How to Make Money on Upside (2025): Complete Guide

Are you wondering how to make money on Upside in 2025 — and whether it’s really worth it?

This guide shows you exactly how to start earning cash back using the Upside app, how much you can realistically earn, and the top ways to increase your profits. Some users are already making over $290/year just by scanning receipts and using Upside at everyday stores.

You’ll learn the exact steps to get started, maximize your earnings, and stack other offers too. Whether you’re driving daily or grocery shopping weekly, Upside can unlock serious rewards fast.

Key Takeaways

• Simple cash back for everyday purchases
  Upside lets you earn rewards at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants using just your phone.
• Performance-based merchant model means real savings
  Businesses pay Upside only for extra sales it drives, which means you can get bigger, smarter deals.
• Most users earn $100–$290+ per year
  With consistent use, many regular users see hundreds back annually—no complex setup or audience required.
• Works with other rewards apps and programs
  Upside stacks with credit card rewards and apps like GasBuddy, making it perfect for multipliers.
• No upfront cost, no referrals required
  Unlike affiliate platforms or gig apps, Upside doesn’t require a following or upfront payment to start.

How to Make Money on Upside?

Making money on Upside is surprisingly easy — especially for anyone who drives or shops regularly. Once you download the app, all you need to do is claim offers before buying, pay with your card, and either check in or upload your receipt.

There’s no content creation, no brand pitches, and no selling involved. That makes it perfect for beginners or passive earners.

Upside’s cashback ranges are also competitive, and the interface is fast and clean. Most rewards are available within 48 hours, and you can withdraw via PayPal, bank, or gift card with no hidden fees.

Compared to other cash-back platforms, Upside is one of the few where your rewards aren’t tied to spending thresholds—you simply earn every time you make a purchase at a partner location.

What do you need to get started?

To begin, you’ll need to download the Upside app on your iOS or Android device. Next, create an account using your email or phone number. Link a valid debit or credit card (for tracking purchases), and turn on location services so Upside can show relevant offers near you. No social following, content, or advanced tools required.

How much money you can make on Upside?

Most users report earning between $100–$290/year with consistent use, with some power users earning even more when combining Upside with fuel-heavy driving or large grocery purchases. According to Upside’s internal data, they’ve paid out over $800 million in total rewards. One Reddit user shared how they saved $37 in one month just by using Upside every time they refueled their car.

The more you shop at partner locations—and the more consistently you claim offers—the more you’ll earn.

16 Proven Strategies to Make Money on Upside

Whether you’re a commuter optimizing fuel or a family managing grocery budgets, here are sixteen proven ways to make money on Upside—stacking cashback, referrals, and partner integrations to turn everyday spending into meaningful, repeatable savings all year.

1. Claiming Gas Station Cashback Offers

Gas cashback is the most popular way to make money on Upside. When you refuel at participating gas stations, Upside rewards you with up to 25¢ per gallon in real cash back. Considering that an average U.S. driver spends $150–$250 monthly on fuel, these rewards can add up to over $100 per year without any extra effort.

Getting started is incredibly simple. Once you open the app, you’ll see a list of nearby participating gas stations with live cashback offers. You just “claim” an offer before you buy fuel. After your purchase is verified, your rewards appear in your Upside wallet, ready for withdrawal via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift card.

Upside’s cashback is stackable, so you can use it along with loyalty programs from Shell, BP, or other brands for even bigger savings. Many users make this their primary earning method because it’s completely passive and integrates into their regular driving routine.

How to Claim Gas Cashback on Upside?

• Download and log into the Upside app.
• Turn on location services to see local gas offers.
• Claim an offer at a nearby participating gas station.
• Pay with a linked credit or debit card.
• Either check in via the app or upload your receipt for verification.
• Receive cash back within 1–2 business days.
• Withdraw to PayPal, bank, or redeem for gift cards.

Quick Tip: Always claim your offer before fueling—Upside only tracks purchases after an active claim.

2. Grocery Store Cashback Rewards

Grocery shopping is another powerful way to earn on Upside. Many stores now offer 5–15% cashback, which can reach 30% on select items. If your household spends $500 monthly on groceries, that’s potentially $300 per year in extra cash.

This method works best for families and frequent shoppers because grocery offers rotate weekly. Upside also personalizes discounts using purchase data, giving you better deals on items you already buy. While it’s not as instant as gas cashback, it can become a serious passive earner when combined with credit card rewards and other cashback apps.

Upside tracks your purchase either through receipt scanning or linked card verification. The process is seamless once you’re in the habit of checking the app before each grocery run.

How to Earn Grocery Cashback on Upside?

• Open the Upside app and check the grocery tab.
• Browse available cashback offers at stores near you.
• Claim the offer before shopping.
• Pay with your linked card or save your receipt.
• Upload the receipt if required for verification.
• Get cash back credited to your Upside account within 48 hours.

Quick Tip: Shop on days when weekly grocery offers reset—fresh deals often give the highest percentages.

3. Dining & Restaurant Rewards

Upside also partners with thousands of local and chain restaurants to offer up to 45% cashback. This makes it ideal for food lovers and delivery fans. Even casual diners can rack up $20–$40 per month if they consistently claim offers.

Restaurant cashback functions similarly to grocery and gas offers: you claim a deal before paying, and Upside verifies the transaction. Users who link their card and check in usually receive cash faster, while receipt upload remains a fallback method.

Dining offers often rotate, so keeping notifications on ensures you never miss high-percentage rewards.

How to Earn with Restaurant Cashback on Upside?

• Open the Upside app and navigate to the “Restaurants” section.
• Claim a dining offer near you before ordering.
• Dine in, take out, or place your order online (where supported).
• Pay with your linked card and check in via the app.
• Wait for Upside to verify and credit your cashback within 1–2 days.

Quick Tip: Focus on high-percentage weekday offers—weekend dining deals are often lower due to higher natural traffic.

4. Stacking with Credit Card Rewards

One of the easiest ways to maximize how you make money on Upside is by stacking cashback with your credit card rewards. Since Upside verifies purchases through card linking, your usual 1–5% card rewards combine with Upside’s cashbacks for double or even triple earnings.

For example, if you buy $50 worth of gas with 5% card rewards and 15¢/gal Upside cashback, your total effective return could exceed 10%. This compounding effect can make regular spending significantly more rewarding without any extra effort.

The best cards to use are those that already provide category bonuses like groceries or dining.

How to Stack Upside with Credit Card Rewards?

• Link your rewards credit card to your Upside account.
• Claim an offer in the app before making your purchase.
• Pay with the linked credit card.
• Track both your card’s rewards and Upside cashback.
• Redeem Upside earnings and your card’s cash back separately.

Quick Tip: Use a category bonus card to double your effective earnings per purchase.

5. Using Partner Platforms like GasBuddy or Uber

Upside’s white-label partnerships allow you to earn even if you use other apps like GasBuddy or Uber. These integrations essentially embed Upside’s cashback system into third-party apps, giving you another entry point to make money on Upside indirectly.

For example, GasBuddy users can activate “Deal Alerts” powered by Upside to save per gallon, while Uber drivers can get Upside fuel cashbacks directly through their driver dashboard. This is especially beneficial if you’re already active on those platforms and want passive earnings.

How to Earn with Partner Platforms on Upside?

• Connect or use GasBuddy, Uber, or another partnered app.
• Enable cashback/deal notifications in that platform.
• Claim an available offer when prompted.
• Make your purchase normally.
• Earn the same Upside cashback without switching apps.

Quick Tip: Check both Upside and partner apps—sometimes exclusive deals are available only through one platform.

6. Inviting Friends with the Referral Program

Upside’s referral program allows you to earn bonuses by inviting friends to use the app. This method isn’t the primary income source, but it’s great for quick cash. You usually earn a bonus after your referral’s first purchase and a percentage of their ongoing earnings for a limited period.

This is particularly useful if your friends are drivers, shoppers, or frequent diners. Many Reddit users have used referrals to boost their early earnings while waiting for cashback to accumulate.

How to Earn with Referrals on Upside?

• Go to the “Refer a Friend” section in the app.
• Share your unique referral link or code.
• Have your friends sign up and make their first purchase.
• Receive your bonus cash after their transaction verifies.

Quick Tip: Share referral links in group chats or with family who already shop or drive often.

7. Leveraging Seasonal or Limited-Time Promotions

Upside frequently offers seasonal bonuses, like extra cents per gallon during holidays or boosted grocery rewards during special events. Taking advantage of these limited-time offers can significantly increase annual earnings.

Most users miss these opportunities because they don’t check the app notifications regularly. By staying alert, you can time your purchases to coincide with higher cashbacks.

How to Maximize Seasonal Promos on Upside?

• Enable push notifications in the Upside app.
• Watch for emails or banners advertising limited-time deals.
• Claim and complete those offers promptly—they expire quickly.
• Combine seasonal promos with your regular credit card rewards.

Quick Tip: Stock up on gas or groceries during bonus weeks for instant extra savings.

8. Combining Upside with Receipt Scanning Apps

Although Upside already provides cashback, combining it with apps like Fetch Rewards or Receipt Hog lets you double dip. You can upload the same receipt to multiple platforms, maximizing the value of every purchase.

This is particularly effective for groceries and dining receipts. Many users report stacking $10–$20 in extra earnings monthly just by scanning receipts after claiming Upside offers.

How to Stack Receipt Apps with Upside?

• Make your purchase using a claimed Upside offer.
• Check in or upload your receipt in the Upside app.
• Upload the same receipt to other cashback apps like Fetch or Receipt Hog.
• Redeem rewards across all apps separately.

Quick Tip: Always submit your Upside receipt first—then upload to other apps to avoid rejection issues.

9. Upside + Business Purchases

If you make purchases for a small business — like fueling company vehicles or stocking supplies — Upside can amplify your expense returns. Using business cards linked to Upside lets you earn cash back on fuel, food, or grocery runs while also fulfilling operational needs. This is especially useful for freelancers, rideshare drivers, or delivery services.

Quick Tip: Use a dedicated card for business transactions to easily separate and track cashback earnings from work-related spending.

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10. Earning on Road Trips

Planning a road trip? Upside can be a serious savings tool on long drives. By claiming offers along your route — especially at gas stations in rural areas or smaller towns — you can rack up rewards that compound across multiple fill-ups and meals. This turns travel spending into a mini side hustle.

Quick Tip: Use Upside’s map to plan your route around the highest gas and dining cashback stops.

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11. Maximizing Rewards in Big Cities

If you live in a major metro area, you may have access to dozens of active offers across fuel, groceries, and dining. Urban users can maximize daily routines—like lunch breaks or commutes—by regularly claiming nearby offers, often with higher cashback percentages than rural areas.

Quick Tip: Set app location alerts to “Always” so Upside shows real-time offers while you’re on the go.

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12. Multi-App Stacking with Loyalty Programs

Beyond receipt apps, you can also stack Upside rewards with fuel station loyalty programs (like Shell Fuel Rewards or BPme Rewards). These offer cents-per-gallon discounts that compound with Upside’s payout—boosting savings per fill-up substantially.

Quick Tip: Join fuel loyalty programs that don’t require exclusivity—these stack with Upside without disqualifying you.

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13. High-Volume Earners: Rideshare or Delivery Drivers

If you drive for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart, you can leverage Upside to earn passive cash back on your daily routes. Since many rideshare and gig economy drivers refuel multiple times weekly, this cashback adds up fast.

Quick Tip: Link your driver account email to Upside and use gas station partners that also support business transactions.

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14. Exploring Hidden Cashback Zones

Some users don’t realize that rural or suburban areas often have higher cashback rates to attract traffic. By fueling up outside city centers or visiting smaller chain stores and restaurants, you may unlock bonuses not visible in high-traffic zones.

Quick Tip: Browse farther on the app map—scrolling just 5–10 miles out can reveal better cashback opportunities.

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15. Referring Power Users

Instead of referring random users, target power users like truck drivers, delivery staff, or business owners. Since Upside rewards you with a share of their lifetime earnings for a period, referring high-usage users can generate passive cash month after month.

Quick Tip: Focus referral outreach on Facebook groups or Reddit communities where your ideal power users already hang out.

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16. Understanding Upside’s Merchant-Paid Model

One overlooked way to increase earnings is understanding how does Upside make money. Upside only gets paid when it helps merchants make incremental sales, which means your activity is valuable even without spending more. The more you shift purchases to Upside partners, the more cashback deals you unlock.

Quick Tip: Make Upside your default shopping companion to unlock higher-value, long-term account bonuses.

Step by Step Guide to Make Money on Upside

Earning real cash with Upside is easy if you follow a clear process. This beginner-friendly roadmap will take you from zero to maximizing rewards without confusion. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make money on Upside consistently.

Step 1. Download and Install the Upside App

Start by downloading the Upside app on your iOS or Android device. It’s free to install and takes less than two minutes. Once installed, allow the app to access your location—this is how it finds local gas, grocery, and dining offers near you.

Step 2. Create Your Account and Link a Payment Method

Sign up with your email or mobile number, then create a secure password. To track your purchases automatically, link a debit or credit card. This is how how does Upside make money through merchant partnerships—it verifies your purchase to credit your cashback.

Step 3. Browse and Claim Your First Offers

Open the app and check the offers for gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants nearby. Tap “Claim” before you make any purchase. This step ensures Upside tracks your transaction and applies the cashback correctly.

Step 4. Make a Qualifying Purchase

Go to the location with the active offer and complete your purchase using the linked payment method. If the offer requires it, check in on the app or upload a receipt. Receipts are typically processed within 48 hours.

Step 5. Track and Redeem Your Earnings

After verification, your cashback appears in the Upside wallet. Once you’ve earned enough, you can cash out via PayPal, direct bank deposit, or redeem for popular gift cards. Most users cash out monthly to see consistent returns.

Step 6. Stack Rewards for Maximum Earnings

For higher returns, combine Upside with credit card cashback programs or apps like GasBuddy and Fetch Rewards. This is how you turn small purchases into larger rewards over time.

Step 7. Use Referrals and Seasonal Promotions

Boost your earnings by sharing your referral link with friends and watching for seasonal Upside bonuses. Limited-time promotions can significantly increase your per-purchase rewards if timed correctly.

Step 8. Build a Weekly Cashback Habit

Finally, create a routine. Check Upside before buying gas, dining out, or grocery shopping. Consistency is the difference between earning $20 and over $200 per year.

Tips to Increase Revenue on Upside

Maximizing your earnings on Upside requires consistency and smart timing. One effective approach is stacking rewards—combine Upside cashback with credit card bonuses and store loyalty programs for multiplied returns.

Another method is to plan high-spend purchases, like gas or groceries, during seasonal promotions. Upside often offers boosted cashback for holidays, weekends, or new partner launches. Timing your spending to these windows can add 20–30% extra rewards.

Lastly, check the app daily. Offers rotate frequently, and the best deals sometimes disappear within hours. Users who habitually browse the app tend to earn $50–$100 more annually than casual users.

Best AI Tools for Making Money on Upside

Using AI tools can help you streamline your cashback strategy and never miss profitable opportunities. Tools like ReceiptJar AI or Fetch AI Scanner automatically organize your receipts, making verification easier for Upside and other cashback apps.

Price-tracking extensions powered by AI can also alert you to fuel price changes and store deals, helping you plan purchases around high cashbacks. Some users pair Upside with AI-powered mileage trackers to predict optimal gas refill days.

Finally, AI-based personal finance apps like RocketMoney can track your cumulative rewards and project your annual savings, showing how your Upside usage pays off over time.

Best Affiliate Platforms for Upside Users

While Upside doesn’t function like a traditional affiliate platform, users can still combine it with referral-based earnings. Apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, and Shopkick often work in parallel, allowing you to earn commission-style rewards alongside your Upside cashback.

Additionally, Upside’s own referral program is technically a micro-affiliate system—sharing your referral link is like promoting a product. Earning referral bonuses while using cashback is an easy entry to affiliate marketing for beginners.

For advanced users, creating short content or social posts sharing how to make money on Upside can convert into multiple referrals and passive earnings.

Best Marketing Tools for Maximizing Upside Earnings

Marketing tools can help turn Upside’s referral program into a real revenue stream. For example, link shorteners like Bitly and QR code generators allow you to share your referral link on social media or printed cards.

Email and SMS tools like Mailchimp or TextMagic can broadcast seasonal offers or invite reminders to friends and family. Pairing these with Canva-designed visuals showcasing your savings makes your link more appealing.

Tracking tools like Google Sheets or Airtable help you log referrals, purchases, and earnings. By approaching Upside referrals with a marketing mindset, you can generate extra revenue without any upfront cost.

Conclusion

Making money with Upside in 2025 is simple, accessible, and surprisingly profitable. By consistently claiming gas, grocery, and dining cashback, stacking rewards, and leveraging referrals, anyone can earn $100–$300+ per year without effort.

Upside’s model—earning through verified, incremental sales—ensures businesses keep providing offers, and users keep benefiting. Start small, follow the steps in this guide, and watch your savings grow. If you’re consistent, your everyday purchases can transform into a steady stream of extra cash.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)