Shopkick is a shopping app that rewards users for making purchases and performing certain tasks while shopping.
With over 20 million active users, Shopkick is quickly becoming one of the most popular shopping apps on the market. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Shopkick and how to maximize your savings with the app.
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What is Shopkick?
Shopkick is a free mobile app available on both iOS and Android devices. The app rewards users with “kicks,” which are essentially points that can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon, Target, and Starbucks.
Users earn kicks by performing various tasks, such as visiting participating stores, scanning barcodes, and making purchases using a linked debit or credit card.
Getting Started with Shopkick and The Shopkick App
If you’re interested in earning rewards for your shopping habits, Shopkick is an app that you’ll want to download. It’s easy to get started with Shopkick and start earning kicks (the app’s currency) that you can redeem for gift cards to popular retailers. Here’s how to get started:
- Download the Shopkick App: Shopkick is a free app that’s available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store to get started.
- Create an Account: Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll need to create an account. You can sign up with your Facebook account or enter your email address and create a password.
- Start Earning Kicks: Once you’ve created an account, you can start earning kicks. There are several ways to earn kicks within the app, including scanning barcodes of eligible products, making purchases with a linked credit card, and referring friends to the app.
Using Shopkick at the Store
There are several ways to earn kicks with Shopkick while at the store:
- Walk into Stores: One of the easiest ways to earn kicks is by simply walking into participating stores. When you enter a store, the app will automatically detect your location and credit your account with kicks.
- Scan Barcodes: Another way to earn kicks is by scanning barcodes of selected products within participating stores. Simply scan the barcode with your phone’s camera and earn kicks instantly.
- Make Purchases: You can also earn kicks by making purchases at participating stores. To do this, you’ll need to link your debit or credit card to your Shopkick account. Once you’ve made a qualifying purchase, your account will be credited with kicks.
Using Shopkick Online
In addition to earning kicks at participating stores, you can also earn kicks for online purchases. To earn kicks for online purchases, start by opening the Shopkick app and selecting the “Earn” tab. From there, select the “Online” option and browse available offers.
When you find an offer you want to take advantage of, click through to the retailer’s website and complete your purchase. You’ll earn kicks for your purchase within a few days.
Here are some tips for using Shopkick online:
- Check the Offers: Before you make an online purchase, check the “Earn” tab in the app to see what offers are available. You may be able to earn more kicks by making purchases at specific retailers or by spending a certain amount of money.
- Link Your Credit Card: To earn kicks for online purchases, you’ll need to link a credit or debit card to your Shopkick account. This allows the app to track your purchases and credit your account with kicks.
- Click Through the App: To ensure you earn kicks for your online purchase, be sure to click through to the retailer’s website from within the Shopkick app. This will ensure that your purchase is tracked and that you receive your kicks.
- Be Patient: It can take a few days for kicks to be credited to your account for online purchases. Be patient and wait for the kicks to show up in your account.
Earning Bonuses with Shopkick
Shopkick offers several ways to earn bonus kicks, including:
- Referring Friends: Refer friends to Shopkick and earn bonus kicks when they sign up and start using the app.
- Completing Bonuses: Shopkick offers bonus kicks for completing certain tasks within the app, such as making a purchase at a specific retailer.
- Daily Walk-In Kicks: Visit participating stores and open the Shopkick app to earn daily walk-in kicks.
- Monthly Bonus Kicks: Earn bonus kicks for reaching certain milestones within the app, such as scanning a certain number of barcodes.
What Are Shopkick Extensions and How to Use Them
Shopkick offers several browser extensions that can help you earn more kicks while shopping online. Here’s how to use them:
- Install the Extension: To use a Shopkick extension, start by installing it on your web browser. Shopkick offers extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
- Activate the Extension: Once you’ve installed the extension, make sure it’s activated in your web browser. You should see the Shopkick logo in your browser toolbar.
- Browse Online Retailers: With the extension activated, you can browse online retailers as you normally would. If a retailer is offering kicks for purchases, you’ll see a notification from Shopkick in the corner of your browser.
- Click to Activate: When you see a notification from Shopkick, click on it to activate the offer. You’ll be taken to the retailer’s website, and your purchase will be tracked by Shopkick.
- Make a Purchase: Complete your purchase as you normally would. Shopkick will track your purchase and credit your account with kicks within a few days.
How Much Money Can I Really Save with Shopkick?
The amount of money you can save with Shopkick varies depending on how often you use the app, how many kicks you earn, and what rewards you redeem. Kicks can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers, which can help offset the cost of future purchases.
To give you an idea of the earning potential, here are some examples of how many kicks you can earn and how much they’re worth:
- Scanning items in-store: You can earn anywhere from 10 to 150 kicks for scanning products in-store, depending on the product and the retailer. This means you can earn up to $0.60 for scanning one product.
- Making purchases: You can earn a certain number of kicks for making purchases at participating retailers, usually around 1 to 10 kicks per dollar spent. This means you can earn up to $1 for spending $100.
- Referring friends: You can earn 250 kicks for each friend you refer who signs up and uses Shopkick.
The amount you can save also depends on what rewards you redeem. For example, a $5 gift card to a popular retailer typically costs 500 kicks, while a $10 gift card may cost 1,000 kicks. This means you can save anywhere from $0.05 to $0.10 per kick depending on the reward you choose.
Overall, the amount you can save with Shopkick depends on how often you use the app, how many kicks you earn, and what rewards you redeem. If you use Shopkick regularly and take advantage of all the earning opportunities, you can save a significant amount of money over time.
So Is Shopkick Worth It?
Whether Shopkick is worth it depends on how you use it and how much time you’re willing to invest in earning kicks. If you’re already shopping at the retailers that offer kicks, then using Shopkick can be an easy way to earn rewards for something you’re already doing. Plus, the rewards can add up over time and be redeemed for gift cards or other items.
However, if you’re only using Shopkick to earn rewards, you may find that the time investment isn’t worth the reward payout. Earning kicks can require some effort, such as scanning products or visiting stores, and the rewards may not be worth the time you put in.
Overall, Shopkick is worth it if you’re already shopping at the participating retailers and don’t mind putting in some extra effort to earn rewards. But if you’re only using the app for rewards, it may not be the most efficient use of your time.
Tips for Maximizing Your Shopkick Experience
If you want to get the most out of Shopkick, here are some tips to help you maximize your earnings:
- Check for Deals: Always check the app for deals and special offers before you shop. This way, you can earn more kicks for the products you’re already planning to buy.
- Visit Stores: When you’re out and about, take advantage of the location-based offers by visiting stores and scanning products.
- Refer Friends: Shopkick offers referral bonuses for inviting friends to use the app. Take advantage of this by sharing your referral link on social media or with friends and family.
- Use Extensions: Use the Shopkick browser extensions to earn more kicks while shopping online.
- Combine with Other Offers: You can use Shopkick in conjunction with other coupon and cashback apps to maximize your savings.
Shopkick Common Questions and Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some common questions and troubleshooting tips to help you get the most out of Shopkick:
How long does it take to receive my rewards?
Most rewards are processed within 24-48 hours, but some can take up to a week.
How do I redeem my kicks?
You can redeem your kicks for gift cards to popular retailers within the app.
What if I forget to scan a barcode?
Unfortunately, you won’t earn any kicks for the product if you forget to scan the barcode.
What if I don’t receive kicks for a purchase?
If you don’t receive kicks for a qualifying purchase, contact Shopkick customer support for assistance.
What Shopkick Alternatives Are There?
While Ibotta is a popular and well-established cashback app, there are several other alternatives you might want to consider. Here are some of the most popular Ibotta alternatives:
Rakuten (formerly Ebates): This app offers cashback on online purchases, as well as in-store purchases when you link a credit card. Rakuten also offers coupon codes for additional savings.
Honey: This browser extension automatically applies coupon codes at checkout to help you save money on online purchases. Honey also offers a cashback program called Honey Gold.
Checkout 51: This app offers cashback on grocery purchases, as well as select household items and personal care products.
Dosh: This app offers cashback on purchases made with linked credit or debit cards, as well as travel bookings and hotel stays.
Fetch Rewards: This app offers cashback on grocery purchases, as well as select household and personal care products.
Ibotta: Ibotta is a free-to-download app that offers cashback on everyday purchases. From groceries to clothing to online shopping, Ibotta has partnered with over 1,500 retailers to give you cashback on your purchases. Read Our Review
Each of these apps has its own unique features and rewards program, so it’s worth exploring which ones might be the best fit for your needs and shopping habits.
In Conclusion
Shopkick is an excellent app for anyone looking to save money while shopping. With various ways to earn kicks and redeem them for gift cards to popular retailers, Shopkick is an easy way to earn rewards for purchases you’re already making.
By following the tips and tricks in this ultimate guide, you can maximize your savings and get the most out of the app.