Food prices are through the roof, and we may just be getting started. As per Statistics Canada, Canadians paid 9.7% more for groceries in April compared to the previous year.
If you are looking to save money at the store, a good grocery app like KOHO, Rakuten or PC Optimum can help. Read on to learn about the best grocery apps in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Using KOHO prepaid Mastercard gives you up to 5% cash back on your purchases, which you automatically receive in your account.
- Rakuten is among the best grocery apps in Canada, offering up to 40% cash back at over 3,500 online retailers and services.
- Use a cash-back credit card along with a grocery app to maximize savings.
Best Grocery Apps in Canada
Grocery App | Features | Bonus | Cash Back Rate |
KOHO | A free reloadable prepaid Mastercard that comes with a budgeting app; pays interest on your balance; offers joint accounts; cash back is automatically added to your account | $20 bonus with CASHBACK referral code and after first purchase | 1% cash back on grocery, restaurant & gas purchases; Up to 50% cash back at select stores |
Rakuten | An online cash back shopping portal offering discounts at thousands of retailers | $30 welcome bonus when you make your first purchase of $30 or more | Up to 40% |
PC Optimum | A grocery loyalty rewards program offering discounts at the Real Canadian Superstore and other Loblaws grocery stores | โ | 10,000 PC Optimum points for $10 worth of groceries |
Swagbucks | A get-paid-to (GPT) app that rewards you with cash back for shopping and for completing simple tasks | Sign up here to receive a welcome bonus of $5 | Up to 10% cashback |
Caddle | A grocery coupon app that lets you earn cash back by responding to surveys, purchasing products, providing reviews, watching ads and engaging with brands | โ | Pays cash back on purchases of everyday household items and completing simple tasks |
Below are some of the best money savings apps when shopping for groceries.
1. KOHO
KOHO is my top choice for earning cash back at any store if you are spending cash.
The company offers a budgeting app and reloadable prepaid Mastercard that pays you at least 1% cash back on grocery and gas purchases and up to 50% cash back at select stores.
How it works: Simply use your KOHO Prepaid Mastercard to pay for purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted.
Cash back ranging from 1% to 50% is credited to your balance automatically, and you can spend this money on other purchases.
In addition to earning cash back, KOHO also pays a interest on your balance
Benefits:
- 1% cash back on grocery, restaurants, and gas
- Up to 50% cash back at multiple partner stores
- Free* reloadable prepaid card. The regular $4 fee is waived when you setup a recurring direct deposit
- Earn 5% interest on your balance
- $20 bonus with CASHBACK referral code and after first purchase
- Free credit score checks
- 0% APR cash advances available
- Access to other premium perks if you upgrade
- Offers joint accounts
Available: Canada only.
Best for: Earning cash back on all purchases, including groceries.
Sign up: Get KOHO here ($20 bonus) or read out full review.
2. Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is an online cash back shopping portal that provides access to discounts at thousands of retailers.
Depending on what you buy online, Rakuten can help you save on groceries, electronics, fashion, entertainment, books, kidsโ stuff, and more.
How it works: After creating a Rakuten account, visit the platform before shopping at your favourite retailerโs online store.
On Rakuten, you can see the discount/cash back rate a retailer is offering, and this can range from 0% to as high as 35%.
Click to visit the retailer, and after shopping, cash back earned is credited to your Rakuten account.
You can redeem earnings every quarter using PayPal, cheque, or Amazon gift cards. The minimum payout threshold is $5.01.
Benefits:
- Features thousands of stores
- Cash back is tracked automatically
- $30 welcome bonus when you make your first purchase of $30 or more
- Multiple ways to cash out
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: General online shopping, including groceries. You can use KOHO with Rakuten and double up on savings.
Sign up: Visit Rakuten ($30 bonus) or read our review.
3. PC Optimum
PC Optimum is one of the best grocery loyalty rewards programs in Canada.
If you routinely shop at the Real Canadian Superstore and other Loblaws grocery stores, this app is a must-have.
How it works: Create a PC Optimum account, and you will receive weekly offers with opportunities to save.
When you scan your PC Optimum card or PC Financial Credit Card, you also earn points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso/Mobil stations across Canada.
You can redeem 10,000 PC Optimum points for $10 worth of groceries.
Benefits:
- Free to join
- Can redeem points for free groceries at the till
Here are some ways to maximize PC Optimum points.
Available: Canada only.
Best for: Grocery discounts and cash back at Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore.
4. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a get-paid-to (GPT) app that rewards members when they complete simple tasks, including answering surveys, watching video ads, etc.
How it works: As a member, you can use the Swagbucks shopping portal to find grocery deals and discounts. Visit the retailer through Swagbucks, and cash back earned is automatically added to your balance.
You can redeem your earnings using PayPal or a gift card.
Benefits:
- Offers multiple ways to earn
- $5 bonus when you join
- Low payout threshold starting at $3
Available: Canada, the United States, and many other countries.
Best for: Cash back when shopping online, and the store is not featured on Rakuten.
Sign up: Visit Swagbucks or read our full review.
5. Caddle
Caddle is one of the most popular grocery coupon apps in Canada, with over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play store alone.
How it works: New offers are listed on the app every week, covering several items you may have on your shopping list.
Click on each offer to see if there are specific steps you need to take to redeem it. For example, you may need to buy the item at a specific store.
After making a purchase, take a photo of your receipt using your phone and upload it to the app.
You can cash out for a cheque when your balance reaches $20.
Caddle users also earn when they complete short surveys and watch video ads.
Benefits:
- $1 bonus when you sign up and complete one task
- Free to use
- Often offers cash back for Costco gas, Dollarama purchases, craft beer, etc.
Available: Canada only.
Best for: Earning cash back on groceries.
Sign up: Get Caddle here.
6. Flashfood
Flashfood is a grocery app that can help you find steep discounts at Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Provigo, Zehrs, Wholesale Club, Maxi, and Your Independent Grocer.
How it works: After creating an account, you can browse discounted groceries at local participating stores. The app aims to prevent food wastage, and you can find discounts of up to 50% on food close to its best-before date.
Benefits:
- Free to use
- Steep discounts are available
- $5 bonus with code ENOC3R25V if your first purchase is $10
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: Discounts on grocery purchases.
Sign up: Get Flashfood here (use code ENOC3R25V).
7. MyPoints
MyPoints is another grocery app that works like Rakuten. It is owned by the same company that operates Swagbucks.
How it works: Create an account and shop at your favourite stores on the platform, including the likes of Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, and Best Buy.
You earn points with each purchase and can redeem them for free gift cards.
New users also get a $10 Amazon or Visa gift card after spending $20 or more on any participating shop merchant on the MyPoints platform.
Benefits:
- Multiple ways to earn, including shopping online and answering surveys
- $10 welcome bonus
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: General cash back when shopping online.
Sign up: Join MyPoints or read our full review.
8. Great Canadian Rebates
Great Canadian Rebates (GCR) is a Canadian coupon cash back site with offers and deals across various categories:
- Groceries
- Electronics
- Credit cards
- Home and Garden
- Toys and games
- Apparel, jewellery, travel, and more
How it works: Create a GCR account and visit the site to see the deals available prior to shopping online. Click on the link to the merchant and then complete your purchase as usual.
Rebates earned are paid to your GCR account, and you can cash out using PayPal, direct deposit, or an eGift card.
Benefits:
- Earn significant cash back at hundreds of brands
- Free to use
Available: Canada only.
Best for: Earning cash back on all types of purchases.
Sign up: Visit Great Canadian Rebates.
9. Checkout 51
Checkout 51 is a receipt scanning app that offers weekly grocery coupons and cash back.
How it works: Buy any offers that match your shopping list and upload a receipt to the app. Cash back earned is credited to your balance within days, and you can request a cheque payment starting at $20.
In addition to groceries, Checkout 51 also offers coupons for gas, prescriptions, and more.
Benefits:
- Lots of grocery offers are available weekly
- Free to use
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: Saving on groceries.
Sign up: Get Checkout 51 [iOS] or [Android].
10. RebatesMe
RebatesMe is a cash back app that works for all kinds of shopping. It has partnerships with over 3,000 retailers in Canada and the U.S.
How it works: When you shop at your preferred retailer using the RebatesMe app or website, you earn cash back. You can also use its browser extension.
To cash out, the options are PayPal, gift cards, or a cheque in the mail. New members get a $30 bonus after earning at least $10 in cash back.
Benefits:
- Access to 3,000+ stores
- $30 bonus when you meet the eligibility requirements
- Several payout options
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: Earning cash back online.
Sign up: Visit RebatesMe.
11. Flipp
Flipp is a grocery flyer app you can use to browse thousands of apps and deals across multiple stores.
How it works: Easily search for what you want to buy and view the deals available. Clip attractive offers and add them to your shopping list for easy access.
Flipp can also help you find deals for items on your shopping list.
Benefits:
- Better than paper flyers
- Works on both iOS and Android devices
Available: Canada and the U.S.
Best for: Viewing flyers in one place.
Sign up: Get Flipp [iOS or Android].
12. Save.ca
Save.ca aggregates local flyers, coupons, and discounts in your area so you can access them in one place.
How it works: Deals and coupons are categorized by types, such as grocery, health & beauty, electronics, and entertainment. You can use the platform to make a shopping list, print coupons, or request coupons to be mailed to your address.
Benefits:
- Access to coupons from stores in your area
- Can use the app to redeem select offers and get paid through PayPal
Available: Canada only.
Best for: Grocery coupons
Sign up: Visit Save.ca.
13. Paymi
Paymi is a cash back rewards app owned by CIBC.
How it works: Create an account and link a debit or credit card. Browse the offers available, and when you make a purchase, cash back is credited to your balance.
You can cash out using Interac e-Transfer with a minimum payout threshold of $25 (to avoid transfer fees).
Benefits:
- Free cash back app from a big bank
- Does not require you to upload receipts.
Available: Canada only.
Sign up: Visit Paymi.
14. Receipt Hog
As the name suggests, Receipts Hog pays you to upload your purchase receipts.
How it works: Download Receipt Hog (referral code stind237). When you shop at any store, take a picture of your receipt and upload it to Receipt Hog.
You earn coins and can redeem them for gift cards or cash via PayPal.
Benefits:
- Free to use on iOS and Android smartphones
- Requires minimal effort
Available: Canada and the US.
Sign up: Get Receipt Hog or read our review.
15. Reebee
Reebee is another grocery flyer app for tracking the discounts and coupons available in your area.
How it works: Build your shopping list using the offers available on local flyers. You can print off your shopping list.
Benefits:
- Find local deals
- Free to use
Available: Canada only
Sign up: Get Reebee (App Store and Google Play).
What is a Grocery App?
The apps I discuss below can help save money when you go shopping for groceries and other items.
These grocery apps can be categorized as follows:
Grocery Cashback Apps: A cash back app pays you a small amount back when you make a purchase at a specific retailer or anywhere. The cash back may be a specific percentage, or it can vary.
Grocery Coupon Apps: These are the most common. Instead of clipping physical coupons, you can use these apps to redeem digital coupons and discounts at participating stores.
Grocery Flyer and Price Comparison Apps: These apps help you compare prices for groceries across multiple stores so you can get the best deals at any point in time.
Bonus: Grocery Cash Back Apps
You can maximize savings when shopping by using a cash back credit card. Two no-fee cash back credit cards that work well for grocery shopping are:
A. Neo Mastercard
The Neo Mastercard offers an average of 5% cash back across at over 12,000 locations in Canada. Plus it comes with a $25 welcome bonus after approval.
Neo Credit card
Rewards: Average of 5% cash back at 12,000+ partners.
Welcome offer: $25 welcome cash bonus.
Interest rates: 19.99% โ 29.99% on purchases; 22.99% โ 31.99% for cash advances.
Annual fee: $0 to $4.99 monthly
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card is a premium credit card that offers premium perks and a high cash back rate on groceries.
B. Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
Earn 4% cash back on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments, and subscriptions. Cardholders also enjoy comprehensive travel insurance benefits.
This card has a $120 annual fee, and you will need a personal annual income of at least $60,000.
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Card
Rewards: Earn 4% cashback on groceries & recurring bills; 2% cashback on gas & daily transit; 1% cashback on everything else.
Welcome offer: Earn 10% cashback in the first 3 months on up to $2,000 spent ($200 value).
Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases; 22.99% on cash advances.
Annual fee: $120
C. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
This no-annual-fee credit card offers up to 2% cash back on groceries.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases.
Welcome offer: Get an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending in the first 2 months ($100 value); 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months.
Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
Annual fee: $0