High food prices have American families feeling the pinch — grocery trips cost around 20% more than they did four years ago. Not only are outright costs higher, but shoppers are also dealing with “shrinkflation,” where products shrink in size while maintaining their price point.
There are ways to save other than opting for generic brands or skipping meat. Smartphone apps can help you save on your monthly grocery bill with loyalty programs, cash-back rewards, digital coupons and app-only savings.
Top food savings apps
1. Ibotta
Ibotta is one of the most popular cash-back apps available. It’s known for offering cash-back rewards on everyday purchases at major retailers like Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. The app is simple to use, but you have to plan ahead: Users select offers before shopping and earn rewards by scanning receipts afterward.
Its browser extension enables cash back on online grocery purchases, and partnerships with retailers provide exclusive deals on essential household items.
Pros
•User-friendly interface
•Multiple redemption options, including PayPal and gift cards
•Wide acceptance at major retailers
•Bonus rewards for reaching specific goals, such as trying new products or completing a certain number of offers in a month
Cons
•Requires pre-selecting offers
•The cash-out minimum takes time to reach
•The interface can be overwhelming with numerous offers
2. Fetch Rewards
Fetch allows users to earn points on any receipt from grocery stores, pharmacies and even gas stations, making it a versatile option for shoppers. You can earn points on over 600 brands, including Huggies, General Mills and L’Oréal.
Unlike some other cash-back apps, Fetch doesn’t require users to select offers before shopping. Instead, you can scan any eligible receipt and automatically earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon, Target and Starbucks.
Pros
•No pre-selection of offers required
•Compatible with hundreds of retailers
•Bonus points available through referrals
Cons
•Limited earnings on generic brands
•Gift card redemption only
•No direct cash rewards
3. Flipp
Flipp is like a digital coupon clipper — it compiles weekly ads and sales from major stores like Whole Foods and Walmart in one easy-to-use app. You can search for specific items, compare prices across stores and see the best current promotions based on your shopping list, making it valuable for strategic grocery planning.
Pros
•Great for sale matching, providing easy access to local deals and promotions
•Integrates with loyalty programs, allowing users to clip digital coupons directly from ads
•Reduces the need for multiple apps by combining local deals and digital coupons in one place
Cons
•Focused on weekly ads, without cash-back or rewards
•May not include all local stores
•Deals are limited to specific weekly promotions
4. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 offers weekly cash-back deals across various stores and brands. It works similarly to Ibotta in that users have to choose offers before shopping, but it has a slightly different selection of offers.
