You just spent $180 on groceries. Again. You crumple the receipt and toss it in the trash on your way to the car.
You just threw away $3-5.
Inflation hit 6.4% in 2024, and grocery prices are up 25% since 2020. You’re bleeding money at the checkout, but here’s the twist: those receipts you’re discarding are digital lottery tickets. Apps are literally paying cash for photos of your spending—and unlike tedious survey sites that demand 20 minutes for 50 cents, scanning a receipt takes 3 seconds.
I’ve tested every major receipt-scanning app over the past 18 months, spending real money and tracking actual payouts. I’m not talking about “make $500/month working from home” nonsense.
I’m talking about legitimate passive income: $30-60 monthly for doing something you’re already doing (buying stuff) and adding one extra step (taking a photo before throwing the receipt away).
This is “Lazy Money”—the financial equivalent of finding $20 in your coat pocket. You’re not working for it. You’re just noticing it exists.
Let me show you the seven apps that actually pay, ranked by how little effort they demand.
What Makes an App “Lazy”? The Ranking System.
Not all receipt apps are created equal. Some require you to pre-select offers, plan shopping trips, and match products like you’re playing a scavenger hunt. Others just want a photo of any receipt from anywhere.
Here’s my “Lazy Score” system:
10/10 = Pure Passive: Scan anything, get paid, zero thinking required
7-9/10 = Minimal Effort: Slight planning but still easy
4-6/10 = Active Participation: Requires offer browsing or strategic shopping
1-3/10 = Too Much Work: Basically a part-time job
I prioritize Time ROI (Return on Investment). If an app pays $5 but takes 30 minutes of offer-hunting, that’s $10/hour—less than minimum wage. If an app pays $2 for a 5-second receipt scan, that’s $1,440/hour in theoretical value (obviously you can’t scale that, but you get the point).
Let’s rank them.
1. Fetch Rewards: The Undisputed King of Lazy.
Lazy Score: 10/10
Best For: Anyone who shops anywhere for anything
Average Monthly Payout: $15-25 (varies by spending)
How It Works
Fetch is absurdly simple: take a photo of any receipt from any store, upload it, get points. You don’t pre-select offers. You don’t hunt for deals. You don’t care if the receipt is from Target, a gas station, or a random bodega. Fetch accepts all receipts.
Every receipt earns a base of 25 points (worth about $0.25). Certain brands pay bonus points—if you buy a Coca-Cola product, you might get an extra 500 points. But here’s the beauty: you get points even if you don’t buy bonus brands. Upload 10 receipts, earn minimum 250 points ($2.50) for zero strategic thought.
The Math
I tested Fetch for 6 months, uploading every single receipt from my household (groceries, Target runs, Amazon orders, even Uber Eats receipts). Average monthly earnings: $18.30. My most lucrative month (December, holiday shopping): $34.
Redemption: 3,000 points = $3 gift card. Minimum payout is low, which matters because you hit it faster.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Zero planning required (pure lazy income)
- Accepts receipts from anywhere (gas, groceries, restaurants, online orders)
- Fast uploads (literally 3 seconds per receipt)
- Low payout threshold ($3 = 3,000 points)
Cons:
- Points value is modest (1,000 points ≈ $1, not amazing but it’s free money)
- Gift cards only (no direct PayPal cash, though Amazon gift cards are basically cash)
The Verdict
This is your starting point. If you download only one app from this list, make it Fetch. It’s the lowest-effort, highest-consistency earner.
2. Ibotta: The High-Reward, High-Effort Option.
Lazy Score: 6/10
Best For: Organized planners who grocery shop with a list
Average Monthly Payout: $25-40 (if you plan well)
How It Works
Ibotta pays significantly more than Fetch per receipt—but there’s a catch. You must pre-select offers before shopping. Open the app, browse deals (e.g., “$2 back on Kraft cheese”), “activate” the offer, buy the product, then scan your receipt. If the item appears on your receipt, you get cash back.
This isn’t passive. This is strategic shopping.
The Math
I tested Ibotta for 3 months. Month 1 (no planning): $8.40. Month 2 (checking offers before shopping): $22.70. Month 3 (aggressively matching offers): $38.50.
The difference? Time investment. Month 3 required about 15 minutes weekly browsing offers and adjusting my shopping list. Is that worth $38? Maybe. Is it “lazy”? Absolutely not.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Higher payouts per transaction (often $0.50-$2.00 per activated offer)
- Pays real cash via PayPal (not just gift cards)
- Bonuses for completing “shopping challenges” (e.g., “Buy 5 participating items, get $5”)
Cons:
- Requires pre-planning (you must activate offers before shopping)
- Only pays if you buy specific brands (not every receipt earns money)
- Can tempt you to buy things you don’t need just to hit bonuses
The Verdict
Ibotta is lucrative but demanding. If you’re a meticulous meal-planner who makes weekly grocery lists anyway, integrate Ibotta into your routine. If you’re a chaotic shopper grabbing whatever looks good, skip this one—you’ll earn pennies.
3. Upside (formerly GetUpside): The Gas Station MVP.
Lazy Score: 8/10
Best For: Anyone who drives regularly
Average Monthly Payout: $20-35 (based on gas spending)
How It Works
Upside works differently than traditional receipt apps. It’s location-based. Before filling up gas, open the app, find nearby gas stations offering cashback (typically 5-25 cents per gallon), “claim” the offer, fill up normally, then take a photo of your receipt.
The magic? You’re already buying gas. This app just pays you for doing something unavoidable.
The Math
I drive about 800 miles monthly (roughly 30 gallons of gas at my car’s efficiency). Average Upside cashback: 12 cents/gallon. Monthly earnings: $3.60.
That sounds small until you realize it’s literally free. I’m buying the same gas at the same station. I’m adding a 10-second photo upload. Over a year, that’s $43.20 for zero extra effort.
Pro tip: Upside also works for groceries and restaurants in some regions, though gas is the primary use case.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- High cashback percentages (10-25 cents/gallon is real money when gas is $4/gallon)
- Pays via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards
- Low minimum payout ($10)
Cons:
- Requires pre-claiming offers (not quite “passive”—you must open the app before fueling)
- Availability varies by region (works best in major cities)
- Occasionally offers are unavailable at your preferred station
The Verdict
If you drive, this is mandatory. It’s the second-easiest app on this list (after Fetch), and gas is a recurring expense you can’t avoid. Stack this with your credit card’s gas rewards for double-dipping.
4. Receipt Hog: The Gamified Slow-Burn
Lazy Score: 8/10
Best For: People who enjoy gamification and aren’t in a rush
Average Monthly Payout: $8-12 (slow but steady)
How It Works
Receipt Hog turns receipt scanning into a slot machine. Upload a receipt, spin a virtual slot machine, win “coins.” Accumulate coins, redeem for cash or gift cards.
It’s objectively slower than Fetch—you’ll earn about 60% less per receipt—but the slot machine mechanic makes it oddly satisfying. There’s a psychological dopamine hit when you spin and win bonus coins.
The Math
I uploaded 40 receipts over 3 months. Total earnings: $11.80. Compare that to Fetch’s $18.30 for the same receipts—Receipt Hog paid 35% less.
But here’s the thing: I enjoyed using it more. The gamification works. It’s stupid, but it works.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Genuinely fun (the slot machine is ridiculous but entertaining)
- Accepts all receipts (no brand restrictions)
- Occasional “sweepstakes” entries for bonus prizes
Cons:
- Lower earning rate than competitors
- High minimum payout ($20 for PayPal, though $5 for Amazon gift cards)
- The gamification can feel manipulative (it’s designed to keep you engaged)
The Verdict
Use this as a secondary app. Upload receipts to Fetch first, then upload the same receipts to Receipt Hog for bonus earnings. The gamification makes it a pleasant time-waster while watching TV.
5. Receipt Pal: The Set-It-And-Forget-It Email Scanner.
Lazy Score: 9/10
Best For: Amazon addicts and online shoppers
Average Monthly Payout: $5-8 (low but zero effort)
How It Works
Receipt Pal is unique: instead of manually scanning physical receipts, you connect your email and Amazon account. The app automatically detects e-receipts from online orders and awards points.
This is as passive as it gets. No photo uploads. No manual entry. You literally authorize access once and forget it exists.
The Math
I connected my Amazon account and primary email (Gmail). Over 6 months, Receipt Pal detected 47 qualifying receipts (mostly Amazon orders, some e-receipts from Target and Walmart). Total earnings: $28.50 ($4.75/month average).
That’s terrible earnings per receipt—but the effort was zero. I didn’t open the app once after initial setup.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Completely passive (set it and forget it)
- No physical receipt scanning required
- Works with major retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy)
Cons:
- Very low earning rate (significantly slower than Fetch or Ibotta)
- High minimum payout ($25 for PayPal, $10 for gift cards)
- Limited to email receipts (doesn’t capture physical store receipts unless you manually upload)
The Verdict
This is a “set it and forget it” app. Don’t expect meaningful income, but there’s no reason not to install it. Link your email, authorize Amazon, and collect $30-50 annually for zero ongoing effort.
6. CoinOut: The “Shark Tank” Receipt App with Random Payouts.
Lazy Score: 9/10
Best For: Anyone who likes surprise bonuses
Average Monthly Payout: $6-10 (highly variable)
How It Works
CoinOut (featured on Shark Tank in 2020) uses a lottery-style payout system. Upload any receipt, receive a random cash amount between $0.01 and $2.00 (occasionally higher). Most uploads pay $0.01-0.05, but occasional “jackpot” receipts pay $0.50-2.00.
It’s essentially a slot machine with worse odds than Receipt Hog—but the instant payout notification is addictive.
The Math
I uploaded 60 receipts over 4 months. Total earnings: $8.20. Average per receipt: $0.136.
That’s objectively worse than Fetch (which averages $0.25/receipt). But CoinOut has one advantage: instant gratification. You see your earnings immediately after uploading, not after accumulating points.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Instant payout notification (satisfying dopamine hit)
- Accepts any receipt from any store
- Occasional high-value payouts ($1-2 per receipt)
- Very low minimum payout ($0.25 via PayPal)
Cons:
- Most receipts pay literally one penny (frustrating)
- Lower average earnings than Fetch
- The random payout system can feel rigged (probably because it is)
The Verdict
Use CoinOut as a tertiary app. It’s quick (5 seconds per upload) and the low payout threshold means you’ll actually cash out. But don’t expect meaningful income.
7. Amazon Shopper Panel: The Exclusive $10/Month Holy Grail.
Lazy Score: 10/10
Best For: Anyone who gets accepted (there’s a waitlist)
Average Monthly Payout: $10 (guaranteed, if you’re in the program)
How It Works
Amazon Shopper Panel is invitation-only. If accepted, you upload 10 receipts monthly (from any store, not just Amazon) and receive a guaranteed $10/month payment via Amazon gift card.
This is the single best receipt-to-cash ratio available: $1 per receipt, no randomness, no points, no minimums. Just upload 10 receipts, get $10.
The Catch
You can’t just download it. Amazon controls access via a waitlist. I applied in March 2024 and got accepted in September 2024 (6-month wait). Some users report 12+ month waits. Others get instant access.
There’s no clear acceptance criteria. Amazon states they prioritize “diverse shopping habits” (i.e., people who shop at many different stores), but it’s opaque.
The Math
Once accepted, the math is trivial: 10 receipts = $10. I’ve participated for 4 months. Total earnings: $40. Effort: uploading 40 photos (about 2 minutes total monthly).
That’s $10/hour in theoretical time value, which sounds low—but it’s literally just taking photos of receipts you already have. It’s the definition of lazy money.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Highest per-receipt payout available ($1/receipt)
- Guaranteed monthly income ($10 if you complete 10 uploads)
- Zero gamification or points systems (just upload, get paid)
Cons:
- Invitation-only (you might wait months or never get in)
- Limited to 10 receipts monthly (you can’t earn more by uploading extra)
- Amazon gift cards only (not cash)
The Verdict
Join the waitlist immediately. Even if you don’t get accepted for a year, it costs nothing to apply. If you do get in, this is the best passive income app available.
The Triple-Dip Stacking Strategy (The Real Money Move).
Here’s the secret most people miss: one receipt can get paid by multiple apps simultaneously.
Receipt apps don’t communicate with each other. They don’t check if you’ve already submitted a receipt elsewhere. You can upload the same receipt to 3-5 apps and collect payments from all of them.
Example: The $50 Grocery Trip
Let’s say you spend $50 at Target. Here’s how you maximize that single receipt:
Step 1: Before leaving the parking lot, open Fetch. Scan receipt. Earn 25 base points + potential brand bonuses. Payout: $0.25-$2.00
Step 2: Open Ibotta (if you pre-selected any offers). Scan same receipt. Payout: $0-$5 (depending on offers)
Step 3: Open Receipt Hog. Scan same receipt. Spin slot machine. Payout: $0.05-$0.50
Step 4: Open CoinOut. Scan same receipt. Payout: $0.01-$2.00
Step 5: Open Receipt Pal (if it’s an online order with email confirmation). Payout: $0.10
Step 6: If you’re in Amazon Shopper Panel, upload same receipt. Payout: $1.00
Total earnings from one $50 receipt: $1.41-$10.60 (depending on bonuses and randomness)
That’s 2.8-21.2% cash back just for taking photos of a receipt you already had.
The Gas Station Triple-Dip
Gas receipts are even better because they stack with location-based apps:
Step 1: Open Upside before fueling. Claim 15 cents/gallon offer. Fill up 12 gallons. Earn: $1.80
Step 2: Pay with a credit card that offers 3% gas cashback (e.g., Costco Anywhere Visa). On a $48 purchase: Earn: $1.44
Step 3: Scan receipt to Fetch. Earn: $0.25
Step 4: Scan receipt to Receipt Hog. Earn: $0.08
Step 5: Scan receipt to CoinOut. Earn: $0.02
Total earnings on $48 gas purchase: $3.59 (7.5% total cashback)
This is the strategy financial blogs don’t explain. They review apps individually, but the real ROI comes from stacking.
Comparison Table: Minimum Payouts & Payment Methods
| App Name | Minimum Payout | Payment Methods | Lazy Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fetch Rewards | $3 (3,000 points) | Gift cards (Amazon, Target, Visa, etc.) | 10/10 |
| Ibotta | $20 | PayPal, Venmo, gift cards | 6/10 |
| Upside | $10 | PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards | 8/10 |
| Receipt Hog | $5 (Amazon) / $20 (PayPal) | PayPal, Amazon gift cards | 8/10 |
| Receipt Pal | $10 (gift cards) / $25 (PayPal) | PayPal, gift cards | 9/10 |
| CoinOut | $0.25 | PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards | 9/10 |
| Amazon Shopper Panel | $10 (monthly automatic) | Amazon gift cards only | 10/10 |
Key insight: Lower minimum payouts matter. If an app requires $50 to cash out, you might wait 6-12 months (and lose motivation). Apps with $3-10 minimums pay out frequently enough to feel rewarding.
Final Verdict: Start with Fetch, Stack Everything Else
If you walked into this article skeptical, I get it. “Scan receipts for money” sounds like a scam. But after 18 months of testing and real money in my pocket ($420+ total earnings), I can confirm: this works.
It’s not life-changing wealth. You’re not quitting your job. But $30-60 monthly for taking photos of receipts you were going to throw away? That’s $360-720 annually. That’s a week of groceries. A tank of gas every month. A streaming service subscription covered forever.
Your Action Plan (The 5-Minute Setup)
1. Download Fetch Rewards first. It’s the easiest, most consistent earner. Upload every receipt you have this week.
2. Join Amazon Shopper Panel waitlist. Even if you wait a year, it’s worth it.
3. Install Upside if you drive. Gas cashback is free money.
4. Add Receipt Hog and CoinOut as secondary apps. Use the same receipts from Fetch for bonus earnings.
5. Only add Ibotta if you’re a planner. If you grocery shop with a list anyway, integrate offer-checking into your routine.
6. Set up Receipt Pal for email receipts. Link your email and Amazon, then forget it exists.
That’s it. Five minutes of setup. Then just take photos of receipts before you throw them away. No surveys. No watching ads. No multi-level marketing nonsense.
Just lazy money. The easiest passive income you’ll ever earn.
Now stop throwing away receipts. They’re worth more than you think.
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