How does Ibotta make money? Seems like a simple enough inquiry and since inquiring minds want to know how Ibotta works, that’s exactly what we’re going to get into today. You may have seen folks talking about this Ibotta thing and you’re not quite sure what the fuss is about.
Folks are buzzing about this app because it’s an incredibly easy way to save money on your groceries, toiletries, clothes – honestly, just about anything. So, exactly how does the Ibotta app work and what exactly is it? Read on because I’m going to break this down in four easy steps. But first, let me give you a quick and clear definition of what exactly Ibotta is…
Ibotta is a money-saving app that allows you to redeem cash back on certain purchases you make in-store or via mobile. How do Ibotta rebates work? Well, simple, you select what you plan to purchase and then when you make a purchase you need to submit verification inside the app to prove you made the purchase. Once you’ve done that, they will add the rebate amount to your cash back balance.
How Ibotta Works
Step 1 – Add offers to your account in the Ibotta app.
How Ibotta App works…
- Open up the Ibotta app on your phone. (If you’re not registered, you can download the app here).
- Log in using your email and password if you’re not already logged in.
- Select your favorite stores.
- On the home page, find and select offers at the retailer you’re planning to shop.
TIP: Pay attention to offer expiration dates.
Step 2 – Go shopping (You can shop online or make mobile purchases using the Ibotta app.)
Ibotta, how it works…
- Pay attention to the expiration and quantities required for redemption.
- Once you’ve made your purchases, check your My Offers list.
- You can redeem from here by selecting the item you’ve purchased and submitting proof of your purchase.
Step 3 – It’s time to redeem!
How do you redeem on Ibotta? You can redeem on Ibotta in one of three ways:
- Manual receipt submission:
- On the navigation bar, select redeem. Go to the retailer you shopped at.
- Take photos of your receipt and select the offer you want to redeem or scan the QR code located on the receipt as required by certain retailers.
- Scan barcodes of the items purchased if prompted.
2. Loyalty Card submission (You can now maximize your Ibotta earnings with Automatic Cash Back!)
- Certain retailers require you to submit your store loyalty card and select your offers prior to shopping.
- If so, you’ll receive credit for redemption within 48 hours.
3. Mobile submission
- Simply open the Ibotta app and select the retailer you wish to purchase from for in-app or app-to-app purchases. For example, if you’re shopping with Amazon, you can open Ibotta, select Amazon and make your purchase with your Amazon app.
Step 4 – Redeem your cash.
How do you get the money from Ibotta? Easy.
When you redeem a rebate, your money will be added to your cash back in the Ibotta app within 24 to 48 hours. You’ll earn actual cash back, not points. When you’ve reached $20.00, you can redeem your cash back for one of many different retailer gift cards or get actual cash through PayPal or Venmo.
How does Ibotta make money?
Not only do you want to know how Ibotta works, but you’re probably wondering how Ibotta makes their money too? Or more importantly, if it’s free for you to use? Well, to answer that, yes, Ibotta is totally FREE for you to use. Ibotta makes money through affiliate partnerships for directing you to redeem certain cash back offers from retailers. They also earn money by having users watch quick videos or answer polls to unlock rebates with certain retailers.
How old can receipts be for Ibotta?
What if you forget to check Ibotta before going shopping? As long as you’re not shopping at a retailer that requires you to upload your loyalty card inside the Ibotta app, you have 7 days to select an offer and submit your receipt in the Ibotta app. This means that you can send your receipt to Ibotta on any day up to 7 days from the date and time you made your purchase.
For example, if you make a purchase on Monday at 3 pm, you will have until the following Monday at 2:59 pm to submit your receipt. I highly encourage you to submit your receipts and select the offers right away as certain offers do expire and you don’t want to miss out on those savings!
So, that’s how Ibotta works…
So, as you can see, Ibotta is pretty straightforward and pretty easy to use. If you want to learn more about how Ibotta team works and how to score bonuses, check out this article on Ibotta bonuses to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. Also, if you’re looking for my honest review about Ibotta and why I think it’s the best app ever, check out the review here. That’s it on how Ibotta works, so be sure to download Ibotta today so you can start saving.