How Does Shopkick Work? Save Money and Earn Rewards

I’ve always loved finding clever ways to save and get more bang for my buck. But recently, the cost of everything has gone up so much that I’m getting back into the habit of saving money as a necessity rather than a choice.

As I return back to my more ‘frugal by necessity’ roots, I’m super interested in trying out new apps and tools that can help me meet my goals. Shopkick is just one of these apps.

Shopkick is really a must whether you’re making online purchases or going to physical stores to buy groceries or items for your household. So how does Shopkick work and how can it help you as much as it’s helped me? It’s super easy, but first, let’s start with the basics

What Is Shopkick?

Shopkick is a fun and easy way to score free gift cards for the shopping you already do. Need to run to the store for cleaning products or garbage bags? Shopping online for electronics? Or, are you doing your weekly grocery run?

Using Shopkick can help you earn rewards for all these daily store runs or the online shopping you do. Shopkick doesn’t disrupt your daily schedule at all which is what I appreciate.

The app uses its own currency called “kicks”. You can earn kicks by performing in store actions which include:

• Simply walking into the store
• Scanning items with your phone
• Purchasing products and uploading your receipt

When you’re shopping online, you earn kicks for every $1 spent. How Shopkick works is similar to other rewards apps that pay you rebates to shop. Or, you can compare it to a typically cash back credit card that rewards users for purchases in specific categories.

But with Shopkick, you can visit your favorite stores locally and online and earn kicks. Some of these retailers include (but aren’t limited to):

• CVS
• Walgreens
• Sam’s Club
• Walmart
• Target
• Ulta Beauty
• Bed Bath and Beyond
• Dollar General
• Kroger
• Publix

***Start off with an instant reward of $5 in free kicks when you sign up and enter my promo code: EPIPHANY

How to Use Shopkick

Shopkick has two main features: Nearby and Online.

The Nearby feature lets you earn rewards when you visit local stores. You’ll earn kicks by just walking into the store, scanning certain products, and even by uploading your receipt.

You’ll need to turn on your location settings to earn kicks this way. I just allow location tracking while I’m using the app only and not when I don’t have the app open and this does the trick.

In order to earn kicks with your receipts, you can claim kicks for certain products found in the app under the store you’re visiting. Then, just upload your receipt to verify that you made those purchases.

The online feature awards you with kicks per $1 spent. Just open the app and click on your store of choice to see the kicks reward offer. Then, just click ‘Shop Online’ and it will redirect you to the online store to do your normal shopping.

There’s no need to add any special codes or do anything else. Once you’ve made your purchase, your kicks earned will be reflected in you Shopkick balance.

Additional Ways to Earn

You can also earn kicks by linking a credit or debit card in the app. Just use your linked card to pay for purchases at participating retailers and you’ll get kids for every dollar your spend. Just be sure to choose the ‘credit’ option if you’re checking out with a debit card.

Another option to earn kicks is to use the Discover tab in the app which allows you to browse more offers and watch short videos to earn kicks.

How Much Are Kicks Worth?

Kicks add up to actual cash rewards. About 250 kicks = $1 and you can start redeeming your kicks for gift cards once you have 500 kicks. Keep in mind that the minimum amount required to redeem may vary per retailer though.

There are 40+ gift card options to choose from including PayPal, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, and Amazon. When you earn kicks through retailers, you may see them pending but Shopkick will let you know when they’re available to be added to your account. This is usually within 24 hours.

Shopkick Codes

I have a promo code for Shopkick that gives you your first $5 in kicks for free. Just download the Shopkick app, login, and add the promo code: EPIPHANY to get your $5 reward.

Is Shopkick Legit?

Yes, Shopkick has been around since 2009 and paid out rewards to millions of people across the country. In 2019, Shopkick was acquired by Trax, the world’s leading provider of computer vision solutions and analytics for retail.

Shopkick is headquartered in San Mateo, California and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

How to Get Started with Shopkick

Thinking of giving Shopkick a try? It’s pretty easy.

1. Just start by downloading the app in the Google Play or App Store.
2. Then, you’ll be prompted to create a log in via email, Facebook, or Gmail.

3. Be sure to make sure your settings allow you to use the Nearby feature to earn kicks. You also may want to opt in to receiving notifications about deals and offers so you boost your kicks.

4. Start shopping and earning kicks!

Don’t forget to earn your free $5 in kicks!

Once you’re logged in. Click on the blue box that says ‘Friend referral’ and add my promo code: EPIPHANY to earn your free bonus.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, if you’re not using Shopkick, you’re missing out. You’re already shopping at local stores or making purchases online. Shopkick makes it easy to earn rewards for your everyday spending.

Plus, I find this app to come in really handy around the holidays to help me earn kicks on all of my shopping so I can earn gift cards and cash via PayPal.

But I encourage you to try it out for yourself to see how it works. Be sure to use my promo code, EPIPHANY, when signing up to get your $5 bonus. Don’t forget to let me know what you think!