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My friend, Andrea likes to go on shopping sprees and boasts that she is saving money instead of spending hundreds of dollars. “How does this happen” I asked her one day. She handed me her phone and said, “Scan and earn money apps.”

So here’s me passing on that valuable information to you, and helping you become financially independent. I will help you understand these apps and how much you can earn from each, along with the amount of effort required. 

So, let the money talk begin!

Before I give you the details on the Top Scan and Earn Money App, let’s go through about outline:

Top Apps to Scan and Earn Money in 2024

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most popular platforms for earning money by completing small tasks like answering surveys, watching videos, and scanning receipts. Launched in 2008 by Prodege, LLC, it has grown into a full-fledged reward program.

It aims to offer everyday people an easy way to earn a little extra cash in their spare time. Swagbucks is best known for its user-friendly interface and wide range of earning opportunities.

Where Is the App Available, and what is its Rating?

Swagbucks is available on Android and iOS devices through their respective app stores. Here’s what users think about Swagbucks:

  • iOS: 4.4/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.2/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Yes, Swagbucks is secure. However, like any platform involving personal data, users are advised to read their privacy policy carefully. 

How Much Can You Earn?

The earning potential on Swagbucks varies depending on the tasks you complete. Most users earn between $0.50 and $1.50 per hour, with an average user making about $100 to $200 a month. 

2. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog is an app developed by InfoScout that allows users to earn cash by scanning receipts from their shopping trips. Launched in 2011, the app aims to gather data on consumer spending habits, which is then used for market research. 

In return, users earn “coins” that can be converted into cash or gift cards. Receipt Hog’s simplicity and ease of use make it a favorite among those who enjoy simple tasks for extra income.

Where Is the App Available?

Receipt Hog is available on both iOS and Android platforms. Here’s what users think about the Receipt Hog: 

  • iOS: 4.7/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.3/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Receipt Hog uses encryption to safeguard user data. Since the app collects anonymized shopping data for research purposes, it doesn’t ask for sensitive information beyond what’s needed to pay out rewards. 

How Much Can You Earn?

Earnings on Receipt Hog are modest. You earn coins for every receipt you scan, and it usually takes between 1-2 months of regular scanning to accumulate enough coins for a $5 payout. 

Users who are diligent about scanning receipts could expect to earn around $100 to $150 per year, which isn’t much but can add up over time.

3. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards, created by Fetch Rewards, Inc. in 2013, allows users to scan receipts and earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards. 

The app partners with various brands and retailers, making it easy for users to accumulate points for everyday purchases. 

Its straightforward interface and minimal requirements for earning make it a go-to app for many looking to cash in on their grocery shopping.

Where Is the App Available?

Fetch Rewards is available for both Android and iOS devices. Here’s what users think about Fetch Rewards: 

  • iOS: 4.8/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.7/5 stars 

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Fetch Rewards is considered secure, with the app using encryption to protect all user data. It also ensures that all shopping data collected is anonymized before being shared with brand partners for research purposes. 

How Much Can You Earn?

On average, users can expect to earn between $10 to $50 per month, depending on how frequently they shop and scan receipts. 

The points system allows users to accumulate rewards faster if they purchase products from partner brands, making it easier to cash out.

4. Ibotta

Ibotta was founded in 2012 by Bryan Leach and is a well-known cashback app that offers users rebates for scanning their grocery receipts. 

The company partners with hundreds of major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Amazon, to provide rebates on everyday items like food, clothing, and electronics. 

Ibotta is designed to reward users for their regular purchases, making it one of the most popular cashback apps in the US.

Where Is the App Available?

Ibotta is available for download on iOS and Android devices. Here’s what users think about Ibotta:

  • iOS: 4.7/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.5/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Ibotta uses bank-level encryption to secure users’ personal and financial data. The app doesn’t sell personal information to third parties, and users have control over how their data is used. 

How Much Can You Earn?

Users can typically expect to earn between $10 to $30 per month, depending on how frequently they use the app. Ibotta provides cash-back on a wide variety of items, including groceries, clothing, and online purchases. 

High-frequency users may earn up to $200 a year or more.

5. Shopkick

Shopkick, launched in 2009 by Cyriac Roeding and Jeff Sellinger, is a rewards app that allows users to earn points for simply walking into stores, scanning products, watching videos, or making purchases. 

The app partners with a wide range of retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon. The unique selling point of Shopkick is that users can earn rewards without making any purchases, making it appealing to those who just want to browse.

Where Is the App Available?

Shopkick is available on Android and iOS devices. Here’s what users think about Shopkick:

  • iOS: 4.7/5 stars (352k reviews)
  • Play Store: 4.3/5 stars (255k reviews)

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Shopkick doesn’t require sensitive financial information unless you’re linking a credit card for purchases, which is optional. Data privacy is a concern, as the app collects information about your shopping habits.

How Much Can You Earn?

The amount you can earn on Shopkick varies widely. Casual users who scan items in stores can expect to earn about $5 to $10 in gift cards every few weeks, while those who make purchases and use the app frequently could earn $50 to $100 annually. 

6. InboxDollars

InboxDollars, founded in 2000 by Cotter Cunningham, offers users the chance to earn money by completing a variety of tasks, such as watching videos, taking surveys, shopping online, and reading emails. 

It’s one of the oldest money-earning apps, and its longevity adds a layer of credibility. The app is geared toward users who have time to spend completing smaller tasks in exchange for cash.

Where Is the App Available?

InboxDollars is available on Android and iOS devices. Here’s what users think about InboxDollars:

  • iOS: 4.5/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.1/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows.

Is the App Secure?

InboxDollars is a secure app that uses encryption to protect personal information. It doesn’t require users to provide sensitive financial information, and payments are made securely through options like PayPal or gift cards.

How Much Can You Earn?

Earnings on InboxDollars are modest, with most users making between $0.50 to $5.00 per task. Frequent users can expect to earn between $30 and $50 per month. 

High earners who are active on the platform could potentially make up to $300 annually, but the process can be slow, and many tasks pay less than $1.

7. Rakuten

Rakuten is one of the world’s largest cashback platforms, founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani. Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers to offer users cashback on their purchases, both online and in-store. 

With its broad range of participating retailers, it’s a top choice for savvy shoppers looking to save money.

Where Is the App Available?

Rakuten is available on iOS and Android devices. Here’s what users think about Rakuten: 

  • iOS: 4.8/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.6/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Rakuten is a well-established company with a solid reputation for security. It uses bank-level encryption to protect user data and does not store credit card information. 

Users link their accounts to PayPal or a bank account to receive cashback, and payments are handled securely. 

How Much Can You Earn?

Earnings on Rakuten vary depending on how much you shop. Cashback rates range from 1% to 40%, depending on the retailer and promotion. 

On average, users can expect to earn around $50 to $100 per year in cashback, though frequent shoppers can make significantly more.

8. Dosh

Dosh, founded in 2016 by Ryan Wuerch, is a cashback app that automatically rewards users when they shop using a linked credit or debit card. 

Unlike other apps where you must manually activate offers or scan receipts, Dosh tracks your purchases and applies cashback automatically. Dosh partners with a range of retailers, restaurants, and online stores, making it easy to earn without extra effort.

Where Is the App Available?

Dosh is available on Android and iOS devices. This is what users think about Dosh: 

  • iOS: 4.7/5 stars 
  • Play Store: 4.5/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

Dosh takes security seriously. The app uses 256-bit encryption to safeguard user information, and it does not store sensitive financial data on its servers. All payment information is securely transmitted using bank-level security.

How Much Can You Earn?

Earnings on Dosh depend on your spending habits. Cashback rates typically range from 2% to 10%, with some special offers providing higher rewards. Most users earn around $5 to $20 per month, depending on how frequently they shop at participating stores. 

9. CoinOut

CoinOut, founded by Jeff Witten and popularized after an appearance on Shark Tank in 2018, is an app that allows users to earn cashback by scanning any receipt from any retailer.

CoinOut is different from other receipt-scanning apps because there are no specific brands or stores required for earning. You simply scan your receipt and earn small amounts of cash, which can add up over time.

Where Is the App Available?

CoinOut is available for both iOS and Android devices. Here’s what CoinOut’s users think about the app: 

  • iOS: 4.7/5 stars
  • Play Store: 4.5/5 stars

The app isn’t available on Windows

Is the App Secure?

CoinOut uses encryption to protect user data, and it doesn’t share personal information with third parties. The app requires users to link a PayPal account or bank account to receive payments, but this process is secure, with all transactions protected by encryption. 

How Much Can You Earn?

For each receipt scanned, you can earn between $0.02 and $0.20. It isn’t much, but frequent shoppers who scan every receipt could earn up to $100 per year.

Why Did Andrea Switch to Passive App?

Almost all the above ways to scan and earn money, require an initial investment, and the rewards are minimal. Users spend a lot of time collecting and scanning receipts, and it’s not really worth the trouble. 

Lastly, what drove Andrea to switch to the Passive app was how the scan and earn money apps were draining her phone’s battery, which meant fewer Snap stories when she was out with friends. 

Start Earning $50/m

Get PassiveApp Now

Then, she found a Passive app from which she could earn twice as much. All she does is share her internet without investing money and needlessly taking pictures of receipts. 

Where Is the App Available?

You can download the Passive app on your Android, iOS, or PC, and that is all the effort you need to put into making money. 

Is the App Secure?

Yes, Passive app is secure. It is trusted for safe use by the following:

  • Avast
  • Kaspersky
  • McAfee
  • Microsoft Defender

How Much Can You Earn?

Once you start sharing your internet, you can up to $50/month. This is way more than what you would potentially earn from scanning apps per year. Here are some factors that influence the way you can earn: 

  • Location
  • Amount of Residential IPs
  • Internet Connection

Conclusion

The Passive app is the way to go if you are looking for something on the side to make money while putting in minimum effort. 

With the scanning apps mentioned above, the biggest issue is data privacy. But with the PassiveApp, none of your personal information is stored. And the app’s partners are vetted thoroughly, and once approved, they are allowed on the platform. 

Andrea referred me to the app and got 10% of all my earnings, which means more Gucci bags for her. 

Ditch those scanning apps and start earning now.

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