each subsequent refill. 

3. Ibotta

One of the most well-known cashback apps available is Ibotta, which gives you money back when you purchase sponsored goods from affiliated companies.

What’s great about Ibotta is that you can earn money for activities other than grocery shopping. With more than 1,500 brand partners, you can get money back from many sectors, including apparel, entertainment, electronics, pet supplies, food, travel, and more.

To earn more from your online purchases, Ibotta also supports the integration of loyalty cards with an online shopping extension.

Ibotta offers a wider variety of earning alternatives than ShopKick, but you won't be compensated for walk-in or scan deals like the latter. When you buy eligible products, you receive rebates. All you have to do is explore the offers on the Ibotta app, purchase the product listed in an offer, and upload your receipt, and you'll be reimbursed. Compensation is via gift cards to many major brands or via PayPal.

But the best thing about Ibotta is that it offers more than just a few cents back. Actually, many of its offers are for one dollar or more. So, you may be able to make a good sum of money every time you go shopping. 

Bonus point: Ibotta has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on the App Store and a 4.5 out of 5 on Google Play. So, we can safely assume that its users are satisfied with their experience.

At the end of the day, you should look for the app that gives you the best value for money. It shouldn’t be the case that you’re spending more money than you should be saving. 

Looking to Make Money Online? Check out Whop

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