Fetch vs Ibotta: Which Receipt App Actually Pays More? (2026 Comparison)

Quick Answer: Which Is Better?

If you want zero effort, go with Fetch Rewards. Scan any receipt, earn points, done. No planning, no activating offers, no thinking about what you're buying. It's the "set it and forget it" option.

If you want higher payouts, Ibotta is the move. You'll need to check offers before shopping and buy specific products, but the cashback is significantly better. Disciplined shoppers can easily earn 3-4x what Fetch pays.

But here's the thing: the best strategy is using both. They don't conflict at all. The same receipt earns from Fetch AND Ibotta simultaneously, which is how smart shoppers squeeze the most out of apps that pay for receipts.

How Each App Works

Fetch Rewards

Fetch is an "any-receipt" app. Scan any receipt from any store and you'll earn points, no questions asked. Doesn't matter what you bought or where you shopped. Points convert to gift cards at roughly 1,000 points per dollar, and the whole scanning process takes maybe 10 seconds.

The business model is straightforward: Fetch sells aggregated shopping data to brands, and they pay you a small cut for contributing to that data. The appeal is pure simplicity, which is why Fetch has become one of the most downloaded apps that pay real money in the rewards space.

Ibotta

Ibotta works differently. Before you shop, you browse available offers and activate the ones you want. When you buy those specific items and scan your receipt, you get the cashback listed on the offer. Amounts range from $0.25 for everyday stuff to $5+ for trying new products.

Ibotta partners directly with brands who pay for product placement and customer acquisition. That's why the payouts are higher but require specific purchases. The tradeoff is clear: more effort for more money, typically 5-10 minutes of planning before each grocery trip.

Side-by-Side Comparison

To make the decision easier, here's how the two apps stack up across everything that matters. The pattern is clear: Fetch wins on convenience, Ibotta wins on earning potential.

For most people, the question isn't which app is "better." It's which one fits how you actually shop. If you value simplicity in your approach to getting paid for your attention, Fetch is the obvious pick. If you're willing to put in work for higher returns, Ibotta delivers.

90-Day Earnings Test: Real Results

Theory only gets you so far. We used both apps for 90 days with normal shopping habits: 2-3 grocery trips per week, occasional gas station stops, pharmacy visits twice a month. No special effort to maximize either app, just regular behavior. Here's what actually happened:

Ibotta earned 4x more in total but required 3.6x more time. What's interesting is that per-minute earnings were almost identical: $0.34 for Fetch versus $0.38 for Ibotta. So the real question isn't which pays more, it's whether you want passive low earnings or active higher earnings.

Here's the kicker though. Using both apps on the same shopping trips, we earned $42.75 over 90 days ($14.25/month). That's nearly 25% more than Ibotta alone, and the extra effort was maybe 30 seconds per receipt. Stacking works.

These numbers are realistic for average users. Power users who build their shopping lists around Ibotta offers report $30-50/month from Ibotta alone. But that requires significant behavior changes and risks overspending just to chase cashback.

How to Use Both Together

Since Fetch and Ibotta have different business models, they don't compete for the same receipt. Fetch wants your shopping data, Ibotta wants proof you bought specific products. You can earn from both on every single shopping trip. Here's the playbook:

Before Shopping

Spend 2-3 minutes in Ibotta browsing offers. Only activate ones for stuff you'd buy anyway. This is crucial. Don't add offers for things you don't need just because they exist. The goal is earning from normal purchases, not changing your behavior to chase cashback. A lot of people fall into the trap of buying random products because "it has an offer," which defeats the entire purpose.

While Shopping

Shop like you normally would. When you're in the store, check if anything in your cart matches an activated offer. If an offer needs a specific brand or size, grab that version instead of your usual, but only if the price difference is less than the cashback. Some cashback apps have barcode scanning that makes this easy to check on the spot.

After Shopping

Scan your receipt in Ibotta first since it has a 7-day limit while Fetch gives you 14 days. If the Ibotta scan fails or needs review, you've got time to sort it out. Once Ibotta confirms your cashback, scan the same receipt in Fetch. The whole thing adds maybe 60-90 seconds to your post-shopping routine.

Going Further

Receipt apps pay for what you buy, but your earning stack doesn't have to stop there. Credit card cashback adds another 1-5% on top. Store loyalty programs pile on points or discounts. And apps like VISU pay you for engaging with content regardless of whether you're shopping. Check out how VISU rewards work to add another layer that doesn't require buying anything.

The fully optimized approach combines receipt apps, credit card rewards, and attention-based earnings. This triple-stack maximizes value from things you're already doing: shopping, browsing, engaging with content online.

Which Is Best For You?

After testing both apps extensively, here's how to decide based on your situation.

Go With Fetch If:

You want earnings without any thought. Fetch is perfect if you shop at lots of different places beyond just grocery stores, like gas stations, pharmacies, restaurants, and random retail. If gift card payouts work for you and you know you'll forget to check offers before shopping, Fetch removes all friction. It's ideal for people who value simplicity over squeezing out every last dollar.

Go With Ibotta If:

You plan grocery trips in advance and want higher payouts per item. Ibotta works best for disciplined shoppers who can commit to checking offers before every trip and need actual cash via PayPal or Venmo instead of gift cards. The key is discipline: you have to avoid buying stuff just because it has an offer. If you catch yourself doing that, Ibotta will cost you money instead of earning it. For people looking for apps that pay instantly to PayPal, Ibotta's 1-2 day turnaround is among the fastest for receipt-based earnings.

Use Both If:

You want maximum returns and don't mind spending an extra 2-3 minutes per shopping trip. The stacking strategy works because both apps process the same receipt without issues. Our 90-day test showed combined earnings of $42.75 versus $34.25 from Ibotta alone, an extra $8.50 for minimal additional effort.

For a complete breakdown of all receipt apps beyond these two, including niche options for specific stores, check our best receipt scanning apps comparison.

FAQ — Fetch vs Ibotta