Saving money with coupons is a smart way to save money. But, it can also be rather cumbersome. You have to find the newspaper and then locate them. Once you do, you have to cut them out and somehow organize them so you can find the one you need when it is time to shop. It can take a lot of time.
Thank heavens there are several different coupon apps you can download to your phone and use to save big money at the grocery store!
A quick search of apps will return hundreds of results. We’ve sorted through them and below you will find the top ten coupon apps you need to download right now and start using.
THE BEST COUPON APPS TO SAVE MONEY
1. Target App
My favorite coupons app is the Target app! It has everything you need, right at your fingertips, including Cartwheel coupons.
Cartwheel coupons are in-store coupons you can redeem at Target to save on a variety of products. Simply scan the barcode of the items in your cart and if there is a discount, you’ll be notified. At checkout, you show the scannable barcode to the cashier. He or she scans it and you save instantly.
Then, use your Target RedCard (debit or credit) and instantly save another 5%, for a total savings of at least 10% off select items. Cartwheel is truly one of the simplest apps I use to save on everything our family needs.
If you have not tried it before, read more about How to Use Target Cartwheel.
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS and Android
2. Ibotta
Ibotta is not a coupon app, but rather a rebate app. Sign up for free and then look for the offers, which you can find listed by store and type. When you see a rebate that interests you, click to read more. Then, select the “+” button to add it to your account.
You may see the offer is added without doing anything further. However, you may need to answer questions about the product, share a link on Facebook, watch a video or more. Upon completion of the action, the offer will be in your account.
Then you shop as usual. However, rather than show the cashier your phone at checkout, you’ll snap a photo of the receipt after you buy. The app goes to work and matches the offers in your account to the products purchased. Within 7 – 10 days, the rebate is in your account.
When it is time to cash out, you can get your money sent to you via Paypal or Venmo. You also have the option to have the rebate put onto a gift card instead. You are in control.
Download the Ibotta app to get started.
Cost: Free
Availability: Android and iOS
3. Coupon Sherpa
Another app I absolutely love to use when I shop is Coupon Sherpa. In addition to grocery store coupons (which you still will need to print out), Coupon Sherpa helps you find mobile coupons to save at retailers and restaurants. And, you don’t even have to search to see if there a coupon for a retailer near you. Their GPS enabled feature lets you know when you are near a location that has a coupon available on the app!
The store and restaurant coupons can be found by selecting the in-store function at the bottom of the app. Find the offer you want to redeem and show it at checkout and save instantly. You can also find countless online coupon codes and offers directly on the home page.
When I get coupons in the mail, I don’t need to try to remember to take them with me. They will be on Coupon Sherpa, so they are with me whenever they are needed.
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS and Android
4. Shopkick
Shopkick works a bit differently than regular apps. Rather than get an offer on your phone, you earn points by visiting certain retailers – without making a purchase.
When you are near certain retailers, you’ll get a notice on your phone. Complete the activity they ask and you’ll get points, called Kicks (formerly Kickbucks). You can earn the bucks for walking inside the store, by it and scanning certain products you may find on the store shelves. They even reward them for visiting online retailers and shopping online.
However, if you do happen to make a purchase, you can submit your receipt to Shopkick to earn additional points. You can also earn them by shopping as usual with your store loyalty card (which is connected to your account).
You can then cash in your points to get gift cards to retailers such as Amazon, Sephora, Best, Buy, Target – and more! It’s a simple way to earn free money to use to buy the things you need.
Cost: Free
Availability: Android and iOS
5. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 works in the same way as Ibotta does. Rather than show the coupon on your phone at the time of purchase, you get money back after you shop. So instead of needing to remember to take your coupons with you when you shop, you get paid after you buy.
Download Checkout 51 to your phone and look through the current offers. Claim those you want to redeem so you can add them to your account. Shop as usual, making sure to purchase the items with the rebates. Upload a snapshot of your receipt and you’ll get a rebate within 7 – 10 days.
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS and Android
6. Key Ring
Every store you shop at seems to have its own rewards card. While having a small keyfob is nice, after a while, your key ring can get taken over. Finding the one you need can sometimes be a challenge. Rather than clutter your keys, you can use the KeyRing app instead.
The app is a way to upload all of the details for every loyalty card you use. Just show it to the cashier at checkout and you’ll get all of the loyalty, credits and even discounts associated with your account. And, if for some reason it does not scan, the cashier is able to manually enter your card details.
Another reason to love this app is that it doubles as a shopping list app! As you start to type the items you need, it uses smart technology and will find the exact product you need. For example, when you type milk, it will show 2%, 1%, and other milk options so you can be specific with your list.
Cost: Free
Availability: Android and iOS
7. Walmart Savings Catcher
Long gone are the days of price matching at Walmart. It has been replaced by Walmart Savings Catcher app.
Shop at Walmart as usual. You can use coupons and other apps to save on your purchase. When you are through, simply scan your receipt through the app or enter the receipt information online. If Walmart finds any local store with a lower price, they will refund the difference to you — right in your account!
The payment is made in the form of Walmart gift cards, which you can use toward your next instore or online purchase. Read more about Walmart Savings Catcher.
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS, Android and Desktop
8. SavingStar
SavingStar is another app that does not save you money at checkout but gives you cash back after you shop. The difference with this app is that you don’t have to look at the offers and claim them prior to buying them. They are, instead, connected to your store loyalty cards.
Once you create your account, enter all of your card numbers to sync the accounts. Once you buy and scan your card at checkout, the app watches for purchases that match offers available at that store. If it finds one, the amount is deposited to your account within 7 – 10 days.
One unique feature about SavingStar is that while you can get a cash rebate, you can opt to have those funds deposited to your UPromise account instead. Using SavingStar is a simple way to add more money to your child’s savings account, by doing the things you do regularly.
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS and Android
9. Grocery IQ
Grocery IQ is the app for anyone who shops at the grocery store. You can create lists, find coupons for the products you need and more – all for free through the app.
One of my favorite features of this app is the lists. You can manually add them or just scan the barcode of the product you need. That way, you make sure to get the exact thing you need when you shop. You can search for coupons that match up with the items on your list and can even share your shopping list with your spouse or partner.
Another feature you will find on Grocery iQ is the ability to save your loyalty card details. That way, when your card is scanned at checkout, you also have the offers attached to your account. While you can find coupons on the app, you will need to print them out. But, having an app find and match the coupons with the products you plan to buy is a definite time saver.
Cost: Free
Availability: Android and iOS
10. SnipSnap
You have to try out this coupons app! You can use SnipSnap to take a photo of a paper coupon and it translates it into a mobile-ready offer. Then you can show the coupon on your phone at checkout and save instantly.
Now, when those retailer or restaurant coupons arrive in the mail, you can add them to the app and never have to remember to take them with you. You can’t do this with manufacturer’s coupons as it can only be used with local stores and restaurants.
Cost: Free
Availability: Andoird and iOS
COUPONS THAT MUST BE PRINTED TO BE REDEEMED
While the above apps are great to save money, the coupons you are most used to using at the grocery store, called manufacturer’s coupons, still must be printed to be redeemed. But, you can find coupons for just about anything you need.
The simplest way to find coupons for the products you use is to search the coupon database. Type in the type of product, brand or store and if there is a coupon currently available to print, you’ll find out where. The list will also let you know additional places where you may find the coupon such as the Sunday newspaper or magazines.
There are also various online resources for finding coupons. Make sure you use the right site so you know the coupons you print are legitimate. The sites to stick with include:
Coupons.com
SmartSource
RedPlum
Windy Daniels says
Thank you for sharing. Very helpful