15 Best Apps to Help You Shop Smart and Save Big

In today’s fast-paced world, smart shopping is vital for anyone looking to save money while enjoying the best products and services. Whether hunting for discounts, cash back, or the best deals, the right apps can make all the difference. Here are 15 must-have apps that empower budget-conscious shoppers to make informed purchasing decisions and keep their finances in check. Dive into these tools designed to help you shop smart and save big!

In this post, you’ll learn:

• Maximize savings with top coupon and cashback apps.
• Essential features of these apps for budget-conscious shoppers.
• Tips for using apps to enhance your shopping experience.
• User-friendly apps for comparing prices and finding deals.
• Benefits of apps with personalized recommendations.
• Combine apps for more significant savings.

1. Honey – The Ultimate Coupon Finder

Honey is a must-have app if you’re serious about saving while shopping online. It automatically scans the web for the best coupon codes and applies them to your cart with just one click. With over 30,000+ partnered stores, including big names like Amazon, Target, and Walmart, Honey takes the hassle out of searching for deals. The app’s Droplist feature also helps you track price drops on items you’re eyeing, ensuring you never miss out on a sale.

Why Choose Honey?

Honey is a must-have for online shoppers looking for easy savings. It automatically applies coupons and tracks prices, ensuring you get the best deals. Plus, earn gift cards through its rewards program for shopping, making every purchase count!

Key Features

• Automatic coupon application at checkout; no manual searching is required.
• Earn Honey Gold points with every purchase for future savings.
• Price tracking on items will alert you when prices drop.

Pro tip: 

Always check Honey before completing your purchase. If you’re shopping for an expensive item, you might find a code that saves you more than you expect!

Best for: 

Online shoppers who want an effortless way to save with automatic coupon application and price tracking.

2. Rakuten (formerly Ebates) – Cash Back Champion

Meet Rakuten, the app that makes every purchase feel like a mini payday! With Rakuten, you get cash back on your online shopping, turning those retail therapy sessions into savings. When you shop at any of the over 2,500 retailers, including favorites like Macy’s, eBay, and Sephora, you can earn cash back on your purchases. It’s like getting paid to shop, but what’s not to love?

Why Choose Rakuten?

Rakuten is ideal for budget-conscious shoppers who want to earn while they spend. With its extensive retailer network and straightforward cash-back process, Rakuten makes it easy to turn everyday purchases into extra cash.

Key Features:

• Earn cash back on everyday purchases and special deals.
• Referral bonuses invite friends and earn extra cash when they make their first purchase.
• In-store cash-back options are available at select retailers, adding even more value.

Pro tip: 

Don’t forget to check Rakuten’s app before any shopping spree, especially during sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. You’ll often find increased cash-back percentages during these peak shopping times.

Best for: 

Shoppers who want to combine everyday purchases with cash rewards, turning ordinary shopping into extraordinary savings.

3. Flipp – Grocery Flyers, Reimagined

Say goodbye to the days of flipping through stacks of paper flyers! Flipp revolutionizes the way you approach grocery shopping. This app brings all your favorite store flyers into one digital hub, allowing you to browse, compare prices, and create your shopping lists in one place. With Flipp, you can easily find the best deals at local supermarkets like Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger.

What sets Flipp apart? 

The Flipp app aggregates flyers and features innovative search options that help you locate specific items on sale. You can even add items to your shopping list and get alerts when they go on sale. Plus, it lets you clip digital coupons within the app, ensuring you never miss out on extra savings.

Key Features:

• Browse weekly flyers from multiple stores in one app.
• Use the intelligent search feature to find sales on specific items.
• Create and manage your shopping list, complete with price comparisons.

Pro tip: 

Make a habit of checking Flipp every week before you head to the grocery store. It’s beneficial during holiday seasons or significant events where you might buy in bulk, helping you save on essentials.

Best for: 

Budget-conscious shoppers looking to maximize savings on groceries and household items by leveraging local sales.

4. RetailMeNot – Deals at Your Fingertips

When hunting for the best deals, RetailMeNot is your go-to app! This powerhouse of savings provides a vast collection of online coupon codes, cash-back offers, and in-store discounts, all easily accessible from your smartphone. With partnerships with thousands of retailers, including Old Navy, Best Buy, and Kohl’s, RetailMeNot ensures you can find great deals wherever you shop.

What makes RetailMeNot unique?

The app’s user-friendly interface lets you quickly search for coupons by store or category. You can also save your favorite offers and get notified when new deals are available. Need an extra incentive? RetailMeNot offers a cash-back program that rewards you for your purchases when you shop through the app.

Key Features:

• Search for coupons and promo codes by retailer or category.
• Receive alerts for new deals and savings from your favorite stores.
• Earn cash back on eligible purchases when you shop directly through the app.

Pro tip: 

Always check RetailMeNot before completing your online purchase. Often, users find last-minute promo codes that can give them an additional discount right at checkout.

Best for: 

Deal hunters who want a comprehensive app to maximize savings through coupons, cash back, and personalized alerts.

5. Fetch Rewards – Get Paid to Scan Receipts

If you love getting rewarded for everyday purchases, Fetch Rewards is the app for you! With Fetch Rewards, you can earn points simply by scanning your grocery receipts, making it one of the easiest ways to accumulate savings without the hassle of coupon clipping. The app works with thousands of brands, including household names like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Nestlé, ensuring that everyday shopping pays off.

What is Fetch Rewards?

Fetch Rewards is a mobile app designed to help users save money by earning rewards on their grocery and retail purchases. The app allows users to scan their receipts and receive points that can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers and restaurants.

Key Features:

• Simply take a picture of your receipts to earn points.
• Look out for special promotions to maximize your points.
• Earn points just for buying the products you already love!

Pro tip: 

Look on the app for bonus point offers on specific brands or products. Combine these offers with regular shopping for extra rewards and savings.

Best for: 

Everyday shoppers who want to turn their grocery purchases into gift card rewards without the hassle of couponing.

6. Shopkick – Earn While You Shop

With Shopkick, shopping isn’t just about spending money. It’s about earning rewards while you do it! This innovative app allows you to earn “kicks” (points) for various activities, whether you’re shopping in-store or online. Simply by walking into participating stores, scanning barcodes, or making purchases, you can accumulate kicks that can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite retailers.

What makes Shopkick stand out? 

The app provides a seamless shopping experience by offering points for actions like browsing, scanning items, and purchasing specific products. You’ll also find exclusive offers that let you earn extra kicks on featured items. The app includes a walk-in rewards feature that gives you kicks just for entering a store!

Key Features:

• Earn kicks for walking into stores, scanning items, and making purchases.
• Discover exclusive offers and promotions to maximize your rewards.
• Redeem your kicks for gift cards at popular retailers like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.

Pro tip: 

Make it a habit to check the app before heading out shopping. You might find additional kicks for specific brands you can earn by picking them up and scanning them!

Best for: 

Shoppers who love earning rewards and discovering new products while they shop.

7. Ibotta – Cash Back on Groceries & More

Saving on groceries has always been challenging, thanks to Ibotta. This app lets you earn cash back on essentials at major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and CVS. Whether stocking up on groceries, toiletries, or even baby supplies, you must unlock offers, shop as usual, and scan your receipt. Ibotta will credit your account with real cash, which you can transfer via PayPal or Venmo.

What is Ibotta?

Ibotta is a mobile app designed to help users save money by offering cashback on grocery, retail, and other purchases. The app provides users with various cashback offers that can be redeemed by submitting receipts or linking their store accounts.

Key Features:

• Cash back on groceries, pet supplies, and toiletries.
• Partnerships with major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco.
• Bonus earnings through completing specific product challenges.

Pro tip: 

Many users forget that they can link their store loyalty cards to Ibotta. This allows them to skip the receipt scanning step altogether. Just shop and save automatically!

Best for: 

Shoppers who regularly buy groceries and want to earn cash back effortlessly.

8. Slickdeals – Crowdsourced Savings Powerhouse

Thanks to its large, deal-hunting community, slickdeals is the go-to app for finding the best discounts and deals. The app features real-time posts from users sharing deals across various categories like electronics, home goods, clothing, and more. What sets Slickdeals apart is its deal alert feature. Just put a keyword or product you’re interested in, and you’ll be notified when a relevant deal is posted.

What makes Slickdeals?

Slickdeals is a community-driven deal-sharing website that aggregates and shares various discounts, deals, and promotional offers from across the internet. The platform allows users to find and share the best deals on products and services, ranging from electronics and apparel to travel and groceries.

Key Features:

• Crowdsourced deals across multiple product categories.
• Set up alerts for your favorite products.
• Deals vetted by a community of bargain hunters.

Money-saving tip: 

Check the Frontpage Deals. These are the hottest deals, voted on by thousands of users, and tend to disappear fast!

Best for: 

Tech-savvy bargain hunters who want to stay ahead of the curve regarding price drops and flash sales.

9. GasBuddy – Find the Cheapest Fuel Near You

Gas prices constantly fluctuate, and with GasBuddy, you’ll never have to pay more than you need to. This app helps you find the lowest gas prices in your area by displaying real-time updates from users. GasBuddy shows you where to stop for the cheapest fuel, whether on a road trip or just commuting to work. It even offers GasBack, which lets you earn cash back on fuel purchases at select stations.

What is GasBuddy?

GasBuddy is a mobile app and website that helps users find the best prices for gasoline at nearby gas stations. The platform aggregates fuel prices reported by users and gas station data to provide real-time information on where to find the lowest fuel prices.

Key Features:

• Real-time gas price comparisons based on your location.
• GasBack rewards for additional savings.
• User-submitted price reports ensure accuracy.

Pro tip: 

Check GasBuddy before filling it out to secure the lowest gas prices. Use the app regularly to earn points for gift cards, maximizing your fuel savings!

Best for: 

Drivers who are always on the go and want to minimize fuel costs.

10. Amazon Shopping – Deals, Price Tracking, and More

With the Amazon Shopping app, you’ll enjoy the convenience of online shopping and access exclusive deals and price tracking features. You can create Wish Lists and receive alerts when the prices of your saved items drop. For Prime members, free two-day shipping and access to Amazon’s daily Lightning Deals mean even more savings opportunities.

What is Amazon Shopping?

Amazon Shopping is an online retail platform operated by Amazon.com. It offers a wide array of products across numerous categories, including electronics, clothing, groceries, home goods, books, and more. It is one of the largest and most popular e-commerce platforms globally.

Key Features:

• Track price drops on saved items.
• Exclusive Lightning Deals and daily specials.
• Free shipping for Amazon Prime members.

Pro tip: 

Don’t overlook the Amazon Warehouse section for discounted, open-box, significantly cheaper, and practically new products.

Best for: 

Frequent Amazon shoppers who want to watch price fluctuations and snag the best deals.

11. Karma (formerly Shoptagr) – Personalized Price Alerts

Karmanow is your ultimate shopping assistant. Formerly known as Shoptagr, this app lets you save items from any online store and notifies you when the price drops, if there’s a coupon, or when something goes on sale. It even automatically applies available coupon codes at checkout, ensuring you never miss out on a deal.

What is Karma?

Karmanow is a cashback and rewards app designed to help users save money while shopping online. The app allows users to earn cash back on purchases from various online retailers and features a price-tracking tool to help users find the best deals.

Key Features:

• Price tracking and sale notifications for online products.
• Automatically applies coupon codes at checkout.
• Works with a wide range of online retailers.

Expert tip: 

Use Karma to track high-priced items, such as laptops or furniture, so you’ll be ready to buy when the price drops.

Best for: 

Shoppers who want automated price tracking and instant notifications when an item is discounted.

12. Checkout 51 – Cash Back on Groceries & Gas

Checkout 51 is a fantastic app that lets you earn cash back on grocery purchases. With a user-friendly interface, you can easily browse weekly offers from various brands and stores, making saving money on essential items simple.

Why Choose Checkout 51?

Checkout 51 is perfect for budget-conscious shoppers looking to save on groceries without being tied to specific stores. Its straightforward cash-back process allows you to earn money back on items you buy, making it an easy addition to your shopping routine.

Key Features:

• Weekly offers for cash back on groceries.
• Additional cashback on fuel purchases.
• Simple receipt-upload process.

Savings strategy: 

Try using Checkout 51 alongside Ibotta to double up on cash-back offers for the same products!

Best for: 

Shoppers who want to earn cash back on groceries and gas all in one app.

13. Target Circle – Your Shopping Assistant

Target Circle is a loyalty program app that allows you to earn rewards and access exclusive deals at Target stores. It combines discounts, personalized offers, and cash-back rewards, making it a go-to app for Target enthusiasts.

Why Choose Target Circle?

Target Circle is an essential tool for anyone who frequently shops at Target. The app helps you save money with tailored discounts and allows you to earn rewards for future purchases. Plus, you can vote on which causes Target should support in your community!

Key Features:

• Get discounts based on your shopping habits.
• Earn rewards for every purchase made at Target.
• Access exclusive weekly deals and promotions.
• Vote on local causes for Target to support.

Savings Hack:

To maximize your savings, permanently activate your offers before shopping. Combine Target Circle discounts with other sales for maximum savings on your purchases!

Pro Tip:

Use Target Circle offers in conjunction with manufacturer coupons and Cartwheel deals for double the discounts at checkout!

Best For:

Target Circle is ideal for regular Target shoppers who want to enhance their shopping experience, save money, and enjoy their favorite products.

14. Dosh – Automatic Cash Back

Dosh is a cash-back app that automatically rewards users with cash back when they shop, dine, or book hotels through its partnered merchants. It requires no effort on your part—just link your debit or credit card, and you’re set!

Why Choose Dosh?

Dosh takes the hassle out of saving. With automatic cash back, you can earn rewards effortlessly without remembering to check for coupons or deals.

Key Features

• Earn money back without scanning receipts or uploading anything.
• Get rewards for referring friends.
• Withdraw your cashback via PayPal or bank transfer.
• Save on restaurants and hotels as you spend.

Savings Hack:

Link your most-used card to Dosh and use it for everyday purchases. This way, you can earn back cash on items you’re buying!

Pro Tip:

Check the app regularly for bonus cash-back offers at your favorite restaurants and stores. Some offers can give you significantly more cashback during special promotions!

Best For:

Dosh is perfect for those who love to dine out or travel frequently. It allows you to earn cash back effortlessly.

15. ShopSavvy – Price Comparison Made Easy

ShopSavvy is a powerful price comparison app that helps consumers save money by allowing them to scan barcodes and compare prices across various retailers. With features like price drop alerts, user reviews, and exclusive discounts, it empowers shoppers to make informed decisions and maximize savings online and in-store.

What Makes ShopSavvy Special? 

ShopSavvy offers real-time price comparisons and barcode scanning for effortless deal hunting. Users can set price drop alerts and read reviews to make informed decisions. With exclusive discounts and coupons, it’s ideal for maximizing savings online and in-store.

Key Features:

• Scan products in-store to find online and local prices.
• Set alerts for price drops on specific items.
• Read reviews to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Access special offers from retailers.

Savings Hack:

Use the barcode scanning feature while shopping to compare prices on the spot. This allows you to make informed decisions and find better deals!

Pro Tip:

Check Online and In-Store Prices: Always compare online and in-store prices using the app to ensure you get the best possible deal.

Best For: 

ShopSavvy is perfect for anyone looking to maximize their savings through intelligent price comparisons.

Overview of the Best Apps for Shop Smart and Save Big

App Name	Features	Ideal For
Honey	Auto coupon application, price tracking.	Effortless online savings.
Rakuten	Cash back on purchases, referral bonuses.	Earning while spending.
Flipp	Digital flyers, shopping lists.	Budget-friendly grocery shopping.
RetailMeNot	Coupon search, cashback offers.	Maximizing savings across stores.
Fetch Rewards	Scan receipts for points, and special promotions.	Earning rewards on everyday purchases.
Shopkick	Points for shopping actions, exclusive offers.	Reward-seeking shoppers.
Ibotta	Cash back on groceries, loyalty card linking.	Effortless grocery savings.
Slickdeals	Crowdsourced deals, community vetted offers.	Tech-savvy bargain hunters.
GasBuddy	Gas price comparisons, rewards program.	Drivers minimizing fuel costs.
Amazon Shopping	Price tracking, exclusive Prime deals.	Frequent Amazon shoppers.
Karma	Price alerts, coupon application.	Automated price tracking.
Checkout 51	Weekly cash back on groceries.	Cash back on groceries and gas.
Target Circle	Loyalty rewards, personalized offers.	Target shoppers looking for deals.
Dosh	Automatic cashback with linked cards.	Seamless cash-back experience.
ShopSavvy	Barcode scanning for price comparisons.	Price-conscious shoppers.

Conclusion

In today’s digital shopping landscape, these 15 must-have apps empower budget-conscious shoppers to save effortlessly. Each app offers unique features to enhance your shopping experience, from cash-back rewards to coupon alerts. By leveraging these tools, you can make informed decisions, maximize savings, and enjoy a more innovative way to shop in 2024. Start using these apps today to transform how you approach your purchases!

For expert insights and exclusive offers, stay connected with freesavingtips – your ultimate destination for savvy shopping and savings!

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