Is Fetch Rewards Safe? The Ultimate Guide For Shoppers

Presented byTom Blake Hours Fresh Since

These days, there are so many reward apps that you can use to earn cash back on your daily shopping. So, if you want to save more money on monthly expenses, these apps are an easy way to get started.

Fetch Rewards is the perfect example. This receipt-scanning app lets you earn free gift cards for buying groceries and daily essentials. And it works with dozens of popular brands you might already buy.

But is Fetch Rewards safe? And what kind of data do you have to share with the app to get your free money?

I've been using Fetch Rewards for years, and it's one of my favorite reward apps. So in this post, I'm covering how the app works, what kind of data Fetch Rewards collects, and if it's ultimately safe to use.

Looking for more ways to save money? Checkout:

  • Capital One Shopping: Automatically apply coupon codes online at checkout and earn free gift cards for shopping!
  • Branded Surveys: Share your opinion to get free PayPal cash and gift cards!

Is Fetch Rewards Safe?

Yes, Fetch Rewards is safe, and the app has millions of users and a 4.3 star rating on Trustpilot and thousands of positive reviews. I've also been using the app for years and haven't had any security or safety concerns. However, you're technically selling your consumer data to Fetch Rewards in exchange for earning rewards.

Fetch-Rewards-app

Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with the idea of selling your data to get paid if you use any app like Fetch Rewards. However, there are numerous security and privacy practices Fetch Rewards has in place to improve app safety. Let's take a look at what these are.

Fetch Rewards Keeps Credit Card Information Private

Fetch Rewards doesn't steal credit card information or even store any of this information on its servers. And this is for the simple reason that the company doesn't even have your credit or debit card details

You don't provide your banking details when signing up for Fetch Rewards. And receipts you scan only show the last 4 digits of your debit or credit card, not the entire set of numbers.

If for some reason a receipt might contain something overly sensitive, just don’t submit it to Fetch Rewards. It’s as simple as that. There is no risk of Fetch Rewards getting or misusing your credit card information.

Fetch Rewards Anonymizes User Data

Another reason the Fetch Rewards app is safe is that it anonymizes user data, so your personal purchasing habits are kept private.

Fetch Rewards does accumulate, use, and sell user data. But it anonymizes the info and combines it with the data from millions of other users. Nothing is identifiable to you, and data is used to spot overall shopping trends and patterns.

You can read more about how Fetch Rewards uses your data on its blog post about security and privacy.

Fetch Rewards Never Asks For Sensitive Personal Information

One of my favorite parts about Fetch Rewards is how simple it is. Other than a name and email to set up the account, it doesn't require any other personal information to sign up like a connected bank account or SIN.

In short, this means you don't provide information that could be used to steal your identity, or that I would consider risky. 

How Does Fetch Rewards Make Money?

Fetch Rewards makes most of its money by sharing deals with its users. Companies pay to promote sponsored products on Fetch Rewards to get more customers, so Fetch Rewards receives a kickback for these purchases. The app also makes money from amalgamating and selling user data.

Again, you have to sell your data to make money with pretty much any reward app, be it Fetch Rewards or Ibotta or whatever other app you use.

But data is kept private, so you can use reward apps to save more money each month if you're comfortable with the idea of selling data.

Is Fetch Rewards Dangerous?

No, Fetch Rewards isn't dangerous. The app doesn't require entering credit card information or any sensitive personal information. And it has thousands of positive online reviews and plenty of happy users. Data is also anonymized, so Fetch Rewards takes privacy seriously.

Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with sharing your purchasing data with Fetch Rewards if you want to earn rewards. But the app itself is legit and safe in my opinion.

Are Receipt Scanning Apps Safe?

Receipt scanning apps are generally safe because you don't have to provide sensitive financial or personal information to use them. This is because your shopping receipts only show the last four digits of your credit or debit card and don't share any other information you'd want kept secret.

However, some reward apps require linking your bank account to them to process your data. These apps can be more risky due to potential data breaches. But receipt scanning apps like Fetch Rewards are safe.

Reasons You Might Not Use Fetch Rewards

Now that I've covered reasons Fetch Rewards is safe, I think it's important to also cover some reasons this app might not be for you.

At the end of the day, Fetch Rewards collects your data, such as the products you purchase and where, and makes money from this information.

I submit my receipts to Fetch Rewards regularly. The app probably knows I have pets since I purchase pet food, or that I buy coffee by the case, but this isn’t any different than the info collected by your local grocery store rewards program.

Personally, I don't have a problem with that data being collected or sold, especially since it is anonymous. However, if you are concerned about this data collection, Fetch Rewards might not be for you. As with any app or website, you need to evaluate your personal comfort level.

Extra Reading – The Best Passive Income Apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fetch Rewards Legal?

Yes, Fetch Rewards is legal and absolutely legit. It’s basically a different type of coupon for our digital age. Instead of brands paying to put their printed coupon in the Sunday papers, they pay to have a promotional discount rebate on rebate apps like Fetch. The listing and points offered encourage buyers to purchase their products by offering an amount of cash back.

As an old school couponer, I admit I was originally a little slow to try out these cash-back apps. However, now that I’ve used them, I use Fetch Rewards and other apps regularly and make lots of money online doing so.

What Are Some Other Good Apps To Use?

I've been using Fetch Rewards for years, and I think it's a safe app that's also a nice way to score free gift cards without much effort.

And the great news is plenty of other reward apps you can use as well to maximize how much you earn, including:

This video Tom made also covers some other effective methods to get free gift cards by using reward apps and some other methods.

Extra Reading – The Best Apps That Pay You Real Money.

Final Thoughts

I’ve earned hundreds of dollars this year alone with Fetch Rewards. I love that it can be used in combination with coupons and other apps such as Ibotta, Swagbucks, and Target Circle. This can lead to some amazing savings, free items, and even free gift cards and PayPal money.

While most offers on Fetch are for a few cents or few dollars discount on an item, there are also 100% free items frequently. I’ve gotten free bread, free ice cream and other groceries free of charge after rebate. This is a great way to try new products, without risking anything if you don't like it.

And in my opinion, Fetch Rewards is safe. It keeps your info private, and you don't have to submit receipts if you don't feel comfortable.

Hopefully, this guide helps you understand how Fetch Rewards makes money and more about its data and privacy practices.

If you think this is the app for you, definitely consider giving Fetch Rewards a try!

Looking for even more money-saving guides? Checkout:

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with provided links.

Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.

Tom also founded the blog This Online World - a finance site dedicated to helping people make money online - in 2018. After 6 years, that site merged with WebMonkey, with the goal of helping even more people earn their first dollar of online income.

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