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Cash-back platforms come in all shapes and sizes.
If you’ve read my blog before, you know some of these sites are legit, while others aren’t. The key is to sift through the noise and find the ones that put real money in your pocket.
In this post, you’ll get a closer look at Tada — a cash-back app that hooks you up with free gift cards and money back whenever you shop online.
Let’s start with an overview of Tada and how you can make money using it.
Pros
- Free to use
- Decent sign-up bonus
- Cash, check, or gift card payouts
- Well-rated iOS app
Cons
- Low earning potential
- You have to spend money to get cash back
- No referral bonus
What Is Tada?
Tada, formerly known as Shoply, is a cash-back app owned by Prodege.
You might already be familiar with Prodege because it owns several of the most popular rewards platforms on the internet — including Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints.
Tada is a similar affiliate marketing business that connects its members with third-party advertisers and products. Using the Tada app or web portal, you can shop for cash-back deals, score discounts, or print out coupons before heading to the store.
Now that you have a better idea of what Tada is, let’s take a look at how the platform works.
How Tada Works
In many ways, Tada’s structure is similar to Protege’s flagship brands. You can see this just by looking at the home page, which is nearly identical to the other sites.
So why the heck would anyone want to use Tada?
What sets this site apart from its sister sites is simplicity.
While most other Prodege platforms are littered with different ways to earn points, Tada specializes in cash-back shopping and nothing else.
As a member, you’ll get access to the Tada online marketplace, where you can earn a cash-back percentage by shopping at its partner retailers. Rewards are automatically credited to your Tada account any time you make a purchase through the portal.
Once you’ve built up enough to cash out, you can redeem your rewards for gift cards or PayPal cash.
Tada Features
Tada: Cash-Back Rewards App
The Tada app provides the easiest way to get cash back on the go.
It’s available on both iOS and Android but seems to perform a bit better for iPhone owners, with an impressive 4.8-star (out of 5) rating in the App Store.
Unfortunately, the Tada app falls a bit short in the Google Play Store, with only a 3.8-star rating (out of 5).
Cash back and featured offers
As mentioned above, Tada’s main feature is its cash-back shopping platform. There are a ton of online retailers to choose from, with categories like health and wellness, electronics, clothing, and more.
In general, cash-back percentages tend to be in the 2 to 10 percent range, although you’ll see some offers for 15 to 20 percent back from time to time.
The biggest savings tend to show up in Tada’s Featured Offers section. Here, you’ll find deals for new products, which usually come with a total cash-back amount rather than a percentage. Featured offers range from bank accounts to software as a service (SaaS) products, and you can even earn cash back on donations to nonprofits. That’s pretty sweet if you ask me.
Printable coupons
Coupon clippers, rejoice!
In the Tada coupon section, you can earn $0.01 for each coupon that you print out, with a maximum limit of up to fifty coupons per day. You’ll also earn an additional $0.10 bonus for redemption, plus whatever savings is attached to the coupon itself.
Most Tada coupons will save you between $1 and $4 per purchase. Nearly all of them are for everyday purchases — such as groceries, hair products, cleaning supplies, and the like.
Magic Receipts
If you forget to print out your coupons or shop directly through Tada, you can still get retroactive cash back with Magic Receipts — a common feature across most Prodege platforms.
Magic Receipts lets you upload screenshots or photos of your online or in-store receipts to the app and receive cash back in your Tada account.
However, the feature only applies to certain purchase categories — like food and beverages. Receipts from most major grocery store chains are accepted.
Tada Browser Extension
If you’d rather not use the Tada app to shop online, you can install the Tada browser extension.
The computer software runs in the background, and if there’s a cash-back deal available with a given retailer, Tada lets you know automatically or applies a promo code to your checkout cart.
As you might expect, the Tada browser extension functions very similarly to Protege’s other browser extensions.
Digital Rewards
You need to build up at least $10 in your account to cash out your Tada balance.
Once you have enough, you can redeem your earnings for gift cards, PayPal Cash, or a physical check in the mail.
Here are some of the most popular gift cards that Tada offers:
- Amazon
- Visa Prepaid
- Starbucks
- Target
- Walmart
- Zappos
Tada Pricing and Fees
Tada is entirely free to use, so you won’t have to worry about any sign-up or monthly charges. But there’s always a catch.
Tada is a large affiliate marketing website that makes money when it connects consumers like you with its partner retailers. Whenever someone signs up or makes a purchase on a partner site, Tada gets a referral fee.
With all this in mind, the true cost of Tada is how much you spend to earn that cash back.
Pro tip: Platforms like Tada are best for finding savings on the things you’re already buying anyway. If you’re spending more than normal just to build up your balance, you’re swerving in the wrong direction.
Signing Up and Getting Started
To get started, head to Tada.com or download the app on your smartphone. All you need is an email address and a password to open up an account.
Once your account is ready, you can start earning cash back immediately. Tada will also hit you with some bonus opportunities so you get off to a fast start.
At the time of writing, Tada is offering new members up to $16 in cash back through three different sign-up bonuses.
The first one is the simplest: You’ll get $1 in your account just for downloading the Tada app. The next bonus, worth $5, is credited to your account when you upload your first Magic Receipt.
To earn the remaining $10, you’ll need to make a purchase through Tada of $25 or more within the first month after opening your account.
Tada previously offered a $5 bonus for new customers referred through social media. Unfortunately, this offer is no longer available.
Tada Security
Tada uses SSL encryption and advanced firewalls to protect against malicious attacks. It’s also backed by Protege, which is a massive and legit marketing company.
Overall, the security risk for Tada is low because you won’t be sharing sensitive information such as your bank account or Social Security number. Any personal data that you do wind up entering would be under the purview of its partner retailers.
That said, it’s always in your best interest to vet any third-party vendors before entering your credit card information. The last thing you want is the hassle of calling up your card issuer to resolve identity theft cases.
Customer Service and Support
If you end up needing help with your Tada account, your customer support options are relatively limited.
There’s a FAQ section for general questions. Your other options include submitting an online request or working with a chatbot. Although support is limited, Tada is an intuitive and user-friendly platform, so you shouldn’t run into many issues.
Members seem to be satisfied on the whole. Tada maintains an excellent overall rating of 4.4 stars (out of 5) on Trustpilot.
Tada Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Decent sign-up bonus
- Cash, check, or gift card payouts
- Well-rated iOS app
Cons
- Low earning potential
- You have to spend money to get cash back
- No referral bonus
Alternatives to Tada
In the world of cash-back sites, Tada is just one option to explore.
Its closest alternatives are the other sites in the Prodege family, like Swagbucks and MyPoints.
Besides these services, there are plenty of other ways to find discounts and cash back online. Here are some alternatives to consider.
Rakuten
Rakuten is one of the biggest names in cash back. It was formerly known as eBates.
The site operates along the same lines as Tada, with its earning options including cash-back shopping, coupon codes, and a browser extension.
The biggest difference is that while most platforms require a minimum balance to cash out, Rakuten pays out quarterly — via PayPal or paper check — regardless of the balance amount. Rakuten also has one of the largest networks of partner retailers.
Paribus
Paribus is owned by Capital One and offers money back on purchases after the fact.
Instead of traditional cash-back rewards, Paribus links with your email account and scans for any recent purchases with its partner retailers. If it finds a lower price on a prior purchase that you made, it negotiates a refund for the difference on your behalf.
Paribus is free to use and also offers features like reimbursement for late shipping and refund window monitoring.
Dosh
Dosh is a cash-back app that takes a more hands-off approach. Rather than having to shop through its portal or scan receipts, you simply link your credit or debit card with your Dosh account. Then, when you make qualifying purchases, Dosh automatically credits your account with cash back.
You need at least $25 in your Dosh account to cash out, and you can choose from a direct bank transfer, PayPal, or Venmo to get your rewards.
FAQ
Are Swagbucks and Tada the same?
Yes and no. Swagbucks and Tada function in very similar ways because they are owned by the same company, Protege. However, they’re separate platforms, and you need unique accounts for each.
Prodege’s company size has swelled in recent years as it’s bought up and rebranded several reward sites. If you’re interested in earning cash back, it’s worth checking each one out to find the best fit for you.
That said, the experience with each will be relatively similar.
Is Tada legit?
Yes, Tada is a legitimate cash back and customer loyalty platform. You won’t get rich using it. But you can earn real money on the things you’re already buying.
Which receipt app is the best?
It depends on how you shop and what type of app experience you want. When it comes to a receipt scanning app, what you want is sustainability (i.e., something that’s super easy to use).
For further reading, check this out: Best Money Saving Apps.
The Bottom Line
Tada gives people like you a hassle-free way to earn a little extra money. Using Tada won’t give you enough money to quit your day job. But every dollar saved brings you one step closer to financial independence.
Of course, Tada isn’t a true side hustle because you have to spend money to earn cash back. At the same time, it also has less to offer than Prodege’s flagship apps (e.g., Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints). On top of that, Tada’s network of partner retailers is also smaller than platforms like Rakuten.
Still, you might find Tada to be a great service.
At the end of the day, you know your financial situation better than anyone else, and only you can make intelligent financial decisions each day. If you can get some cash back with Tada while buying stuff that you need, you’re one step ahead of the game.