Between dining out, ordering in, and stocking your fridge with gourmet groceries, food spending adds up fast. Fortunately, a few savvy apps can help turn everyday purchases into cashback opportunities. For foodies who care as much about value as flavor, platforms like Fluz, Rakuten, and Ibotta offer ways to save without sacrificing taste. Here’s a breakdown of how each one works, where they shine, and how to stack them with restaurant loyalty programs for maximum rewards.

Fluz: Instant cashback when you pay

Fluz is a cashback app that lets you earn money back in real time by purchasing digital gift cards for the exact amount you need—right at checkout. It works at a wide range of food and beverage merchants, making it ideal for frequent diners and coffee drinkers.

You can get cashback at Shake Shack by buying a gift card at the counter or through their app. Other popular Fluz partners include:

• Panera Bread – Ideal for quick lunches or bakery pickups
  
• Chipotle – Customize your burrito and stack the rewards
  
• Buffalo Wild Wings – Save during game night with dine-in or takeout
  
• Starbucks – Perfect for morning routines and afternoon coffee breaks
  

Fluz works seamlessly with restaurant loyalty programs like MyPanera or Starbucks Rewards, letting you stack cashback with existing perks.

Rakuten: Ideal for food delivery and restaurant gift cards

Rakuten focuses on online cashback. While it’s best known for retail shopping, Rakuten also offers rewards on restaurant gift card purchases and food delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash. When you shop through Rakuten’s portal, you can earn cashback when purchasing gift cards from platforms like Raise or GiftCards.com, which often feature major chains.

Rakuten’s strength is in its passive savings—just activate a browser extension or shop through their site to receive cashback without doing much else. It’s also an easy way to earn a bonus on food-related gift purchases.

Ibotta: Cashback for groceries, meal kits, and some dining chains

Ibotta is a staple for grocery shoppers and home cooks. It offers cashback on grocery items from chains like Kroger, Safeway, Aldi, and Whole Foods, and occasionally includes restaurant rewards or meal delivery discounts. You scan your receipt, link your loyalty card, or shop online through the app.

Foodies who like to cook at home, order from HelloFresh, or stock up on artisanal ingredients will appreciate Ibotta’s wide range of grocery cashback offers. You can even link Ibotta with store loyalty programs to automate savings and avoid scanning receipts.

Stacking strategies: Combine apps for max rewards

The smartest foodies know how to layer these platforms:

• Use Fluz to buy a Panera Bread gift card online, earn instant cashback, and still collect MyPanera points.
  
• Shop for a Chipotle gift card through Rakuten and pay with a Fluz gift card for double rewards.
  
• Use Ibotta to claim cashback on groceries, then apply your Fluz earnings toward dining out next weekend.
  

Loyalty programs like Chili’s Rewards, Dunkin’ Rewards, or MyPanera add a third layer to the savings equation, giving you more bang for every bite.

Which app is best for you?

• Use Fluz for real-time cashback on dine-in and quick-service restaurants
  
• Use Rakuten when ordering online or buying digital gift cards
  
• Use Ibotta if you’re meal prepping, grocery shopping, or trying new pantry staples
  

Each app covers a different slice of your food life, and together, they can help you save money at every stage—from kitchen to table.