Ebates Versus Shopular
Note: We receive a commission for purchases made through the links on this site. Our sponsors, however, do not influence our editorial content in any way.
Ebates vs Shopular – which can help you earn the most money? Finding the best online deals can be a challenge, and locating the best cash-back services so you can earn while you spend can be even more difficult. Read on to learn the strengths and weaknesses of Ebates and Shopular, so you can make the most of your shopping experience. When it comes to Shopular vs Ebates find out which is the most useful.
- The Good
- Earn up to 25 percent cash back on purchases
- Over 2,000 retailers participate
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating
- The Bad
- Accuracy of purchase tracking
- Payouts made quarterly
- Cashback percentages low by comparison
Ebates is a website that pays you cash back rewards for shopping online at their affiliated stores. They advertise their service as very simple: shop and get money back.
- The Good
- Sorts local deals based on mall proximity using GPS
- Review weekly circular ads
- Search under store name
- The Bad
- Heavy emphasis on fashion-related retailers
- Lack of sales specifics
- Coupons may not be valid locally
What Is Shopular?
Shopular is a free mobile coupon app that allows shoppers to save big even at stores that don’t typically offer deals. Shopular loves the malls and is geared toward that venue, but with a massive trove of retailers, it isn’t that noticeable. Thanks to its GPS feature, you can get real-time deals sent to your smartphone when you walk into the store or mall. Check the fine print on coupons; some online offers may not be valid locally.
- Cost
- Free
The sign-up process at Ebates doesn’t require you to pay anything for registering. There is no charge directly to you when you use the Ebates service.
- Cost
- Free
Shopular is a free download and costs nothing to use. You’re not required to register or set up an account to download and install the app. You do have to provide a cell number to get the link for downloading from their website.
- Features
- Multiple ways to save
- Payment options
- Chrome browser extension
With Ebates, you’re given options when shopping online. You can earn rebates for shopping at Ebates’ affiliate stores. You can claim additional savings with coupons. These can range from a designated percentage off your order to free shipping offers. By partnering with select retailers, Ebates can offer additional savings opportunities, such as double cash back. In most instances, you can compound these deals in the same transactions. Ebates also offers a downloadable extension for Chrome browser that helps you take advantage of savings much easier.
- GPS location for on-site notifications of deals
- Deals and coupons redeemed from phone
- For Apple and Android
- Includes high-end mall stores
Shopular finds you options including coupons, one-day-only sales and information on when deals will end. You can redeem coupons and validate deals straight from your phone.
- Participating Retailers
- Large variety of retailers
- Includes many major national store chains
Some apps that offer similar savings opportunities allow you to only claim discounts from web-based stores or brands that are not found in the mainstream. Ebates differs in this regard, with retail giants such as Amazon, Walmart, Rite Aid, Macy’s and Groupon among their stable of participants. Categories are widespread, from eBay to travel bookings to grocery to entertainment. There are very few retail categories that don’t have a participating merchant listed with Ebates
- Participating Retailers
- Boasts more than 40,000 top retail participants
Not only can Shopular hook you up with the best deals at local favorites like Walmart and Target, it can also send you immediate notifications of deals offered when you walk into True Religion Jeans, Neiman Marcus or Abercrombie & Fitch. The GPS capability makes the possibilities almost endless.
- Coupon Formats
- Digital coupon format
- Links to credit or debit card
This is where Ebates gets a bit complicated for many. There’s a video on their website that explains how to take advantage of in-store coupon savings. You’re required to link a credit card or debit card to your Ebates account. You then go shopping, but to claim your savings, you must check out with the linked card. You can view available coupons on your phone as you shop to see what savings are available.
- Coupon Formats
- Utilize coupons directly from your phone
- Notifications are customizable by stores
With Shopular, there’s no need to spend time scouring through printed circulars and clipping coupons. Shopular lets you find deals by checking store circulars when you enter a store and use any coupons right away through your phone. You can choose which stores you want to receive coupons from and those you aren’t interested in.
Ebates: User Reviews
Shopular: User Reviews
Ebates: Comments
Shopular: Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment
When looking at online reviews for Ebates, one thing becomes clear: it has some solid, loyal users and it has its detractors. Overall, the positive, loyal users seem to outnumber those who have had a negative experience with Ebates.
How Does Ebates Work?
Shopping through Ebates is a straightforward process if you’re shopping online. First, you create your account through Ebates.com. You can provide a home address to have your payments snail-mailed to you, or you can link your payments to your PayPal account.
Once you’re set up, you can search through the linked retailers for a place you wish to shop. A “shop now” button will be there for you to click. This takes you to the store where you can shop at your leisure. When you make a purchase, your rebate percentage will show up in your Ebates account. For example, if Walmart offers a 10 percent cash back on electronics and you purchase a $600 laptop, you’ll see a cash back rebate of $60 show up in your account.
You won’t see this amount immediately posted to your account, however. It can take up to seven business days for your cash back to appear. You get paid for your accumulated rebates after the cash has been in your account for 60 days. After that, payments go out every quarter on the 15th of February, May, August and November.
What Makes Ebates Stand Out?
The first thing that jumps out when you visit the Ebates website is the number of major retailers that participate in the program. From Kohl’s to the artisans of Etsy, you can claim rebates for purchases made online. If you prefer brick-and-mortar stores, there is a way to claim savings while shopping in store.
By far, Ebates is the most widely advertised affiliate marketing business that uses online apps. With the exception of the downside points listed above, Ebates is a ridiculously simple way to save some cash with online shopping.
Common Reviews of Ebates
Hands down, the majority of reviews of Ebates are positive. There are very few complaints voiced in review blogs and comments sections. The most commonly mentioned complaint is inaccuracy in recording purchases, which results in missed rebate postings to accounts. There is a link on the Ebates page to register these complaints, and Ebates seems to be fairly good at resolving any such issues.
Is Ebates For Me?
The amount of the rebates you receive is a small percentage of the purchases you make, so you’re not going to get rich from Ebates rebates. But it can add up if you do a great deal of purchasing online, especially if you make large purchases. If you’re only buying a few bucks of product here and there, Ebates is probably not going to be worth your time. You must accumulate rebates of more than $5 to receive their quarterly payouts.
If you’re just looking for some side cash now and then, Ebates is an effortless way to collect it.
If staying on top of sales and special offers is important to you, then the Shopular app should be in your library. Like to clip coupons and keep track of local store circulars? Shopular can help you out there, as well. If you allow push notifications, it will alert you when a sale is near at your favorite retailers.
Shopular also lets you share deals and “finds” with friends through text message. If you like to interact in an online community, you can leave comments about the app, sales, and shopping tips in the Shopular app community forum.
How Does Shopular Work?
Because Shopular’s features rely so heavily on GPS, it will ask you for permission to track your location. This is nothing new for apps; many do it as a matter of routine operations. Once you allow GPS tracking, the app will give you the option of filtering for savings and deals on malls in your local areas.
Shopular is customizable to fit your shopping tastes. You can indicate certain retailers as your favorites in the app’s settings. This makes certain you’ll be up-to-date on the latest deals which the retailer is offering and alert you to deals based on your location.
What Makes Shopular Stand Out?
In 2015, Shopular rolled out two major enhancements to its mobile shopping app. Its Products upgrade gives its users access to savings on actual products along with deals for specifically favored store locations. Its Curated Content feature gives users access to trending shopping and buying articles and tips. These enhancements put the Shopular app well on the way to becoming the essential mobile shopping app for consumers and merchants.
Shopular has a team of fashion editors to keep its users up to speed on what’s trending in fashion, from what the top colors are this season to the hottest looks for the coming months. Shopular brags that it can keep consumers “in-the-know” about all the best promotions, the greatest deals from favorite stores and the latest trends around the country.
Common Shopular Reviews
Shopular app reviews are generally positive in online forums. The battery draining of the GPS function notwithstanding, there are very few negative comments concerning the app. The fact that it includes higher-end retailers is a large plus in its favor, and the enormous cache of participating retailers makes it hard to beat.
One of the biggest negative points highlighted in reviews is the draining effect that using GPS has on cell battery life. This may require planning when shopping, especially if you want to use coupons directly from your phone. You aren’t given the option of using the location feature only when the app is in use; it is an “always on” or “never on” choice.
Is Shopular For Me?
Shopular is a fantastic app if you’re a shopaholic or if you’re a mall rat. If you’re in a retail rut, Shopular can help you find your way out. If malls aren’t your thing, Shopular may not appeal to you as much as some other similar apps. While stores that aren’t normally found in malls are in the cache of retailers, the app tends to work best when it has a local mall to detail.
The bottom line is savings, and if couponing and deal-hunting is your thing, Shopular is an app you probably want in your arsenal. It is simple to use and can offer up literally thousands of opportunities that could save you money.
No comments yet.