Hey everyone, I’ve been messing around with rewards apps for a while now, and Shopkick is one of the few that’s stuck with me long-term. I’ve been using it regularly for over two years, and in that time I’ve cashed out more than $200 in free gift cards (and a bit of PayPal cash). It’s not going to make you rich, but it’s legitimately one of the easiest ways I’ve found to get something back from everyday shopping trips—especially because you can earn points without even buying anything.
I wanted to write this up like a mini case study of my own experience: how the app actually works in real life, what I’ve earned, the smartest ways to use it, and whether it’s worth your time in 2026.
What Makes Shopkick Different
Most cashback apps (Ibotta, Rakuten, Fetch, etc.) only pay when you actually buy something. Shopkick is unique because a big chunk of the points come from things like simply walking into stores or scanning barcodes on shelves. Retailers pay Shopkick to get you in the door, and Shopkick passes some of that money to you in the form of “kicks” (their points system).
- 250 kicks = $1
- So 1 kick ≈ $0.004
Lower-effort tasks pay 1–80 kicks, while receipt uploads for specific offers can pay 500–1,000+ kicks.
My Personal Earnings Breakdown
Over two years of casual use (no grinding, just incorporating it into normal shopping):
- Total earned: >$200 in gift cards + some PayPal
- Fastest early win: Claimed the welcome bonus (500 kicks = $2 gift card) on day one by walking into a store and scanning one item
- Biggest single payouts: Receipt offers (e.g., 750 kicks for Degree deodorant at Walmart)
- Passive earners: Walk-ins and scans while doing regular grocery or Target runs
Redemptions start small:
- 500 kicks → $2 gift cards (Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc.)
- 1,250 kicks → more options unlock
- PayPal cash: 2,550 kicks for $10 or 6,300 kicks for $25 (includes a small 50-kick fee)
Gift cards arrive in my email in about two minutes after redeeming—one of the fastest I’ve seen.
How I Actually Earn Kicks (Real-Life Examples)
- Walk-Ins – My favorite passive method Turn on location services, walk into a partner store (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.), and get 10–250 kicks instantly. No purchase needed. This alone got me my first gift card.
- Barcode Scans While in the store, scan featured products on the shelf. Usually 5–45 kicks each, occasionally up to 80. Scans are limited across all users, so I grab them early when they pop up.
- Receipt Uploads (Deals) Biggest payouts here. Buy a featured item, snap a photo of the receipt, upload—done. I’ve stacked these with other apps (more on that below).
- Online Shopping Shop through the app’s portal (similar to Rakuten). Kicks per dollar spent, credited within 72 hours.
- Smaller Extras
- Watch 15–30 second videos (1–3 kicks each)
- Link a Visa/Mastercard for automatic kicks on qualifying purchases (run as credit, not debit)
- Random promotions (I once got 50 kicks just for opening the app 7 days in a row)
- Occasional sweepstakes entries
Pro Tip: Stacking for Double Rewards
This is where it gets fun. I regularly “double dip” by submitting the same receipt to multiple apps. Recent example:
- Bought Degree women’s deodorant at Walmart
- 750 kicks ($3 value) from Shopkick
- Plus ~$0.75 from Fetch Rewards
- Total: $3.75 back on a single purchase
Is Shopkick Still Worth It in 2026?
Yes—if you already shop at partner stores. It won’t replace a side hustle, but it turns routine errands into free coffee, Amazon credit, or Target runs. I like that it rewards presence and engagement, not just spending.
If you want to try it, grab the app here: Download Shopkick (that’s my referral link). Use any current promo code you see at signup, and earn your first 10 kicks within 14 days to unlock the 500-kick welcome bonus (~$2 gift card). It’s an easy way to test it risk-free.
