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As someone just starting to take control of your budget, it’s essential to find tools that make saving simple and consistent.
The reason I say this is that when people first start budgeting, it can feel overwhelming to track every expense, remember coupons, or figure out which discounts actually matter. Without simple, reliable tools, it’s easy to give up or miss opportunities to save.
That’s why in this post,I’m going to break down Ibotta vs. Rakuten, looking at how each app works, the kinds of savings you can expect, and the pros and cons of each. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of which app fits your lifestyle best and how you can start getting the most value from your grocery shopping without feeling restricted or overwhelmed.
1. How They Work
Ibotta: Focused on Grocery Cashback
Ibotta is a mobile app designed to reward you for your in-store grocery purchases. You browse offers, shop as usual, then scan your receipt to get cash back. Some retailers even support automatic savings via loyalty card links.
Best for:
- Perfect for grocery store chains like Walmart, Target, Kroger, and more
- Offers specific cashback on food, drinks, personal care, and even produce
- Constantly refreshed offers make it easy to earn on repeat essentials
- Real cash back, not just points—you can withdraw via PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards
Ibotta guarantees savings on everyday essentials by partnering with major grocery retailers. Users can earn cashback on specific items, from fresh produce to packaged goods.
For example, a shopper could earn $2 back on a box of cereal or $1 on a carton of milk. These small savings add up quickly over multiple shopping trips.
To start saving with Ibotta, download the app, browse available offers, and redeem deals by scanning your receipts. It’s straightforward and effective for anyone who shops in-store frequently.
Rakuten: Broad Cashback on Multiple Categories
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a browser-based cashback tool that rewards you when you shop online. You install the browser extension or use the app, click through to a store, and earn cashback on your entire purchase.
Best for:
- Ideal for online grocery delivery (Walmart, Sam’s Club, Instacart)
- Works on non-grocery retailers like Best Buy, Nike, and Sephora
- Often offers seasonal bonuses or higher cashback rates on select stores
- No need to upload receipts—savings are automatically tracked
:
Rakuten simplifies the cashback process by allowing users to activate offers with a single click. Rakuten also partners with major retailers, offering seamless cashback on purchases.
A user shopping online at Walmart through Rakuten might receive 5% cashback on their total bill, regardless of the specific items purchased.
Download Rakuten and activate cashback before making your next grocery or online purchase. Its user-friendly interface makes saving effortless.
Difference between Features:
Cashback Potential:
Ibotta:
Ibotta is a great choice of app to use when shopping groceries because it offers cashback on a per-item basis. The app is frequently filled with offers of between 0.25 and 5 dollars per item, which might not appear to be much at first sight, but when you regularly redeem them, they accumulate over time.
As an example, you may buy 10 items with eligible offers in one trip and save up to 10-20 dollars. In a month of normal grocery shopping, that is a significant sum that you can either re-invest in your budget or use on other necessities.
Ibotta is particularly effective when you like to scan deals and match them with your shopping list, and when you like to stack savings on everyday items. It is an app that encourages shopping more often and more consciously and makes every shopping trip a chance to save.
Rakuten:
Rakuten, however, does not do cashback in the same way. Rather than the itemized rewards, it provides a percentage of the total purchase back, typically between 1% and 10% of the purchase, depending on the retailer.This is particularly advantageous to online shoppers or those who prefer to shop in large quantities.
The advantage of cashback in percentages is that the more you spend, the more you save. As an example, a 5 percent cashback on a $200 purchase at a grocery retailer would give you $10 back. That may not be much on an individual order, but in the long run and with larger purchases, these rewards can be substantial.
Rakuten is a good fit to those who value convenience, those who want to save money on large or online grocery purchases, or those who want to set it and forget it when it comes to cashback.
Ease of Use and Usability:
Ibotta:
Ibotta is built to put you in control of your savings, but that does come with a few steps. You usually have to choose offers in the app, scan your receipts, or connect your store loyalty cards to redeem cashback. Some of these additional steps may seem tedious to some of them.
Categories are properly arranged, and one can easily see what offers are available to the items on your shopping list. Some shoppers even like this hands-on method as it allows them to plan and make the most out of their savings. That is, the additional effort is rewarded, in the form of cashback, when you see the amount of money you have earned after every grocery shopping.
Ibotta is a great way to save on in-store groceries as long as you don t mind a slightly more involved process and enjoy tracking your savings.
Rakuten:
Rakuten is more simplistic and automated. The browser extension and app are so simple to use that it is easy to earn cashback. You just activate the offer with one click before making a purchase and Rakuten does the rest. There is no need to scan receipts and search deals manually.
The browser extension is especially convenient – it will inform you when a partner store has cashback, so you will never lose a chance. Shopping online or in-store,Rakuten makes the process simple and easy so you can concentrate on your shopping and not on savings.
Rakuten is a good choice of anyone who is interested in simplicity, speed, and efficiency. It is nearly effortless to use and still provides decent cashback rewards, which makes it a perfect option for busy shoppers or those who want to set it and forget it.
Retailer Coverage:
Ibotta:
Ibotta has developed a robust network of more than 500 retail partners, including such major grocery stores as Walmart, Kroger, and Target. This is very convenient to the shoppers who wish to earn cashback on their daily grocery shopping.
Ibotta has partnerships with most of the places you already shop, whether you shop at local supermarkets, specialty stores, or big-box retailers. This wide coverage means that you do not have to alter your shopping habits to enjoy the cashback offers.
To the people who are more interested in groceries,Ibotta is simply the most flexible and reliable option, allowing you to save regularly without losing out.
Rakuten:
Rakuten is more comprehensive, collaborating with more than 2,500 retailers in various categories- not only groceries. Whether it be grocery delivery services or online giants such as Amazon,Rakuten has a network that enables users to earn cashback on many different purchases.
This is what makes Rakuten particularly attractive when you shop across categories You can get rewards on groceries, clothing, electronics, home goods, and more- all on the same platform. Rakuten is the best option to unify your cashback efforts and save in several ways.
Payout Options and Thresholds:
Payout Options and Minimums
Ibotta:
Ibotta has a simple and easy to use payout system. The minimum amount you can cash out your earnings is $20, which is not a difficult amount to reach when you are a regular grocery shopper.
When you reach that limit, you can select one of the following payout options: direct bank transfer, PayPal, or gift cards of major retailers.
This system is motivating to many users since they can see the results of their shopping activities within a short period.
Take some cash out each month and spend it on groceries, household items, or even a small personal indulgence.Ibotta is convenient to those who like to keep track of their progress and redeem rewards on a regular basis since the threshold is low and payout options are numerous.
Rakuten:
Rakuten, however, has a quarterly payout system, which may appear to be slower at first. Cash back is automatically deposited through PayPal or check and there is no minimum threshold, so every cent of cashback you earn is added to your total.
This system is best suited to individuals who like to have a set it and forget it system-earnings accrue and you receive them without having to check balances frequently.
Rakuten has automatic payouts that are liked by many users. You do not have to do anything extra, and you can enjoy the rewards of various shopping categories without having to meet a minimum amount.
Quarterly cashback disbursement is a reliable and convenient method of cashback disbursement to those who prefer hassle-free and predictable cashback disbursement.
Special Features and Bonus
Ibotta:
One of the factors that make Ibotta stand out is its bonus opportunities and special promotions. Besides cashback on specific products,Ibotta frequently has special bonuses, like additional rewards when completing a specific number of offers in a week or referring a friend to the app.
The bonuses can add a substantial amount of money to your overall savings in case you use the app frequently
The app also adds a bit of gamification to the experience, with users able to monitor their progress, streaks of consecutive weeks of activity, and unlock tiered bonuses.
This will make saving a little more enjoyable and interesting instead of being a burden. These features give grocery shoppers an added incentive to go out and find the best deals and combine them to save as much as possible.
Rakuten:
Rakuten, in turn, is more concentrated on site-wide incentives and seasonal promotions. Customers are able to enjoy special cashback boosts, time-limited percentage enhancements, and special offers with specific retailers.
In contrast to Ibotta, Rakuten does not involve scanning receipts and performing item-specific tasks, which makes the bonus system less labor-intensive and less hands-on.
The other advantage of Rakuten is its referral program, through which you can get additional rewards by inviting your friends to join. Users also like the convenience of being able to combine these bonuses with regular cashback, and thus save money over time.
Ibotta is a great app to use when you like to actively participate in an app to get the most out of it. Conversely, you may want to take a more passive approach where you can earn bonuses without having to do anything additional, in which case Rakuten has simple promotions and referral bonuses that provide a steady stream of additional value with no extra work.
Here’s a natural and honest comparison table for Ibotta vs. Rakuten based on all the points we’ve covered:
| Feature | Ibotta | Rakuten | Notes |
| Cashback Structure | Cashback per item, usually $0.25–$5 | Percentage of total purchase, 1–10% | Ibotta works best for frequent grocery shoppers; Rakuten favors bulk or online purchases |
| Usability | Requires selecting deals, scanning receipts, or linking loyalty cards; intuitive interface | Browser extension + app; one-click activation; minimal effort | Ibotta is hands-on but rewarding; Rakuten is simple and efficient |
| Retailer Coverage | 500+ retailers, including major grocery chains | 2,500+ retailers, including groceries, clothing, electronics | Ibotta is best for grocery-focused savings; Rakuten offers wider category savings |
| Payout Options | $20 minimum; PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards | No minimum; quarterly via PayPal or check | Ibotta allows quicker cashouts; Rakuten is automatic and hands-off |
| Special Features & Bonuses | Bonus rewards, streaks, gamified incentives | Referral bonuses, seasonal cashback boosts | Ibotta engages users actively; Rakuten is easy and effortless |
| Best For | Regular grocery shoppers who like itemized cashback | Online shoppers and bulk buyers across multiple categories | Choose based on your shopping style and effort level |
Final Verdict: Which App Saves You More?
In terms of saving money on everyday purchases, both Ibotta and Rakuten can provide real, cash-back value, but in different ways.
Ibotta excels at:
Grocery shoppers that are regulars in physical stores
Individuals who like winning on small things on a daily basis
Anyone who would like to access their savings more quickly and does not mind scanning receipts
Rakuten is good at:
Online shoppers that purchase in large quantities or when there is a big sale
Individuals who like to use a set it and forget it method of browser extensions
Individuals that can wait a few months to receive a larger payout
Which one should you use?
The solution: you do not have to make a choice.
These apps do not compete directly, they are ideal partners. Use Ibotta when you go to the grocery store, and use Rakuten when you shop online. They combined can take care of the majority of your shopping needs and save you extra money with ease.
In some cases, the most intelligent savings plan is not to use one or the other, but to know how to use both to your advantage.
To begin to save without thinking too much, install both applications today and allow your daily purchases to work in your favor.