It’s not a trade secret that you want to save extra bucks on the things you purchase. And although you can wait for massive sales and discounts from stores, they only happen every once in a while. If you want to get good deals on a daily basis, there’s one simple solution — download coupon apps. This way, you can get all your necessities and save some extra cash without breaking your bank too much. That being said, here are some of the best coupon apps you can get today!
How Does Coupon Apps Work?
Coupons have been around for a long time. While people used to cut them out of newspapers and magazines back then, the world of coupons has somehow evolved in recent years. What has largely remained the same, though, is how coupons work.
Nowadays, there are a lot of coupon apps you can download on your smartphone. However, the vast majority of them pretty much work in the same way. When you install their app and sign up for an account, you’ll be granted access to tons of different coupons. You can then use them to save money on a variety of purchases. These coupon companies make money through affiliate programs established with partner stores or participating brands.
Are Coupon Apps Safe?
A big question many people have about coupon apps is whether or not they are safe to use. The idea of saving big bucks on a purchase can be scary due to certain negative implications. And although there are some apps that should not be trusted, as they tend to mine and sell user data, most coupon apps are completely safe.
When considering which apps to use, it’s a good idea to look at user reviews and read through the app’s privacy policy or terms of use. This way, you can get a grasp of how secure they are.
What Kinds Of Coupons Are On Coupon Apps?
There used to be only a handful of coupon apps but now, the number has grown significantly. There are different kinds of coupons available on these apps. Some apps even have specializations — offering mostly retail-based coupons. Other apps focus on produce and grocery items. Conversely, some coupons give you cashback; others give you discounts and there are a select few that offer free stuff.
However, it is important to consider what you are looking for in a coupon app before choosing one. This way, you can eliminate the time spent on trial and error. You can also streamline the process and get the best coupon app that suits your needs right away.
Best Coupon Apps
Without further ado, here are ’15 of the Best Coupon Apps’ available today:
1. Checkout 51
Available on: Android and iOS
Checkout 51 is, by far, one of the best coupon apps on the market today. It works best for those who don’t necessarily visit specific stores on a regular basis. It is also good for earning cashback even for random, generic items like apples or garlic. Participating stores include Walgreens, CVS, Safeway, Public, Kroger, Costco, Target, and Walmart.
You can browse the app for coupon offers and then head to the participating stores to take advantage of the offers. After purchasing your items, just take a picture of your receipt and upload it straight to the app. Within 48 hours, you will receive your cashback. You can also earn up to $0.25 per gallon on gas.
2. Coupon Sherpa
Available on: Android and iOS
As one of the coupon apps that has been around for a long time, it’s quite impressive how Coupon Sherpa managed to stay relevant. That is mostly due to its benefits and usability. There are so many options for coupons here — restaurants, big box stores, a variety of retailers, regional department stores — you name it, they have it. In addition to the usual coupon codes and deals, Coupon Sherpa is best known for its printable coupons.
In terms of ease of use, Coupon Sherpa is definitely friendly. You can browse through tons of deals and tag the ones you like as favorites. You can also search by location to make your shopping process much easier.
3. Coupons.com
Available on: Android and iOS
With Coupons.com, you can print out coupons for physical use or avail of digital coupons for online shopping. This app offers cashback and coupon codes, making it an all-around coupon app. Also, some shops will allow you to use digital coupons in-store. Even if you do not have the app installed on your smartphone, you can still take advantage of Coupons.com. You’ll just need the desktop version. Coupons.com has many affiliate stores as well, including the big ones like Amazon, Target, Overstock, Petco, and more.
4. Dosh
Available on: Android and iOS
Dosh is a great app for earning cashback from your purchases. The feature that sets it apart from others is its ability to automatically give you cashback without much work on your end. That means no UPC scanning, no uploading of receipt photos, and no entering of promo codes. All you need to do is link your card to the app. When it detects a purchase at a participating store, it automatically applies the cashback to your wallet.
You can withdraw the cash you earned back at any time, though there is a $25 minimum. Some of Dosh’s partner merchants include Walmart, World Market, and even Pizza Hut. Globally, it has over 100,000 non-hotel and around 600,000 hotel partner locations.
5. GasBuddy
Available on: Android and iOS
Gas prices can be very unpredictable and expensive. With the help of GasBuddy, you can scan your area and look for the cheapest prices available. You can also avail of GasBuddy’s payment card, which is neither a credit card nor a debit card. The payment card links to your checking account and, when you use it to pay for gas at a participating station, you will save five cents per gallon. If you’re among those who stay on the road for hours, you can really save a lot of bucks just by using GasBuddy. It is definitely one of the best coupon apps specifically for gas.
6. GoodRx
Available on: Android and iOS
The cost of prescription drugs can instantly put a dent in your wallet. If you want to save money on medicine, the GoodRx app can help you out. Once you have the app installed on your phone, all you need to do is enter your prescription and ZIP code in the search bar. The app will display a list of pharmacies in your area that have it in stock as well as how much it costs. Apart from showing you comparisons on prices, GoodRx also offers coupons to up your savings even more.
7. Groupon
Available on: Android and iOS
As one of the oldest coupon apps on the market, Groupon definitely knows what it is doing. This coupon service offers you daily deals and works mainly on discounts. It has a lot of partner merchants, such as restaurants and home services. There are also some fun activities at discounted rates like skydiving, go-karting, wine tasting, and tickets to theme parks or zoos.
Though, as it uses the daily deal model, you must know that Groupon coupons do expire. If you fail to take advantage of the discounted deal within the specific timeframe, you will lose out on availing of it. If you already paid, though, you can get the money back.
8. Honey
Available on: iOS
The Honey app is arguably one of the most well-known coupon apps today. It is easy to use, convenient, and has tons of deals for users. Honey also has thousands of partner vendors, which means you will never run out of possible options. With this app, you are looking at great Honey savings.
It works by automatically looking for promo codes and digital coupons that apply to your purchase, making your job easier. It can also look for discounts even without codes or coupons. All you need to do is add items to your Droplist. When the price drops for an item, the app notifies you.
9. Ibotta
Available on: Android and iOS
Ibotta is a reliable and useful cashback app that gets straight to the point. You can scan your location for available retailers and products. After purchasing the items you need, simply snap a photo of the item’s barcode and receipt then upload it to the app. All there is left to do is wait for your cashback. You can then withdraw the money to your PayPal once you hit $20.
If you want to eliminate the manual process of having to upload photos to the app, you just need to link your loyalty cards to it. After you make a purchase, it will detect the items with available promos and automatically apply them.
10. Rakuten
Available on: Android and iOS
Rakuten is a cashback and digital coupon app that is both user-friendly and helpful. The app claims that you can save up to 40% on select purchases. It also has a wide database of partner merchants and retailers — more than 2,500 to be somewhat exact. Rakuten offers coupon codes, affiliate cash backs, and double cash backs. Double cash backs work with only a select set of retailers, though, and may have a time limit.
Even though Rakuten is not regarded as a groundbreaking app, it remains one of the best coupon apps you can download today. All in all, it boasts everything you would want in a coupon app and possibly even more.
11. RetailMeNot
Available on: Android and iOS
RetailMeNot works primarily for online shopping, but it can also be applied to in-store purchases. This app has coupon codes for a wide variety of retailers — online and physical. To see if a store has any applicable discounts or promo codes, just look it up using the app. It will show you all the available coupons you can use. The website has a few kinks to work out, but the app largely works smoothly and is quite user-friendly as well.
12. Shopkick
Available on: Android and iOS
Shopkick puts a spin on the traditional rewards app and it makes the whole thing seem like a game. With this app, you can earn points for purchasing or simply visiting a partner store. You can also earn points by scanning the barcodes on items or scanning your receipt. After earning enough points, you can then redeem gift cards that will not cost you a penny. You can receive gift cards from Walmart, Target, and other major stores. However, it is worth noting that you need to turn on your location and keep the app open to earn points.
13. ShopSavvy
Available on: Android and iOS
ShopSavvy is a multifunctional coupon app that lets you scan its database for the best prices of a particular item. It is a great way to compare item prices across different retailers, allowing you to take advantage of the lowest available price and save extra bucks. It also looks for discounts and deals to maximize your savings even more. Perhaps the feature that gives it the most edge, though, is the user reviews, which you can read before you make a final decision on an item.
14. SnipSnap
Available on: Android and iOS
SnipSnap works in largely the same way as other coupon apps. On top of that, an added benefit is that you can take a picture of your existing paper coupons and add them to the app’s database. By doing so, you can then use the coupons in-store or online. You won’t have to worry about losing your paper coupons anymore.
Moreover, if you have push notifications enabled, the app will inform you if there are any deals every time you enter a partner store. This coupon app also adds a social aspect to couponing. If you have friends or family that use the app as well, you can view the coupons that they have already redeemed.
15. Spent
Available on: Android
Spent is a formidable cashback app that lets you link your cards for easy use. When the app detects a purchase associated with an offer, it will automatically give you cashback rewards. Its deals work both in-store and online too. In addition, you can also use the Spent app to track and organize your past purchases. Partner stores include Uber, Amazon, Starbucks, and more.
Choose The Best One For You
Coupon apps are very common in today’s world, but that doesn’t diminish their worth. In fact, most coupon apps, the safe and legitimate ones at least, have something of value to offer. It really all depends on you, the customer, and what are the things you need. So, take a minute to ponder on what you are looking for in a coupon app in order to maximize your returns.
