Receipt Scanning Apps in the US and Canada: What They Pay
By Laura Jordana · Editor
Published Oct 9, 2026 · 4 min read
In this guide
Receipt scanning apps pay you a little for photographing receipts you would have thrown away. Some reward any receipt; others pay only when the receipt shows a product on their offer list. The difference decides how much effort each one takes. This guide compares the main apps for the US shoppers using each company’s own help pages and app listings.
Two kinds of receipt apps
- Scan any receipt. You get a small reward for almost any purchase. Fetch, Receipt Hog, CoinOut and Caddle work this way, and Swagbucks Magic Receipts includes “any receipt” offers.
- Offer-based. You pick offers for specific products before or after shopping, then upload the receipt to claim them. Checkout 51 works this way, and Ibotta is mostly offers plus some “Any Receipt” offers.
Scan-anything apps are less effort and pay less per receipt. Offer apps pay more per item but only if you buy what’s listed.
Which apps work where
| App | US | Canada | How it earns | Cash-out minimum | Receipt deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fetch | Yes | No | Any receipt, minimum 25 points | Gift cards from $3 | 14 days |
| Ibotta | Yes | No | Mostly specific offers | $20 | 7 days |
| Checkout 51 | Yes | Yes | Specific offers | $20 | While the offer is live |
| Receipt Hog | Yes | Yes | Any receipt | Not stated in listing | Last two weeks |
| CoinOut | Yes | No | Any US receipt | First reward at 3,000 coins | 15 days |
| Caddle | No | Yes | Any receipt | $20 | Not stated in listing |
| Swagbucks Magic Receipts | Yes | Yes | Offers, including “any receipt” | Varies by reward | While the offer is live |
In the US you can use all but Caddle. A simple setup is Fetch for every receipt plus Ibotta or Checkout 51 for planned grocery purchases.
How points convert to money
| App | What you redeem | Payout options |
|---|---|---|
| Fetch | Roughly 1,000 points ≈ $1 in gift cards | Gift cards, plus Visa and Mastercard reward cards; no PayPal found |
| Ibotta | Cash balance | Bank transfer, PayPal or gift cards |
| Checkout 51 | Cash balance, paid out in full | PayPal, Venmo (US only) or cheque |
| Receipt Hog | Coins | PayPal, Visa or Amazon |
| CoinOut | Coins | Amazon codes, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards |
| Caddle | Cash balance | Cash out at $20 |
| Swagbucks | SB points | Gift cards or cash |
A cash-out minimum is the number that matters most, because a balance below it is worth nothing. Fetch’s $3 gift card floor is low; a $20 minimum on an app you rarely use can take months.
Rules that cost people points
- Fetch: up to 35 receipts in a rolling 8-day period, and rejected receipts count toward the limit. Points expire after 90 days without activity.
- Fetch excludes return receipts, utility and medical bills, prescription slips, tickets, ATM receipts and handwritten receipts.
- Ibotta: a 7-day upload limit, and you must redeem at least one offer before each withdrawal.
- Checkout 51: you must buy in your country of registration. US offers run Sunday to Saturday; Canadian offers run Thursday to Wednesday.
- Swagbucks: up to 10 unique receipts a week for US and Canadian members.
Realistic earnings
None of these companies publishes typical earnings, so we won’t guess a monthly number. With Fetch’s rate, a 25-point receipt is worth about 2.5 cents, so the small rewards add up only if you scan every receipt for months. Offer apps can pay more on a single trip, but only on listed products.
The practical approach is one scan-anything app plus one offer app, and never buying something just because it has an offer. For shopping online rather than in stores, cashback portals usually pay more; see the best cashback apps and retail birthday rewards.
Sources checked October 2026: Fetch receipt rules, Fetch receipt limit, Fetch points per receipt, Fetch on point value, Fetch point expiry, Ibotta outside the US, Ibotta receipt time limit, Ibotta withdrawals, Ibotta payout options, Checkout 51 FAQ, Checkout 51 payout options, Checkout 51 offer timing, Receipt Hog on the App Store, CoinOut on the App Store, Caddle on the App Store, Swagbucks Magic Receipts limits, Swagbucks offer timing.
Frequently asked questions
Which receipt app works in Canada?
Checkout 51, Receipt Hog and Swagbucks Magic Receipts accept Canadian members, and Caddle is Canada-only. Fetch, Ibotta and CoinOut are not in the Canadian App Store.
How much is 1,000 Fetch points worth?
Fetch's own blog says roughly 1,000 points equal about $1 in gift card value, and gift cards start at $3.
How much can I earn scanning receipts?
None of these apps publishes typical earnings. Scan-any-receipt apps pay small amounts per receipt; offer-based apps pay more but only on specific products, so expect a modest rebate rather than an income.
How long do I have to upload a receipt?
It varies: Fetch allows 14 days, CoinOut 15 days, Receipt Hog two weeks and Ibotta 7 days. Checkout 51 and Swagbucks require the upload while the offer is still live.
Is it safe to share my receipts?
These apps collect purchase data, which is how they make money. Read each app's privacy policy and only install apps from the App Store or Google Play.
