Canadian cashback apps let you earn real money on groceries, gas, online shopping, and everyday purchases. Stack multiple apps to maximize your returns.
KOHO gives automatic cashback on every purchase through its prepaid Mastercard. No receipt scanning, no activating offers — just spend and earn. On the Everything plan, earn 2% on groceries and transit and 0.5% on everything else. Plus $100 sign-up bonus.
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) gives cashback on online purchases at 750+ Canadian retailers including Best Buy, Indigo, Hudson's Bay, and more. Rates typically range from 1% to 15% depending on the store and promotion. Paid quarterly via cheque or PayPal.
Checkout 51 is a free app that offers weekly cashback offers on grocery items. After your purchase, take a photo of your receipt to claim the cashback. Paid by cheque when your balance reaches $20.
Flipp is primarily a flyer app but includes cashback offers and helps you find the cheapest prices at nearby stores. Combine with Checkout 51 for maximum grocery savings.
Ampli links to your debit or credit card and automatically gives cashback when you shop at partner merchants. No changing cards or scanning receipts needed. Useful for RBC customers.
PC Optimum is Canada's largest loyalty program covering Loblaw, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart, and PC Financial. Earn and redeem points worth up to 10 cents per point on future purchases.
| App | Type | Cashback Rate | Works At | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOHO | Prepaid card | 0.5–2% | Everywhere | Instant to account |
| Rakuten | Browser extension | 1–15% | 750+ online stores | Quarterly |
| Checkout 51 | Receipt scanning | $0.25–$5/item | All grocery stores | $20 minimum |
| Ampli | Card-linked | Varies by merchant | Partner stores | Monthly |
| PC Optimum | Loyalty points | ~1%+ at Loblaw | Loblaw stores | Redeemable points |
The best strategy is to use multiple apps simultaneously. For example: pay with your KOHO card (1.5% cashback) at a grocery store, after first checking Checkout 51 for that week's offers, and use Flipp to find the best price. You can legally earn cashback from multiple sources on the same purchase.
For automatic cashback on every purchase, KOHO is the best. For online shopping, Rakuten offers the highest rates. For groceries, Checkout 51 is excellent. Ideally, use all three together.
Generally, cashback from credit/debit card purchases is considered a discount on your purchase and is not taxable income. However, large sign-up bonuses could potentially be considered income — consult a tax professional if you're earning significant amounts.
Yes! You can legally stack multiple cashback sources. For example: use a cashback credit card (like KOHO), activate a Checkout 51 offer, and shop through Rakuten — earning cashback from three sources on one purchase.
KOHO cashback is credited instantly. Rakuten pays quarterly (January, April, July, October). Checkout 51 pays when your balance reaches $20. Ampli pays monthly.
Yes. Established apps like Rakuten, KOHO, and Checkout 51 are legitimate businesses with privacy policies and encrypted data. Read each app's privacy policy to understand what data they collect.