Shopkick

What is Shopkick

Shopkick is a mobile rewards application that gives users points, called “kicks,” for performing various shopping-related activities. The core purpose of the app is to make everyday shopping more rewarding and fun. Users can earn kicks without necessarily making a purchase, such as by simply walking into a partner store or scanning the barcodes of specific products. The app was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. It provides a platform for brands and retailers to engage with consumers directly, driving foot traffic to physical stores and influencing purchasing decisions. Users accumulate kicks and can then redeem them for a wide selection of digital gift cards for popular retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks.

Shopkick Features

Shopkick offers several ways for users to earn rewards, making it a versatile shopping companion.

• Walk-in Kicks: Earn points simply by walking into participating stores. The app uses your phone's location and Bluetooth to detect your entry and automatically awards you kicks.
• Scan Kicks: Find specific products in-store and scan their barcodes using the app's scanner. This feature turns shopping into a fun scavenger hunt, and you earn kicks for each successful scan.
• Receipt Submission: Purchase select items from participating stores and upload a photo of your receipt through the app. You earn a larger number of kicks for these purchases.
• Linked Card Purchases: Link your Visa or Mastercard to your Shopkick account. When you use that card to pay at a partner retailer, you automatically earn kicks based on your purchase amount, with no need to upload a receipt.
• Online Shopping: Shop at your favorite online stores through the Shopkick app's portal. You earn kicks for every dollar you spend on qualifying purchases.
• Watch Videos: Discover new products and earn easy kicks by watching short promotional videos within the app.
• Gift Card Redemption: Cash in your accumulated kicks for a wide variety of free digital gift cards. The redemption process is simple and handled directly within the app.

Shopkick Pricing Plans

Shopkick is a completely free application for consumers. There are no subscription fees, premium tiers, or hidden charges to use the app and earn rewards. The business model is based on partnerships with retailers and brands who pay Shopkick to be featured on the platform and drive customer engagement.

Shopkick Free Plan

The entire Shopkick service is offered as a free plan. All features, including walking into stores, scanning products, submitting receipts, linking cards, shopping online, and redeeming gift cards, are available to all users at no cost. There are no limitations on how many kicks you can earn or redeem.

How to use Shopkick

Getting started with Shopkick is a straightforward process designed to get you earning rewards quickly.

1. Download the App: First, download the Shopkick app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Create an Account: Sign up for a free account using your email address or a social media account.
3. Enable Permissions: Allow the app to access your location and Bluetooth. This is necessary to earn walk-in kicks.
4. Find Offers: Before you go shopping, open the app to see which nearby stores offer walk-in kicks, scan kicks, and receipt offers.
5. Earn in Store: When you arrive at a store, open the app to collect your walk-in kicks. While you shop, use the in-app scanner to scan the barcodes of products listed in the 'Scans' tab.
6. Submit Receipts: If you buy any qualifying items, go to the 'Receipts' tab, select the retailer, and take a clear photo of your receipt to submit for kicks.
7. Redeem Kicks: Once you have enough kicks, go to the 'Kicks Center' to browse the available gift cards. Select your desired gift card, and it will be delivered to you digitally.

Pros and Cons of Shopkick

Pros:

• Multiple Earning Methods: Offers various ways to earn points, including options that do not require a purchase.
• Engaging and Fun: The scanning feature feels like a treasure hunt, making shopping more interactive.
• Wide Range of Rewards: Provides a large selection of popular gift cards for redemption.
• Easy to Use: The app has a user-friendly interface that is simple to navigate.

Cons:

• Location Dependent: The availability of offers, especially walk-ins and scans, heavily depends on your geographic location and nearby stores.
• Can Be Time-Consuming: Finding and scanning specific items in a large store can take time.
• Battery Consumption: Using location services and Bluetooth can drain your phone's battery more quickly.
• Earning Can Be Slow: Accumulating enough kicks for a significant reward can be a slow process if you are not a frequent shopper.

Shopkick integrations

Shopkick is a self-contained consumer application and does not offer direct integrations with third-party productivity or software tools like Salesforce or Outlook. Its integrations are on the backend with its retail and brand partners to validate offers and purchases.

Shopkick Alternatives

• Ibotta: A popular rewards app that focuses primarily on cashback for grocery and retail purchases by having users add offers and submit receipts. It often provides higher-value offers for specific products.
• Rakuten: Primarily an online shopping portal that gives users a percentage of their purchase back as cash. It is one of the most well-known platforms for online cashback.
• Fetch Rewards: Simplifies the receipt-scanning process. Users can scan any receipt from any store and earn points, with bonus points awarded for purchasing products from partner brands.
• Swagbucks: A broad rewards platform where users can earn points (called SB) from shopping, taking surveys, watching videos, and playing games. It offers a wider variety of earning activities beyond just shopping.

Shopkick API

Shopkick does not provide a public API for third-party developers. The platform is a closed ecosystem, and access to its data and functionalities is not available for external development or integration.

Shopkick Affiliate program

Shopkick does not have a traditional affiliate program for marketers or publishers. However, it offers a refer-a-friend program for its users. When an existing user shares their unique referral code and a new user signs up with it, both parties typically receive bonus kicks once the new user performs a qualifying action, such as earning their first kicks in the app. If you are an influencer or business interested in a partnership, it is best to contact their support or marketing department directly to inquire about potential collaboration opportunities.