You’re not imagining it: saving money has gone very digital. Inmar reports that digital redemptions now account for 54% of all coupon use—meaning your best “coupon binder” is basically your phone now. (Inmar, 2024)

This post shows you how to stack coupons + loyalty rewards on purpose using apps—without doing anything shady, without taking an hour, and without accidentally voiding your cashback.

What “stacking” actually means (in plain English)

Stacking is when you earn more than one kind of discount/reward on the same purchase by combining different “layers,” like:

  • Store layer: in-app digital coupons, weekly ad deals, personalized offers
  • Loyalty layer: store rewards (cash/points/bonuses) for being a member
  • Cashback layer: third-party apps that pay you after purchase (receipt scan or tracked online session)
  • Payment layer: credit-card points/cashback (often still earns even when you use coupons)

The key is that each layer has its own rules. Some stacks are always fine; others depend on the store, the item category, and whether your cashback app can still “track” the purchase.

The simple stacking workflow I use (and it keeps me sane)

Here’s the repeatable routine that works for groceries, drugstores, and online shopping:

  1. Pick one store for the trip. (Your stack is always cleaner when you don’t bounce between stores.)
  2. Clip store offers first in the retailer app (so they’re attached to your account).
  3. Add cashback offers second in your cashback/receipt apps (so you don’t forget before checkout).
  4. Pay normally (card, wallet, or whatever the app requires).
  5. Verify the rewards: submit receipts or confirm tracked orders the same day.

A trend that makes stacking even more important: Inmar also found 66% of shoppers spend 30+ minutes preparing for grocery shopping—mostly price comparing and hunting discounts. Stacking is basically “prep time” that pays you back. (Inmar, 2024)

The 5 apps I’d actually use to stack (tested-style notes + pros/cons)

1) Ibotta (best for grocery-item cashback on top of store deals)

How I stack it: I clip store coupons in the retailer app, then add matching Ibotta offers before I shop. After checkout, I either submit the receipt or (when available) let a linked loyalty account pick it up.

Ibotta’s own help docs describe how receipt submissions get matched to offers and may require barcode scans for verification. (Ibotta Help)

Pros

  • Strong for name-brand grocery offers (especially when you already shop sales)
  • Clear “add offer → buy → verify” flow
  • Works with both receipt submissions and (at some retailers) linked accounts (Ibotta Blog, 2019)

Cons

  • Easy to miss cashback if you forget to add offers before shopping
  • Verification steps can be a little tedious when an item doesn’t match automatically

Best use-case stack

  • Store sale price + store digital coupon + Ibotta cashback + card rewards

2) Fetch (best “background” points from receipts + online)

How I stack it: I treat Fetch as my “sweep the floor” app: I scan receipts from the trip I already did for store coupons and Ibotta. For online orders, I’ll scan eligible eReceipts when I can.

Fetch explains that you can earn points from online purchases via “Fetch Shop,” and that some orders generate eReceipts you can scan for extra points. (Fetch Help)

Pros

  • Low effort: good for people who don’t want to plan every item
  • Can layer on top of almost any other savings method because it’s receipt-based
  • Online + eReceipt options add extra stacking paths (Fetch Help)

Cons

  • Points value depends heavily on promos; “everyday” scans can feel slow
  • You still have to remember to scan (I batch it once or twice a week)

Best use-case stack

  • Store digital coupon trip + (optional) Ibotta + Fetch receipt points

3) Rakuten (best for online cashback that can still pair with coupons)

How I stack it: For online shopping days, I start in Rakuten, activate a cashback rate, then apply a coupon code at checkout (preferably one Rakuten lists). If I’m trying a random code from somewhere else, I assume cashback might not track.

Rakuten’s help center explicitly says they provide coupons you can combine with cash back for maximum savings, and notes they can’t guarantee eligibility if you use coupons not listed by Rakuten. (Rakuten Help)

Pros

  • Great for planned purchases (appliances, gifts, clothing, subscriptions)
  • Stacks naturally with credit-card rewards
  • Clear guidance on coupon compatibility when using Rakuten-posted offers (Rakuten Help)

Cons

  • Tracking can fail if you wander across tabs, use certain blockers, or apply unsupported codes (Rakuten notes cookies/session rules in its terms/help) (Rakuten Help)
  • Not useful for most in-store grocery couponing

Best use-case stack

  • Sale price + Rakuten cashback + coupon code + card points

4) PayPal Honey (best for “automatic coupon code testing” while you stack cashback)

How I stack it: I use Honey at checkout to test coupon codes quickly, then I decide whether the code is worth it compared to whatever else I’m stacking (like portal cashback). If I’m using a cashback portal, I try to avoid anything that breaks tracking.

PayPal’s own guide describes that Honey searches for coupons and applies them at checkout, automatically testing codes. (PayPal, 2025)

Pros

  • Fastest way to find “did I miss a code?” savings
  • Minimal effort once installed
  • Good for families who don’t want coupon-hunting to become a hobby

Cons

  • Doesn’t guarantee the best deal every time (you still need quick judgment)
  • Ongoing industry scrutiny around affiliate tracking has been reported; it’s more of a “current developments” watch item than a savings feature (The Verge, Dec 2024; The Verge, Jan 2025)

Best use-case stack

  • Online sale + Honey coupon + card rewards (and sometimes cashback, depending on tracking rules)

5) Walgreens (myWalgreens) (best for stacking store offers + loyalty rewards in one place)

How I stack it: Before I go, I open the Walgreens app, load any digital deals, and make sure my myWalgreens account is active. At checkout I use my phone number/account so the offers and rewards apply.

Walgreens’ corporate info explains members earn 1% Walgreens Cash on most eligible purchases and 5% on Walgreens-branded items, plus app-based personalized digital offers. (Walgreens Corporate)

Pros

  • Predictable base earning: 1% most items, 5% Walgreens-branded items (Walgreens Corporate)
  • App experience is built for deal-stacking (personalized offers + rewards dashboard)
  • Great for household essentials (toiletries, cold meds, first aid, etc.)

Cons

  • Drugstore pricing can be higher than big-box/grocery, so stacking matters more
  • Rewards and coupon rules can vary by item type; you have to read the offer details

Best use-case stack

  • Walgreens sale + digital offer + Walgreens Cash earnings + card rewards

Common stacking mistakes that quietly erase your savings

  • Forgetting activation: digital coupons and cashback offers often must be added before you buy
  • Using the “wrong” coupon code online: cashback portals may not track if the code isn’t allowed (Rakuten is explicit about this risk) (Rakuten Help)
  • Not keeping receipts long enough: receipt apps may need time for review (Ibotta suggests holding receipts until cashback is confirmed) (Ibotta Help)
  • Chasing too many programs: loyalty overload is real—Bond reports consumers participate in 17.4 programs each on average, and signals that not all programs are delivering value consistently (Bond, Aug 2025)

What’s changing right now (trends you’ll feel as a shopper)

  • Digital-first savings is the default: digital coupons are now the majority of coupon use (54%), and loyalty engagement spikes during inflationary periods (Inmar also reports 72% increased loyalty program use during inflation) (Inmar, 2024)
  • Loyalty is shifting beyond discounts: Bond frames loyalty as more than points, emphasizing experience and access—and notes, “Customers are now putting an enhanced focus on the importance of experience value…” (Bond, Aug 2025)
  • Checkout tools are under a microscope: browser extensions and attribution rules are getting more public attention (good to know if you’re stacking multiple online tools) (The Verge, Dec 2024; The Verge, Jan 2025)

Conclusion

Stacking coupons and loyalty points with apps is mostly about building a small habit: clip store offers, add cashback offers, check out normally, and verify afterward. Once you keep your stack to a few reliable apps, the savings become repeatable instead of random.

References