Key Takeaways
- Upside allows you to earn cashback rewards on everyday purchases at over 45,000 participating restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations across the United States.
- The main focus of the app is on fuel savings, but you can save money on different types of purchases as well.
- It is worth using if you want to earn cashback rewards with minimal effort and you can also double-dip with cashback credit cards for additional savings.
With so many cashback apps out there, it can be hard to pick one that works best for you. But the Upside app (formerly known as GetUpside) aims to be different by making earning cashback rewards quick and effortless.
Let's take a closer look at the Upside app, explain how it works, check out its reviews, and see if it actually helps you save money.
What Is the Upside App?
Upside is a cashback rewards app that allows you to claim offers and earn real cash rewards on everyday purchases across the United States. You can install the Upside app on your iPhone or Android device and start saving money as you shop at physical stores.
You will find offers from over 45,000 participating restaurants like Arby's, Papa Johns, and Dunkin' Donuts, as well as convenience stores like Casey's General Store. The Upside app is also applicable at grocery stores in select cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, and gas station chains like Shell, Valero, Exxon, Conoco, and more.
Claim an offer, purchase the offer, verify the purchase, and you'll receive your cashback rewards in 10 days or less.
Although you can save money on different types of purchases, the main focus of the app is on fuel savings. Featured gas savings in your area will be plopped at the top of the screen. Nearly every time we opened the app, we found new offers, whether we were in a rural or populated area. Your results may vary, but the Upside app seems to offer sweet gas deals in most regions across the United States.
Download: Upside for iOS | Android (Free)
How Does Upside Work and How Do You Claim an Offer?
You earn cashback rewards on the Upside app by claiming a deal. Whether it's for gasoline, groceries, a meal at a restaurant, or that slushie pitstop at the convenience store. As an example, assume you want to claim a gas offer. Open the Upside app, then:
- Tap Gasoline.
- Select Claim on a gas station in your area.
- Use the offer within the allotted time.
To see your current offers, select Claimed Offers in the upper left corner of the app; select Unclaim if you don't want to use an offer. In most cases, you have four hours to claim your offer. Depending on the offer, you may have more time than that.
You don't have to add a payment method. But adding a debit card, credit card, or mobile payment option like PayPal makes verifying payments easier and faster. It's worth it.
Don't worry if you're on the fence about adding a payment option: Upside doesn't store your full debit card or credit card number.
How to Verify a Purchase in the Upside App
Once you buy something, you'll be asked to verify your purchase. If available, the Check In option is the fastest way to verify your purchase. To Check In, follow these steps:
- Claim an offer with a blue shield icon.
- Go to the location of the offer.
- Make your purchase.
- Tap Check In on the app; alternatively, tap I've paid if check-in is automatic.
If you physically leave the location of the offer without verifying via the check-in option (or if the check-in option doesn't verify you), or it isn't available, the alternative is to upload a receipt to verify your purchase.
Go back to your offer, but instead of a Check In or I've Paid button, tap Upload Receipt. Snap a picture of the receipt, and if it has all the information Upside needs (and if the image isn't blurry), the verification process will begin.
You will receive an email when your cashback reward is confirmed and applied.
How to Cash Out in the Upside App
The Upside app gives you three ways to cash out your earned cashback rewards:
- PayPal
- Digital gift card
- Bank account
Cashback rewards can take up to 10 days to process. You can then cash them out via PayPal, bank account, or digital gift cards from places like Amazon, Apple, and more.
Keep in mind that if you cash out your rewards below $10 to a bank account ($15 for PayPal accounts), a $1 fee is applied. For gift cards, the minimum amount is set by the gift card retailer.
What's the Catch With Upside?
There are several catches. For starters, you can only earn cashback rewards for up to 50 gallons of fuel. We also noticed that some offers were less than advertised—roughly 40 cents less in one instance.
You also can't earn cashback rewards if you claim a deal from a supermarket or restaurant via a same-day delivery service like Instacart or DoorDash, which makes sense, considering you have to make physical purchases to earn cashback rewards.
Does the Upside App Have Good Reviews?
The reviews are generally positive across the board. On the App Store, Upside has a score of 4.8 out of 5, whereas on Google Play, it scores 4.7 out of 5 across hundreds of thousands of ratings.
Upside has some complaints on its BBB page but the majority of them appear resolved. This indicates that Upside listens to the criticisms of its users, at least from this side of the aisle.
Is Upside Actually Worth It?
The Upside app is absolutely worth the effort if you want to earn cashback rewards at the businesses you use every day. It's a passive cashback app that rewards you for shopping and only requires a few minutes of your time for each offer.
You can also double-dip with the Upside app. For example, you can claim an offer using a cashback credit card for even more savings.
Merchants will sometimes send you customized offers and bonuses to your inbox. As we tested the Upside app, new offers appeared regularly. There always seemed to be a new deal on the horizon.
Will Upside Save You Money?
Slowly but surely. Upside is a legit app that'll save you money as long as you continue using it. And if you drive for a living, those cents on the dollar can really add up. The fact that you can receive your cashback rewards so quickly is a huge plus.
Refer a Friend in the Upside App
If you want to earn cashback rewards as quickly as possible, the easiest way is to refer a friend via your unique referral code. You'll get a $7 bonus for every friend that signs up for the Upside app, along with one cent per gallon of fuel they purchase.
To share it, tap Earn More > Share. If you want to share it with your contacts, select Choose from contacts. As long as your unique referral code is used during the sign-up process, you get paid when they refuel using the Upside app!
The Upside App Has Legitimate Cashback Rewards
Earning in tiny increments is its own reward. No, you won't earn a bucketload of cashback rewards quickly. But they do add up over time, especially if you use the app every time you refuel or eat at a supported fast food restaurant.
So, if you're looking for an easy-to-use cashback rewards app that doesn't require too much of your attention at a time, give the Upside app a test drive and see if it's right for you.
