If you had told me ten years ago that shopping could earn me money, I would have never believed it—let alone that others would pay you to shop. To me, it seemed like a scam. However, with the rise of the internet and e-commerce platforms, this perception has gradually changed.
For various reasons, many people are willing to pay others to shop for them—perhaps because their jobs are too busy, or their schedules are too tight to drive to the store or stand in long checkout lines. This has led to the emergence of many websites and apps that allow you to make money while shopping.
For me, one of the most transformative innovations on the internet has been the ability to receive cash back when shopping online or in supermarkets. This has significantly reduced my expenses during college, and I’ve earned a fair amount of money through this method. Yes, you can indeed earn money through shopping, and I am one of the beneficiaries of this trend.
Looking back, earning money through shopping is no longer a novel concept. What I once couldn’t imagine is now widely accepted. If you’re also interested in earning money through shopping, please read on; I will introduce you to nine ways to do so.
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Is Make Money to Shop Real?
Yes, it is real. I want you to understand that there are two forms of earning money through shopping. The first is helping others purchase items they want and getting paid for it. Just as there is a delivery fee for food delivery, helping others shop for money works the same way.
We must recognize that people pay you to help them shop because the items they want might be scarce in their area, requiring you to purchase them from another country, such as luxury bags or rare watches.
The second way to earn money through shopping is through price differences. If you can help someone buy the desired item at a lower price, it is reasonable to earn a margin from that. This principle underlies many cash back platforms, which I will introduce next.
Many cash back platforms and coupon websites offer a percentage of cash back on your purchases. This method is essentially a promotional tool used by merchants to attract customers. After purchasing products through these platforms, you can receive cash back based on your spending, typically in cash or points.
It’s important to stay vigilant when participating in these cash back activities, ensuring that you choose reputable platforms and merchants to avoid being scammed. Below, I will share some reliable platforms I’ve used, so you can choose with confidence.
9 Best Ways to Make Money to Shop for Yourself or Others
Capital One Shopping
I’ve been using Capital One Shopping for quite some time. It’s a cash back platform that also offers a wide array of merchant coupons, helping me find the best prices while shopping online. Each time I want to purchase an item, it automatically searches for available coupons and discounts to ensure I save the most.
Additionally, its browser extension is very convenient, allowing me to see current deals directly when I visit e-commerce websites. For instance, if you want to buy a pair of shoes from the Nike website, Capital One Shopping’s extension will inform you of various deals available as soon as you enter the site—it’s incredibly useful.
You can also look for desired merchants on the Capital One Shopping website. If you see a specific badge, that means the merchant offers cash back rewards. The cash back percentages vary by merchant, typically ranging from 2% to 60%.
There are also merchants that offer fixed cash rewards, regardless of the price of the items you purchase. This is a feature I particularly enjoy.
Moreover, the advantages of Capital One Shopping don’t stop there. Once you make a purchase through the platform, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Capital One Shopping within about a day, and you can use the rewards 30 days later (some rewards may take 60 days).
The rewards from Capital One Shopping cannot be used directly; they must be redeemed for gift cards. Capital One Shopping provides various gift cards from well-known retailers, which can cater to different shopping needs. Every time I redeem a gift card I like, I feel a sense of accomplishment, as if I’ve saved money on my shopping.
If you’re not interested in gift cards and prefer cash, you can sell the gift cards on third-party platforms to convert them into cash. Many platforms specialize in the buying and selling of gift cards, allowing you to sell your gift cards at a discount for cash.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular online rewards platforms. Yes, it is an online rewards platform that offers multiple ways to earn money. You can earn money through shopping on Swagbucks, as well as by playing games, answering surveys, and watching advertisements.
Since my college days, I’ve been earning pocket money on Swagbucks. Being a gaming enthusiast, I often wondered if I could earn money while playing games. That’s how I found Swagbucks. If you had seen my college life, you would have noticed that I frequently played games during my free time—not surprisingly, it was all to earn a bit of extra pocket money.
Swagbucks
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If you wish to earn rewards through shopping, in addition to Capital One Shopping, I recommend exploring other platforms as well. This is because not all merchants provide rewards on Capital One Shopping.
You might need to purchase an item from a merchant that isn’t offering discounts on Capital One Shopping, and at that point, you can check Swagbucks, as the merchants partnered with each platform can differ.
Furthermore, they have introduced a new feature called Magic Receipts. If you upload shopping receipts from their partners, you can earn rewards. This flexibility means you can earn money whether shopping online or in person.
Most importantly, if you register as a new user on Swagbucks for the first time, you will receive a $5 bonus as a free reward. You can use this bonus to redeem gift cards or cash. If you register through the link below, the bonus will increase to $10—so give it a try!
Read More: How I Earn Free Money With Swagbucks: Swagbucks Review
Shopkick
Shopkick is a popular shopping rewards app in the U.S. If you enjoy grocery shopping, Shopkick is a great app for you. Within the Shopkick app, there are a series of simple tasks that can earn you rewards, such as walking into a store, taking photos of products, scanning barcodes, and shopping online.
While Shopkick might not bring in a large income, you can easily earn a little extra cash each month—like for buying formula—by simply walking into stores or exploring your city. Plus, Shopkick offers various reward options, allowing you to redeem your earned points for gift cards usable at shopping, dining, or other venues, or even convert them into cash. This turns everyday shopping into a fun game.
Rakuten
If you’re passionate about online shopping, Rakuten is another platform you shouldn’t miss, alongside Capital One Shopping. It not only has a vast number of partnered merchants, but also offers high cash back rates. In fact, I’ve earned over $10,000 through Rakuten.
Yes, I earned those cash back rewards by helping friends shop. Whenever a friend asks me for help, I check Rakuten for the corresponding merchant and help them purchase items at a lower price. After shopping through Rakuten, the platform calculates the cash back and sends you a confirmation email within a day. However, Rakuten only distributes payments four times a year, with three-month intervals.
Another key way I’ve earned money through Rakuten is via their referral rewards. Throughout my time using Rakuten, I consistently recommended the platform to friends. When they sign up using my referral link, they receive a $30 platform bonus, which they can use after spending at least $30 on discounts. Of course, I also earn a reward from this. If you want to earn easily like I do, choose Rakuten and recommend it to your friends; it’s definitely a reliable platform.
Ibotta
Ibotta is a highly popular cash back app that allows you to earn cash back on both in-store and online shopping. The cash back rewards in categories like clothing, electronics, groceries, health and beauty, home and automotive, dining, and travel are quite generous, which is why I recommend it.
With Ibotta, you can redeem your cash back for PayPal cash or choose from various free gift cards. The flexible redemption options are user-friendly, and I personally suggest redeeming for PayPal cash since gift card redemptions can come with discounts. Additionally, by downloading the Ibotta shopping extension, you can easily earn rewards while shopping online. Ibotta also regularly offers special events and limited-time deals that provide extra cash rewards.
Honey
Similar to Rakuten, Honey’s extension can help you earn money while shopping, much like Ibotta’s cash back features. When using Honey, it automatically searches for and applies available discount codes, helping you save more at checkout.
Moreover, Honey offers a “Honey Gold” rewards system where you can earn Honey Gold points while shopping at participating merchants. These points can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. What surprised me is how smooth the experience is; installing and using Honey is very straightforward. Once you install the browser extension, it will automatically notify you of any available discounts and cash back.
Honey also provides price history and price alert features. You can see the price changes of a product over the past few months, helping you decide whether now is the best time to buy. If you set up price alerts, Honey will notify you when an item drops in price, ensuring you never miss a buying opportunity.
If most of your shopping is in the U.S., I think Capital One Shopping or Rakuten are better options. However, for international customers looking to earn rewards while shopping online, Honey offers the most flexibility.
Pogo
If you want to earn passive income, choosing Pogo is a great idea. Every time you shop using Pogo, you earn a small amount of PayPal cash. Essentially, you just need to register, link your bank account to Pogo, and shop using the linked card to earn rewards.
What I like about Pogo is that it’s entirely passive; they pay for your data. So, whenever you spend money, you can automatically earn cash back. Additionally, Pogo allows you to redeem at just 3,000 points (worth $3), which is very easy to reach—almost just by purchasing one item. You can also earn points through simple in-app surveys, providing multiple ways to earn. Start using it today!
Highest Income Offline Paid Shopping Methods
If you’re not interested in making money through online shopping and prefer to earn money by helping others shop in person, then you definitely need to know about the next two shopping methods. It’s no exaggeration to say that once you become familiar with these two methods, earning an extra $5,000 a month can be quite easy.
Instacart
Instacart is a leading grocery delivery service in North America, covering over 5,500 cities. As an Instacart shopper, you can earn money by shopping for and delivering groceries to customers’ homes.
Using the Instacart app is straightforward. To register as an Instacart shopper, you must be at least 18 years old and own a vehicle. Once you join Instacart, the platform will send you orders that you can choose to accept or decline.
When you accept an order, your task is to purchase various items as per the customer’s list and deliver them to their doorstep for a fee. The payment from Instacart varies based on different city environments, but on average, Instacart pays around $15 to $30 per hour. This is just the payment from the platform; when you handle larger orders, customers may also tip you, which you can keep 100%.
If you invest enough time in Instacart, the earnings can significantly support your living expenses. As an Instacart shopper, you also enjoy flexible working hours, allowing you to choose when to work based on your schedule. During peak times, such as weekends or holidays, order volume usually increases, giving you the chance to earn more.
Additionally, Instacart regularly offers incentive programs to encourage shoppers to complete more orders during specific timeframes, further enhancing your income.
TaskRabbit
In simple terms, TaskRabbit is a different type of platform compared to Instacart, targeting various market needs and service types. TaskRabbit is a gig marketplace that focuses on providing various personal services, including furniture assembly, cleaning, moving, and personal shopping. You can choose different jobs based on your skills and interests.
TaskRabbit allows service providers to communicate directly with clients, helping build good relationships and personal brands, while Instacart relies more on an order system where shoppers follow assigned tasks. Both platforms offer strong work flexibility, but TaskRabbit has a more diverse range of services. You can set your own availability and hourly rates, charging anywhere from $10 to $30 per hour. TaskRabbit is suitable for those looking to help in a broader range of areas.
From my experience, platforms like TaskRabbit are not typically ideal for full-time work. While some individuals can achieve considerable income through frequent orders, the gig nature of the work often results in unstable earnings, influenced by market demand and personal time management. I prefer to view TaskRabbit as a source of part-time or additional income, utilizing my spare time to offer services.
How to Make Money Helping Others Shop
As mentioned earlier, there are two ways to earn money by helping others shop: either by receiving tips or profiting from product markups. Both methods can help you achieve your goal of making money through shopping assistance.
Receiving tips is the most direct way. On platforms like Instacart or TaskRabbit, clients typically rate the services provided, and good service often leads to extra tips.
The second method is to profit from product markups, which is more common in personal shopping services. When helping clients purchase specific items, you can set a service fee on top of the original price. Clients are often willing to pay extra because they save time and effort, allowing you to earn additional income while assisting others.
Regardless of which method you choose for shopping-related earnings, both are legitimate. Just ensure that the services you provide meet client expectations and maintain transparency.
Common Questions About Paid Shopping
Is it feasible to earn money shopping on Amazon?
Yes, it is feasible. Many people think of Amazon solely as an e-commerce platform, but it also offers money-making opportunities through the Amazon Affiliate Program.
Read More: How to Make Money With Amazon Affiliate Marketing (A Step-By-Step Guide)
You can earn commissions by sharing links to Amazon products and attracting others to purchase through those links. Whether on social media, personal blogs, or other platforms, as long as someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. You can also help others buy items on Amazon to earn commissions.
How much can you earn shopping for others online?
Earnings for shopping for others online vary based on the platform and specific services. In the Amazon Affiliate Program, commission rates typically range from 1% to 10%, depending on the product category. For example, fashion and beauty products might have higher commissions, while electronics usually have lower rates.
In addition to Amazon, platforms like Capital One Shopping, Ibotta, and Rakuten offer higher cashback rates, typically ranging from 1% to 60%, depending on the participating merchant and promotional events. For instance, cashback rates may significantly increase during shopping events like Black Friday, reaching 30% or more.
Moreover, by providing personal shopping services, you can set your own fees, usually based on the complexity of the service and time required. Many personal shoppers charge service fees of $5 to $20 per order, with specific amounts adjustable according to client needs and market competition.
How can you make $600 per week using Instacart?
While Instacart does not guarantee a minimum wage, reports indicate that the average hourly wage for Instacart shoppers is about $11. Based on this wage, working over 40 hours a week would meet the $600 income threshold.
Keep in mind that the above calculation is based on typical hourly earnings, while the order amounts can vary, and tips from customers are not included in this figure. Considering all these factors, if you aim to earn $600 per week through Instacart, you could easily achieve this with less than 30 hours of work.
