The 10+ Best Ways To Scan Barcodes For Money
When we head to the store for a shopping trip, it's almost always to spend money. After all, that's what shopping is all about, right?
Well, for savvy shoppers, a trip to the local grocery store or mall might not cost anything. In fact, it can turn into a pretty lucrative way to make extra cash.
That's because there are several ways to scan barcodes for money that you can use to make money the next time you're at the store. So, if you're ready to make money scanning barcodes, the following apps and tricks are for you.
How To Make Money Scanning Barcodes
If you want to make money with your phone by scanning barcodes, there are plenty of options out there:
Table of Contents
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular get-paid-to website that I've been using since college to make money online. And it's one of the largest, global rewards websites out there.
One advantage of Swagbucks is that it lets you make money in a variety of ways, including:
- Answering surveys for money
- Shopping online
- Playing games
- Watching videos
- Downloading apps
However, in recent years, Swagbucks has added new ways to earn money for scanning receipts. This lets you turn a shopping trip into cash and free gift cards, and it's incredibly easy to get started. All you have to do is sign up for Swagbucks and use Swagbucks Magic Receipt to get paid for your receipts.
You can also earn points for buying sponsored products. But I like Swagbucks since it pays you for uploading receipts with everyday essentials and groceries, so it's easy to earn.
2. Nielsen Homescan
Nielsen Homescan is one of the highest paying apps in this category, so I definitely recommend checking it out.
This app is available in Canada, the United States, and Australia. And, like NCPMobile, it's another way to get paid to scan barcodes and share information about the products you buy most often.
Nielsen is actually a massive market research company that's known for its TV ratings. And it has an awesome passive income app called Nielsen Panel that pays you for sharing data about how you browse the web.
But with Nielsen Homescan, you get paid to scan barcodes of products you purchase each month. You generally earn $5 to $15 a month depending on how much you scan.
This won't make you rich, but hey, it's free money. And if you live in North America, this is one of the best apps in my experience since it pays out consistently.
3. Shopkick
Shopkick is a popular rewards app has numerous ways to earn, including scanning barcodes, walking into stores, purchasing sponsored products, and watching ads.
Shopkick is basically a mix between a mystery shopping app and rewards app. And I like it because it offers so many ways to earn points. Plus, you can redeem your points for various free gift cards starting at only $2. PayPal cash is also a reward option as well.
Barcode scanning gigs don't pay too much on apps like Shopkick. But if you add in the other earning methods, a single shopping trip can pay a few dollars.
Pro Tip: Sign up and use my promo code TOW to get a $5 bonus after you earn your first kicks!
4. InboxDollars
Like Swagbucks, InboxDollars is another popular survey website that pays you for completing short online tasks.
The main ways to make money with InboxDollars are paid surveys, paid gaming offers, and video ads. However, it also lets you make money scanning barcodes with its ScanSense feature.
With ScanSense, InboxDollars highlights nearby stores and products where you can scan barcodes to get paid. And this is one of my new favorite features about this website.
Most of the barcode scans only pay $0.05 to $0.10. But if you're shopping at one of these stores anyways, you might as well get paid! Plus, some stores have multiple items, so you might be able to scan five to ten barcodes to make a quick buck.
As for rewards, InboxDollars lets you redeem free gift cards and PayPal money. The minimum cash out requirement is $10 for prizes like Amazon gift cards and $15 for PayPal cash. Plus, you get a $5 sign up bonus which is pretty sweet!
5. NCPMobile
One of the best apps to make money scanning barcodes is NCPMobile, which stands for National Consumer Panel.
This free app is available for Android and iOS. Once you download the app, you answer a short survey about your household and then you're ready to earn!
To get paid to scan barcodes, all you have to do is use the in-app scanner on the barcodes of products you purchase. This is exactly like scanning products at the store with an in-store scanner. But all you have to do is use the camera on your phone, so you're not paying for any scanning equipment.
Once you scan something, you enter the store you bought it at and then complete a short product survey. This pays you with points that are redeemable for free gift cards and merchandise prizes.
You need to scan about 40 barcodes to earn your first $10 reward. But in terms of getting paid to shop and scan barcodes, this app is a must-have.
6. Ibotta
While Ibotta works a bit differently than most apps on this list, I wanted to include it since it's one of the best grocery rebate apps out there.
With Ibotta, you get paid to shop for products from hundreds of partner brands. You then scan your receipt to earn cash back, so it's a bit different from scanning barcodes.
I like using apps like Ibotta in combination with the other apps on this list so I save money in a few ways. And I also like Ibotta since it often has a $20 sign up bonus you can claim by completing a few shopping offers.
7. Premise
Premise is a popular mystery shopping company that pays you for completing short tasks in your city. So, if you want to get paid to scan barcodes and explore the area you live in, it's an excellent app to try.
Cash gigs on Premise vary, but some of the main ways to make money with this app include:
- Taking photos of store displays
- Taking photos of buildings
- Confirming prices of items
- Scanning barcodes of in-store products
Most gigs pay a few dollars, but some photo ones can pay $5 to $10+ depending on how many steps there are. And the barcode scanning tasks sometimes pay a few dollars since you have to submit some product and pricing information as well.
You can cash out with PayPal or Bitcoin once you earn $10. And Premise is available in over 120 countries, so it's very globally-friendly.
8. Fetch Rewards
Do you do most of the grocery shopping for your household? If so, one app that deserves a download is Fetch Rewards.
This grocery rewards app pays you with points for scanning your everyday grocery receipts. And you can cash out points for dozens of free gift cards starting at only $3.
What's nice about Fetch Rewards is that it pays you as long as products from partner brands appear on a receipt. And it works with dozens of well-known brands like:
- Betty Crocker
- Cheerios
- Chex
- Huggies
- Gatorade
- General Mills
- Lipton
- Pepsi
This isn't a direct way to make money scanning barcodes since it relies on receipts instead. But again, it's super easy to earn something for almost any grocery shopping trip.
9. Grocery Store Jobs
Grocery stores are almost always hiring for new cashiers, shelf stockers, managers, and specific departments like produce and deli. And if you need a second job or are looking for employment, this could be a great fit.
Many of these jobs pay minimum wage or a few dollars more. And you can even get certain benefits if you land a full-time job with a large enough retailer.
Pro Tip: You can also consider becoming an Instacart Shopper if you want to get paid to shop for people's groceries and have access to a vehicle. This gig easily pays $15 to $20+ per hour, and it's one of the most popular driving apps that pays.
10. Amazon Shopper Panel
If you're wondering how to make money scanning barcodes for Amazon, one nifty app you can use is the Amazon Shopper Panel.
Like Fetch Rewards, this app pays you for uploading your everyday shopping receipts with the in-app scanner. However, Amazon Shopper Panel pays you $10 in Amazon gift cards as long as you upload at least 10 receipts per month.
This is $120 per year in free Amazon gift cards. And you can also answer short in-app surveys to earn even more. There's currently a waiting list for this app, and it's only available in the United States, which are two downsides.
However, you can also earn money scanning Amazon receipts by trying out other Amazon hustles, like Amazon FBA. But to keep things simple, I suggest starting with its reward app and the other apps on this list.
11. Target Circle
One final way you can make money by scanning barcodes is to use the Target Circle app.
This rewards app is for loyal Target customers who want to save more money and unlock unique perks when shopping at Target.
For starters, Target Circle members earn 1% cash back when shopping at Target. You also get exclusive deals, coupons, and a 5% birthday discount. However, you can actually save a lot of money by saving Target Circle offers to your account. When you check out, just ask the cashier to scan the barcode of the Target Circle offer on your phone.
This simple step can help you save a considerable amount at Target. And new, exclusive deals get released all the time, so you can likely save money each week.
Extra Reading – The Best Apps That Pay Real Money Instantly.
Tips For Getting Started
Now that you know some of the best ways to scan barcodes for money, here are some tips that I've found helpful to maximize rewards:
- Test Multiple Apps: Testing several apps is the best way to scan barcodes for money since you can cherry pick the highest-paying offer in each app. So, try apps like Swagbucks, Target Circle, and Fetch Rewards. Over time, you'll find the apps that work best for you and your shopping habits.
- Still Have A Budget: Buying sponsored products to earn cash back can be a great idea. However, it's still important to stick to a general budget so you avoid overspending and only buy what you need.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Ultimately, this isn't a high-paying side hustle. You can probably make $5 to $20 a month by scanning barcodes for cash, so have realistic expectations.
Extra Reading – The Best Apps Like Fetch Rewards.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide on how to scan barcodes for money helps you earn some free gift cash and cash while buying the products you love most.
Honestly, this type of side hustle won't pay a lot. But if you're consistent, you can definitely make a quick $5 to $10 in your spare time. Plus, many of these platforms also offer other ways to earn. If you want to make money online as a beginner, this could be an excellent starting point.
Happy shopping, and thanks for reading!
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