Fetch Rewards Review: Is Scanning Receipts Worth It?
App review
Fetch Rewards Review:
Is Scanning Receipts Worth It?
Receipt scanning apps sound almost too simple: snap a picture of your receipt and earn rewards. Fetch Rewards is one of the most popular of these apps, and you have probably seen friends posting referral codes for it.
In this Fetch Rewards review, we look at how it works, how you get paid, what it realistically earns, and whether scanning receipts is worth the few seconds it takes.
At a glance
We use this
- You get paid
- Points for gift cards (about 1,000 points = $1)
- Effort
- Very low: 10 to 30 seconds per receipt
- Cash out from
- 3,000 points, about $3
- Good to know
- Bonus points come from partner brands, so earnings vary a lot
Our take: one of the easiest reward apps there is. Small rewards, almost no effort.
Try FetchUse code HT6KG when you sign up
Disclosure: some links in this post are referral links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a small bonus at no cost to you. We only share tools we would recommend to a friend.
What is Fetch Rewards?
Fetch Rewards (now often just called Fetch) is a free app that gives you points for scanning receipts. You can scan receipts from almost any store, including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and pharmacies.
Every eligible receipt earns a small number of points. You earn more when your receipt includes products from partner brands or when you complete special offers. Points are traded for gift cards and other rewards.
As a general guide, points are worth a fraction of a cent each, with about 1,000 points equal to $1.
How Fetch works, step by step
- Download the app and create an account. Fetch’s terms say you must be of legal adult age where you live.
- After you shop, open the app and snap a photo of your paper receipt. Long receipts can be captured in several photos.
- Optionally, connect your email and your Amazon account one time. Fetch then checks them throughout the day and finds your eReceipts from online orders, so you can add them with a couple of taps instead of photographing every one.
- The app reads the receipt and awards base points, plus bonus points for any partner brands or active offers.
- Once you have enough points, redeem them for a gift card or other reward.
Paper receipts must be scanned within 14 days of purchase, so scan soon after you shop.
Ways to earn on Fetch
Scanning everyday receipts
Small base points for almost any eligible receipt.
Partner brand bonuses
Extra points when you buy participating brands. You do not need to clip anything in advance for many of these.
Special offers
Limited-time offers for buying a specific product or spending a certain amount.
Digital receipts
Points for online orders when you link your email.
Referrals
Bonus points when a friend signs up with your code and scans a receipt.
Games and extras
The Fetch Play section offers points for playing mobile games. These can take a lot of time for the reward.
How you get paid
Gift cards
not cash
3,000 pts
about $3 to cash out
72 hrs
longest wait for a reward
Fetch does not pay cash. Its terms say points can’t be redeemed for cash, so you trade them for gift cards from many major retailers and restaurants, plus other rewards that change from time to time. Most rewards start at 3,000 points, which is about $3.
Most gift cards are electronic and arrive quickly, though Fetch says a redemption can take up to 72 hours to process.
What Fetch realistically pays
Fetch is a small-rewards app. Scanning every receipt you get might earn a typical family a few dollars a month in gift cards, sometimes more if you often buy partner brands or catch good offers.
That may not sound like much, but it requires almost no effort. Many moms let points build up and cash out once or twice a year for holiday gifts or back-to-school shopping.
From our family
We love getting the gift cards! Especially when we can get them just for scanning a receipt from something we already bought. We’ve used them for Christmas gifts, date nights, and fun adventures.
How much time does it take?
10 to 30seconds per receipt
Scanning a receipt takes about 10 to 30 seconds. If you scan every receipt as you unload groceries, you might spend a few minutes a week total. Games and app offers are where time can balloon, so be careful there.
Quick answers
Is Fetch Rewards legit?
Yes. It is a well-known app that pays out in gift cards and other rewards.
Can you scan old receipts?
Only within 14 days of purchase.
Is Fetch safe?
It is a legitimate company, but it does collect your purchase data. Review the privacy settings and policy before linking your email.
Fetch Rewards review: pros and cons
Pros
- Free and very easy to use.
- Works with receipts from almost any store, not just certain chains.
- No need to change what or where you buy.
- Points never require you to buy anything special.
- Good way to turn trash (receipts) into small rewards.
Cons
- Base points per receipt are very small.
- Rewards are mostly gift cards, not cash.
- Blurry or crumpled receipts may be rejected.
- The app collects shopping data, which some people are not comfortable with.
- Game and app offers can eat up time for small rewards.
Who Fetch suits
Fetch is perfect for moms who want an easy, no-effort way to earn a little back on everyday shopping. If you already keep receipts or can build a quick habit of scanning them, it adds up slowly. It is not a side hustle in any real sense, so do not expect meaningful income.
You can pair Fetch with other cash back and receipt apps. Many people scan the same receipt in more than one app, but check each app’s rules first.
If you are comparing money apps and side hustles, our Side Hustle Spotlights series breaks down time, effort, and realistic returns so you can choose where to focus.
Our verdict
Fetch is legitimate and one of the lowest-effort reward apps out there. It is worth downloading if you are fine with gift cards and okay with sharing shopping data. Just keep expectations small, skip the time-draining games, and let the points quietly build up.
Ready to try it?
Sign up with our code HT6KG and start earning points on receipts you already have.
Ready to learn more?
If you want to learn more about which money apps and side hustles are worth your time, join Money Magic for Moms and get access to all of our courses, including Side Hustle Spotlights, and everything else in our member library.
