Drop Review 2024: Why Better Cash Back Apps Exist

Item: Drop
Rating: 1.5
Author: Zina Kumok

Drop has evolved over the years, but not necessarily for the better. Here's everything you should know about the rewards app before signing up.

Written by Zina Kumok Last Updated: June 5, 2024

Reviewed by Jana Lynch

We’ve reviewed the Drop cash back and rewards app every year since its United States launch in late 2017.

Much has changed about the app over the past seven years, and almost none of it for the better. Here are what remain of the pros, the notable cons, and why we think you’re better off using other popular cash back apps.

Drop Review summary
Platforms	iOS, Android
Price	Free
Features	Automatic cash back at 500+ brands.
User Rating	4.3 stars on the App Store (55k reviews), 1.2 stars on Google Play (12k reviews)
Our Rating	~~3.5 stars (2023)~~ → 1.5 stars (2024) (see methodology)
Best For	Users who want to earn automatic cash back without scanning receipts or loading offers.
Verdict	Several red flags exist; users are better off using other cash back apps.

In This Review show

What Is Drop?

Drop is a popular loyalty rewards app designed to help users earn points for their everyday purchases. By linking your debit and credit cards to the app, you can accumulate points automatically whenever you shop at partnered retailers.

These points can be redeemed for free gift cards from a wide range of popular brands, making Drop a seemingly effortless way to get rewarded for the shopping you’re already doing.

In addition to its seamless integration with your payment methods, Drop offers a variety of ways to maximize your earnings. Users can also participate in activities such as paid surveys, playing games, or referring friends to the app to rack up even more points.

Why We’re Concerned About Drop

Drop is the only cash back app we’ve ever reviewed that can claim they provide fully automatic cash back to users. It was, and remains, an enormous perk, as all competing apps require receipt scanning, offer loading, or some form of manual offer activation.

Drop is theoretically as simple as linking a preferred payment method and earning free cash back — or so it was.

There are several red flags that have arisen since our last annual review which have prompted us to drop our rating from 3.5 to 1.5 (out of 5 stars):

Concern #1: Users must manually opt-in to earn cash back each Wednesday, despite their card information already being linked. Drop is plausibly receiving attribution and payment from merchants for qualifying user purchases, but not distributing points to users if they haven’t opted in that week.

Concern #2: Users — myself included — report extreme difficulty redeeming gift cards for earned points during “drop” periods. Drop seems unable to fulfill on-demand withdrawals from users for earned points, resorting instead to periodic withdrawal windows where users can try and redeem a seemingly small number of valid gift cards.

Concern #3: For the small percentage of users able to successfully redeem their points for a gift card, there is now a company-stated [up to] 60-day waiting period for gift card delivery, with few users ever reporting card arrival.

While we’re not privy to the inner workings at Drop, we’re concerned users are being left little in the way of options for redeeming rightfully earned points. Our experience isn’t isolated, with hundreds of Reddit users reporting similar experiences.

How Drop Works

Understanding how Drop works is essential to making the most of its features and maximizing your rewards. Here are the app’s key features and tips for maximizing your earnings.

Signing Up for Drop

To begin using Drop, download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Follow the prompts to create an account by providing your email and setting up a password. After verifying your email, you can complete your profile, which helps tailor the app’s features to your preferences.

Completing all the steps can unlock up to 8,800 points — equivalent to an $8.80 Welcome Bonus.

Select five merchants to earn ongoing points

Drop will ask you to choose the retailers you use most. My list included Safeway, Urban Outfitters, Lyft, Walgreens, and Whole Foods.

Once you log in for the first time, you’ll be able to see the wider list of Drop retailers which includes:

Starbucks
Sephora
Old Navy
adidas
Groupon

Gap
Chewy
PetSmart
Booking.com
Carter’s

This initial setup is straightforward and prepares you to start earning rewards on your everyday purchases.

Linking Your Cards

Once your account is set up, the next step is to securely link your debit and credit cards to the Drop app. This process is crucial as it allows Drop to track your purchases and award you points automatically.

To link your cards, navigate to the card linking section in the app and follow the instructions to enter your card details. With your cards linked, you can start earning points on eligible purchases without any extra effort.

Earning Points

With your cards linked, you can start earning points on your everyday purchases. Drop automatically tracks your spending at partnered retailers and awards you points for every eligible transaction. These points accumulate over time and can be redeemed for various rewards.

Drop offers personalized deals based on your spending habits, allowing you to earn bonus points for shopping at specific stores or purchasing certain items.

In addition to earning points through purchases, Drop offers a few other ways to boost your earnings: Games, Surveys, and Refer Friends.

Games

Currently, the only available game on Drop is called “Pets.” In this game, users are awarded a virtual pet to care for. The experience begins with watching your pet hatch from an egg.

To keep your pet happy, you need to interact with it daily, which includes tasks like feeding and playing with it. Consistent care rewards you with gifts from your pet, such as points and other surprise perks.

Our Experience: I was eager to try the Pets feature on Drop, but it’s currently locked because I don’t have the required Games Master Collectible.

Unfortunately, the Games Master Collectible is “Sold Out,” and I had to join a waitlist to be notified when it becomes available again. This situation again raises concerns about the app.

Surveys

Drop also offers paid surveys as a method for users to earn additional points. These surveys are provided both by Drop and through partnerships with market research companies like Tap Research. They cover a wide range of topics, allowing users to share their opinions and insights on new or established products or services.

By participating, users can accumulate points for each completed survey. Occasionally, you’ll encounter Boosted Surveys, which offer double the usual points, making them ever-so-slightly more worth your time. Engaging in these surveys regularly can modestly boost your point balance, helping you reach your redemption goals more quickly.

Our Experience: Taking surveys on Drop is similar to other paid survey sites. You will occasionally be screened out, receiving only a nominal coin amount, which is also common on major survey platforms.

However, we found that the pay for surveys on Drop tends to be below or significantly below most major survey sites, and the availability of surveys is also limited in comparison.

Despite these drawbacks, it’s still a viable option for earning additional points if you regularly check for new surveys and take advantage of Boosted Surveys when they appear.

Refer Friends

Drop’s “Refer a Friend” feature allows users to earn additional points by inviting friends to join the app. Each user receives a unique referral link to share.

When a friend signs up using this link and makes their first purchase on Drop, both the referrer and the friend receive a 5,000-point bonus ($5).

Redeeming Points

Once you’ve accumulated enough points, redeeming them on Drop is straightforward. Points can be exchanged for gift cards from a variety of popular retailers, including Amazon, Starbucks, and many others. To redeem, simply navigate to the Rewards section in the app, browse the available gift card options, and select the one you want. Confirm the redemption, and you’ll receive the gift card electronically, ready for immediate use.

Gift cards are available in two tiers: those starting at $5 (Amazon and Starbucks only) and those starting at $25, which include options like Uber, Apple, Dunkin, Ulta, StubHub, Airbnb, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and more.

Pros & Cons

While Drop offers several opportunities to earn free money, it is not without several limitations. Here’s a look at the upsides and downsides of using the Drop app:

Pros

Ease of Use. Automatically earn points through linked cards.
Variety of Rewards. Wide range of gift card options starting at $5.
Earning Opportunities. Collect points through games, surveys, and referrals.
Amazon Cash Back. One of few platforms offering cash back at Amazon.

Cons

Hard to Redeem Points: Major concern over point redemption issues.
Feature Restrictions: Some features may be locked or have limited access.
Limited Survey Availability: Fewer surveys compared to other sites.
Gift Card Tiers: Higher minimum point thresholds for many gift card options.

Alternatives to Drop

Given our concerns about Drop, you might be better off using a different cashback app. Here’s a comparison of some popular alternatives that offer reliable rewards and a smoother user experience:

	Drop	Capital One Shopping	Rakuten	Ibotta	Upside
Sign-Up Bonus	$5	None	Extra 10% cash back	$5	$25¢/gal bonus
Cashback Types	Shopping	Online shopping	Online shopping	Groceries	Gas
Redemption Options	Gift Cards	Gift Cards	Check, PayPal	Gift Cards, PayPal, Bank	Gift Cards, PayPal, Bank
Minimum Payout	$5	$5	$5	$20	No minimum
User Ratings	App Store: 4.3/5 Google Play: 1.2/5	App Store: 4.9/5 Google Play: 4.7/5	App Store: 4.8/5 Google Play: 3.7/5	App Store: 4.8/5 Google Play: 4.5/5	App Store: 4.8/5 Google Play: 4.6/5
Our Rating	1.5	4.5	3.5	4.0	N/A

Capital One Shopping is a browser extension and mobile app that helps you save money by automatically finding and applying coupon codes at checkout. It also compares prices across different retailers, helping you find the best deal available. The extension is particularly useful for finding deals while shopping online, providing a convenient way to save money without manually searching for discounts.

Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, offers up to 30% cashback on purchases from a wide range of online and in-store retailers. Users simply shop through the Rakuten website or app to earn rewards, which are paid out quarterly via check or PayPal. Rakuten also periodically offers welcome bonuses and promotions to enhance your potential rewards.

Ibotta is a cashback app that focuses on groceries but also includes rewards for online and in-store shopping at various retailers. Users earn cashback by activating offers, making purchases, and scanning receipts.

Upside is an app that provides cashback on gas, groceries, and restaurant purchases. Users find participating locations using an interactive map and claim offers before making purchases. Upside is praised for its high cashback rates on fuel and its straightforward redemption process, which does not have a minimum payout threshold.

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Verdict

While Drop offers an appealing array of features and opportunities to earn rewards, our experience and the feedback from other users indicate significant concerns that outweigh the benefits. The manual weekly opt-in requirement, difficulty in redeeming points, and prolonged waiting periods for gift card delivery are substantial drawbacks.

From personal experience, these issues have transformed what was once a user-friendly app into a source of frustration and disappointment. Despite its automatic cash back feature, the current state of Drop falls short of expectations, making it less reliable compared to other cash back apps.

We recommend exploring alternative options like Rakuten, Ibotta, or Capital One Shopping, which provide a more consistent and rewarding experience for users looking to earn cash back on their everyday purchases.

Related:

FAQs

Is Drop legit?

While Drop is a legitimate rewards app that has been operational since 2017, there are several concerns and red flags that potential users should be aware of. The app holds a 1.2-star rating on Trustpilot based on 245 reviews, with many users expressing frustration over the inability to redeem points and delayed payouts. Additionally, Drop has an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), further highlighting concerns about its reliability and customer service.

How does Drop make money?

Drop makes money through partnerships with retailers and brands. When you make a purchase through a linked card at a participating retailer, the retailer pays Drop a commission for driving the sale. Drop then shares a portion of this commission with you in the form of points. Additionally, Drop may generate revenue through in-app purchases and premium features offered to users.

Do Drop points expire?

Yes, Drop points do expire if your account remains inactive for an extended period. According to Drop’s terms of service, points will expire if there is no earning or redemption activity on your account for 12 months. To keep your points active, make sure to use the app regularly by earning points through purchases, completing surveys, or redeeming rewards.

Is Drop safe?

Yes, Drop is considered safe to use. The app employs encryption and other security measures to protect your banking information when you link your debit or credit cards. Drop does not store your banking credentials but uses secure connections to track your transactions and award points. However, as with any app that involves financial information, it’s important to use strong, unique passwords and monitor your accounts for any unusual activity

How much does Drop cost?

The Drop app is completely free to download and use. There are no subscription fees or hidden charges for using the basic features of the app. However, users can choose to make in-app purchases to enhance their earning potential or gain access to special offers and premium features.

Are there any Drop bonus codes?

Yes, Drop occasionally offers bonus codes for new users. When signing up, you can use an invite code provided by an existing user to receive a welcome bonus. For example, new users can often earn an extra $5 in points by entering a referral code during the registration process. Keep an eye out for special promotions and codes shared by current Drop users or found in marketing emails from Drop.

Rating Methodology

To ensure consistency and objectivity in our cashback app reviews at DollarSprout, we use a standardized evaluation framework. Here is the detailed methodology for evaluating the Drop app, which can be applied across all cashback app reviews:

1. User Experience (20%)

Interface and Navigation: Ease of navigation and user-friendliness: 2
Performance and Reliability: App stability, loading times, and crash frequency: 3

2. Earning Potential (30%)

Points Earned per Dollar Spent: Average cashback rates: 3
Bonus Earning Opportunities: Availability and accessibility of additional earning methods (e.g., surveys, games, referrals): 2

3. Redemption Options (20%)

Variety of Rewards: Diversity of available rewards (e.g., gift cards, cash, crypto): 3
Ease of Redemption: Simplicity and reliability of the redemption process: 1

4. Customer Support (10%)

Responsiveness and Helpfulness: Quality of customer support: 1

5. Trust and Transparency (20%)

User Trust and Ratings: User reviews and ratings from various platforms (e.g., App Store, Google Play, Trustpilot, BBB): 1
Company Reputation and Transparency: Company’s reputation and transparency in its operations: 1

Calculating the Final Score

Each category is scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with weighted percentages applied. The final score is calculated by summing the weighted scores of each category.

For Drop, given the issues with liquidity and user payouts, along with poor user reviews and an “F” rating from the BBB, the prescribed overall score is 1.5 out of 5. This score reflects significant shortcomings in trust and transparency, redemption ease, and customer support, despite reasonable performance in user experience and earning potential.