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Upside Review: Earn Cash Back on Grocery Runs, Gas, and Restaurant Bills

Review Updated
Steven Porrello
Author: Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
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Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

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Eric McWhinnie
Fact Checked: Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Upside is one of those cash back apps that you wish you had heard of sooner. The app hands out incredibly high cash back offers at restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. Cash back can then be cashed out via PayPal, gift cards, or deposited directly into your bank account.

Learn more in our full Upside review.

Upside
Best for: Cash back on everyday purchases, like gas and groceriesUpside
Apply now! for Upside

Bottom line: Upside helps you earn cash back at supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants. The app is free, and the cash back rates are incredibly high. Cash back can be deposited into your bank or PayPal account, or redeemed for gift cards. You only have four hours after claiming an offer to use it, and there might be a processing fee for cashing out small amounts of cash back.

Bonus!

Earn an extra $0.25/gallon with coupon code ASCENT25 on your first receipt. New Users only.

Pros

  • High cash back rates
  • Free and easy to use
  • Get paid by PayPal, gift cards, or bank deposits
  • Generous referral program

Cons

  • Doesn't support cash or EBT payments
  • Offers expire quickly
  • Processing fee for small redemption amounts

What is Upside?

Upside is a free cash back app that earns rewards at participating restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations.

How does Upside work?

To get in on the action, download the app and create an account using your Google login, Apple ID, Facebook login, or email. Once you're in, claim a location-based offer, then shop at that location with a debit or credit card.

After you've paid, upload a receipt or "check in" within the app. Your cash back will then be credited to your account.

Most offers have a four-hour window until they expire and some also have a cap on the total cash back you can earn (for example, "6% back up to $10"). Finally, offers must be used at the location you select; they're not transferable to other locations, even within the same brand or chain.

Once cash back has been credited to your account, you can cash it out in three ways: PayPal, e-gift cards, or deposits into your bank account. If your cash back is below $15, you could be charged a $1 redemption fee. After you've submitted a cash out request, it could take up to 10 business days before it's distributed to you -- most e-gift card and PayPal requests are processed within 48 hours while bank deposits can take five to seven business days.

Full Upside review

At a glance
  • Rewards: Up to $0.25 per gallon on gas, up to 45% back at restaurants, and up to 30% back at grocery stores.
  • iOS app rating: 4.8/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.6/ 5 stars
  • Cost: Free

Top perks of Upside

Cash back rates are regularly high

For a free cash back app, the rewards rates in Upside are impressively high. It's not hard to find 6% cash back at restaurants and grocery stores. Sometimes, you'll even see cash back offers in the double digits. For frequent drivers, the per-gallon savings on gas could add up to a few hundred dollars each year.

A straightforward process makes it easy to integrate the app with your regular shopping

Once you claim an offer, it's easy to get credited for it. Many offers synchronize with a credit card that you've linked to your account. After you make a purchase with that credit card, the appropriate cash back is deposited into your account. If the offer doesn't sync with credit cards, Upside will usually ask you to upload a receipt manually or "check in" at the location.

Cash back offers can be used with your favorite credit card

The rewards you get through Upside won't interfere with your cash back credit cards. This gives you the chance to earn rewards twice in one purchase, both through the Upside app and through your favorite credit card.

Transferring cash back into your bank account makes it feel like you're making money

Some cash back apps only let you redeem rewards for gift cards. Upside gives you the unique option of depositing your cash back into a linked bank account. This can make it feel like you're actually saving money versus picking gift cards from a limited pool of retailers.

Delivery drivers can save tremendously on gas

Upside has partnered with several ride hauling and delivery apps, like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash, and Shipt among others. This lets you access cash back offers exclusive to your platform.

Every referral helps you save on gas

Upside gives you extra fuel savings when you successfully refer friends and family. First, you'll get $0.15 off per gallon on your next fuel purchase (likewise, the person you referred also gets $0.15 off). Then, you'll get an extra $0.01 for every gallon of gas they purchase in the future. You'll also get $0.005 every time one of their referrals gets gas.

To get this bonus, the person you referred has to use your unique six-digit invite code when they sign up (you can find this code in your profile on the app). Their first purchase then needs to be $10 or more before tax and tips.

What could be improved

The app doesn't work with cash

Upside won't work with cash or EBT payments. You need a credit or debit card to earn cash back through the app.

Offers expire quickly after they're claimed

Most offers give you four hours from the moment you claim it before it expires. This could be inconvenient or frustrating if you claim an offer, then something gets in the way of you making it to the location.

Users report some problems with getting cash back credited

Users on social media have reported some problems with getting the appropriate amount of cash back credited to their account. In some cases, users had an offer for a specific discount (such as $0.15 off per gallon), but got credited for a lower amount (say, $0.05 per gallon). Others said they weren't credited because an offer expired while it was "processing," even after the user fulfilled all the requirements to get it.

How much does Upside cost?

Upside is free. However, you might be charged a processing fee when you redeem cash back below the minimum distribution (currently $15). This fee is subtracted from your cash back balance at the time of redemption.

Alternatives to Upside

If you want to earn cash back on online purchases. Ibotta is a free cash back app that lets you earn rewards on certain online and in-store purchases. The company has partnered with over 2,000 retailers including big names like Walmart, PetSmart, and Target. Once you hit $20, you can cash out rewards through PayPal or as a bank deposit.

Ibotta
Best for: Cash back savings appIbotta
Apply now! for Ibotta

If you want to earn points on every receipt: Fetch gives you points for every receipt you upload to the app. You can even get bonus points for purchasing certain name-brand items or shopping at specific retailers. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, and you have two weeks to upload receipts.

Fetch
Best cash back app overallFetch
Read Review

Upside might be right for you if:

Frequent drivers, grocery shoppers, and foodies will benefit tremendously from this app. Earning cash back is easy, free, and depositable into a banking account. If you make purchases with Upside that you were already intending to make, you're essentially getting free money.

FAQs

  • Most gas offers will limit your cash back earnings to the first 50 gallons. So, if the offer is $0.10 off per gallon, you could save up to $5 if you bought 50 gallons. Pay close attention to the fine print of each offer, however, as they could have other restrictions.

  • No, it's a legitimate app. Upside users earn cash back when they activate and use offers before they expire.

  • Upside cash back doesn't expire so long as your account is active. If your account is inactive for six consecutive months, your cash back will expire.