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When looking at Ebates vs Ibotta, head-to-head, there are a few things that you should consider. First off, both of these cashback sites are at the top of the food chain.
But if you had to pick one, which one has the slight edge? That’s what we’re gonna look at today.
And hopefully by the end of this article, you’ll have a better feel for which one works better for you. You never know, you might decide to go with both of them.
Ok, let’s get into it.
What is Ebates
By now you’ve probably heard, that Ebates is now Rakuten. I dive deeper in a recent Ebates review where I expand on this.
For the purpose of this review, I’ll be saying one or the other, Ebates or Rakuten and just know that they’re one and the same.
Ebates started back in 1999 and right now they have over 10 million users. So they must be doing something right. They also claim to have shelled out over $1 billion (that’s with a B) in cashback rewards to their users.
Just so you know, many users feel like this site is Kong when it comes to cashback platforms. Here are some reasons why.
Pros of Ebates (Rakuten)
- It’s free to join and you get a $10 welcome bonus just for joining the site.
- They are connected to over 2,500 stores at the time of this article.
- You can earn up to 40% cashback on your purchases with Rakuten.
What is Ibotta
With Ibotta, you earn cash when you shop at partner stores and earn money while you shop. With Ibotta you get discounts and can get up to 5% cash back for items that you purchase with national partner retailers.
The company claims to have paid back over $575 million to users.
In my unbiased Ibotta review, I share all of the nuts and bolts of Ibotta. But know that you can get paid to shop like most cashback sites.
Let’s look at some pros with this site.
Pros of iBotta
- You can earn money on not just shopping and cashback, but referrals.
- The site works with many of the big box stores.
- It can be used with other apps to increase your earnings potential.
Ebates and Ibotta are both two very popular websites/mobile apps for online shopping. There are a few limitations that separate these two apps.
Let’s start with Ebates…
Where Ebates Edges iBotta
You do have a lot of people who prefer Ebates over Ibotta. And there are a few reasons for this.
The site is connected with more than 2,500 online retailers at the time of this article and it offers exclusive deals and cashbacks for online shoppers. Ebates has a much bigger reach than Ibotta.
The platform is basically a browser redirection. This means Ebates acts as a middle man between you and your online purchase and as a result you end up with great deals.
You can also purchase on the Ebates app by linking your debit/credit card or any other payment option you feel comfortable with. There is an additional 3% on approved purchases. The cash back on Ebates depends on:
- The retailer
- Your purchase cart value
- Items purchased, but it can go as high as 40% and with a minimum cashback of 1% at least.
The average cashback is around 5%-7%. Ebates offers the potential to earn more cashback (up to 40%) with more retailers.
How Ibotta Beats Ebates
Ibotta is mostly focused on brick and mortar retailers. The company also has connections with some online retailers and also supports some online purchases.
According to statistics, Ibotta is the 16th most downloaded mobile app in the US with downloads of over $22 million. It has a great user experience with its customers.
The Ibotta App is user-friendly and it is very easy to redeem your cash back and purchases using the app. The store’s loyalty card also plays a major role in cash back.
If you make a purchase using the store loyalty card, your purchase is directly pinged to your Ibotta account and an instant cashback is credited to your account. The receipt scan is also required to upload into the Ibotta app.
What Ibotta and Ebates (Rakuten) Have in Common
Ebates and Ibotta both serve to make the customers shopping experience more pleasant and happier. Both of these platforms give a welcome bonus for new customers upon their sign ups.
Both platforms also have a refer-a-friend bonus, where you can earn when referring people to the app. Even though the method of redemption and cashback are different, both apps have the same concepts here.
Who is the Winner?
While there are a fair amount of loyal users for both the platforms, Ibotta has been considered to have better offers as it has allowed customers to save over $500 million to date. But why limit yourself to one app. You can use both and get more discounts and cashback with your purchases.
I am personally a user of the Ibotta app. I haven’t joined Rakuten yet. But what I recommend is that you try both and see which one works best for you. You never know, you might stick with both of them.
Look for things like user friendliness and probably most important, which one delivers more cash in your pocket. It’s free to join which is a win. So you can’t lose either way.
Conclusion
Ebates and Ibotta aren’t just King, they’re Kong when it comes to cashback sites. They both offer their own unique advantages. Which is why I suggest taking both of them for a test drive and seeing which one has your name written all over it.
You may find that they are both great and help put more money back into your pocket. Either way, put them to the test. And Happy Shopping!
