Mar 29, 2025

By Courtney Frazer, Bankrate.com High food prices have American families feeling the pinch — grocery trips cost around 20% more than they did four years ago. Not only are outright costs higher, but shoppers are also dealing with “shrinkflation,” where products shrink in size while maintaining their price point. There are ways to save other than opting for generic brands or skipping meat. Smartphone apps can help you save on your monthly grocery bill with loyalty programs, cash-back rewards, digital coupons and app-only savings. Top food savings apps 1. Ibotta Ibotta is one of the most popular cash-back apps available. It’s known for offering cash-back rewards on everyday purchases at major retailers like Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. The app is simple to use, but you have to plan ahead: Users select offers before shopping and earn rewards by scanning receipts afterward. Its browser extension enables cash back on online grocery purchases, and partnerships with retailers provide exclusive deals on essential household items. Pros •The interface can be overwhelming with numerous offers 2. Fetch Rewards Fetch allows users to earn points on any receipt from grocery stores, pharmacies and even gas stations, making it a versatile option for shoppers. You can earn points on over 600 brands, including Huggies, General Mills and L’Oréal. Unlike some other cash-back apps, Fetch doesn’t require users to select offers before shopping. Instead, you can scan any eligible receipt and automatically earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon, Target and Starbucks. Pros •Compatible with hundreds of retailers •Bonus points available through referrals Cons •Gift card redemption only 3. Flipp Flipp is like a digital coupon clipper — it compiles weekly ads and sales from major stores like Whole Foods and Walmart in one easy-to-use app. You can search for specific items, compare prices across stores and see the best current promotions based on your shopping list, making it valuable for strategic grocery planning. Pros •Integrates with loyalty programs, allowing users to clip digital coupons directly from ads •Reduces the need for multiple apps by combining local deals and digital coupons in one place Cons •May not include all local stores •Deals are limited to specific weekly promotions 4. Checkout 51 Checkout 51 offers weekly cash-back deals across various stores and brands. It works similarly to Ibotta in that users have to choose offers before shopping, but it has a slightly different selection of offers. Related Articles •Seasonal promotions often boost cash-back percentages on select items Cons •High cash-out minimum 5. Coupons.com Coupons.com streamlines digital coupon usage by connecting with store loyalty cards for automatic savings at checkout. The platform offers both digital and printable coupons across various brands and retailers, such as Amazon and Thrive Market, as well as popular restaurants like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Pizza Hut. It’s a solid option if you enjoy the simplicity of using coupons without the hassle of clipping. Pros •Wide variety of frequently updated coupons •Convenient and user-friendly, with no need for physical coupons at participating stores Cons •Some coupons have restrictions or expiration dates •Requires keeping track of coupon terms 6. Kroger App The Kroger App provides exclusive discounts, digital coupons and personalized savings offers for shoppers who frequent Kroger and its affiliated stores, such as Harris Teeter and Ralph’s. The platform integrates with the store’s loyalty program and includes fuel rewards for additional savings. Pros •Integrated fuel rewards for added savings •Allows users to scan receipts to earn additional rewards on select items, boosting the overall value Cons •Not all promotions are available in every local store •Some benefits may be too store-specific 7. Target Circle Target Circle combines the retailer’s loyalty program with exclusive discounts and rewards. Members can save money on a variety of grocery items and other household essentials, and the app frequently features special offers and bonuses for members. Pros •Easy to use for both in-store and online shopping •Allows users to participate in community support by voting on charities Cons •Some offers have minimum purchase requirements 8. RetailMeNot RetailMeNot offers a wide variety of coupons and cash-back opportunities for restaurants and local services. The platform supports over 20,000 stores and restaurants, and users can make in-store and online purchases. Pros •In-store and online coupons, plus a cash-back portal for extra savings •User-friendly with easy access to deals for a variety of needs and preferences Cons •Limited cash-back features 9. Krazy Coupon Lady The Krazy Coupon Lady’s app makes you feel like you’re being let in on a secret. The app shows users how to combine deals to get grocery and home items (along with lots of other products) for free — or even more than 100% off. For example, if you combine a store coupon with a deal in another cash-back app, you may end up spending nothing for the item. It will take some work because the deals are for lots of different stores, but if you have the time, this app may make it worth it. Pros •Search by favorite store or type of product you’re looking for •Create shopping lists to track your deals Cons •Takes some work to track all of the money-saving opportunities •The website has a lot of pop-up ads 10. Too Good To Go Too Good To Go is a unique app that helps users save on food by purchasing surplus from local restaurants and bakeries at a discount. Users can pick up these surplus meals at a reduced price, making it both budget-friendly and environmentally friendly. Pros •Environmentally friendly, contributing to sustainability efforts by repurposing food that would otherwise go to waste •Variety of meal options from local businesses Cons •Meal options are unpredictable because users get a Surprise Bag Next steps With food prices continuing to rise, these money-saving apps offer practical solutions to stretch your grocery budget further. The best approach may be to combine several apps based on your shopping habits — you could use Flipp to plan your shopping trips, a cash-back app like Ibotta or Fetch to earn rewards on purchases, and store-specific apps for retailers you frequent most. You can start by downloading one or two apps that align with your shopping patterns, then track your savings for a month. Remember that the biggest savings come from strategic planning. Taking a few minutes before each shopping trip to load offers and check for deals can translate to hundreds of dollars saved annually. ©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.