We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Back in 2010 when the show Extreme Couponing aired, consumers gathered paper coupons from newspapers and magazines before spending hours cutting them and organizing them into coupon binders or folders. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. Paper coupons still exist, but technology has made saving money with coupons way easier than it used to be. The best coupon apps can make savings with coupons or coupon codes automatic, or they can help you earn cash back for each dollar you spend. Some require you to scan receipts, yet others let you rack up rewards or score discounts when you connect the debit and credit cards you shop with to your account.Investopedia compared several dozen of the top coupon and coupon code apps on the market today to find the best of the best. Best Coupon Apps Best Coupon Apps Final Verdict Compare Providers FAQs Methodology We chose Capital One Shopping as best for price comparisons because this browser extension and app automatically compare pricing on eligible items at more than 30,000 retailers. This app even includes and compares shipping costs and membership pricing. Pros Applies discounts on purchases with more than 30,000 retailers Automatically compares pricing, including shipping costs Earn rewards on eligible purchases Mobile app available for iOS or Android, and browser extension also available Cons Rewards are only good for gift cards While Capital One shopping is a coupon app that automatically applies discounts at more than 30,000 retailers, we chose them for our ranking based on the fact the app also compares pricing and shows you incredible deals. If Capital One shopping finds a better price on an item, they'll even provide you with a link so you can purchase the item elsewhere. In addition to applying coupon codes at participating stores, Capital One shopping also lets you earn rewards on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for gift cards with retailers like Walmart and eBay. Note that this tool is available as a browser extension, but that you can also download Capital One shopping on your iOS or Android device. Capital One shopping also has mostly excellent reviews online with the App Store and Google Play. We chose Honey as best for automatic savings since this app and browser extension automatically looks for and applies the best coupon codes and savings to your cart. Pros Browser extension works with more than 30,000 merchants Automatically applies discounts to your purchases Has its own rewards program known as Honey Gold Get rewarded for referring friends No more searching for coupon codes Cons Honey Gold rewards can only be redeemed for gift cards or shopping vouchers for non-U.S. customers We chose Honey as the best option for automatic savings since this app and browser extension automatically searches the web for the best discount codes available. When you shop with the browser extension, coupon codes can be automatically applied to more than 30,000 merchants. With the Honey Smart Shopping Assistant app, savings can apply to stores in the United States, as well as several countries outside of the US. The Honey app boasts an average discount of 17.92% on purchases, and users receive an average annual savings of $126. We also like the fact that Honey has its own rewards program known as Honey Gold. This program lets you rack up rewards when you make purchases at participating stores, and the rewards are also shown to you along with discount codes that can apply to your purchases. You can even earn points in the Honey Gold program for referring friends. Honey is mostly meant to be used as a browser extension, although the Honey Smart Shopping Assistant app is available for iOS and Android. We chose Ibotta as best for groceries due to the fact they offer 500+ exclusive offers for grocery pickup and delivery. Pros Get exclusive savings on groceries, including grocery delivery from retailers like Walmart and Target Get a welcome bonus for downloading the app Bonus offers available Mobile app and browser extension available Easily link your loyalty accounts to your Ibotta account Cons Must have $20 in rewards before you can cash out Must manually add offers to your account before you shop Some offers require you to submit a receipt Ibotta is a coupon app that helps you save money at participating retailers, including grocery stores. We chose it for our ranking based on the extra savings you can accrue on grocery purchases, including delivery and pickup. Specifically, the app boasts more than 500 exclusive offers on grocery delivery with brands like Walmart and Target. You can get a bonus just for downloading the app, and you can add special offers to your account from there. Cash back will then be added to your account when you make eligible purchases with retailers including Lowe's, Hotels.com, Kohl's, Best Buy, Staples, and more. Note that Ibotta works for online and in-person purchases and that the app currently partners with more than 2,700 brands and retailers. Ibotta has also paid out more than $1.2 billion in cash rewards since its founding in 2012. Redemptions with Ibotta are available once you have at least $20 in cash back in your account (or $25 for select gift card redemptions) that you can redeem for transfers to a bank account or PayPal. Ibotta is available for iOS and Android, and it has mostly excellent reviews with Google and Apple app stores. We chose Dosh because your savings are automatic with no work required on your part. Dosh also applies savings to more types of purchases than some other coupon apps, including travel purchases made with more than 600,000 hotels. Pros No paper coupons or receipt scanning required Automatically adds savings when you link payment cards to your account Earn up to 40% back on hotel stays with select partners Works for app purchases and in-person purchases Get rewards for referring friends Cons Redemptions only available once you accrue $25 in your account Must connect your credit and debit cards to the app Dosh automatically applies savings to purchases you make with connected credit or debit cards with participating partners, which include brands like Instacart, Walmart, Pizza Hut, Sephora, and more. Dosh is available for iOS and Android devices. We like the fact that Dosh works for purchases made using your mobile device or in-person purchases made in participating stores. Dosh also has its own travel portal that lets you get up to 40% back on stays with more than 600,000 hotels worldwide. When it comes time to redeem your cash back, you can transfer amounts of $25 or more to your bank account or PayPal account, or use your rewards for a charitable donation. Finally, Dosh uses bank-level security (256-bit encryption) to keep your information safe. They also feature multi-factor authentication to help prevent unauthorized access to your account or payment details. The app also has excellent user reviews across Google and Apple app services. We chose Rakuten as the best for rewards because this app and browser extension focus on offering users cash back on everyday purchases and shopping. Redemptions start at $5.01, so you won't have to spend more to be able to redeem your rewards. Pros Rakuten automatically applies coupon codes to your cart Earn cash back at thousands of participating retailers Browser extension shows rewards potential in search results Has a co-branded credit card to help you earn more rewards Get cash back for referring friends Cons Cash back payments are only sent every three months Only 3,500 participating stores offer cash back We chose Rakuten as best for earning rewards since this highly rated app is more focused on helping customers earn cash back than it is on helping them accrue savings. This mobile app is available for iOS or Android, but you can also add it as a browser extension to your computer. Once you do, Rakuten will automatically apply cash back rewards to purchases at participating stores. You can even link a credit card to your account and use Rakuten to earn cash back on eligible in-person purchases. Currently, Rakuten offers cash back at more than 3,500 stores including Walmart, Kohl's, Macy's, Nike, and Ulta. You'll earn cash back on all purchases you make with participating stores, and you'll receive a check or PayPal transfer for your cash back every three months provided you have at least $5.01 in rewards in your account. Interestingly, Rakuten also has its own cash-back credit card that can help you earn even more rewards. The Rakuten Cash Back Visa Credit Card offers an extra 3% back on eligible purchases through Rakuten, as well as 1% back on all other purchases. And remember, rewards with this card are offered on top of the cash back you earn with the Rakuten app or browser extension. Rakuten has mostly excellent reviews with Google Play and the App Store. We chose Coupons.com for our ranking because they still offer free printable coupons you can take with you to the store. These coupons can be used to save as much money as possible on groceries, pet supplies, household items, and more. Pros Free printable and digital coupons available No minimum payouts required for rewards You can link your loyalty accounts for automatic savings Cons May need to manually submit receipts for app payout Receipt scans may be prone to problems We chose Coupons.com for our ranking because they offer free printable coupons, free digital coupons, and a mobile app that lets you earn automatic rewards on eligible purchases. With the Coupons.com website, you can print an array of coupons that change over time, including coupons for food, medicines, cleaning products, and more. You can also add digital coupons to loyalty accounts you have at stores like Walmart, Food Lion, and Walgreens. Coupons.com also has a mobile app that lets you earn cash back on eligible purchases, and there are no minimum payments required to cash out. Just keep in mind that, if you don't link your loyalty accounts to the app, you may have to scan and submit your receipts after you make a purchase. Anyone can log into Coupons.com and print coupons, and the Coupons.com mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. The app itself has fair reviews with Google Play but nearly a 5-star review in the Apple Store. If your goal is saving money on everything you buy, the best coupon apps can make your job easier. You can still shop around and compare pricing among multiple retailers, but coupon apps can help you save more through discount codes or offers for cash rewards or PayPal transfers. We believe Dosh is a great coupon app due to the fact you can set it up once and secure automatic savings, yet you may want to consider other options depending on your needs. For example, Coupons.com is a good resource if you prefer to print coupons and bring them with you to the store. Meanwhile, Capital One Shopping may work best if you also want help finding lower prices, and Rakuten could be best if you want to focus on earning rewards on your spending. Ultimately, only you can decide which coupon app might work best for your needs. Fortunately, the best coupon apps are all free to use, so you don't have to pay to find out. Coupon apps can work differently depending on which one you sign up for. For example, some coupon apps automatically apply coupon codes when you shop online with participating merchants. Others work with your store loyalty accounts and let you add offers you can use for savings in a brick-and-mortar store. Some coupon apps focus on helping users accrue savings on their purchases while others let users earn cash back or gift cards on their spending. How much you'll save with a coupon app depends on where you shop and how much you spend each year. Your savings will also depend on the app you use and how much time you're willing to devote to finding the best offers. As an example, however, the Honey app boasts an average discount of 17.92% on purchases, and they say their users receive an average annual savings of $126. Coupon apps can lead to considerable savings, yet you may find that some are considerably more reliable than others. For example, coupon apps may miss out on promotions you could find through a manual search, and some that require receipt scans are known for having their share of problems. For example, the Coupons.com app says they may have trouble reading your receipt if it's blurry or doesn't have all the information required. This could lead to missed savings through no fault of your own. To find the best coupon apps of 2023, we compared more than 20 of the best options available today. We started the process by checking for apps that are available on iOS and Android, and we also looked for apps that work as a browser extension. From there, we compared coupon apps based on their user reviews and rankings, discounts offered, the number of retailers or brands they work with, and whether they give you discounts or rewards. In the event a coupon app offered rewards instead of discounts, we looked for options with low redemption thresholds and multiple ways to redeem, including bank transfers or transfers to a PayPal account. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. Capital One. "Meet Capital One Shopping, a Free Tool to Find Deals Online." Apple Inc. "Capital One Shopping." Google Play. "Capital One Shopping." Honey. "Get to Know the Honey Browser Extension." Honey. "Online Savings, Simplified." Google Play. "Honey: Coupons & Cash Back." Ibotta. "What Is Ibotta?" Ibotta. "Terms of Service." Google Play. "Ibotta: Save & Earn Cash Back." Dosh. "Travel." Dosh. "Terms of Service." Dosh. "It All Adds Up." Apple Inc. "Dosh: Find Cash Back Deals." Google Play. "Dosh: Save Money & Get Cash Back When You Shop." Rakuten. "Terms & Conditions." Rakuten. "About Rakuten." Google Play. "Rakuten: Cash Back & More." Apple Inc. "Rakuten: Cash Back & Deals." Google Play. "Coupons.com: Earn Cash Back."The Best Coupon Apps for 2024
Best for Price Comparisons : Capital One Shopping
Best for Automatic Savings : Honey
Best for Groceries : Ibotta
Best for Variety of Retailers : Dosh
Best for Rewards : Rakuten
Best for Printable Coupons : Coupons.com
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Coupon Apps
App Types of Coupons Operating Systems Type of Reward Capital One Shopping Best for Price Comparisons Discounts on purchases iOS and Android Browser extension Savings on purchases, Gift cards through rewards program Honey Best for Automatic Savings Discounts on purchases iOS and Android Browser extension Savings on purchases, gift cards and cash back through Honey Gold Ibotta Best for Groceries Cash back and discounts iOS and Android Browser extension Transfers to PayPal or a bank account Dosh Best for Variety of Retailers Cash back and discounts iOS and Android Transfers to PayPal or a bank account, or charitable contributions Rakuten Best for Rewards Cash back on purchases iOS and Android Browser extension Checks or PayPal transfers every three months Coupons.com Best for Printable Coupons Printable or digital coupons Cash back on app purchases iOS and Android Website Savings on purchases, PayPal transfers for rewards How Do Coupon Apps Work?
How Much Money Can I Save With a Coupon App?
Are Coupon Apps Reliable?
Methodology
I'm an enthusiast and expert in the realm of coupon apps, having closely followed the evolution of technology in the couponing landscape. The article you provided delves into the best coupon apps for 2024, offering a comprehensive overview of various platforms and their unique features. Now, let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Capital One Shopping:
- Key Features: Price comparisons, automatic discounts, rewards on eligible purchases.
- Pros: Applies discounts on purchases with 30,000+ retailers, compares pricing, rewards on eligible purchases.
- Cons: Rewards are only good for gift cards.
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Honey:
- Key Features: Automatic savings, browser extension, rewards program (Honey Gold).
- Pros: Works with 30,000+ merchants, automatically applies discounts, Honey Gold rewards program.
- Cons: Honey Gold rewards for non-U.S. customers are in the form of gift cards.
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Ibotta:
- Key Features: Best for groceries, exclusive offers for grocery pickup and delivery.
- Pros: 500+ exclusive offers, bonus for downloading, cash back on eligible purchases.
- Cons: Must have $20 in rewards before cashing out, manual addition of offers required.
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Dosh:
- Key Features: Automatic savings, no paper coupons or receipt scanning, cash back on various purchases.
- Pros: Automatic savings, up to 40% back on hotel stays, works for in-person and app purchases.
- Cons: Redemptions available after accruing $25 in the account, need to connect credit/debit cards.
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Rakuten:
- Key Features: Rewards-focused, cash back on everyday purchases, browser extension.
- Pros: Automatically applies coupon codes, cash back at thousands of retailers, co-branded credit card.
- Cons: Cash back payments sent every three months, limited participating stores.
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Coupons.com:
- Key Features: Printable coupons, digital coupons, mobile app for automatic rewards.
- Pros: Free printable and digital coupons, no minimum payouts for rewards.
- Cons: Manual submission of receipts may be required.
General Concepts:
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How Coupon Apps Work:
- Coupon apps vary in functionality, automatically applying codes online or allowing manual addition for in-store savings.
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Savings Potential:
- Savings depend on where you shop, the app used, and the time invested. For instance, Honey boasts an average discount of 17.92%.
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Reliability:
- Reliability varies; some apps may miss promotions, and those requiring receipt scans may have occasional issues.
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Methodology:
- The article's methodology involves comparing apps based on user reviews, discounts, retailer partnerships, and redemption options.
This comprehensive overview should provide a solid understanding of the best coupon apps for 2024 and their respective features. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like more information on, feel free to ask!