We all love our smartphones for staying connected with friends and family, as well as surfing the web, getting emails, playing games and all that stuff, BUT there is another reason I love my smartphone. It helps me save money!! While things as simple as using your web browser to check product info and pricing while at the store can save money, there are a few shopping-specific apps that I like to make the dollars add up.
Yes, there are literally thousands of money-saving shopping apps out there, but these are some of my favorites that I use on a regular basis. You regular Thrifty Jinxy readers may have seen me mention several of these before, but a recap is always helpful, right? Here is my list of the top 5 grocery savings apps for your smartphone:
To grab all the info out of your local store flyers into your smartphone, Flipp is the way to go. You can just browse through ALL the flyers in your area, or browse by type of store (like grocery stores or electronics.) Or, if you’re shopping for a specific item, you can search for it and find the store that has the lowest price. We do this often with our beloved Diet Coke. Almost every week, one store or another has it on sale and Flipp is an easy way to see where that is. Another awesome feature is the ability to browse through a flier and clip the items you want. It then transfers all of them to a handy dandy shopping list.
Another app I love is Ibotta. They have lots of offers for products at the grocery store (as well as restaurants, apparel, etc. now) that save you money. The way it works is that you just browse through the app to find products. Then, after you buy them at the store, you scan the UPC code on the product, take a photo of your receipt and submit via the app. Purchases are approved very quickly, which is convenient. You can then transfer your earnings to PayPal or else choose to use them to get a gift card.
Favado is another handy savings app that lets you know when your favorite items are on sale. The cool features with Favado is that their money saving experts hand select sales and coupons every week for more than 65,000 grocery and drugstores nationwide. You don’t have to do any of the work of combing through sales flyers or store promotions – the experts find all those deals for you. You can select which of the deals you want by adding them to your list and then you just have to buy them!
Similar to to Ibotta, Checkout51 has offers each week where all you have to do is select an offer, buy it the item at the store and snap a picture of the receipt to claim your reward. With both Ibotta and Checkout 51, you can still use coupons on the item at the store AND that item can be on sale at the store, basically tripling up on your savings. I especially love when they have offers for things like ANY brand of milk or ANY brand of eggs. We’re buying those things already, so it’s like FREE MONEY to get rewards for them!
And last, but certainly not least, since Target is one of my favorite stores to shop in, Target Cartwheel is also one of my favorite apps! You can browse through hundreds of items sold at Target stores and select them. At the checkout, just have the team member scan your barcode in the app and you’ll automatically save on all the offers on your Cartwheel. I find that there are offers for LOTS of the Market Pantry and Archer’s Farms products – usually for things I am buying anyway even if there isn’t an offer. Every time I head to the checkout at Target with my grocery cart, I go through the Cartwheel app and search for the items I have put in the cart to see if there are Cartwheel savings. It can really add up!
Theresa Shafer says
Add Shopmium and SavingStar.
Kay Adeola says
These look like great apps.I wish i could use them over here.
Jaime says
Oh I LOVE Cartwheel! I browse it a few times a week to see if there are new coupons for items I actually need. (And I search it while I’m shopping at Target.) I need to check out Ibotta!
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
I am all about electronic coupons. I love my apps and they are SOOOO helpful at the store.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
This is a great list of apps. I am going to have to go download a few of these.
Jessica says
The only app from the list that I have used is Cartwheel and that’s because I LOVE to shop at Target. Another I use is Shopkick. Wish it had more benefits for a wider selection of stores but you can’t beat getting points for just walking into some of them!
Amy Desrosiers says
I have to get back into Ibotta! I was doing good with that for a while!
Felicia says
I really needed this. I am all about finding whatever I can to help save a little.
Laura says
I love money saving apps! Anytime I can save a buck I am a happy camper… especially now that my children are growing {and their appetites too!}.
Lori says
I am always glad there are money saving apps. Sometimes I just don’t have the time to clip or print coupons for everything.
fancygrlnancy (Nancy Partin) says
How did I not know about these? Thank you for putting together this great list. I will for sure be adding some of these to my phone.
Carly says
Cartwheel is my FAV! I use it all the time!
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
I had no clue these apps were even available on my Smartphone. Let the savings being!
Kiwi says
I just started using cartwheel…I only saved 5% the first time I used it but hey…I saved something! Hopefully soon I can save bigger!
Brett Martin says
I love Ibotta! One of the easiest money making apps by far.
Debi says
I need these. I need to find new ways to save.
Theresa says
I really love the Cartwheel app. We shop at Target every week and save so much money with it!
Anne (@notasupermom) says
I’ve used Ibotta since it launched. It’s great and I’m a big fan. I hear a lot about Cartwheel and need to download it.
Melissa says
Great list! I love using Ibotta.
Estelle says
I don’t use apps for shopping, but maybe I should. I usually don’t even carry a list with me of what I need to get, I just keep a list in my mind. Great tips though.
Cam | Bibs and Baubles says
Yay! Thanks! Outside of Target cartwheel, I didn’t know most of these existed.
Carly Bellard says
I love the Cartwheel app! I have not heard of the other apps- but I will be loading them to my phone soon!
Becka says
I have seen these apps and thought to myself I am going to check them out… haven’t yet but I need too. Thanks for the list Flipp sounds especially helpful. 🙂
Debbie Denny says
Those are some great sounding apps. A couple I have not tried yet
Christie says
I love ibotta! It’s a fabulous app! Never heard of Favado
Rosey says
I don’t have a smart phone, but if I did, this would be on feature that would delight me. It’s fun to find savings, and what better way than on your phone you always have with you?
Krystal says
I love apps! These look great, thanks for sharing.
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says
I have never heard of some of those apps before. The hubs and are going to have to try some of those out because we’re currently spending a TON on groceries.
Amanda says
These are great apps! I am going to download a few and start saving money! Thanks!
Tess says
Great apps to try. I love hearing about new apps.
Liz Mays says
The only one I’ve heard of so far is Target Cartwheel. I haven’t even used that either. I have GOT to step it up.
Family Travel Blogger says
Ibotta is easily one of my favorites. I love apps that help me save money.
Pam says
I don’t use one but I guess I better start. These look very helpful and like something even I could manage.
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy says
I didn’t realize there were so many awesome apps! I need to check these out!
Shell says
I use Cartwheel and love it. I’ll have to check out the others.
Jessica says
I love these apps! Anything that can help us save money is a really great thing. Thanks for sharing!