Best 8 free coupon apps to find your preferred one
This article lists the 8 best free coupon apps. They include physical coupons, coupon codes and offers online.
Table of Contents
The Gist (“Too Long Didn’t Read” version of the article)
Considerations before couponing
This page is not sponsored by any app creator. It is the result of half a month of research in YouTube, posts, social communities and previous personal experience.
The Gist (“Too Long Didn’t Read” version of the article)
Currently, many websites include disappeared coupon apps because they have not been updated. A few claim that SavingStar still exists but it has been merged in Coupons.com in 2021. Which is strange considering that most people use coupons and deserve up-to-date information. Just in United States in last 4 years between 88 and 94% of people use coupons based on Statista [1].
Here are the 8 best coupon apps
If it is not contributing something to your life, then no need to buy it neither to find a coupon to buy it.
Apps like Ibotta include offers that require buying a certain amount or items to get the reward. Buy only what you need. A reward is not worth the over-spending of buying what you do not use.
Coupon apps are useful to save money if you were to buy the item even if there were no coupons. Also, it is possible to bulk items that take time before expiring. You can then use those progressively before expiration.
Choose your most visited supermarket offers. They might already have an app. Avoid looking away if you are already in the best place. Like buying on hard discounters like Aldi or Lidl.
Why don’t get some money back on things you already buy frequently?
Adding many coupon apps might end up in getting a higher amount than the original item’s cost.
Apps evolve. A few disappear as previously mentioned. In case that happens, this article will be updated.
Considerations before couponing
Before using any coupon app, you can ask yourself:
- Do I need this item?
- What benefits does it bring?
- What’s the worst thing that can happen if I don’t buy it?
1 Honey
Good for: Being informed whether other sellers offer an item at a cheaper price.
Stores covered: + 30,000 online merchants in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, UK and US
Reward redeem type: Gift cards.
Key features
- Claims that on average, users save 18% of their purchases or 126 $ per year.
- The app’s drop list is useful to receive a notification when prices drop.
Availability: desktop (browser extension based on browser detected), iOS, Android
2 SnipSnap
Good for: Cost comparison by taking a photo.
Stores covered: Claims thousands of offers.
Reward redeem type: Price reduction in item bought.
Key features:
- Digitize printed coupons (bar codes, promo code or photo) with your phone and use it when buying.
- Coupon expiration date alerts.
- Can activate notification about relevant coupons based on your phone’s GPS.
- Manufacturer coupons (redeemed at grocery stores) are not supported yet.
3 Ibotta
Good for:
- Cashback adds-up over time and 20$ bonus on sign-up.
- Online and in-store purchases.
Stores covered: 500,000+ stores.
Reward redeem type: PayPal, bank account or gift cards.
Key features
- Claims that average user earns $150+ a year.
- Offers from popular online retailers like Walmart, Uber, Groupon, eBay Earn cash scanning the photo of your receipt.
- If there is another offer on same product in Target, both can be added and one is not replacing the other
- For online purchases you could:
1) Stay on the browser opened by Ibotta to get the rewards.
2) Link Ibotta to Walmart to order online and pick up at a store.
Availability: desktop (browser extension based on browser detected), iOS, Android
4 Shopkick
Good for: Earn points for scanning articles without buying anything.
Stores covered: 250,000+ retail locations.
Reward redeem type: Gift cards.
Key features
- Claims that most users earn a gift card in a week.
- If you link your card and if you purchase an item you have already spotted and registered you get even more reward points. ShopKick calls those points “kicks”.
- Gift cards are usable on sites like Target, Walmart and Amazon
5 Checkout51
Good for: Cashback for generic items (not specific brands), gas and prescriptions.
Stores covered: 5,000+ gas stations in USA.
Reward redeem type: Once you reach $20 in savings.
Key features:
- No loyalty card requirement. Hence, convenient for non regular purchases on same seller. Add an offer to your list and then upload a photo of your receipt to earn cashback.
- Claims that users could save up to 0.25$ per gallon. Convenient for long commutes.
- To get rewards for gas, add an offer less than 4 hours before filling the tank. Then, upload the receipt within 24 hours of your purchase.
Availability: desktop, iOS, Android
6 Target Circle
Formerly Cartwheel
Good for: Immediate 5% savings with Target RED card.
Stores covered: Target stores.
Reward redeem type
- Target circle offers, gift cards and target circle earnings. They expire if not redeemed after a year of no new earnings nor redemptions.
Key features
- Best offers in section “Target Circle Offers”.
- Best companion app for buying at Target.
- Show bar code at checkout to earn rewards.
7 RetailMeNot
Good for: Coupon code hub.
Stores covered: 16,000+ stores and restaurants.
Reward redeem type: PayPal or Venmo.
Key features:
- Scan bar codes and upload receipts using your phone.
- Claims that users save $10 per order on average.
- Covers coupons in more than 35 product categories.
8 Coupons.com
Good for: Groceries, clothing and household items.
Stores covered: 20,000+ merchants.
Reward redeem type
- No minimum payout to PayPal uploading receipts of linking loyalty cards.
Key features:
- Allows printable coupons.
- Includes the offers of disappeared competitor SavingStar Coupons available also for popular retailers like Amazon,Overstock, Petco and Target.
Availability: desktop, iOS, Android
Before leaving this page, remember that for coupon apps and rewards in general: to get any of them, it is not advisable to over-spend by buying what you do not use.
What is the next step?
Check our article about living on a budget for more ideas on saving tips.
Sources
[1] Statista, Coupon use in the United States 2017–2020;at https://www.statista.com/statistics/240237/coupon-use-in-the-united-states/ (visited July 01, 2021).
