Is Fetch Legit? How to Earn $100 in Free Gift Cards with the Fetch App


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Fetch is one of the most popular and trustworthy money making apps available.

It pays you free gift cards for scanning receipts, playing games, and shopping popular brands.

In fact, some users claim to earn up to $1,000 a month — but how realistic is that?

To find out, I tested the app and did a ton of research online to see what other users had to say.

In this honest Fetch review, I’ll share:

  • how Fetch works
  • various ways to earn
  • tips for getting the most points
  • a few pros and cons
  • best Fetch alternatives to consider

Let’s dive right in!

Easiest to Use
Fetch
4.8
Free

Get cash back for every receipt, plus bonus payouts for buying specific products and brands. Use referral code FETCH1000 to get 1000 free bonus points added to your account.

Pros:
  • Super easy to use
  • Tons of cash out options
  • Earn more from popular brands
Cons:
  • $0.02 minimum receipt value is on the lower end
  • Some rewards have high minimums

What is Fetch?

Formerly known as Fetch Rewards, Fetch is a mobile app and browser extension that pays you points to:

You can then redeem those points for:

  • gift cards
  • sweepstakes entries
  • charitable donations

Fetch was founded in 2013 by Wes Schroll while he was a student at the University of Wisconsin.

More than a decade later, Fetch has grown to 17 million active users who have collectively submitted more than 5 billion receipts and earned more than $1 billion in points. 

Currently, Fetch is only available to shoppers in the United States.

Is Fetch Legit?

Yes, Fetch is a legitimate money making app. It’s secure to use and provides the opportunity to earn real gift cards.

I’ve used it for years and never had an issue earning points or cashing out.

That said, there are definitely some mixed reviews about Fetch. 

Your best bet with any of these apps is to download it and try it for yourself.

How Does Fetch Work?

As mentioned, Fetch users can earn points through a number of different activities—primarily:

  • scanning receipts from stores and restaurants
  • shopping for specific brands and products
  • playing mobile games

Each activity earns you Fetch points.

1,000 points equal approximately $1, so if you earn 10,000 points, you should have enough to redeem them for a $10 gift card.

Fetch points are redeemable for electronic gift cards to popular retailers, restaurants, travel providers, and more, like:

  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • Starbucks
  • Ulta Beauty
  • Lululemon
  • Chipotle
  • Airbnb
  • Uber
  • X-box
  • Google Play

If you prefer cash you can redeem your points for a Visa gift card that can be spent anywhere.

In addition to gift cards, you can also roll the dice and enter Fetch’s sweepstakes instead. Every month, the app raffles off bonus points, gaming consoles, iPads, MacBooks, and more.

One sweepstakes entry costs 100 points, but you can get them as low as 25 points-per-entry if you buy in batches of 100.

Lastly, you can use your Fetch points to donate to a good cause.

Available charities include:

How to Use Fetch

There are currently two ways to use Fetch:

  1. Download and install the Fetch mobile app.
  2. Install the Fetch web browser extension.

(I’d actually recommend doing both to earn the most cash back.)

Once you’ve signed up, you’re ready to start earning points. Here are the options for doing so.

Physical Receipts and eReceipts

Fetch accepts receipts from stores, restaurants, and even gas stations.

You can also earn on eligible online purchases by connecting your email and other online retailer accounts.

You’re allowed to submit up to 35 receipts within a 7-day rolling period. Physical receipts must be snapped within 14 days of the checkout date. 

The only type of receipts that are not scannable include:

  • Return receipts
  • Utility and medical bills/invoices, and prescription refill slips
  • Movie/concert/experience tickets
  • Airline tickets and baggage receipt tags
  • ATM and wire transfer transactions
  • Take out food slips that don’t specifically say where they’re from

Fetch will pay you at least 25 points (approximately 2.5¢) for every receipt you snap.

Fetch Web Browser Extension

Similar to other cash back apps, like Rakuten, Fetch offers the option to install a web browser extension to earn points from your online shopping.

Once installed and activated, you’ll receive points for every dollar you spend with 100s of participating retailers, including Walmart, Target, and many more.

Fetch Shop

If you prefer to do your online shopping from your phone, Fetch Shop lets you earn points for every dollar you spend.

Simply browse the list of participating retailers in the Fetch app, select the one you’d like to shop with, and shop like you normally would.

With Fetch Shop, you can earn points for everything from clothing to food orders to travel reservations and more. It’s a great way to grow your points balance.

Offers

One of the fastest ways to rack up points in the Fetch app is to take advantage of the personalized offers.

Offers are found on the Discover (home) page of the app.

You can also search for offers by:

  • product
  • brand
  • category

Simply find an offer you’re interested in, purchase the item, and scan the receipt after the purchase. You’ll earn the advertised bonus points for that offer.

There are several different types of offers:

  • Item offers – Earn points for purchasing a specific product or category of product.
  • Buy multiple offers – Stack your earnings by buying a specific quantity of a product.
  • Spend X offers – Get rewarded for spending above a certain threshold (e.g. spend $25 or more on a certain brand).
  • Point boosts – Earn points for every dollar you spend on eligible brands.

If you find offers you like but aren’t ready to purchase yet, you can save them for later by clicking the “heart” icon.

Note: Most offers have terms and conditions you have to meet in order to qualify. You can see the details of each offer by clicking on it in the app:

Fetch Play

If you enjoy playing mobile games, you can earn some extra points through the Fetch Play feature.

This section of the app rewards you for downloading popular games and completing in-game tasks. You can also earn points by playing games within Fetch’s in-app game library.

To use Fetch Play, simply log into the Fetch app, and click the “Play” icon in the top right corner of your device.

The amount you’ll earn for each game varies, but can be significant. I found offers worth $20-40 in Fetch points.

Of course, make sure to check the requirements and milestones you’ll have to reach to qualify for the reward.

Important Note: Based on our testing, other rewards apps probably pay more for these types of mobile gaming offers.

Referrals

Last but not least, Fetch rewards users for referring others.

At press time, you can earn 2,000 points (around $2) for each new user you refer. Once your referral signs up and snaps their first receipt, the points are credited to your account.

Pro Tip: Use our referral code FETCH300 when you sign up to get 300 free bonus points added to your account. 

Redeeming Fetch Points

You’ll need a minimum of 3,000 points (roughly $3) before you can cash them in for a gift card.

To redeem your Fetch points:

  1. Click on your points balance in the top right corner of the screen.
  2. Select the reward you’d like and your desired value.
  3. Click “Get My Reward.”

It can take up to 72 hours to receive your reward, which is frustrating because similar apps like Ibotta process withdrawals immediately.

To access it, go to My Rewards and follow the vendor instructions to activate.

Important Note: If your Fetch account is inactive for 90 days, all unredeemed points will expire. You should receive notification of this well in advance. To prevent this, just make sure you submit at least one receipt every 90 days.

How Much Can You Earn on Fetch?

The amount you can earn from Fetch depends on a number of factors, including:

  • how many receipts you submit
  • how many offers you claim
  • how much you spend shopping online
  • whether you use Fetch Play and how many milestones you complete
  • how many new users you refer

As mentioned at the beginning of this review, some “power users” claim to earn up to a million points ($1,000) a month.

In my experience — and based on the many Fetch reviews I’ve read — this is very rare, if it’s even real at all.

However, if you do a lot of shopping and are dedicated about checking the app, claiming offers, sticking with participating retailers, reaching 100,000 points ($100) or more a month is absolutely doable.

In my case, I pretty much only use it to scan receipts and earn maybe $25 a year.

Fetch Tips and Tricks

Cover All Your Bases

The more ways you use Fetch, the more quickly you’ll be able to rack up points.

The people earning the most with Fetch use it consistently to:

  • shop
  • scan receipts
  • claim offers
  • play games in their down time
  • refer new users

Save Your Receipts

If you’re in the habit of refusing a receipt or tossing them as soon as you leave a store, it’s time to start forming new habits. Keep all receipts and scan them!

Remember – you’ll earn at least 25 points for every receipt you scan.

It’s not a lot, but it’s easy and it adds up.

Be Prompt

It’s best to scan receipts as soon as you get them, or shortly thereafter.

Receipts are only valid for 14 days, so don’t snooze or you will lose out on easy points.

Check Offers Before You Shop

Offers are a quick and easy way to maximize your earnings on Fetch.

My advice is to check the app before heading out for a shopping trip to see if there are any specific products or brands you should look for that will earn you bonus points.

Pro Tip: Use the “heart” option to save the offers you’re interested in and then use that as your shopping list.

Double Check the Offer Details

Offers always have certain terms and conditions.

For instance, some offers can only be redeemed at specific retailers. Others are only valid for a certain size or product variant.

Be sure to check these details before you start shopping.

Take Advantage of Boosted Brands

Look for opportunities to purchase from brands that are marked as “boosted.”

Jif peanut butter for the win!

These pay way more and let you quickly and easily multiply your earnings.

Link Your Accounts

If you do a lot of online shopping at Amazon or Walmart (or other participating stores), it probably makes sense to link those shopping accounts to Fetch.

Doing so allows you to earn Fetch points on all your purchases.

Plus, when you connect your email, you’ll automatically get credit for eReceipts.

Look for Bonus Opportunities

Keep an eye out for Fetch’s special offers or promo codes to maximize your points.

Opt-in to receive emails and follow Fetch on their social channels.

Refer Friends

As mentioned, you can earn an additional 2,000 points for every person you refer to Fetch who signs up and scans a receipt.

As a bonus, they’ll also earn 2,000 points, so everybody wins.  

How Does Fetch Make Money?

Fetch earns most of its revenue from its featured brands.

These brands pay to be featured in the Special Offers list, just as they would in a newspaper or on a website.

In that sense, Fetch makes its money from those advertising deals.

Fetch Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free App: Fetch costs nothing to download and install, and it’s free to use.  
  • User-Friendly: Claiming offers and scanning receipts is a breeze. If you connect your accounts, capturing eReceipts is simple as well.
  • Every Receipt is Worth Something: Every receipt is worth at least 25 points, which is a nice reward for taking the time to scan it in.
  • Multiple Ways to Earn: There are several different ways users can earn points with Fetch, including shopping through the app, playing games, and installing the browser plugin.  
  • Variety of Rewards: The gift cards you earn through Fetch are legitimate. You even have the option to redeem points for a Visa gift card that you can use anywhere.
  • Popular Brands: Fetch partners with hundreds of popular brands and retailers to make it as easy and seamless as possible for users to earn and grow their points.
  • Low Cash Out Minimum: You can cash out your earnings as low as 3,000 points, or roughly $3.

Cons

  • Length of Time: Unless you’re maxing out every possible earning opportunity on Fetch, it can take a while to earn enough points to redeem for a reward.
  • Offer Limitations: Many offers have terms and conditions, and if you’re not careful to adhere to those rules, your receipt or transaction might not be accepted.
  • Points Expire: If your Fetch account is inactive for 90 days, you’ll lose any points you had accumulated. (90 days without scanning a receipt, playing a game, or shopping through the app or web browser.)
  • Technical Issues: Some users report experiencing issues where their receipts and/or offers were rejected in error. Many reviews have indicated that support was helpful, but others say they were unable to get their issues resolved.   
  • Location Restrictions: Currently, only shoppers located in the United States can use the Fetch app.
  • Some Redemptions are More Expensive: My go-to reward, an Amazon gift card, costs more points than other options.

Is Fetch Worth It?

While you won’t exactly strike it rich using Fetch, it’s an easy way to earn some extra money.

And since points don’t expire as long as your account stays active, there’s really no downside to using Fetch.

Easiest to Use
Fetch
4.8
Free

Get cash back for every receipt, plus bonus payouts for buying specific products and brands. Use referral code FETCH1000 to get 1000 free bonus points added to your account.

Pros:
  • Super easy to use
  • Tons of cash out options
  • Earn more from popular brands
Cons:
  • $0.02 minimum receipt value is on the lower end
  • Some rewards have high minimums

Pro Tip: Use referral code FETCH300 when you sign up to get 300 free bonus points added to your account. 

Other Apps Like Fetch: Fetch Alternatives to Consider

If you’re looking for other apps that are similar to Fetch, here are a few worth checking out.

Rakuten

The Rakuten shopping app offers cash back when shopping online and in-stores.

rakuten sign up bonus

Shop almost every retailer on the planet and earn up to 40% cash back.

At press time, you could get a $30 sign-up bonus after you spend just $30.

Or, if you want to learn more about how it works, check out our full Rakuten review.

Ibotta

Ibotta has been paying grocery shoppers cash back for years, sometimes as much as $5 per item.

Plus, it’s an easy one to “double dip” with Fetch.

how ibotta works

Simply browse for offers in the Ibotta app, complete your shopping trip, and upload a picture of your receipt.

The cash back will be credited to your account.

Check out our Ibotta review to learn more.

Upside

Upside lets you earn cash back rewards on gas, groceries, and restaurants.

upside

Just open the Upside app, claim the offer you want, shop as usual, and earn money back.

Check out our full Upside review to learn more.

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Rebecca Daneault

About the Author

Rebecca Daneault is a seasoned side hustler, freelancer, and copywriter with over 15 years of experience bringing brands to life through words.

Her writing has appeared in top publications like Forbes, Huffington Post, CIO Review, SnapFI, and Built with Shopify. She loves researching and reviewing side hustle opportunities and transforming complex ideas into engaging, digestible content.

When she's not busy crafting copy, Rebecca is all in on her side hustles—whether it’s sitting on mock juries, experimenting with products, or exploring the latest digital trends.

Usually Hustling, Occasionally Social

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