Shopkick

 

Shopping apps have helped people across the world save money and score promotional offers near them.

 

I mean, who wouldn’t like to make a few extra bucks for doing something they were already doing? I’ll take a free cup of coffee any day!

 

Shopkick, a shopping app based in Silicon Valley, has helped users earn over $85 million in gift cards just by doing average shopping stuff. 

 

In this Shopkick review, we’ll be discussing the pros, cons, and all the fine details of this app to find out if it’s truly worth downloading. Be sure to read until the end to find out if Shopkick deserves a spot on your smartphone’s homescreen.

 

Let’s get started…

What is Shopkick?

Shopkick is a smartphone app that offers users the ability to earn points (or kicks as they call it) by scanning items, walking into certain stores, making purchases, visiting online partners, and more!

 

Founded in 2009, Shopkick has accumulated over 7.5 million users on their app, making them one of the largest shopping rewards apps. It is currently available on the App Store and Google Play Store, but is limited geographically because of the companies partnered with the app.

How Shopkick Works – How Do You Earn With Shopkick?

Shopkick has a few ways to earn kicks, which can be redeemed for gift cards at popular stores. Here are the ways you can earn kicks:

Walk-in Stores

You can earn kicks just by entering a store. That’s right, you don’t actually have to buy anything. Here’s how you do it:

 

1. Open the app
2. Make sure bluetooth, microphone, and wifi is enabled
3. Walk into a participating store
4. Your phone will automatically connect
5. Kicks will be awarded to your account

 

It’s that simple! Once you have everything enabled, all you’re really doing is opening the app and walking inside.

Scan Barcodes

When you’re in a store, you can scan items without having to purchase them and still earn kicks. Here’s how to scan barcodes:

 

1. Go to the “Earn” tab on the app
2. Select “Clicks Nearby”
3. Select the proper store address 
4. Tap the scan icon
5. Scan the barcode and earn kicks

 

Be sure to scan in good lighting while also double checking that you have the right store address and the right item as well.

Purchase with Linked Card

Making purchases in stores is as easy as linking a Visa or MasterCard to your account and waiting 24 hours for verification. Now anytime you shop at a qualifying store, you’ll automatically be rewarded for your purchase. The purchase only qualifies if it is a credit transaction, not debit.

 

Shopkick does not store any credit card information in their personal data base. They work with Visa and MasterCard to manage the credit card on file, so it is 100% safe to link your card.

Purchase and Upload Receipt

On top of using a card, you can also scan receipts to earn kicks. Here’s how to scan receipts:

 

1. Go to the “Earn” tab
2. Select “Kicks Nearby”
3. Choose your store
4. Select the “receipts” icon
5. Browse the list of items available

 

Once you have the list, you can see which items are eligible to earn kicks and make purchases accordingly.

Make Online Purchase

Making an online purchase can also earn you kicks as long as you shop directly through the Shopkick app. Once you have that open, here’s what you do:

 

1. Go to the “Earn” tab
2. Select “Kicks Online”
3. Make an online purchase
4. Earn kicks after 72 hour confirmation

 

This is the great thing about the Shopkick app. You can literally earn points whether you’re in-store, online, or just scanning things without spending a dime!

Watch Videos

Shopkick also includes in-app videos, which you can watch for a certain amount of kicks. Although these videos are easy to watch, the amount of kicks you earn from them won’t break the bank. They’re really useful to add a few more points to your account for doing virtually nothing.

Redeeming Kicks – What Shopkick Rewards are available?

One kick is worth $0.004, meaning every 250 kicks will give you $1 in gift cards. Here’s how you redeem the kicks for rewards:

 

1. Go to your Kicks Center
2. Select “See All Rewards”
3. Choose the reward you want
4. Select the amount
5. Tap “Redeem”

 

There are a lot of gift card options to choose from and you can choose to have your rewards sent as Paypal cash. Here are some of the gift card options available:

 

• Amazon
• Target
• Walmart
• Starbucks
• AMC
• Best Buy
• Sephora
• Ebay
• Uber
• Nike

 

There are many other gift card options available that you can see from the full list here. 

Which Stores Work with Shopkick?

Here are a few popular stores that work with Shopkick:

 

• Target
• CVS
• Marshalls
• Best Buy
• TJ Maxx

 

But before the list goes too long, you should note…

 

A lot of major retailers will have options, but offers change and it depends on your area. I recommend you download the app and see what’s available for yourself because that’ll really give you the most accurate answer.

How Much Can I Really Earn?

Well, that really depends on how often you shop or how invested you are into the app. As an example, we’re going to assume you went into a popular grocery store and did a quick shop:

(These are all averages)

 

Walking into a store: 25 kicks

Scan 3 Items: 90 kicks

Buy 1 Eligible Item: 200 kicks

Watch a video: 10 kicks

 

Total Kicks: 325 (Worth $1.30)

 

Keeping in mind that the minimum amount to redeem a gift card is $2, you won’t even reach that on an average day at the store. So depending on where you live and your shopping habits, expect to make no more than $5-$8 per week if that.

Extra Tips & Ways to Earn Kicks

You might find these few little tips to be useful in making extra kicks the next time you open your Shopkick app…

Turn On Notifications and Bluetooth

Turning on these 2 simple things will make it so that you never miss an offer again. You will be notified when there are specific promotions in your area and other easy ways to redeem.

 

Enabling bluetooth will allow you to walk into stores and immediately earn kicks for having the app open. Both of these options can be the difference between an extra gift card every week!

Shopkick Hidden Kicks

When you open the app, head over to the discover tab. Shopkick claims to have a little treasure hunt for you to find instant surprises which reward you with kicks for finding them.

 

What a fun and easy way to earn a few extra rewards!

Refer Friends

This is possibly the most underrated thing on the app! This had to be included in the Shopkick review to make sure you use it wisely!

 

If you refer your friends to use the app, you earn 250 kicks. You can invite up to 100 friends equating to 25,000 kicks! 

 

On top of that, you’ll earn a piece of your friends’ kicks when they earn, giving you even more points. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to earn free money.

Shopkick Pros

Shopkick has many amazing benefits. Here are a few pros of using the app:

 

• Free and easy to use
• You don’t have to spend to earn
• Make money doing something you were already doing
• Earn gift cards to your favorite stores
• Get notified about promotional offers
• Huge variety of rewards and ways to earn

Shopkick Cons

Everything has its disadvantages, but that doesn’t make it bad. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

 

• 1 Kick is only worth $0.004 
• You most likely won’t make more than $10 a week
• Not all stores are eligible
• Location matters 
• It may take a while to earn

 

All of these cons can honestly be looked over considering it’s completely free to use and doesn’t negatively affect you in any way (unless you live somewhere that you can’t earn).

Final Thoughts – Is Shopkick Worth It?

Can you quit your full time job? No. Can you save some money on your coffee every week? Absolutely!

 

The amount you earn is really predicated on the effort you’re willing to put into it. If you have the app open when you enter a store, scan a few items, and scan your receipt, you can definitely gain points. These points rack up long term and can eventually save you hundreds of dollars.

 

Remember, the app is free and you don’t have to go out of your way to earn kicks. You’re already going to be shopping and who doesn’t want to earn a gift card in the meantime?!

 

Here’s what I recommend…

 

Download the app. See if there are enough available stores near you to make it worth using. If there are, turn on your notifications, shop, and enjoy your points!

 

If not, you’re only missing out on less than $10 a week, and there are plenty of other passive income apps that will make that up.

 

Give it a try, it can’t hurt!