Is Upside Legit & Worth It? Our Honest Upside App Review (2024)

Owning a vehicle is one of the largest annual expenses a person can have. And out of all types of car expenses, the one that always irks me the most is gas.

I'm sure you can relate. There's just something depressing about dropping $90+ on a refuel and feeling like you have nothing to show for it.

Thankfully, times are changing. Upside is a legit rewards app that lets you earn cash back the next time you refuel or purchase gas station snacks.

This Upside app review is covering how this gas rewards app works, its pros and cons, and what other users are saying so you can decide if it belongs on your smartphone.

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Key Takeaways:

• Upside is a free gas rewards app that pays you cash back when refueling
• The app works with thousands of stations across the United States
• You claim gas offers, refuel, and take a photo of your receipt to earn
• Members can also earn cash back on groceries, snacks, and dining purchases
• You cash out via PayPal, free gift cards, or check

Is Upside Legit?

Upside is legit and has paid over $100,000,000 to users in cash back since its inception. It also has a 4.6 and 4.8 star rating on the Google and Apple App stores, with over 300,000 reviews and plenty of online payment proof.

My advice is to give the app a try if you do a lot of driving to see how much you save the next few weeks of buying fuel.

At the very worst, Upside won't have many gas stations in your area and you can delete the app. But, at its best, Upside can find meaningful savings at the pump, helping to save more money each year.

What Is Upside?

Upside is a free U.S. rewards app for Android and iOS that aims to help people save money at the pump.

The app is basically like Fetch or other common grocery rebate apps, just for gas. If you frequently drive and want a simple way to save more money each month, this app is worth the download.

Upside has also added cash back rewards for groceries, restaurants, and convenience stores. But earning cash back on gas is where this app really shines, so it's an excellent download if you put a lot of miles on your vehicle each week.

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How Does Upside Work?

Saving money on gas with Upside is fairly simple. In fact, you can get started in fourstepsafter you've installed the app and created a free account with your email address or Facebook account.

1. Find Local Gas Offers

If you've ever used an app like Ibotta or Checkout 51, Upside works the exact same way. And it currently partners with 12,000+ gas stations across the United States. Some popular gas station partners include:

• BP
• Shell
• Exxon
• Valero
• RaceTrac
• Phillips 66
• Circle K

Once you open the app, you see local gas station prices, as well as Upside's cashback offers. As you can see in the screenshot below, Upside clearly outlines how much each station pays:This gas finder is a nice way to quickly see which stations are paying the most near you. The app also highlights if there are any in-store cash back offers since Upside often pays you for buying in-store goods like snacks or drinks.

2. Claim Gas Offers & Refuel

Most grocery rebate apps make you claim offers before shopping. Upside is similar, and you have to “claim” gas offers before you refuel and get paid.

Additionally, Upside has two types of offers:

• Check-In Offers – Some stations let you claim cashback just by visiting a partner gas station and “checking-in” through the mobile app after refueling. These offers must be claimed within 20 minutes after purchasing.
• Receipt Offers – Most stations require you to upload a receipt to provide proof of purchase. You have four hours to make a purchase after claiming an offer, and 24 hours after purchase to upload your receipt.

Regardless of the claim type,you can claim up to 50 gallons per offer. You also have to pay with a debit or credit card for Upside to work. Once you successfully check-in or upload an eligible receipt, offers take up to 10 daysto process.

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3. Earn Cash Back On Groceries & Restaurants

Alongside gas rewards, Upside now lets you earn cash back when you shop at partner grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores.

The process is similar to claiming gas offers. In fact, the app highlights food and restaurant deals on the same map so you can find local opportunities to save money:

As you can see in my screenshot, restaurants like McDonald's and Hungry Howie's are paying over 5% cash back, which is a very high rate. And Hungry Howie's is paying 16% cash back!

Gas is still the main way to save money with Upside. But I like that the app has more food and dining partners now to help you get quick money.

4. Earn & Redeem Cashback

Once claims finish processing, you earn cash back in your Upside wallet. You can then cash out with several options, including:

• PayPal Cash– A $1 fee applies for amounts under $15. If you refer a friend to Upside, this fee is waived as long as they are active.
• Free Gift Cards– Requires a minimum of $10. You must redeem round amounts, so no spare change. All gift card codes are sent electronically.
• Check –There is a $1 fee for cashing out under $50.

In terms of the free gift cards, Upside has a fairly healthy selection. You can redeem gift cards to companies like Amazon, Nike, Home Depot, Starbucks, Target, and Walmart. And I love that the app also offers PayPal cash rewards.

A $10 redemption minimum on gift cards isn't too high either. Just note you need $15 minimum to cash out with PayPal without paying fees. Also note that you generally receive rewards within 24 to 48 hours following redemption.

Extra Reading – How To Make $400 Dollars A Day.

How Much Does Upside Pay?

In my experience, you can usually earn about $1 to $2 when you refuel and claim an Upside gas offer. If you refuel once or twice per week, this could easily be $10 to $20 a month in free money. And you can earn even more if you claim dining and food offers.

If you drive for your job, Upside can pay even more. Plus, you can even earn referral bonuses by inviting your friends to join the app.

Is Upside Worth It?

Upside is worth using if you drive regularly and want to save money on your monthly gas bill. It can also help you save on gas station snacks and restaurants. In contrast, it's not worth using if you don't have a car or barely drive.

The app now has restaurant offers as well and more ways to earn, but at its core, this is a cash back app for gas. And it's one of the highest-paying apps in this category and works with thousands of stations.

Extra Reading – The Best Reward Apps Like Fetch Rewards.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Earn real cash savings
• Variety of free gift card rewards
• Claim up to 50 gallons per offer
• Multiple ways to claim offers
• Earn meaningful savings on fuel
• Variety of gas station partners

Cons:

• Rewards don't always stack with your credit card
• Not available at every gas station and some states don't really have coverage
• Cash out fees for PayPal cash and checks
• Only available in the United States

Other Upside App Reviews

I try to use Upside when I'm in the United States, and I think it's one of the best gas rewards apps out there.

Additionally,Upside has nearly a 5 star rating and more than 300,000 reviewsbetween the Android and iOS store, which is a great sign. And here's what some other Upside reviews are saying from other users on the Google app store:

• chantforezkaton2000 says: “This app is super easy to use. You basically just have to tap two buttons… once when you're at the location and once when you finish paying there. Easy.”
• Angela says: “There is no downside to Upside. The app has done exactly what it says. SUPER easy to use. I have to get gas anyways, might as well get back some $ when I do, especially with how high everything is.”
• Brad Sturt says: “Great app. Easy to find deals on fuel. It's not a get rich plan, but it's nice when you save up for a bit and have an extra $100 to blow on a rainy day. Super easy to scan receipts and if you tag a card to your account you don't even need to scan a receipt, you just hit the paid button and it does the rest.”
• Joshua Krutiak says: “I love this app. So far I've only used it for gas, but after a half dozen fill ups I just cashed out $27 in cash back. It's user friendly, very easy.”

As you can see, users like how easy Upside is to use and how much cash back it pays for gas.

Some negative reviews complain about occasional app glitches or that Upside doesn't stack with various fuel reward programs. However, it's one of the most popular money-making apps in this category.

The Best Apps Like Upside

If you like the idea of earning cash back on gas purchases, you're in luck: there are numerous Upside alternatives you can also experiment with to earn more rewards, including:

• Trunow
• Receipt Hog
• CoinOut
• ReceiptPal
• Checkout 51
• Bridge Money
• GasBuddy
• Murphy Drive Rewards
• Dosh
• ReceiptJar
• Exxon Mobil

Checkout 51 and Trunow have some of the higher-paying gas offers, but it's worth experimenting with several Upside alternatives to see how much you save.

Also note that you can try using a gas rewards credit card to save on gas. However, this has the potential to nullify your cash back from Upside, so test it out and keep an eye on your wallet balance.

Extra Reading – How To Get Free PayPal Money.

Is The Upside App Safe Or A Scam?

Upside is safe, and according to the company, it “never gets accessto your full credit or debit card number – just the last 4 digits. We take your security very seriously, and never request or view your full credit/debit card information.”

The app isn't a scam either; millions of people have earned cash back by using it and there's plenty of online payment proof.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Stack Rewards With Upside?

According to Upside, you can use their app to earn rewards alongside other methods like a gas rewards credit card or various coupons.

However, Upside also states that: “if you use a rewards card or other promotions, your Upside cash back per gallon will be reduced to account for the cost of the other promotion.”

This is done to prevent you from stacking so many rewards that the gas station ends up losing money. It's still worth stacking, but keep this condition in mind.

How Does The Upside App Make Money?

Upside makes money by charging partner gas stations a small affiliate fee for sending them business. It does the same thing for convenience stores, restaurants, and grocery stores. This helps the company make money while remaining completely free for users.

What Devices Are Supported?

Upside supports iPhone running iOS: v10.0 and newer and Android phones running Android 4.1 and newer.

How Do I Get an Upside Promo Code?

Another easy way to stretch your savings a bit further is to also use a Upside promo code when signing up.

Fortunately, we've got you covered with a $0.25/gal sign-up bonus!

Use coupon code: WEBMONKEY25

Save $0.25/gal on your next gas purchase!

Extra Reading – How To Make $400 Dollars A Day.

Final Thoughts

No one on this earth enjoys filling up their car. However, spending money on gas in an unfortunate reality unless you own a purely electric vehicle.

Thankfully, apps like Upside make it easier to save money on gas and to also find cheap gas prices in your neighborhood without much effort.

If you use an app like Upside with other frugal habits, like carpooling or using a rewards credit card to always earn cashback, you can probably put a decent dent in your annual fuel costs.

Thanks for reading my Upside review! If you've used the app before, I'd love to know about your experiences in the comments. And if you're looking for a lucrative side hustle idea that involves driving, I suggest reading our post on the best driving apps that pay!