In a world that is more and more connected by technology, the need to travel for work, to see and care for loved ones, and to be entertained continues to eat away at our wallets. Transportation currently ranks as the second-largest expense in a household’s budget. Today we delve into a way for drivers to keep more money in their wallets when they fill up their gas tank as we review the GetUpside rewards app.
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Special offer– If you use code 4DR4J at signup you will receive an extra 15 cents a gallon on your first fill up!
What is GetUpside?
GetUpside is a cashback rewards app that can keep money in your wallet as you fill up your gas tank. Partnering with industry-leading gas stations, GetUpside’s primary promise is to save you up to 50 cents a gallon on gas. While saving you money on gas remains the primary focus of the app, you may find grocery stores, restaurants, and local businesses on offer as well. As with most apps of this kind, your location plays a key role in the offers you see.
Living in a moderately small town, I currently see offers for:
- 17 gas stations across 2 of the 4 major providers
- 10 restaurants
- 0 grocery store
Within a fifteen-mile radius, not bad considering the location and certainly provides the opportunity to save money on gas without going out of my way.
How Much Cash Back Can I Earn with GetUpside?
Consumers can earn up to 25¢/gal cash back on gas, up to 30% cashback on groceries, and up to 45% cashback at restaurants.
GetUpside offers can reach as high as twenty-five cents back per gallon of gas, though between 8 and 12 cents a gallon is far more common. The total cashback one can earn on a visit is limited to the first fifty gallons of gas. Fifty gallons is enough to fill the fuel tank of the Ford Super Duty, which has one of the world’s largest gas tanks at 48 gallons.
Restaurant offers tend to be percentage-based and often range between seven and seventeen percent of the bill. The total cashback one can earn per visit is typically capped at ten dollars. This limit seems reasonable as, even at a discount of 10 percent, a purchase of $100 would be fully eligible. Purchases made through third parties, including delivery apps, are not eligible to earn cashback. This limitation is unfortunate but logical, as GetUpside must be able to connect the purchase to you. Going through a third party complicates this.
Stacking Rewards
Offers in GetUpside typically include language stating that using the app in
Combination with any other offers will reduce the cashback earned by 3.5 cents per gallon.
–GetUpside
This limitation exists so that their partners can offer their own discounts without fear of losing all profit margins to savvy customers.
This restriction does not prevent you from using a cashback credit card to earn even more cashback on every purchase. I use the Citi Double Cash Back card, our number one pick for everyday spending, to receive an additional two percent on every fill-up. My cashback has never been reduced.
What Gas Stations Offer Cashback Through GetUpside?
As with any app of its ilk, GetUpside’s list of partners changes over time. Over the years I have used their platform, they have done a solid job of maintaining the relationships they have, while slowly bringing new partners on board.
Some of the largest gas stations you can earn cashback at are:
- BP
- Circle K
- Amoco
- Marathon
- Shell
- Valero
Is GetUpside Available in My Area?
You can see offers around your current location before downloading the app here: https://www.getupside.com/search/ or view available options in any area by visiting https://www.getupside.com/locations/.
Cashback amounts are specific to your location, and change frequently, so the app may be well worth your time even if current offers look middling.
Is the GetUpside App Legitimate?
Operating out of Washington, DC, GetUpside has proven itself legitimate over the years. I have saved a couple of hundred dollars in my time using it without issue.
Partnering with their first gas station in May of 2016, GetUpside has provided over one hundred million dollars back to its users. Five co-founders continue to serve in senior leadership roles, providing stability and a clear vision to the company. Their executive leadership board consists of diverse voices including:
- Gideon Yu- Facebook, YouTube, and Yahoo
- Zuhairah Washington- Harvard graduate with Senior VP experience at Expedia and Uber
- Jeremy Levine- Investor/board member – Shopify, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Yelp
With growing partnerships and a user base of over thirty million users, GetUpside hopes for continued growth in the coming years.
The Better Business Bureau current rates GetUpside as an A- accredited business. Users are bullish on the company, with a customer review rating of 4.79 out of 5. Commonly reported issues are mostly attributed to user error, and issues appear to be resolved quickly by the support team. Be careful when selecting your cash-out options, as once processed, it cannot be reversed. If you select a gift card you will not use, you may have to use it as a gift or turn to the raise marketplace to sell it.
How Does GetUpside Make Money
When you use the GetUpside app to complete a purchase, you are considered a new customer. It is assumed that without GetUpside and their partner offering a discount that you would have made your purchase elsewhere. This allows GetUpside to claim credit for referring you to the business, and they receive a payment for that referral.
GetUpside only provides referral information to their partners in aggregate, they do not release your personal details.
Reviewing the GetUpside Mobile App
The GetUpside mobile app is a fully fleshed out platform allowing you to perform everything needed to manage your account. Users rate the app at 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store and 4.6/5 on the Google Play Store. Shoppers hope for quicker payouts and more accurate/seamless tracking of purchases.
How Do You Cash Out on the GetUpside App?
You can cash out your rewards via direct deposit to your bank, transfer them to your PayPal account, or select a digital gift card from vendors such as Amazon, Apple, or Walmart. While paper checks were once an option, they are no longer available.
GetUpside Fees and Withdrawal Minimums:
There are no fees with earning cashback through GetUpside.
When it comes time to cash out, transactions involving small amounts will incur a:
- $1 fee for any direct deposit under $10
- $1 fee for any PayPal transfer under $15
Gift cards are not subject to fees; however, each merchant may set their minimum amount. Most cards I have seen are available in amounts between $10 and $500.
*TIP* If you refer a friend or family member to the program, GetUpside will waive the fees above as long as their account remains active.
How to Get Started on GetUpside
Creating a GetUpside account is a straightforward process.
Step 1- Downloading the GetUpside App:
The GetUpside app is available in both the Apple iTunes Store and the Google Play Store.
Remember to use code use code 4DR4J at signup to receive an extra 15 cents a gallon on your first fill up!
Step 2- Create a GetUpside Account:
You can create a GetUpside account via the following methods:
- Login with Google
- Login with Facebook
- Apple ID
You will need to grant location service access to the app so that it can find local deals, and you can check in at eligible locations.
How to Use the GetUpside App to Earn Cash Back
Step 1- Finding Discounts on Gas, Groceries, or Local Restaurants
Upon launching the GetUpside App and enabling location services, the home screen will present you with any current deals near your location. Across the top, you will see the number of total nearby offers along with a toggle to display offers for gas, restaurants, or groceries.
Each offer allows you to review:
- a map of the location
- its distance from your current location
- A directions button will bring up navigation directions via google maps
- The current price and discount offered
- An image of the location
Detailed information on the requirement offers. For most offers, this information is consistent and reminds you that, to be eligible for cashback, you must:
- pay with a credit or debit card
- claim an offer before purchase
- complete the offer within 4 hours
- make the purchase at the correct location.
Additionally:
- Gas offers apply to the first fifty gallons per fill-up
- Other discounts may reduce your cashback by 3.5 cents per gallon.
Step 2- Claim Your Discounted Gas Offer
Once you locate an offer, click the blue ‘claim offer’ button and proceed to the location. Opportunities expire, typically four hours after you claim them, so it can best to wait until you are nearby to claim an offer.
*TIP* When reviewing available offers, compare them to prices nearby. A discount of 10 cents a gallon means nothing if it is at a gas station charging 15 cents more than one down the street.
Step 3 – Getting Your Cashback.
To ensure you receive your cashback, always request a copy of the receipt. Some offers will require you to submit an image of the receipt to verify your purchase and provide your cashback.
GetUpside’s team realizes this can be a pain for users and is working to transition away from this requirement. Some offers will display a blue check-in button for a location where you have previously provided a receipt. If this button is present, you can use it during subsequent visits to avoid scanning a receipt. Make sure you check in before leaving the location (if you forget, you can always submit a receipt later).
If you have linked credit cards in your wallet, you may not have to complete any additional steps to earn your cashback. At my most recent fill-up, I simply claimed the offer, filled my tank, and the app informed me I was good to go. I grabbed a receipt just in case, but the next day, the cashback was available in my account.
Final Review – Is GetUpside Worth Your Time?
GetUpside remains one of the best ways to save money on one of life’s most universal expenses. The freedom to travel, escape our day-to-day, and be with those we love, is vital but expensive. Any chance to save some money at the gas pump may have a place in your day.
I use GetUpside, but only supplementary. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where my grocery store offers discounted gas, earned by my grocery shopping. Occasionally, GetUpside will offer a great discount, or I’ll need to fill up an extra time during a month and I’ll use the app and save some money.
You now know how to save money on one of life’s most universal expenses! If you chose to open an account – use code 4DR4J at signup to receive an extra 15 cents a gallon on your first fill up!
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