ShopKick Review – Is It Worth Signing Up For?

[Shop Kick gives you 2,500 free kicks ($10) for each friend you refer. Instead of posting our own link we will allow our readers to leave helpful comments with their referral link. Comments which are just the link or provide no value will be removed. We also did something similar for Plink]

ShopKick is a mobile app based loyalty program that gives you points (known as kicks) for visiting stores and scanning specific items. At the time of writing there are 6,000,000 people who have downloaded shop kick for their mobile device. It’s currently available on android and iphone devices.

shop kick logo

ShopKick will also let you know of specials that a store is currently having, some of which are shop kick only specials. They also show you which stores are participating and how far away each store is and how many kicks you’ll receive for entering the store. ShopKick makes money on the premise that when a business gets a customer inside a store they are able to sell them products they might not have otherwise purchased. They charge businesses to get additional customers in the store and then give some of this money back to consumers through the application.

How To Earn Kicks

You can earn kicks a few different ways:

  • Entering a store: Stores that are partnered with shop kick will pay you 30-100 kicks to enter their store. Usually you need to wait near the entrance for a few seconds with your shopkick application open to earn the points

walk-in

  • Scan specific items: Stores will also pay you to scan specific items with your shop kick app. Generally you’ll get 10 kicks per scan and can scan multiple items per store (although usually these items aren’t very close together)

scanning items

  • Purchase an item: You can also earn kicks by purchasing items from participating stores. The exact amount of kicks you’ll earn is dependent on the item you’re buying and from what store.

kicks for purchasing

  • Surprises: You can earn kicks by looking through the look books of each participating store and you’ll “randomly” earn points on different pages.

tap for a surprise

  • Refer friends: You’ll earn half the kicks any people you refer earns within their first two weeks of account use. Up to a maximum of 2,500 points.
  • Link your credit card: When you link one of your credit cards you’ll receive up to 200 bonus kicks.
Like ShopKick on facebook.

They regularly post about specials and competitions in which you can earn bonus kicks. Click here to like them now.

Redeeming Kicks

rewards-mall

Kicks can be redeemed at the rewards mall for gift cards and items. In general 1 kick = 0.4¢, this means you’ll need 1,250 kicks to be able to redeem for a $5 gift card. The redemption rate will be slightly different for items, but your best value is usually gotten from redeeming for gift cards. The minimum you can redeem for is $2 or 500 kicks. They offer the following gift cards:

  • Target gift cards (starting at $2 or 500 kicks)
  • Aerie gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • American eagle gift card (starting at $2 or 500 kicks)
  • Arden B. gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Fandango gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • Game stop gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Papa johns gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Sports authority gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Toys ‘R’ Us gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • iTunes gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • Lowe’s gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • Nike gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • Sephora gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • Old navy gift card (starting at $10 or 2,500 kicks)
  • 1-800 flowers gift card (starting at $25 or 6,250 kicks)
  • Customized gas gift cards (starting at $10 or 3,400 kicks, note this values your kicks at 0.29¢ each instead of the usual 0.4¢)
  • Restaurant.com gift card (starting at $25 or 875 kicks this values your kicks at 2.87¢ each – but restaurant.com gift cards are easily purchased for 20% of their face value)
  • Shutterfly gift card (starting at $25 or 6,250 kicks)
  • Best Buy gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Macy’s gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Starbucks gift card (starting at $5 or 1,250 kicks)
  • Coach gift card (starting at $300 or 75,000 kicks)
  • Kate spade gift card (starting at $300 or 75,000 kicks)
  • Tiffy & co (starting at $300 or 75,000 kicks)

Our Verdict

At most you’re going to get 40¢ per store you walk into. This certainly isn’t going to make you rich any time soon, for those with a lot of free time you might find this worth whiled. Most people will only find value on this if they are able to generate large amounts of shopkick points for purchases that they’d usually make anyway. I think the only way I’ll actually use this app is if I can find a participating store that I’m already using as part of my manufacturing spending strategy.

I’ve gone ahead and installed this application on my phone, but I honestly don’t know when I’ll use it next. I’ll update this page in the next month or two with any progress I’ve made.

sign up now big

Shop Kick Resources:

Know of any other useful resources for shop kick? Let us know in the comments.

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123 Comments
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Heather
Heather (@guest_675017)
November 19, 2018 12:32

So back in early October I specifically bought 15 of their items off their list of things that they were looking for and I submitted my receipt and they turn around I replied five days later saying sorry but your receipt is invalid and I am pissed off and I am angry because I specifically bought the items they were looking for to get the points and they did not give them to me.

Lorraine
Lorraine (@guest_632909)
August 23, 2018 12:14

I found this article because I was curious about this app. It sounds like privacy may be an issue so finding out that you have to be on facebook to fully utilize it is no surprise; and definitely a deal breaker.

petitesybarite
petitesybarite (@guest_603198)
June 7, 2018 13:58

i use this app all the time to fund my starbucks habit. please use my referral code: CARD270634

thank you!

SF
SF (@guest_554723)
January 26, 2018 17:31

My account got suspended from when I used this a LONG time ago and was dumb about it, abusing the system. I got them to reinstate it so I am starting anew now. I’m going to be good and follow all the rules this time and see if it is actually worth the effort.

If anyone needs a referral code, mine is CARD836821 (or click this link https://getsk.co/card836821). Thanks!

Anthony Thomas
Anthony Thomas (@guest_424566)
June 21, 2017 03:27

I have not been as aggressive with Shop Kick since I started working full time again.

You can’t double/triple up on walk-ins as you used too but that’s been the case for about three years now.

Walk Ins where I typically go do work regularly and I’ve used this app on five different Android phones.

Wal-Marts typically have poor reception at least in my area they do. Target is usually the best. Macy’s, JC Penny and Old Navy have stopped offering walk-in points.

You can still earn more $25 GC per month if you just remember to turn on the app every day and pick up kicks by watching videos and looking at products.

Jeaniey G
Jeaniey G (@guest_418852)
June 11, 2017 12:25

Ive been doing shopkicks since September of 2016. So far I average a $25 gift card every month without spending a penny. You may think that is peanuts…but is $25 a month that is mine…for whatever I wish to do with it. I love it so much I signed my husband up for it. Hes been shopkicking since February. He doesnt cash his kicks in like I do and he is about to cash in for his 1st giftcard…$100 at Lowes. He has saved up 25000 kicks. Ive cashe in every month and never had any troubles recieving or using my giftcards. I dont know why anyone thinks its a scam. Ive had nothing but wonderful customer service. I had to contact them once for something and it turns out it was my error…not theirs. They still gave me 500 kicks for being nice to them and praising them for their prompt and curtious reply to my problem. They have always been good to me and no one I have referred ever had a problem. Ive referred7 people so far. All have earned cards and love shopkick as much as I do.

Elaine
Elaine (@guest_359277)
February 23, 2017 20:30

DON’T SUPPORT THIS COMPANY

The shopkick company is bad news and practices deceptive marketing to app users. I collected kicks for 3 years saving 75,000 kicks and when I was getting ready to turn them in I received and email stating I was not following the rules, but they would give me a pass this one time. When I actually turned in my kicks I was told I had not followed the rules and was now banned. Shopkick would not tell me what rules I had broken and the last communication stated

“Due to activity outside our terms, which you can find in our previous message and within the app, we will not be able to re-open your shopkick account. In order for a free app to work, we need to ensure that everyone follows the rules and we hope you understand. For security reasons, we are regrettably unable to share more specific information on this situation.”

Security reasons??? REALLY????

I understand the lure to get free gift cards/merchandise but this company should not be allowed to profit and cheat people.

I am seriously thinking about contacting all of the companies who do business with them and advise them to check out their business practices along with their BBB standing.

Marc
Marc (@guest_412208)
May 30, 2017 13:33

Totally agree!! Have been using almost daily for last year and just had enough saved up for a Tiffany gift card to give to my daughter for her graduation in a few weeks. Then with no warning suddenly get this suspended message and the support activity does not respond to any emails after first one just referencing Terms of Service. Seems they really don’t care about the people using App.

Mary Escalera
Mary Escalera (@guest_424457)
June 20, 2017 21:57

So true. I also received a message that I was unable to redeem or continue Shopkicks as the account had been suspended. They locked my 20,000 something points and I never used them to redeem anything. I emailed them and response back was ALWAYS per Terms and Conditions. I asked for the reason and Philip Hornsby replies with the same message l, “We apologize for any continued confusion. We have manually re-reviewed your Shopkick account activity again and must confirm that, due to repeated activity outside our terms, which you can find in our previous message and within the app, we will not be able to re-open your shopkick account. In order for a free app to work, we need to ensure that everyone follows the rules and we hope you understand. We wish you all the best.” BS is my reply. I don’t know who else to ask but this is messed up.

Greg
Greg (@guest_327872)
December 16, 2016 10:32

I can see this working if you have nothing better to do that to waste gas and time walking stores, or if you frequent the appropriate stores to begin with. for myself my time is more valuable than that. Doing the Shopping Annuity will yield far greater return with the time wasted.

Eric
Eric (@guest_327942)
December 16, 2016 14:36

What’s the Shopping Annuity?

Anthony Thomas
Anthony Thomas (@guest_424569)
June 21, 2017 03:30

Greg I did this solely using the bus when I was unemployed. I didn’t waste gas and even now I frequent the stores in the app not because I need to collect kicks but because I work as a merchandiser and I work in these stores.

This allows me to collect while in various malls too. No extra fuel used to earn kicks.

Maria
Maria (@guest_282090)
August 8, 2016 01:13

I’ve used swagbucks and racked up with it. Had money loaded on pay pal card. I’ve gotten a lot of freebies as well. Magazine’s and samples. Also try receipt hog it works and points add up somewhat fast. I’ve already redeemed $10. If you stick with it, these apps will earn you freebies. I think it’s worth it.

Dustin
Dustin (@guest_270888)
June 27, 2016 11:20

I personally dont spend any money on these kinds of apps but i still get plenty of points by just going to these stores and turning on the app! If you want to join, you can use my reference link -> http://get.shopkick.com/sunflower75786

Eric
Eric (@guest_276623)
July 17, 2016 10:13

I used your referral link yesterday. I tried out the app and it is pretty easy to rack up Kicks by entering certain stores (ie Best Buy, Target, etc.). Actually finding items doesn’t really seem to be worth the time unless you are shopping in that aisle anyway. Some of the stores let you earn Kicks for making purchases so that could be useful for some. Anyway, below is my referral link for anyone interested in joining.

http://get.shopkick.com/market77194

Anthony Thomas
Anthony Thomas (@guest_424570)
June 21, 2017 03:32

The closest Target to me is 10 mins away. When shopping I just plain my route it’s not hard at all to pick up kicks.

Lifetime kicks 139,223