Fetch grants rewards for any receipt that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). Fetch is number one on my risk-free receipt scanning apps list because it is very easy to use and all receipts are accepted. The minimum reward per receipt is 25 points, but you can earn bonus points for purchasing promotional items. Once you earn 5,000 points, you can redeem them for a reward. The approximate exchange rate is 960 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Look for bonus items. Sometimes, items are free after points.
• Physical receipts must be snapped within 14 days of the checkout date listed on them.
• You can snap up to 35 receipts on a 7-day rolling period on Fetch.

If Fetch sounds good to you, check it out here.

Receipt Hog grants rewards for most receipts that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). Receipt Hog would be number one on my risk-free receipt scanning apps list because the exchange rate is fantastic, but there are short surveys you have to fill out after each scan. Thus, scanning receipts on this app takes more time and effort than Fetch. Once you earn 1,000 points, you can redeem them for a $5 PayPal payout or $5 Amazon gift card. The approximate exchange rate is 1,000 points = $5.00. Receipt Hog is pretty easy to earn rewards so long as you scan consistently.

Tips

• Scan consistently to earn bonus points and “spin the slot” turns.
• Per week, users can submit up to a total of 60 paper receipts.  
• Receipts must be uploaded to Receipt Hog within exactly 14 days, of the receipt’s transcription date/time (*EST Time) to qualify for rewards.

If Receipt Hog sounds good to you, check it out here.

Coin Out grants rewards for any receipts that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). Coin Out rewards a few points per receipt. Once you have earned $20, you can redeem your earnings through a PayPal payout. Once you earn 3,000 points, you can redeem them for a reward. The approximate exchange rate is 1,000 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Check out cashback offers to earn even more points!

If Coin Out sounds good to you, check it out here.

Merryfield grants rewards for any receipt that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). The minimum reward per receipt is 10 points, but you can earn bonus points for purchasing promotional items. Once you earn 5,000 points, you can redeem them for a reward. The approximate exchange rate is 1,000 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Buy “healthy” food promotional items to earn extra points.
• You can only scan 10 receipts per week.
• Receipts must be scanned within 7 days of the purchase date.
• The app can be a little slow and glitchy, so be selective about which receipts to scan (e.g., only scan receipts with bonus points).

If Merryfield sounds good to you, check it out here.

Receipt Jar grants rewards for any receipt that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). The minimum reward per receipt is 5 points, and you can earn up to 120 points per week. Once you earn 1,000 points, you can redeem them for $5.00 cash or gift card. The approximate exchange rate is 200 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Connect your online shopping accounts to earn for online purchases, too!
• Scan receipts during the week for faster loading times. On Sundays, this app is very slow.

If Receipt Jar sounds good to you, check it out here. Then enter my referral code for a bonus: JENH3BQV

While Pogo is number 6 on my risk-free receipt scanning app list, this app is one of my top choices for earning cashback. Scanning paper receipts is just an added perk that Pogo added a couple years after I started using the app. Pogo only grants 10 points per paper receipt, but since I pay for almost everything using credit cards to earn cashback, I also earn points on Pogo through those linked credit cards for the same purchases. The exchange rate is 1,000 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Link your bank accounts and credit cards so that you earn for all of your purchases.
• Turn on location permissions so that you earn for visiting certain retailers.
• Install the Chrome extension for more points and cashback every time you shop online.
• Receipts can be no older than 14 calendar days from the purchase date to be eligible for receipt scanning rewards.

If Pogo sounds good to you, check it out here.

Receipt Pal was one of the first risk-free receipt scanning apps I ever used. You can scan most receipts (e.g., retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). The minimum reward per receipt is 25 points. Once you earn 2,200 points, you can redeem them for a $5 Amazon gift card. The approximate exchange rate is 400 points = $1.00. While, the exchange rate is better than Fetch, Receipt Pal limits the time period for permitted receipts and allows fewer receipt scans per month.

Tips

• Scan receipts during the week for faster loading times. On Sundays, this app is very slow.
• You can submit any receipts for purchases made between Sunday and Saturday of any week must be submitted by the Tuesday of the following week. 

If Receipt Pal sounds good to you, check it out here.

Ibotta is one of the original risk-free receipt scanning apps and the first one I used. Ibotta grants rewards for scanning receipts with promotional items. Prior to shopping or scanning, you have to add offers to your preferred store(s). The earnings are pretty low unless you actually buy the promotional items. Since I’m a savvy shopper, I tend to buy items that are still lower priced than the promotional items, even after cashback. Thus, I mostly earn from the “any item” options. For a couple of stores I linked my store shopping card so rewards are automatic (as long as I, manually, add the offers).

Ibotta takes a little more work than the other receipt scanning apps, but since I’m already scanning receipts, this app can be worth my time. Some of the cashback offers on alcohol tend to be pretty high too. There is a $20 cash out minimum to PayPal, so if you’re not purchasing the promotional items don’t expect to cash out very often. I cash out about twice a year.

Tips

• Add offers to your preferred store ahead of time, especially for those with linked shopping cards.
• Look for “any item” and “free after offer” items.
• To receive cash back for an in-store purchase through Ibotta, you must submit a paper receipt within seven days of the purchase date.

If Ibotta sounds good to you, check it out here.

SwagBucks is both a risk-free receipt scanning apps and one of many Prodege sites that I call a Variety Site where you can earn rewards through a variety of tasks. SwagBucks grants at least 2 points for most receipts that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). You can earn bonus points for promotional items, but as I noted for Ibotta, the promo items are usually more expensive than what I typically buy.

Once you reach 110 points, you can redeem your points for a $1 Amazon gift card. However, it’s better to wait until you have at least 300 points for $3 gift cards to a variety of retailers. As point redemptions increase so do gift card options. The minimum balance for PayPal is 500 points for $5. The exchange rate is approximately 100 points = $1.00.

Tips

• You can only scan each receipt on one Prodege app (i.e., InboxDollars, MyPoints, SwagBucks).
• Scan receipts to a Prodege app to help make your daily goal.
• If you wait until you have at least 1600 points to redeem points, the Visa Gift card typically has the best exchange rate (about 150 points/dollar).
• Magic receipts must be submitted within 10 days of purchase.

If SwagBucks sounds good to you, check it out here.

MyPoints is one of the original Prodege sites where you can earn through a variety of tasks. MyPoints grants at least 3 points for most receipts that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). You can earn bonus points for promotional items, but as I noted for Ibotta, the promo items are usually more expensive than what I typically buy.

Once you reach 480 points, you can redeem your points for a $3 Amazon gift card or a Dunkin Donuts gift card. At 800 points there are more retail gift card options. The minimum balance for PayPal is 1600 points for $10. The exchange rate is approximately 160 points = $1.00.

Tips

• You can only scan each receipt on one Prodege app (i.e., InboxDollars, MyPoints, SwagBucks).
• Scan receipts to a Prodege app to help make your daily goal.
• If you wait until you have at least 1600 points to redeem points, the Visa Gift card typically has the best exchange rate (about 150 points/dollar).
• Magic receipts must be submitted within 10 days of purchase.

If MyPoints sounds good to you, check it out here.

InboxDollars is a Prodege site and what I call a Variety Site where you can earn rewards through a variety of tasks. For receipt scanning, InboxDollars grants at least 2 points for most receipts that you scan (retail, gas, restaurant, etc.). You can earn bonus points for promotional items, but as I noted for Ibotta, the promo items are usually more expensive than what I typically buy.

Once you reach $10, you redeem your cash via PayPal or a $10 gift card to various retailers.

Tips

• You can only scan each receipt on one Prodege app (i.e., InboxDollars, MyPoints, SwagBucks).
• Scan receipts to a Prodege app to help meet your daily goal.
• Magic receipts must be submitted within 10 days of purchase.

If InboxDollars sounds good to you, check it out here.

Downtime Dollars like Prodege uses Magic Receipts to earn points for receipt scanning. For receipt scanning in Downtime Dollars, you must add bonus items to your shopping list. Then scan your receipts with those itemized products. Like the offers in the Prodege apps, these items are usually more expensive than what I typically buy.

Once you reach 5,000 points (or $5.00), you can redeem your points for gift cards to various retailers.

Tips

• Check in daily to earn bonus points on any tasks you complete.
• You can only scan each receipt on one Magic Receipts app (i.e., InboxDollars, MyPoints, SwagBucks).
• Magic receipts must be submitted within 10 days of purchase.
• Look for other ways to earn points in the app, like watching ads.

If Downtime Dollars sounds good to you, check it out here.

As mentioned in other posts, I prefer to earn points on ShopKick by watching ads. To earn points for receipts in ShopKick, you have to buy promotional items from specific stores. Again, as I noted for Ibotta, the promo items are usually more expensive than what I typically buy. However, it’s good to keep this app in mind just in case you do actually buy one of the promo items.

Once you reach 500 kicks, you can redeem your points for a $2 Target gift card. However, it’s better to wait until you have at least 1250 kicks for $5 gift cards to a variety of retailers. As point redemptions increase so do gift card options. The minimum balance for PayPal is 2550 kicks for $10. The exchange rate is approximately 255 points = $1.00.

Tips

• Play ads to earn extra kicks.
• Keep an eye out for promotional deals in Shopkick to maximize your rewards.
• Scan barcodes for items in stores to earn extra kicks (no need to purchase).

If Shopkick sounds good to you, check it out here.

While this app will not earn you any money, scanning receipts with promotional items is an easy way to send money to your favorite school(s). We all know that education is severely underfunded in the United States, and as an educator, that issue is close to my heart. Every penny for schools can make a difference. Since you only receive credit for scanning receipts with promotional items, look for the BoxTops icon on items that you buy. Then scan those receipts.

Tips

• Once you learn which items are BoxTops items, you can save time by only scanning those receipts rather than scanning all receipts and waiting for the app to find the bonus items.
• Scan any receipt to earn a sweepstakes entry for your school.

If you would like to earn money for a school using BoxTops, check it out here.

This is one of the easiest risk-free receipt scanning apps with a high reward to time spent ratio. You can also earn for taking short surveys. Recently, they updated terms and limited the types of receipts they accept, so the app does require a bit more effort to earn than when it was first released. The maximum reward you can earn is $10, but I am still earning close that every month even with the new terms. Simply scan eligible receipts month and your earnings will be deposited to your Amazon Gift Card amount at the beginning of the following month.

The biggest downside to Amazon Shopper Panel is that, you can only join through invitation. Even though I will not earn any referral points if you join, it would be unethical of me not to tell you about this awesome app.

Here’s the details from the app FAQ.

How do I sign up for the Amazon Shopper Panel? The Amazon Shopper Panel is available to a limited number of Amazon customers in the US. Customers receiving an invitation to join the panel can download the app from either the App Store or the Google Play Store. Customers who did not receive an invitation can download the app and check if space is available. If there is no space available, customers can join the waitlist and will be notified if a spot opens up.