Do you love shopping online? If that’s the case, you might want to try cash-back apps, which allow you to earn money when you shop online.
If you are looking for a good cashback app and are still uncertain, this Ampli review might help you decide.
Pros
- Offers cash, not points.
- Doesn’t clash with your loyalty benefits.
- Simple cashback offers.
- Fun and generous prize contests.
- Powered by RBC.
Cons
- Limited range of partners.
- The app is still buggy.
- Offers are pulled without notice.
Presenting Ampli – The Cash Back App
Cashback offers started out in the 90s when major US credit cards started offering cashback to people who used their cards to buy stuff.
The apps we see now are a variation of the same incentives that started more than two decades ago, though the process is much more refined.
Ampli is a newer entry but it’s already outshining some existing apps. The app has a robust footing, but two of its strengths really stand out. The first is the fact that it’s powered by the Royal Bank of Canada, the largest bank in the country.
The second is that Ampli pays cash. It doesn’t beat around the bush like most point-based cashback apps do (even if they tend to be a bit more generous) and lets you accumulate cash when you buy stuff from Ampli’s partner brands, using cards/accounts connected to the app. You can cash out whenever you have more than $15.
The simplicity and authenticity of the app are reasons enough to try it, even for people who typically don’t prefer to connect their financial accounts and cards to different apps.
So if you don’t want to pass on a chance to earn some cashback on your regular purchases, you may want to look into Ampli (on your mobile device only).
Features & Benefits
Ampli isn’t loaded with many features as other apps in a similar domain tend to be, but its simplicity does it credit.
To earn regular cashback, you have to do nothing different (like keeping track of the points you earn from different activities and purchases). Though there are additional activities you can do to maximize your returns from the app and chances to earn sizeable prizes.
1) Other Cashbacks
The best feature of Ampli is it allows double-dipping. The app doesn’t clash with any of the other benefits you might be receiving from your credit card or a store loyalty program.
It lets you earn cashback on top of the benefits you are already receiving. So if you play your cards right, you might make more cashback/discount.
2) Security
Since the app’s parent organization comes under the umbrella of the Royal Bank of Canada, the app follows RBC’s security practices and powerful 256-bit encryption to protect your data.
The best part is that since the app is entirely automated, needing no human intervention on the other end of your smartphone, your data is secure and anonymous. Even your login and transaction details are encrypted.
If you are still worried about linking your cards or accounts to the app, understand that the motive behind this linking is to verify transactions. That’s it. The app can connect to 130 financial institutions in the country safely.
3. Simplicity
That’s not a feature that Ampli touts, but to me, it’s one of its core charms. The fact that there is no point system and you earn cash, gets a lot of hassle out of the way.
You earn either a percentage of the purchase price back or a fixed dollar amount, and you get your cashback credited to the app within five business days. And though there is more to the app than simply this cashback, its core function is deceptively simple.
4) Free Cash out
Once you’ve accumulated $15 in your Ampli app, you can transfer the money to your bank account using an Interac e-transfer. It’s not instantaneous, and you will have to wait three to five business days to get the cash, but it’s still faster than a cheque and without any additional fee.
5) Decent Variety
Another benefit of using Ampli is the “spread” it offers when it comes to vendor variety. From Icecream to fuel stations and car washes, you may be able to find decent cashback offer on products from a wide variety of vendors.
The number of vendors you have access to might seem a bit limited, but remember that the app is just a year old, and with a name like RBC backing it up, it might expand its range of partner brands soon.
6) Referral Bonus
If you refer a friend and they link up their bank accounts with Ampli, you get a $5 bonus. It’s not much, but it’s straightforward.
How to Sign Up?
Ampli is offering $5 free for all new users; simply use code AMPLI5 upon signing up.
It’s effortless to sign up for Ampli. First, click this link using your mobile device. But before you jump on the sign-up button on the website, re-check which device you are using.
You can’t sign up for Ampli from a computer. You’d need an Android or an Apple device to sign up. And to make it mistake-proof, the company ensured that you pressing the wrong device button (Apple download button on Android device or vice versa) will automatically re-direct you to your native device.
You can also enter your mobile number on the website, and they will send you the link for free.
Sign up from an Android device here and from an Apple device here.
Is Ampli Safe and Legit?
Yes, the app is safe to use and legit. Even if we discard the encryption, the RBC tag is enough to lend this app serious credibility.
The app doesn’t have permission to monitor your bank account activity per se since it’s programmed to verify just the proof of transaction.
Conclusion
Everyone wants the maximum bang for their buck, and if that also comes with cashback, it just sweetens the deal. Ampli is new to the cashback sphere, but its credentials and its simplistic approach might be an indicator that the app might become something much grander in the future.
So if you haven’t downloaded it yet, might as well check it out and see how it fits with your shopping habits and what deals you can get in your area. This app gets a recommendation from us.
