Freelancers wear many hats: creator, administrator, IT support—and financial planner. With irregular income and often limited budgets, smart spending becomes essential. One of the simplest ways to make your money work harder is by maximizing cashback on your regular business expenses.
Whether you’re buying office supplies, software, client gifts, or fuel for travel, this guide will help you compare the top cashback apps and show you how to squeeze value out of every dollar spent.
Top Cashback Apps for Freelancers
Each app offers its own strengths, depending on what you buy and how often. Here’s how the top platforms stack up:
- Fluz – Instant Cashback at Checkout
Best for: Gift cards for everyday work purchases
How it works: Buy gift cards through the app and get cashback instantly.
Unique Perk: Team-based earnings and double-dipping with sales or coupons.
Top Freelance-Friendly Fluz Merchants:
- Staples – Office supplies, planners, and tech.
- Office Depot & OfficeMax – Printers, desk gear, and planners.
- Amazon – Practically everything, from external hard drives to standing desks.
- Best Buy – Laptops, mics, and software.
- Uber – Transportation for meetings and deliveries.
- Texaco and Phillips 66 – Fuel for business travel [link to microsites like FuelX Journal].
- Rakuten – Passive Browser & App Savings
Best for: Browsing and earning while you shop online
How it works: Install the browser extension or use their app; cashback is credited after purchase.
Unique Perk: Payouts via PayPal or check every quarter.
Good for: Travel booking sites, printing services, software subscriptions, and larger one-time purchases.
- Ibotta – Grocery & Daily Essentials
Best for: Freelancers who also shop for home and client hospitality supplies
How it works: Scan receipts or link store loyalty accounts.
Unique Perk: Real-time grocery savings, perfect if your home and work lives overlap.
Use with: Grocers like Albertsons, Kroger, or Walmart, which are also on Fluz.
- Honey & Capital One Shopping – Coupon + Cashback Combo
Best for: Coupon stacking
How it works: Automatically applies discount codes and occasionally offers cashback.
Limitations: Not as strong for regular business supply purchases, but useful for apparel, gifts, and software.
Sample Monthly Freelancer Budget (With Cashback Returns)
Here’s what a typical freelancer might spend in a month—and how much they could earn back using cashback apps:
| Expense Category | Store Used (App) | Spend | Cashback % | Monthly Return |
| Office Supplies | Staples – Fluz | $60 | 5% | $3.00 |
| Transportation (rideshare) | Uber – Fluz | $80 | 4% | $3.20 |
| Fuel for travel | Texaco – Fluz | $100 | 2% | $2.00 |
| Software Subscriptions | Adobe (Rakuten or Fluz if available) | $50 | 3% | $1.50 |
| Groceries for work meals | Walmart (Ibotta + Fluz) | $200 | 3% | $6.00 |
| Client Gifts | Amazon – Fluz | $40 | 3% | $1.20 |
| Total Monthly Return | $16.90 |
At nearly $17/month, that’s $200/year in easy returns just from smart spending habits.
Tips for Optimizing Cashback Year-Round
- Bookmark High-Yield Merchants: Save links to stores with high cashback rates in your browser and visit them first when making purchases.
- Stack Your Savings: Use credit card points, Fluz cashback, and browser coupons together when possible.
- Use a Planner: Track your cashback earnings and spending inside your PrimeDesk Planner to see patterns and plan ahead.
Cashback isn’t just for casual shoppers—it’s a strategic tool for freelancers managing lean budgets and growing their operations. With a few apps and a bit of consistency, you can turn every office purchase into a small win for your wallet.
Download the Fluz app to start earning immediately, and consider pairing it with Rakuten and Ibotta for an optimized savings stack.
