The cost of groceries (along with nearly everything else) has been rising. From May 2021 to May 2022, grocery costs rose nearly 10%, which has put a strain on many Canadians’ finances.
Other essentials, such as home goods, cleaning supplies, and clothing, have also become more expensive.
While we can’t reverse the cost of things, we can mitigate the effect of rising costs by using cashback apps like Fetch Rewards in Canada.
These cashback apps make it easy to save on groceries, clothing, and other everyday essentials. Below, I’m going to show you some of my favourites!
How To Get Fetch Rewards In Canada
Fetch Rewards is an incredible app for consumers. Once you download the free Android or iOS app, you’ll be able to scan your receipts and log your purchases.
Whenever you purchase items or brands that are affiliated with Fetch Rewards, you’ll earn points. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards and other rewards that have a cash value.
The concept is similar to a cashback credit card, which also offers you account credit by shopping with certain brands.
The main difference is that cashback apps like Fetch Rewards don’t require a credit check or application. Anybody over 18 can download and use the app for free.
There’s just one small problem – Fetch Rewards isn’t available in Canada.
Fetch Rewards has been promoted by publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and the Wall Street Journal. However, at this time, it’s only available in the United States.
Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to Fetch Rewards that I’ll show you below. Some of them offer even better rewards than Fetch!
Cashback Apps Like Fetch Rewards In Canada
If you’re like many of my savings-savvy, budget-hunting readers, then you’re probably an expert at finding clever ways to save money. Cashback apps like Fetch Rewards are one of the easiest ways to save money on everyday purchases.
Although Fetch Rewards isn’t available to Canadians, there are several alternatives that you can try instead.
1. Koho
- Learn More: Koho cashback rewards
Applying for a cashback rewards credit card is a great way to save money. The only problem is that not everybody has the right credit score to apply for a good card. The Koho cashback rewards Mastercard is the next best thing.
First and foremost – the Koho card is not a credit card.
Rather, it’s a prepaid debit card that allows you to earn cashback the same way that you would with a traditional rewards credit card.
Once you apply and receive your card, you’ll be able to load it with money from your linked bank account. Then, you can use your Koho card to earn 0.5% cashback at all merchants!
The best part about Koho is that it doesn’t require applicants to submit to a credit check. Any Canadian resident over the age of 18 can sign up for the card and start earning cashback on their everyday purchases.
You’ll be able to track your cashback rewards and savings through the Koho app. The app will also show you special promotions with Koho partners that allow you to earn up to 5% cashback at certain retailers.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Apply for the Koho cashback Mastercard
- Use your Koho card for everyday purchases to earn 0.5% cashback at all merchants
- Shop with Koho’s partner brands to receive up to 5% cashback at select merchants
- Apply your cashback to your prepaid balance to reimburse yourself for purchases
2. Rakuten
- Learn More: Rakuten website
There are very few cashback apps in the world that are as large as Rakuten. The platform started as a small online shopping mall in 1997, allowing consumers to earn cashback and receive exclusive deals by shopping with Rakuten’s network of 13 merchants.
Today, Rakuten has over 1.6 billion users worldwide, operates globally, and is partnered with 750 retailers in brands throughout Canada. To earn cashback, all you have to do is sign up for the free platform.
Then, you can either shop online through the desktop website or through Rakuten’s free smartphone app.
When you shop with Rakuten’s network of brands, you’ll earn points. These points can then be redeemed for high-value coupons or gift cards.
Rakuten is nearly identical to Fetch Rewards and is a great way to save money and make the most of your everyday purchases.
Rakuten also offers some excellent short-term promotions, such as double points during select seasons, holidays, and other events.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for a free account with Rakuten
- Download the Rakuten app on your smartphone
- Shop through the Rakuten app or scan your receipts to earn points
- Redeem points for gift cards or cashback rewards
3. Swagbucks
- Learn More: Swagbucks site
If you’ve read through some of my other posts, you may have seen me recommending Swagbucks as one of the best paid survey sites in Canada.
Once you sign up, you’ll be given the opportunity to earn points for completing surveys, watching video ads, and even playing online games. These points can later be exchanged for PayPal credit, gift cards, and other rewards.
Swagbucks isn’t just for surveys, though. The platform also operates as a cashback app for online shopping. Similar to Fetch Rewards and Rakuten, Swagbucks is affiliated with major Canadian retail brands.
When you shop with these brands through Swagbucks’ platform, you’ll earn points, the same as you would by completing surveys.
Additionally, the Swagbucks app features a receipt scanner. This means that you can earn cashback whenever you shop at brick-and-mortar retailers as well.
The app will automatically scan your receipts and detect purchases from affiliated brands, offering you cashback rewards.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for a free Swagbucks account
- Use the Swagbucks app or website to shop with Swagbucks’ affiliated brands
- Earn points for making purchases online or uploading scanned receipts
- Redeem points for PayPal credit, gift cards, and more.
4. Checkout 51
- Learn More: Checkout 51 website
Checkout 51 is one of the more popular cashback apps like Fetch Rewards in Canada. The platform offers a free, easy-to-use smartphone app (for both Android and iOS) that makes it easy to earn cashback on everyday purchases and get rewarded.
Once you sign up, you’ll be able to browse the app or desktop site to see the most recent deals being offered by Checkout 51.
If you find deals and cashback offers from brands and stores that you shop with regularly, you can add them to your list to make them easy to find as you’re shopping.
Now, all you have to do is shop as you normally would.
Once you finish your shopping, scan your receipts and upload copies of them to Checkout 51 app. The app will automatically analyze your receipts and apply the cashback rewards that you opted in for.
As you rack up rewards, you’ll be able to cash out and receive gift cards, money cards, and more.
Checkout 51 recently started offering cashback rewards for fuel purchases. To start earning cashback on gas, just apply cashback offers from fuel companies to your account, fill your vehicle up, and scan your gas receipts.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for a free Checkout 51 account
- Apply cashback offers to your account
- Shop and fuel up as normal
- Scan your receipts and upload them to the Checkout 51 app to earn cashback
- Redeem your rewards for gift cards
5. Drop
- Learn More: Sign up for Drop rewards
Drop is very similar to Fetch Rewards and is one of the latest cashback rewards platforms available to Canadians.
Personally, I really like Drop’s user interface. Compared to some of the other cashback apps that I’ve used, I’ve found that Drop’s is faster, easier to navigate, and more friendly to those who may not be as tech-savvy.
Once you sign up for your free Drop account, you’ll be able to apply cashback rewards offers to your account. Then, you can shop online through the app with Drop’s network of 500+ brands to earn Drop points on every eligible purchase.
Points can then be used for gift cards or cryptocurrency rewards. You can even opt to donate the cash value of your points to a charity.
Similar to Swagbucks, Drop also allows you to earn points by completing paid surveys.
The main drawback of Drop is that it doesn’t give you the opportunity to scan receipts or earn cashback while shopping offline at brick-and-mortar retailers. To earn points, you must shop through the Drop app.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for a free Drop account and download the smartphone app
- Browse Drop’s cashback rewards offers
- Shop through the Drop app to earn points on cashback offers
- Redeem your Drop points for gift cards, crypto, or donate the amount to charity
6. Ampli
- Learn More: Get Ampli
The main problem that I’ve encountered with cashback apps like Fetch Rewards is that some apps make it difficult to earn points and rewards. Having to upload receipts or only being rewarded for in-app purchases can be a bit limiting at times.
Ampli, by contrast, offers an incredibly simple, easy-to-use program that allows you to earn cashback rewards for online purchases as well as shopping at select brick-and-mortar retailers.
Once you download the app, you’ll be able to connect with Ampli’s network of affiliated brands and view all of the cashback rewards that are available to you.
Then, you’ll be able to link your credit and debit cards to your Ampli app, which will allow you to make online purchases through the app as well as in-person purchases at select merchants.
Whenever you make a purchase, you’ll automatically be awarded points.
Here’s another feature that I really like about Ampli – the app gives you the option to receive your cashback rewards directly deposited into your bank account with an Interac e-Transfer.
The majority of cashback apps require you to redeem your points for gift cards or PayPal credit, which means that you have to take extra steps to save. The direct deposit feature is really nice, simple, and direct (which I appreciate).
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for a free Ampli account
- Download the smartphone app
- Connect your credit and/or debit cards to your Ampli account
- Shop online or in-person with the app to earn points
- Exchange your points for gift cards or initiate a direct deposit to your bank
7. Caddle
- Learn More: Get Caddle
Caddle is an all-in-one platform that allows users to earn points by completing surveys, participating in brand research studies, reviewing products, and shopping.
Once you create an account, you’ll be able to access all of the cashback rewards offers available to you on your Caddle dashboard.
To earn cashback rewards for your purchases, all you have to do is upload photocopies of your receipts to the Caddle app.
Caddle will automatically award you with points for sharing your consumer shopping data and give you extra cashback rewards when you purchase eligible items and shop with affiliated brands.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for Caddle and download the free smartphone app
- Browse your cashback offers on the main dashboard
- Upload copies of your receipts to the Caddle app to earn cashback rewards
- Swap your rewards for gift cards or real cash
8. Eclipsa
- Learn More: Sign up for Eclipsa
Eclipsa is one of the best cashback apps for groceries in Canada. Unlike most of the other cashback apps, which tend to be better suited to clothing and office supplies, Eclipsa offers practical rewards, such as:
- 50 cents cashback on avocados
- 25 cents cashback on bread
- 50 cents cashback on bananas
All you have to do is select the food items that you want to purchase before you go shopping. After shopping, upload a copy of your grocery receipt to the Eclipsa app and your cashback rewards will be applied to your account.
Once you’ve accumulated at least $20 of awards, you can get paid with an Interac e-Transfer to get your funds directly deposited into your bank account. This app is particularly good for families or those who are buying groceries for large groups.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Download Eclipsa and sign up for a free account
- Browse everyday grocery items that you need and add them to your list
- Go grocery shopping and your local grocery store
- Upload a copy of your receipt to the app and receive cashback on grocery items
- Once you earn $20, you can send an Interac e-Transfer to your account with your fundsC
9. TopCashback
- Learn More: See TopCashback offers
TopCashback is an older cashback platform that doesn’t offer quite as nice of a user interface as cashback apps like Fetch Rewards, Drop, Ampli, or Swagbucks. However, TopCashback does have some really nice rewards that you can take advantage of.
The company is currently partnered with 219 Canadian retailers, allowing you to earn anywhere between 2% and 12% cashback at places like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Michael Kors, and more.
All you have to do is create an account and start shopping online. The main drawback of this app is that you can’t earn rewards by shopping in-person.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Sign up for TopCashback
- Apply for cashback offers that you find on TopCashback Canada’s list of retailers
- Shop online and earn rewards
10. GasBuddy
- Learn More: Start saving on gas
GasBuddy claims to have saved North American residents (Canadians and US citizens) a combined total of $3.1 billion. The app offers a simple, easy way to pay for gas through the app, allowing you to save incrementally on every gallon you put into your vehicle.
If you use the GasBuddy gas card alongside your app, you can earn even more rewards, and save up to 25 cents per gallon.
The app also offers some intuitive trip planning features, so you can plan your next road trip around the gas stations with the cheapest fuel prices.
How To Earn Cashback:
- Download the GasBuddy app
- Purchase fuel from gas stations and earn cashback on every gallon
- Redeem your cashback for fuel cards so you can get free gas
How Do Cashback Apps Work?
At this point, you may be wondering, “How do cashback apps work, and how do these companies make money?”
The majority of cashback apps operate on a simple business principle of referrals.
When users make a purchase through the app’s platform or upload a receipt with their purchase, the brands that the app is affiliated with pay the cashback app a commission.
Then, the cashback app passes a percentage of this commission on to its users.
It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved. The big brands get customers, the cashback app earns a commission/marketing bonus, and users get to save money on their favourite brands.
What’s The Best Cashback App In Canada?
In terms of overall ease of use, I’d say that Rakuten is the best cashback app in Canada. Rakuten is a huge app that’s partnered with some of the top global brands and has a very easy-to-use online shopping platform.
That being said, Eclipsa is the best for earning cashback on groceries.
Why Is Fetch Rewards Not Available In Canada?
Fetch Rewards is one of the biggest cashback apps in the US. So, why isn’t it available in Canada?
The company hasn’t made an official statement on the matter, but one can assume it has to do with the company’s current partnerships and infrastructure.
Operating an international company is a lot more difficult than operating a company in a single country.
Also, with so many other cashback apps like Fetch Rewards in Canada, it could just be that Fetch Rewards doesn’t see the benefit of trying to compete.
Conclusion
Cashback apps like Drop, Rakuten, Ampli, and others are a great way to put extra money in your pocket every time you shop with your favourite brands, buy groceries, or even put fuel in your car.
In today’s economy, every extra dollar counts, so why not make the most of it and save everywhere you can?
Looking for more great ways to save?
Be sure to check out my post on the best ways to save on groceries next!
