What is Ibotta?

"I bought a....Ibotta?" Huh?? Well, actually Ibotta is free. You don't need to buy it. It's a free app you download on your smartphone that lets you earn cash on many different products.

I have noticed that a lot of people I talk to about coupons are unaware of Ibotta. There is not a whole lot posted about it online, it's fairly new. But I'm confident it will become a major player in the money saving market. Ibotta is a great way to boost your savings at the grocery store and also at large chain stores like Target, Walmart, and newly added Whole Foods. It takes just a few moments to "earn" money from the offers they provide.

How Ibotta Works

Ibotta has offers that they update frequently throughout each month. If you see a product you are interested in, it will ask you to complete a task. Don't fret, the tasks are super simple and take hardly any time or effort at all. For example, one task might be to take a quick poll, or learn a fact. Once you complete a task, it will keep track of the amount of money you "earned" and hold it for you until you redeem the cash. You get to redeem cash first by buying the product, showing proof of purchase through a receipt, and then it will give you the money.

Once you purchase the products you selected on your list, you snap a photo of your receipt with your smartphone, upload it and it deposits the cash you earned into an account. You can then withdraw your money from that account into your personal PayPal account. It's SO simple. The great thing about this app (well, besides earning extra money) is it takes you through each step very simply so you aren't scratching your head figuring out what to do next.

You will then get an alert stating the amount of money you earned and will also give you opportunities to earn bonuses. Pay attention to the bonuses, because these can add up quickly. Which is a good thing if you like extra money in your account.

I have taught a few coupon classes and Ibotta is something that I always wish we had more time to discuss. I believe it to be a way couponing will progress in the future.

What You Need For Ibotta

A smart phone - to download the app. To download the app, click here!

A PayPal account - so you can collect your earned money (easy to set up if you don't have one)

Why Ibotta is so Exciting

You can use your manufacturer coupons and stack it with your store coupons AND use an Ibotta deal. This means you can save EVEN MORE on items offered with Ibotta. They are always changing up their deals, so there are many opportunities to save.


So there you have it! Give Ibotta a try and see how you like it. As I mentioned, it's a free app, so you don't have anything to lose...well except money you give away to the grocery store. I always appreciate it when we can hang on to a little more of it.