Is Upside legit? Yes. I mainly use Upside for gas, and it’s earned me $121.56 in cash back so far. It won’t make you rich, but it’s money back on things I was already buying.
Note: I’ve hidden store names, addresses, and my bank details in these screenshots for privacy. All amounts and dates are unchanged.
In this review, I’ll cover how Upside works, what I’ve actually earned, the gas, grocery, restaurant and convenience store offers, how to claim cash back, how to cash out, and who it’s worth it for.
Table of Contents
What is Upside?
Upside is a free cash back app for gas, groceries, restaurants and convenience stores. You claim an offer in the app, buy from that business, and Upside gives you cash back. Gas offers are shown as cents back per gallon, and the other categories as a percentage of what you spend.
How I found Upside
I first came across Upside on Reddit, then heard an ad for it on the car radio. I downloaded it in May 2025 and have used it for gas ever since.
How much I’ve earned
My lifetime earnings are $121.56, and most of that came from gas. Here are three real examples from my account:
Gas, basic offer (Aug 20, 2026): 10¢/gal on 8.53 gallons = $0.85
Gas, with a bonus (Sep 8, 2026): 1¢/gal base plus a 20¢/gal bonus, 21¢/gal total on 8.4 gallons = $1.76
Groceries (Sep 2, 2026): 18% base plus a 10% bonus, 28% cash back on $23.30 = $6.52
Gas offers are usually small per fill-up, but they add up. Grocery offers can pay much more per trip; that one was capped at $25.
Restaurant offers: big cash back for foodies
The restaurant category has some of the biggest percentages in the app. Right now, the offers near me include:
- Taco Bell: 21% to 26% cash back, up to $5.20 back per $20 spent
- China Express: 27% cash back, $5.40 back per $20 spent
That’s far more than most credit cards give on dining. If you eat out regularly, check Upside before you pick a place. Claiming works the same way as for gas and groceries.
Convenience store offers: cash back inside the gas station
Many gas stations on Upside also offer cash back on purchases inside the store, such as snacks, drinks and other items. Near me, it ranges from 9% to 14% back in store at Chevron and 76, on top of their per-gallon gas offers.
The listings also show the price you actually pay per gallon after cash back. For example, a Chevron near me listed $6.70/gal, which came down to $6.51 with 19¢ back.
How to claim an offer
First, tap Claim on the offer for the place you’re going. Claimed offers are only valid for a few hours, so claim right before you go. How you get your cash back then depends on the business:
Verify with linked card (bigger stations like Chevron): pay with a card you’ve linked to Upside, and the cash back shows up automatically. This is the easiest option.
Upload a receipt (local stations and stores): The gas station and grocery store I use both require this. After paying, I take a photo of the receipt and upload it in the app. Receipts are also required for Google Pay purchases. Cash and EBT purchases aren’t eligible.
Your receipt needs to show the store name or address, the date and time, what you bought (gallons for gas, items for groceries), your card type and last 4 digits, and the total.
How long does cash back take?
Sometimes it’s about five minutes, and sometimes it takes a full day. I get an email when it’s approved. The timing varies, but I’ve always been paid, and I’ve never had a problem with an offer.
How to cash out
You can cash out to your bank account or as a gift card. My last cash-out was $10 to my bank, and it took 2–4 business days to arrive.
Watch out for the service fee: Cashing out less than $10.00 to your bank costs a $1.00 service fee. On my $1.56 balance, that would have left me just $0.56. I always wait until I have at least $10 before cashing out, so I never pay the fee.
Current payout options
Cash
- Bank account
- Visa Reward Virtual Account (12-month expiration)
Food and drink
- Applebee’s
- Bloomin’ Brands (Outback, Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s)
- Burger King
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Domino’s
- Dunkin’
- IHOP
- Panera Bread
- Papa John’s
- Red Robin
- Starbucks
- Steak ‘n Shake
- Texas Roadhouse
- Total Wine & More
Shopping and clothing
- Amazon
- Target
- Walmart
- Kohl’s
- Nordstrom
- Old Navy
- H&M
- Athleta
- Nike
- adidas
- DSW
Home, outdoors, and pets
- The Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Ace Hardware
- Bass Pro Shops
- Cabela’s
- REI
- PetSmart
- Office Depot OfficeMax
Beauty and health
- Sephora
- Ulta
- Bath & Body Works
- CVS Pharmacy
Tech and entertainment
- Apple
- Google Play
- GameStop
- AMC Theatres
- StubHub
Travel
- Uber
- Lyft
Gift card options may change over time. This list is from September 2026.
How I use Upside for gas
Before I fill up, I check the offers at stations near me, claim the best one and drive there. When I’m traveling, I still check Upside before filling up. I compare prices after cash back, since the station with the lowest price on the sign isn’t always the cheapest once Upside’s offer is factored in.
Refer friends and family
Upside’s referral program is meant for friends and people you know. When someone signs up with a friend’s code:
- They get an extra $10 in cash back on their first Upside offer where they spend at least $10.
- The friend who referred them gets $10 after that first purchase, plus 10¢ every time they spend more than $5 on Upside.
Two of my family members signed up with my code, and I’ve earned $0.60 from their purchases so far. If a friend already uses Upside, ask for their code before you sign up. It’s an easy $10.
The downsides of Upside
- Receipts at local stores. Many smaller stations, stores and restaurants don’t support linked cards, so you have to photograph and upload every receipt.
- Small amounts per fill-up. A typical gas offer earns me around $1. It adds up, but it’s savings, not income.
- Offers expire. Each claimed offer is only valid for a few hours.
- Offers vary by location. The stores and percentages near you may differ from mine.
- Cash and EBT don’t qualify.
- $1 fee on small bank cash-outs. Cashing out less than $10.00 to your bank costs a $1.00 service fee, so wait until you have $10 or more.
So, is Upside legit? My verdict
Yes, Upside is legit. I’ve earned $121.56 so far, mostly on gas, and every offer I’ve claimed has paid out.
It’s worth it for anyone who buys gas or groceries, eats out, or grabs snacks at the gas station, since it’s cash back on spending you’d do anyway. Foodies should especially check the restaurant tab, where 20%+ cash back is common. It’s not worth it if you don’t have time to photograph receipts, since many local businesses require them. If you want to try it, you can download Upside here. To save even more on gas, I pay with the PayPal Debit Card, which gives me 5% cash back on top of Upside. Here’s my PayPal Debit Card review.
Want to see your savings? Try my gas cash back calculator.
You can also upload the same grocery receipts to Amazon Shopper Panel for a little extra. Here’s my Amazon Shopper Panel review.
If you want to earn money rather than save it, check out my Prolific, Handshake AI, and Outlier AI reviews.
See every platform I’ve used and how much I made: How I make money online.
Upside FAQ
Is Upside a scam?
No. I’ve earned $121.56 in cash back, mostly on gas, and cashed it out to my bank.
How much can you make with Upside?
It depends on how much you spend. My gas offers usually earn about $1 per fill-up, while grocery and restaurant offers pay more, like $6.52 on one $23 grocery trip.
Does Upside work at restaurants?
Yes. Restaurant offers are some of the highest in the app. Near me, they range from 21% to 27% cash back.
Can you get cash back on snacks and drinks inside the gas station?
Yes. Many stations offer a separate “back in store” cash back on convenience store purchases like snacks and drinks, on top of the gas offer. Near me, it’s around 9% to 14% at Chevron and 76.
How long does Upside take to pay?
In my experience, anywhere from about five minutes to a full day. Bank cash-outs take 2–4 business days.
Do I need to upload receipts on Upside?
Only at businesses that don’t support linked cards. Bigger stations like Chevron verify your purchase automatically through your linked card.
Can you get Upside cash back if you pay with cash?
No. Upside only gives cash back on card purchases. Cash and EBT payments aren’t eligible.
Does Upside charge a fee to cash out?
Only for bank cash-outs under $10.00, which cost a $1.00 service fee. I always wait until I have at least $10 to avoid it.
This isn’t financial advice, just my personal experience. Offers vary by location and change often.
