Fetch Review

Fetch scans your receipts and gives you cash back on purchases. Find out if it's a good way to save money on grocery shopping.

If you're like most people, you throw away your receipts.

But with Fetch, you scan your receipts to save money on what you just bought. It works with grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, and more.

But does it really work? And is the app even safe to use?

Take a look at Fetch's pros, cons, and common complaints below. Plus, find out if the app's earning potential is worth your time.

What is Fetch?

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Fetch Rewards is a free shopping receipt app that gives you points for scanning your receipt. You can redeem points in exchange for gift cards, visa cards, charity donations, and sweepstakes entries. Generally, 1,000 points = $1.

In 2023, Fetch Rewards scanned 2.6 billion receipts and awarded 242 billion points.^[1]

What sets Fetch Rewards apart from other cash back apps is that Fetch doesn't make you "clip" digital coupons before shopping. You simply get cash back for scanning receipts.

You'll be less tempted to buy stuff you don't actually need just for the cash back. And you don't need to plan ahead.

Each eligible scan gets you at least 25 points. You can earn more points if you purchase partner products from participating brands.^[2][3]

You can scan receipts from purchases at grocery stores, convenience stores, markets, club stores, liquor stores, and other select retailers. Note: You have up to 14 days to scan receipts. You can scan up to 35 receipts within an eight-day period. Receipts older than 14 days are not eligible to earn points.^[4]

Before we continue...

Looking for more cash back rewards? We found the best cash back apps for getting money back on everyday purchases.

Our take: Capital One Shopping is our top cash back app. First, it automatically helps you find coupons and deals when you shop online. Plus, their cash back shopping portal can give you as much as over 12% back. In comparison, Fetch only makes you pennies per receipt.

How Does Fetch Pay?

You can earn rewards by snapping paper or digital receipts, shopping special offers, and referring friends. Once your account has $3, you can browse Fetch's selection of gift cards. And since 1,000 points = $1, you need at least 3,000 points to cash out.^[5]

There are gift cards available from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more.

To see your rewards, go to the "Rewards" icon in the bottom menu. Here's how to redeem a reward:

1. Go to the Rewards tab to browse hundreds of rewards.
   
2. Select your reward and desired value, then hit "Get my reward".
   
3. Wait 72 hours for processing.
   
4. You'll receive a notification if your reward is ready.
   
5. Follow vendor instructions to use your reward.

Is Fetch Legit?

Fetch is a legitimate company that provides points for eligible purchases on shopping receipts. Points may expire if your account is inactive for 90 days.^[6]

Fetch's business model is affiliate marketing. Basically, they get a commission when you shop with certain brands and the points/cash back is a cut of these commissions.

Privacy concerns are common with cash back/shopping apps. To protect yourself on these platforms, take the following steps:

1. Create an account with a burner email address rather than your main account
   
2. DO NOT start an account using Facebook or Google
   
3. Use a unique password
   
4. Don't connect your main email or Amazon accounts

Fetch Rewards is not a scam. The company is a legitimate shopping app that rewards users with free gift cards for uploading shopping receipts.

What is the Catch with Fetch Rewards?

First of all, you won't get rich from Fetch. The points you earn end up being a few cents here and there. The time it takes you to monitor your account and scan receipts may not be worth the payout.

You'll earn $0.25 - $2 cash back.

Second of all, in processing your digital receipts, Fetch may retrieve personal information such as:

• Billing address
  
• Mailing address
  
• Name
  
• Payment method

Whether you want to share this information is up to your comfort level. Fetch is a market research company and yes, they do sell your information to companies. Big brands use this data to improve their product and services.

All of this information is anonymous so companies cannot trace the info back to you.

Pros and cons

Here's a breakdown of Fetch's main benefits and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Free to use
  
• Scan entire receipt instead of clipping coupons beforehand
  
• Huge network of brands
  
• Scanning receipts is quick and easy
  
• No long wait to get your gift card rewards

Cons:

• Must remember to upload receipt within 14 days
  
• Only eligible receipts can earn points^[7]
  
• No direct deposit redemptions
  
• Can only upload 35 receipts in an 8-day period
  
• Points expire after 90 days of inactivity

Common Complaints

Beware of a few recurring issues that Fetch users struggle with:

1. Not being awarded referral points
   
2. Unresponsive customer service
   
3. Problems uploading receipts into app
   
4. Trouble syncing Amazon accounts into app
   
5. Errors (like erasing points) after app updates

In terms of reputation, Fetch has a 4.6-rating on Trustpilot (as of May 14, 2024). Fetch Rewards is not BBB-accredited.

How it Compares

Dosh vs Fetch
With Dosh, you can earn cash back by connecting your debit card or credit card. The app automatically applies cash back to all your eligible transactions. This means you don't have to keep track of old receipts or search for coupons.

The platform doesn't sell your data, and it doesn't store your card or banking information. Once you earn $15 in rewards, you can transfer your money to your bank, PayPal, or Venmo.^[8] Or, you can donate your cash back to charity.

Get Cash Back

Get Deal

Honey vs Fetch
Honey is a browser extension, not an app. But it's a lot more hands-off. After downloading Honey, they do all the discount hunting for you.

Honey work with over 30,000 merchants and users save an average of 17.92% off their purchase.

Rakuten vs Fetch
Rakuten has a popular app and browser extension. They offer more retailers than Fetch and their referral bonus is higher ($30 at Rakuten vs $2 at Fetch).

If you prefer online shopping and have a huge network of friends, go with Rakuten.

How to Maximize Earnings on Fetch

If you're down to give Fetch a try, here are a few best practices to get you more Fetch Rewards points:

1. Purchase partner products - Fetch updates their list of featured brands and products that earn extra points.

2. Complete special offers - On the app's Discover page, you can earn extra points by making a specific purchase or completing a task.

3. Connect your shopping account - If you connect your Amazon account to Fetch, you can automatically earn points on eligible purchases. You just need to click the blue "e" at the bottom of the screen on the Discover or Activity page and the app will search for new receipts for you.

4. Use the GoodRx Card - If you use GoodRx discount card in your Fetch Rewards app, you can save money on prescriptions and earn bonus points.

5. Refer friends - You earn 2,000+ points when you refer a friend (worth $2+).^[9]

Bottom Line

Fetch Rewards is best for families, coupon clippers, students, and folks who want to try new brands. The app lets you earn free gift cards without a lot of effort but if you prefer direct deposits, you should look elsewhere.

There are a ton of cash back apps available, so consider downloading more than one to maximize earnings.

References