My daughter has been business-minded since birth. This summer, her lemonade stand morphed into an apple cider shack — and she’s already talking about opening a hot cocoa counter by December. She takes her work so seriously that we even got her a smartphone so she could accept debit card payments through an app.
So, when her third-grade class was assigned to come up with an invention to help the world, it was no surprise she dreamed up a money-making idea: an app that could pay her for doing chores like washing dishes or sorting laundry. While we didn’t bite on the “paid chores” pitch, she did spark a thought — what if there were apps that paid us for simple tasks?
Turns out, there are plenty. These apps reward you with points, cashback, or credits you can redeem for free gift cards — just for doing everyday things you’re already doing. Here’s my ultimate list of free apps that can help you turn your phone into a gift card machine.
1. Shopkick (my personal favorite!)
Best for: Turning shopping into a rewarding scavenger hunt
- Walking into stores
- Scanning barcodes on select products
- Shopping online through the app
- Watching short videos
- Linking your Target, Walmart, or Sam’s Club account for eReceipts so qualifying purchases earn kicks automatically
2. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Best for: Earning cashback online and in-store
Rakuten rewards you with cashback when you shop through its website or app at thousands of partner stores. You can also earn in-store cashback by adding offers to your linked card. Payments are sent quarterly via PayPal or check — what Rakuten calls the “Big Fat Check.”
Cash-out minimum: $5
3. Fetch
Best for: Grocery and everyday shopping rewards
With Fetch, you earn points by scanning receipts from any store — big-box, grocery, clothing, even gas stations. The app automatically detects eligible products from 500+ partner brands and awards points you can redeem for gift cards.
Cash-out minimum: 3,000 points ($3 gift card)
4. Swagbucks
Best for: Earning in multiple ways beyond shopping
Swagbucks gives you points (SB) for answering surveys, shopping online, playing games, and even using its search engine. You can redeem SB for gift cards to Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more.
Cash-out minimum: 300 SB ($3 gift card)
5. Field Agent
Best for: Quick “mystery shopper” style tasks
Field Agent pays you to complete small jobs — like checking product displays, taking store photos, or answering short surveys at local retailers. Tasks usually take 10–15 minutes and pay between $3 and $12. Earnings can be cashed out via direct deposit or gift cards.
Cash-out minimum: $3
Why I Love These Apps
The beauty of these apps is that they fit into my everyday life — I’m already grocery shopping, browsing Target, and making online purchases. Now, I just get rewarded for it.
Since downloading Shopkick, I’ve cashed in for multiple Starbucks cards, my husband grabbed a Best Buy gift card, and we even have enough kicks saved to surprise my daughter with a Target gift card for her birthday.
Ready to start earning? Download Shopkick today, link your accounts for eReceipts, and join millions of “Shopkickers” who turn everyday shopping into free gift cards — no extra spending required.
