Everyone loves shopping online. It’s not only convenient but gives you many more options and tons of opportunities to save some cash. But sometimes, this last feature can feel like less of a blessing and more of a curse. We all know that somewhere online, there’s going to be a better price on whatever it is that we want to buy, if only we could find it!
Even if you just stick to Amazon, when you buy on any given day of the week will be reflected in the price you pay at checkout. That’s why cash back apps have become incredibly popular nowadays.
From Fetch to Rakuten, we personal finance wizards know how to save and even actively earn cash through friend referrals and other bonuses.
Earny is a little bit different. It’s a browser extension that flies along with you. It will notify you about deals and gives you tons of ways to make the most out of your online purchases. But it does come at a cost. Right now, it’s $19.99 per year. So, is Earny worth it? Find out in this comprehensive Earny review!
What is Earny?
Earny is one part browser extension and one-part virtual assistant aimed to get you money back on everyday purchases. Founded in 2015, Earny has gradually increased its user-base. They’ve also received $11.5 million in venture funding, so they must be doing something right.
Earny has a few different keys uses that help it stand apart from competitors, including:
- Price protection
- Automatically online purchase tracking and deal-finding.
- Cash back on late/missing deliveries
- Referral rewards
- Special deals through partnerships with 5,000 leading brands.
How To Use Earny
Earny is incredibly straightforward. You have two options. You can install the extension on your web browser and/or install it on your mobile device.
While this seems agreeable enough, one thing that is sure to concern just about everyone is that Earny explicitly asks for access to your emails and even sends emails on your behalf.
If that sounds like a red flag to you, then it should. As we weren’t comfortable with that idea since it greatly increases the threat of data breach, especially for connected accounts, we recommend using a separate email address.
Earny doesn’t actually sell your data, unlike other cashback tools. But go with a distinct email address. This is actually a good idea for all online shopping and especially if you decide to get into the survey-taking game.
Once connected, Earny will scan your inbox for digital shopping receipts and instantly connect with you for price reductions and discounts. Earny will also constantly monitor the web for price drops for you.
Just be aware that Earny only works with one of their partner brands. With 5,000 retailers, you are sure to find what you need, though!
How Much Does Earny Cost?
Unlike other cashback tools, Earny does have an annual fee: $19.95/year. But they claim you’ll get $200 or more in annual value. Also, unlike other tools, you’re not paying through having somebody sell your personal data.
Earny Features
While Earny may look simple, it does have several innovative features well worth checking out, including:
1. Price Protection
This is the feature that will determine whether you use Earny or not. When you link Earny to your inbox, you’ll never have to worry about timing your purchases again.
Shop at any time, and if whatever you buy goes on sales later, Earny will automatically collect cash for you. This is supported by 15+ large retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Zappos and will cover you up to 90 days after purchases. You just need to make sure you use the same email as your register for Earny with the retailer.
2. Amazon Late Shipping
There’s nothing worse than not having your Amazon package show up on time. Earny will help you collect an immediate shipping refund even if you’re not a Prime member!
3. Cash Offers
Earny offers not only purchase protection but also automatic cash back when you shop through the Earny App. After you make a purchase, your cash back will automatically transfer within 30 days of purchase. Do note, you can’t cash out your earnings until you earn at least $15.
4. Price Tracking and Alerts
Earny has easy tracking and notifications so you can know exactly when that item you’ve had your eye on for months finally goes on sale.
5. Friend Referrals
Like most of the other apps and services we’ve reviewed, Earny will give you $5 for every friend you refer. Just make sure you give them our advice on the email address!
Who Should Use Earny?
We are all online shoppers these days but earning is particularly a good fit for the cost-savvy buyer.
First and foremost, it’s for the deal hounds who are happy to return a product the day after buying it if they find a deal elsewhere. Likewise, if you don’t want to wait until something goes on sale, then it’s a good fit for you.
Likewise, it’s a good fit for people who do most of their shopping with major retailers. Earny partners with top brands you’re likely already shopping with. So why not save a few bucks?
Is Earny Worth It?
Every shopper is different. So, it’s hard to know whether you’ll save the $200 the Earny advertises. If you shop online a lot across many retailers, then you probably will.
But if you just pick up a few things here and there, you might want to go with a free option instead.
Unfortunately, Earny doesn’t offer a free trial or money-back guarantee, so you’ll just have to roll the dice.
Earny Pros
- Can save you a lot of money
- Virtual assistant and AI tools to scan the web for deals
- Large retailer partner network
- Variety of cashback deals
- Price protection, so it’s always the right time to buy
- Compensation on late Amazon shipping
Earny Cons
- No free trial or money-back guarantee
- Have to pay an annual fee
- They want complete access to your email, which is a big ask
- No instant deposits
- Earny also deducts 25% of the refunds you rack up
Earny Alternatives
Earny vs. Honey
Honey is one of the biggest names out there. But it’s not really comparable. Honey scans the web for promo codes while Earny gets an eye on prices for you. That’s why they are actually great compliments to each other and a powerful combination of tools you can use to maximize savings.
Earny vs. Rakuten
Rakuten (ebates) is the original online cashback tool. Since 1999, it’s helped 10,000,000+ shoppers earn over $1 billion in cash back. There’s a lot of overlap with Earny, including a browser extension and shopping portal. Rakuten is also free. So again, you can actually use it in combination with Earny. If you’re wondering how they earn money, they get a percentage of the purchase through affiliate marketing.
Earny Review: The Bottom Line
Earny is a unique way to get more value from your online purchases. But whether it’s a $20 annual fee and privacy invasion is worth it will be totally up to you. If you are spending thousands a month, it can be a great way to get some cash back, but if not, you might want to stick with one of the alternatives we mentioned instead.
