Never Miss Another Deal: 5 Best Coupon Apps

Sarah Horvath
Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

As the price of groceries and other necessities continues to rise, more and more Americans are looking for small ways to cut costs. One easy way to do this is to take advantage of coupon apps, which replace paper clippings with digital coupons.

Read: If Your Credit Score is Under 600, Make These 3 Moves ASAP

Apps like Honey, RetailMeNot and Ibotta can help consumers save money on both in-person and online shopping by automatically applying promo codes or allowing users to claim cash back. Particularly savvy shoppers may want to combine the functionality of multiple apps to save both time and money when looking for deals.

Here are the top five best coupon apps available for download now:

1. Honey

Consumers who do the majority of their shopping online can find quick savings by downloading the Honey app. Honey is a streamlined coupon crawler that will automatically scan the web for coupon codes when it detects that you’re checking out with a major online retailer like Walmart or Amazon. The app will even test out dozens of promo codes in real time and serve users the best deal on their purchases. Honey shoppers save about $126 on average per year after downloading the app.

Cost: $0
Best for: Automatic savings at major retailers online
Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android
Cash rewards: No; discounts applied at checkout
Pros: Savings applied directly on the retailer’s website
Cons: Customer reviews indicate poor customer service

2. Ibotta

The Ibotta app allows users to browse cash-back offers on products from thousands of retailers. After adding items to their list, customers can shop directly through the app or scan their receipts to get benefits after shopping at a physical store. Customers receive a percentage refund, which they can withdraw in cash or exchange for a gift card with an added cash bonus. Customers may receive refunds of up to 30% from major retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and more.

Cost: $0
Best for: Cash back on online or in-person purchases
Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android
Cash rewards: Yes; cash or gift card
Pros: Savings on in-person purchases when you scan a valid receipt
Cons: $3.99 account maintenance fee is deducted from your balance monthly if you don’t use the app for 180 days

3. RetailMeNot

One of the largest online coupon distributors, RetailMeNot has joined the mobile app sphere. The RetailMeNot app is home to thousands of promo codes and special offers. Customers receive discounts as well as cash back on meals out, skincare and more. RetailMeNot pays its app members more than $200,000 every month on average.

Cost: $0
Best for: Discounts on meals out
Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android
Cash rewards: Yes; paid through PayPal or Venmo
Pros: Discounts and cash-back offers can be applied to the same purchase
Cons: Customer reviews indicate coupon codes are sometimes invalid

4. Coupons.com

Coupons.com, a trusted name in grocery savings, has recently expanded its online printable coupon service to include app functionality. Cash-back offers span thousands of retailers, but the app is strongly tailored towards grocery shopping.

To use the Coupons.com app, begin by browsing brand offers at preferred retailers. Buy the product and scan the product receipt using the Coupons.com app to initiate the refund process. Customers will see their cash back deposited directly into their PayPal account in a few days.

Cost: $0
Best for: Grocery store savings
Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android
Cash rewards: Yes; paid through PayPal
Pros: Loyalty cards or membership accounts can be linked for automatic cash back
Cons: Users report some technical issues with coupon printing

5. Rakuten

For online shoppers, Rakuten will automatically apply discounts and promo codes to purchases made in-browser and through branded apps. Rakuten users will find discounts of up to 10% at more than 3,500 major retailers, ranging from department stores like Kohl’s to online auction marketplaces like eBay.

Cost: $0
Best for: Huge catalog of brands
Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android
Cash rewards: Yes; paid through PayPal or via check
Pros: Includes a travel tab for discounts on hotels, airfare and more
Cons: Cash-back offers are only applicable when shopping through the app

Final Thoughts

Saving money with coupons is a great way to find a few extra dollars to invest, or to make a paycheck last after an unexpected household expense. While saving thousands through coupon apps probably isn’t feasible for most people, it’s worth checking out one or two for a little bonus on regular purchases or upcoming gifts.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about coupon apps.

  • What app has the best coupons?

    • The top five coupon apps available now are:

      • -Honey

      • -Ibotta

      • -RetailMeNot

      • -Coupons.com

      • -Rakuten

    • These apps all have a large variety of coupons and deals that shoppers can take advantage of.

  • What is the most trusted coupon website?

    • Honey and Coupons.com are among the most trusted coupon websites available today.

  • Is there an app for digital coupons?

    • Yes, digital coupons can be found on apps such as:

      • -Honey

      • -Ibotta

      • -RetailMeNot

      • -Coupons.com

      • -Rakuten

  • What app is "Extreme Couponing" on?

    • You can stream "Extreme Couponing" on apps such as Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video and TLC GO.

Cynthia Bowman contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Never Miss Another Deal: 5 Best Coupon Apps

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