Ibotta is a popular app for earning cashback on everyday essentials. You can shop online or in local stores, getting cashback and discovering special deals and discounts.
Stores where you can earn up to 30% cashback include Hotels.com, eBay, Home Depot, Walmart, Kohl’s and over 2,000 others.
You can use the Ibotta Chrome extension to shop online, or you can use the app to shop in-store. If you are shopping in-store, upload a receipt of your purchase to earn cashback, or connect your store loyalty card (if supported).
Other ways to earn include qualifying for bonuses, referring friends to Ibotta, and buying gift cards with automatic cashback.
However, a common question that most users have is – is Ibotta safe?
As an Ibotta user, you will be revealing a lot of personal information, such as your loyalty card details, where you shop, the items you purchase, and more.
Ibotta is a great way to earn some extra pocket money on the side and save on shopping. However, it’s critical to understand the risks associated before deciding to use it.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use Ibotta.
Every online interaction involves some level of risk. Understanding those risks and knowing how to mitigate them will help keep you safe.
The short version: Ibotta is safe to use, although it’s important to be aware of its data collection policies. Also, secure your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication, and be mindful of your spending habits.
Let’s learn more about it.
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Privacy Concerns
Data collection and personal privacy are big issues online.
When you use apps like Ibotta, you’re divulging a lot of personal information. It’s important to scrutinize the privacy and data usage policies of the apps you use and understand how they may affect you.
Data Collection and Sharing
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When you sign up as an Ibotta user, you must reveal certain personal details. They include:
- Your name, address, social media accounts, phone number, and other personal details
- Other personal details, such as your birthdate, gender, interests, etc.
- Your location, including where you are and at what time (if using the mobile app)
- Device information, including your IP address, operating system, browser, and more
- Your shopping history, including what you purchased, where, and the cost of each item
For a full list of the data that Ibotta collects, check out its privacy policy. The main takeaway is that not only does Ibotta collect a lot of personal information, but it also shares and sells your data with third parties.
Personal Information Security
The good news is that you can opt out and request that Ibotta stop selling your information to third parties like advertising companies. The bad news is that most Ibotta users don’t know that they have to submit a request for Ibotta to stop doing it.
Head to the Ibotta privacy settings to take care of that before using Ibotta any further.
If you have already been using Ibotta for a while, head to the personal information management center. There, you can ask Ibotta to disclose which information it collected about you, whom it sold the information to, and more.
Note that even if Ibotta stops selling your information to third parties, it still holds a lot of information about you. It’s critical to secure your account with a strong password that can’t be easily guessed.
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Financial Risks
Using an app like Ibotta comes with various financial risks as well. Let’s explore them.
Impulsive Buying
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Ibotta incentivizes you to shop. While you will earn cashback by shopping with Ibotta, it’s easy to forget that you aren’t actually earning money unless you are using it to buy items that you would have spent money on anyway.
A common trap among users of cashback apps like Ibotta is to spend impulsively. Seeing cashback rewards in your account is like a dopamine hit, and it fools you into thinking that you are earning money when you are actually losing it.
Discrepancies in Cashback
It’s possible for cashback not to be credited to your account in the amount promised to you. This could happen due to the software not recognizing your receipt or reading it properly.
Therefore, I recommend using a spreadsheet or another app to keep track of how much you spent on Ibotta, at which stores, and how much cashback is owed to you.
If you see that you didn’t get the full amount, reach out to Ibotta and ask the support team to credit the remaining money to your account.
Account Security
We’ve already discussed privacy issues, but account security is another major concern. It pertains not to how Ibotta collects and handles your data but how secure your account is from outsiders, particularly malicious actors.
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Risks of Account Hacking
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When using any app or website that requires registration, there is a risk of hackers accessing your account.
Fortunately, Ibotta takes security seriously.
It undergoes annual audits by a third party. It also complies with SOC (Service and Organizational Controls) 2 standards and the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 800-53 security framework.
In addition, it has its own internal security team constantly monitoring for bugs and security flaws. Its bug bounty program incentivizes independent security analysts and ethical hackers to detect flaws in Ibotta’s security infrastructure and bring them to the company’s attention.
Account Suspension or Closure
Ibotta may close your account if you violate its terms of service. Violations include uploading a fake receipt to earn cashback on groceries you didn’t purchase or using two Ibotta accounts on the same device.
To secure your account, comply with all terms outlined in the terms of use.
User Experience Issues
Next, let’s discuss user experience concerns, including problems that others have faced when using Ibotta. This section will give you a clearer picture of what using Ibotta will be like.
Customer Service Complaints
Ibotta has a help center and a support email (accountsupport@ibotta.com) for those with trouble logging into their accounts.
However, there have been complaints about poor customer service responses. Users have alleged that the customer response team gives inadequate responses, leading them around in circles without ever satisfactorily resolving the issue.
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Difficulty in Earning and Redeeming Rewards
Another problem people tend to face is in redeeming rewards. There have been many complaints about Ibotta freezing or deactivating accounts for no apparent reason.
Have the users alleging such issues truly violated Ibotta’s terms of use? Or, is it a scheme from Ibotta to get out of paying some of its users what they are due, thus increasing its profits?
It’s hard to know, but these complaints should raise some concern.
Compatibility and Technical Issues
Finally, let’s discuss compatibility and technical issues you may experience when using Ibotta.
App Glitches and Crashes
People have experienced various technical glitches and issues when using the Ibotta app. Those include the camera going in and out of focus, the app randomly freezing or shutting down, and other issues.
These technical bugs can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re low on time. Sometimes, the fault lies in your phone, not the app.
For example, your phone might have very little RAM or available storage space, or it might simply be old and slow. Alternatively, the internet connection may be poor, causing the app to lag.
A common issue, as evidenced via the screenshots of reviews on the Google Play Store, is that people are unable to add items to their shopping list. An error message appears telling you to wait and try again later, but you may not have the time to do that.
Limited Compatibility with Stores or Products
Another issue is limited compatibility with stores or products. While over 2,000 stores are available on Ibotta, it does depend on your geographical location.
Depending on where you live, you may find that your favorite stores, especially non-chain supermarkets and restaurants, are not on Ibotta. Offers are often store-specific, which means you have to go to a certain chain or store to qualify.
Other offers are brand-specific. That means that even if you go to the right store, the brand you like might not be included in the offer.
This could be quite frustrating when planning your grocery shopping.
You may need to change the way you shop for groceries entirely to get any useful benefit out of Ibotta. You may have to go to different stores and buy different brands.
User Testimonials and Reviews
As with any app or product, there will be both positive and negative reviews. Remember that negative reviewers are more likely to be upset and make their voices heard online compared to people who are happy with the app.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at both positive and negative reviews of Ibotta.
Positive Experiences
There are countless positive experiences with Ibotta. On the Apple App Store, for example, where it has garnered over 1.7 million reviews, Ibotta has an overall rating of 4.8 out of five stars.
Note: All reviews and ratings are current as of publication and subject to change.
One person reported earning over $500 on Ibotta over the years. However, a common thread seems to be that the app has gotten worse, with many people adjusting their reviews to reflect that.
On the Google Play Store, the app has an average rating of 4.5 as of this publication, which is also pretty good.
One reviewer claimed to have earned $120 in just three months. She also said that customer support responded quickly when she was having trouble getting an offer to work.
Negative Experiences
As I mentioned, a lot of reviewers on the App Store claim that the app has gotten worse.
Recurring themes include:
- A lot fewer earning opportunities than in the past
- Greater scrutiny from the team
- Cashback not being credited to accounts
On sites other than the official app stores, Ibotta did not fare as well when it comes to reviews.
On TrustPilot, it has a rating of 3.4 stars out of five. Reviewers were complaining about cashback not being credited, needing to upload receipts multiple times, and being charged a fee for being inactive.
It also has over 740 complaints with the Better Business Bureau, which is a factor that led to it receiving a B rating.
The good news, at least, is that the reviews are all resolved in a timely manner. It has an average rating of close to 4-stars out of five from customer reviews on the BBB website (reviews are not the same as complaints).
On SiteJabber, it has an average rating of just 3.3 stars out of five. People have alleged that Ibotta has stolen their earnings by deactivating or deleting their accounts once they had amassed sizable earnings.
Safety Measures and Precautions
Earlier in this article, I outlined some of the security concerns you may face when using Ibotta. Now, let’s discuss various measures and precautions you can take to protect your online identity.
Best Practices for Protecting Personal Information
While Ibotta has a high level of security, as I demonstrated earlier, it’s crucial to take some steps of your own to protect your information on the web.
I already discussed requesting that Ibotta not sell your personal information to third parties. In addition, you must be careful of which information you are sharing with Ibotta.
As a general rule, for example, it’s a good idea to turn off location services on your phone unless an app requires it to work properly. On Ibotta, you can turn off Nearby Offer Alerts as well.
If you are using Ibotta on your desktop, you can turn cookie tracking off in your browser. Chrome allows you to block cookie tracking for certain websites in your settings.
Another thing to consider is your password. Far too many people use weak passwords that can be easily guessed or hacked.
You’d be surprised by how many people use simple passwords like “password” or “123456789” for their online accounts! Others use information that is easy to discover, such as their addresses or birth dates.
Make sure your password has uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. I recommend a password length of at least 14 characters, but nine should be the minimum.
The longer your password is and the more complex it is, the harder it will be to crack it. Even if hackers use advanced algorithms to try multiple password combinations, it will take them a long time and may even be impossible.
Also, enable two-factor authentication by verifying your phone number on the Ibotta app. That way, when you try to log into the app, you will be prompted to verify your identity with a one-time passcode sent to your number via SMS.
Even if someone manages to crack your account password, they won’t be able to log in without that special passcode.
Mindful Shopping Habits
We discussed the risk of impulsive shopping when using Ibotta.
Be mindful of your shopping habits. Remind yourself that whenever you purchase something you don’t need, even if you earn cashback, you are still losing money.
It might be helpful to set a personal budget for yourself and track your spending using a budgeting app. Create a separate category for Ibotta spending, so you know how much money you are spending on Ibotta.
Recognize when it is getting out of hand. Exercise self-control, and don’t spend money you can’t afford just to earn cashback.
You might consider speaking with a financial advisor. They can help you set a personal budget and understand how Ibotta cashback earnings come into the picture.
For example, you might use the cashback you earn for extra luxuries you otherwise couldn’t afford to spend on.
Regular Monitoring of Account Activity
In addition to having a secure password and enabling two-factor authentication, always be mindful of your account activity. If you see unauthorized purchases, someone might be using your account.
If you suspect your account was hacked, reach out to the Ibotta team as soon as possible.
Understanding Ibotta’s Terms and Conditions
Finally, make sure you understand Ibotta’s terms of use. The terms of use contain a lot of information to read through, but here are some rules regarding using Ibotta in a simpler and shorter format.
The main things to remember are to only upload valid receipts and to not use more than one account on the same device. That means that if you share a tablet or phone with other family members, be careful not to both use Ibotta on the same device.
Conclusion
Ibotta is safe to use, but it’s important to understand the potential privacy risks and mitigate them.
By requesting that Ibotta not share your information with third parties and being aware of how your information is being collected by the app, you can protect your online privacy.
Ibotta can help you earn some extra pocket cash, but I recommend seeing it as a method of saving money (like clipping coupons) rather than a way to earn money.
With that mindset, you won’t be tempted to spend impulsively or go on shopping sprees you can’t afford.
