Did you know there are apps that will give you free gift cards for completing short tasks?
If you want to earn money on the side, it’s easy for you to make your free time more productive and lucrative.
Some ways to earn gift cards include scanning store receipts, taking surveys, and playing games.
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Best Apps to Earn Free Gift Cards
There are plenty of ways to earn free gift cards using apps. Aside from downloading a new app, you may not have to adjust your daily routine.
Here are some of the best apps that will give you free gift cards.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a “get-paid-to” rewards website where you earn points for completing simple tasks.
A few of these tasks include:
- Taking surveys
- Watching sponsored videos
- Playing games online
- Using their shopping portal
Since there are many ways to earn rewards points, Swagbucks might be the best option for getting paid for activities you already do online.
Swagbucks is free to use. You can sign up in less than five minutes with an email address or Facebook account. Users must be at least 13 years old to join.
New members can earn a signup bonus worth up to $5.
Once you complete a task, you receive SB points. These are redeemable for gift cards and cash rewards.
Many gift cards can be redeemed for as little as $3 (or 300 SB points). PayPal Cash and Visa gift cards start at $5 (500 SB points).
Swagbucks has options for many retailers, including:
- Bath & Body Works
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Target
Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5
Check out our review of Swagbucks here to learn how to maximize your earnings.
2. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of the best paid survey sites on the web. You can take several surveys each day to earn rewards points quickly.
Once you sign up, you can start taking surveys right away. Survey Junkie allows you to take surveys via your computer or smartphone.
*Related: Do you like to buy movies and books in the Google Play store? Read our guide on ways to earn free credits you can use in the store.
Most surveys take up to 20 minutes to complete. Longer surveys tend to award more points than shorter surveys.
The threshold to cash out is $10 (1,000 points). Once you reach this minimum, you can redeem your rewards via PayPal or digital gift certificates.
Trustpilot score: 4.5 out of 5
Read our Survey Junkie review here to learn how to earn more with online surveys.
3. National Consumer Panel
National Consumer Panel lets you earn free gift cards by scanning store receipts and product barcodes. You can also take shopping surveys.
NCP uses your shopping history to track the prices of items that stores sell.
You receive 50 points for each receipt you scan. You can scan up to ten receipts per week and earn 500 points.
The redemption minimum is 5,000 points for a $5 gift card.
Cash rewards are not available, but you can save your points for merchandise rewards.
Trustpilot score: 3.7 out of 5
4. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is a website that pays you to answer surveys and test products. Most opportunities are for online surveys about shopping habits.
You can earn $3 per survey. If you test products, you can earn even more.
This high payout makes Pinecone Research one of the top paying survey sites on the web.
The minimum payout is $3, which means you can cash out as soon as you complete your first survey.
Cash out options include:
- PayPal
- Check
- Digital gift cards
You do have to receive your money by bank transfer the first time you redeem your points. After that, you can cash out via any method.
One potential downside of Pinecone Research is that joining the platform is extremely competitive. You may need to join a waitlist before becoming a panelist.
Trustpilot score: 2.7 out of 5
Read our Pinecone Research review here to learn more.
5. Ibotta
Buying groceries provides another opportunity to earn free rewards points. Ibotta is an app that compensates you with cash back for purchasing groceries and shopping online.
You can signup and get $5 back on your first shopping purchase.
To use Ibotta, activate grocery offers for items you plan on buying at the grocery store. Then, scan your grocery receipt to earn cash rewards on eligible items.
You will earn more points if you buy name brand products instead of generic grocery items. Grocery store pickups earn cash back as well.
Ibotta also works with over 750 online retailers to maximize online shopping.
The Ibotta platform has a payment threshold of $20. You can redeem your money via PayPal or gift cards.
In addition to the Ibotta discounts, you can also save extra money when scanning your store loyalty card.
Trustpilot score: 1.5 out of 5
Read our Ibotta review here to learn how to maximize earnings.
6. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is another survey site. It is similar to Swagbucks.
You can make money online doing various tasks, including:
- Watching videos
- Playing games
- Reading sponsored emails
- Downloading coupons
InboxDollars offers PayPal, paper check, and gift card rewards. Gift card options include Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Home Depot, and Sephora.
The cashout payout threshold is $30. InboxDollars gives you $5 when you join to help you reach that threshold sooner.
Anyone 13 years of age and older can join InboxDollars.
Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5
Read our InboxDollars review here to learn more.
7. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is the go-to app to scan grocery receipts for money and gift cards. The app partners with over 200 large brands to extend rebates to customers.
When you scan your grocery receipt, the app calculates the points you receive based on the price of the products you bought.
Unlike other receipt scanning apps, you don’t have to activate offers to earn points. You only have to scan a receipt. Fetch then looks for any participating items.
You can also earn points for referring new users to Fetch Rewards. For each person that uses your referral link and scans their receipt, you’ll earn 2,000 bonus points.
It takes 3,000 points to redeem your earnings ($3). This low redemption minimum makes Fetch one of the easiest apps to earn gift cards.
Currently, the only cash rewards option is a Visa cash card. There are many options to choose from for local and online stores.
Use the code FETCH2K to receive a free $2 when you open an account!
Trustpilot score: N/A
Read our review of Fetch Rewards here to learn more.
8. Toluna
With ten million active members, Toluna is one of the largest online survey sites.
You can receive 3,000 to 6,000 points per survey you take on Toluna. The site also offers longer surveys that pay up to 50,000 points.
Creating content and interacting with other community members can earn you more points. However, surveys are the most consistent way to make money.
Points redemption options include PayPal, charity donations, and gift card codes to various online retailers. You will receive codes within minutes of redemption.
The minimum number of points you can redeem is 30,000, which equals $10 in rewards.
PayPal payouts are only available in $30 increments (90,000 points).
Toluna has higher redemption amounts than some other sites on this list. That said, this survey site is a legit way to earn rewards points.
Trustpilot score: 3.8 out of 5
9. Ipsos i-Say
Ipsos i-Say offers their members a chance to share opinions about top brands, advertising, media, and global events – and get rewarded for it!
If you want a survey site that gives you payouts quickly and has a low redemption threshold, look no further.
*Do you collect stickers, or love to decorate with them? Read our guide on companies that mail free stickers and grow your collection.*
Ipsos i-Say lets you earn free gift cards, allowing you to redeem with as little as $5 (or 500 points). You can also exchange your points for cash transfers. If you choose digital gift cards, you’ll receive your rewards instantly.
Some of the gift card rewards include:
- Amazon
- Virtual Visa Prepaid cards
- Target
- Walmart
- Startbucks
Ipsos is one of the best ways to earn free Amazon cards, making it a great option for people who shop on Amazon frequently.
Trustpilot score: 3.2 out of 5
10. Honey
An exciting app to consider if you want to save money on online shopping is the Honey app.
To get gift cards, use the Honey Gold shopping portal to earn up to 20 percent back. The redemption minimum is $10, which is equivalent to 1,000 points.
Cash rewards are unavailable as a redemption option for Honey Gold rewards.
The good news is that Honey offers several ways to save money on purchases.
First, Honey applies all active discount codes at the checkout screen for instant savings. You can save on online purchases, local pickup, and food delivery.
Second, Honey can compare the prices of Amazon sellers to find the best price after shipping fees.
Finally, you can also have Honey send price alerts for items you’re not ready to buy yet.
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5
Read our review of the Honey app to learn more.
11. MyPoints
MyPoints is a “get-paid-to” site offering several ways to earn rewards points.
Some of the paid tasks include:
- Online surveys
- Shopping online
- Redeeming coupons
- Product trials
- Watching videos
- Playing games
You may enjoy MyPoints if you want to get paid for downloading apps. Many apps are free. Others might require opening an account and making a cash deposit, such as an investing app.
Gift card rewards start at $1 for Amazon (240 points). Most selections require a minimum $5 balance (790 points).
Cash rewards via PayPal and Visa cash cards start at $10 (1,500 points).
The minimum age to join MyPoints is 13 years. You can get a free $10 Amazon gift card after making a qualifying purchase in the MyPoints shopping portal.
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5
12. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is another one of the larger online survey sites with more than 3 million members worldwide.
You can earn money with Valued Opinions completing tasks that include:
- Online surveys
- Product testing
- Reviewing advertisements
Valued Opinions is free, but you must be at least 17 years old to participate and receive rewards.
You can earn between $1 and $5 of credit for completed surveys and tasks. Once your account balance has at least $10 you can redeem the credit for gift cards from Amazon and many other merchants.
Trustpilot score: 3.7 out of 5
13. Mistplay
Mistplay is an app that lets you earn rewards points by playing games.
You download mobile app games and earn points after achieving certain goals. Depending on the task, users earn between 20 and 500 points.
After completing the necessary missions, you can continue playing the game. However, you will no longer continue earning points for that game.
Gift card rewards are available with a $5 balance (1,500 points). In-app credits are also available.
If you prefer cash, reloadable Visa cash cards are a payout option.
One downside of Mistplay is that it only works with Android phones.
Trustpilot score: 3.0 out of 5
14. Shopkick
With the Shopkick app, you earn cash back from purchases you make on a regular basis.
You also earn “kicks” (aka points) by walking into stores and scanning products. No purchase is necessary for these two activities.
To get cash back from your purchases, you need to link your debit or credit card to Shopkick. After connecting your payment card, you receive kicks for every dollar you spend at participating stores.
When you shop online, you can use the Shopkick app. This is available for iOS and Android devices.
The redemption minimum is $2 (500 kicks) for gift vouchers and $10 (2,500 kicks) for PayPal cash.
You can redeem your points for free gift cards to retailers like:
- Starbucks
- Sephora
- Target
- eBay
- Walmart
New members can earn a signup bonus of $5.00 by using code FRUGALRULES.
If you’re responsible for the grocery shopping in your home, Shopkick is one of the best grocery rebate apps to save money.
Trustpilot score: 3.9 out of 5
15. Receipt Hog
If you want to use other apps like Ibotta but prefer to get cash back from your entire grocery purchase, check out Receipt Hog. With Receipt Hog, it doesn’t matter what you buy or where you shop, as long as you upload your receipts.
For each receipt that you upload, you earn coins. Each receipt you redeem has a set amount of coins you can earn.
Here’s the breakdown:
- <$10 = 5 coins
- $10-$50 = 10 coins
- $50-$100 = 15 coins
- $100+ = 20 coins
These coins can be redeemed for cash (via PayPal) or Amazon rewards. The minimum payout threshold is 1,000 coins, which equals $5.
Trustpilot score: N/A
16. AppNana
If you like trying different apps, you can use AppNana to get free gift cards. The app pays you points, known as a “Nana,” to perform various tasks.
Additionally, you can earn points by testing apps and games.
You can redeem points for rewards to various retailers, including:
- Amazon
- Google Play
- Xbox
The minimum payout threshold is 1,000 Nanas, which equals about $1.
Trustpilot score: N/A
17. Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is a cash back shopping portal. You can earn cash back or free gift cards by using its website or mobile app.
Since Rakuten partners with most online stores, this app is one of the top ways to get paid to shop online.
Here’s how Rakuten works:
- Sign up
- Use Rakuten to search through the online sites that you already use (like Amazon or Old Navy)
- Shop for your items like you’d normally do
- Purchase the items
- Use any coupons you may have
- Get cash back
The platform pays a percentage of the items you purchase, up to ten percent. How much you receive varies by retailer.
Shopping through the Rakuten app may let you qualify for bonus offers. People who use the online website may earn less for shopping at the same stores than someone using the app.
Linking your payment card lets you earn cash back at select department stores.
You can cash out your rewards as soon as you hit $5.01. PayPal or paper checks are the default payment methods, but several gift card options are available as well.
You can earn a $10 bonus after your first $25 purchase.
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5
Read our Rakuten app review here to learn more.
18. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel is a survey site that pays you to take surveys. Taking frequent surveys lets you earn a loyalty bonus.
You can also get paid to watch videos and sign up for free product trials.
As long as you remember to cancel the free trials you sign up for, you can earn a decent amount of points and get free gift cards.
Some of the retailers you can choose are:
- Dunkin Donuts
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Google Play
If you prefer cash rewards, PayPal payments are available as well.
The minimum payout threshold is $5 (500 points) for either payment option, though some retailers may require more points. Reading the gift card code details lets you know how many points you need to receive payment.
PrizeRebel claims you can open an account and start earning points in ten seconds.
Trustpilot score: 3.2 out of 5
Summary
Free gift cards are easy to find if you know the best websites and apps to use. These apps are fun, simple, and can help you earn rewards quickly.
Consider trying these apps so you can have more money in your pocket for necessary expenses.
How else do you make money on the side? What are your favorite ways to save money on shopping?
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