By AppHub Editorial Team · Updated August 3, 2026
Upside: Gas & Food Cash Back
Overview
Travel & Local
Upside Inc.
Free
Apr 24, 2016
26.15.1
9
No
Apr 6, 2026
Features
Unlock Cash Back with the free Upside App!
Upside gets you cash back on daily essentials like gas, groceries, and dining. It's designed to reward you for simply being yourself, allowing you to indulge in more of what you love. With over 100,000 participating gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, cash back opportunities are always around the corner.
Upside users can earn an average 8% cash back on groceries and dining—that’s on TOP of your current credit card rewards
Unlock Cash Back with the free Upside App! Upside gets you cash back on daily essentials like gas, groceries, and dining. It's designed to reward you for simply being yourself, allowing you to indulge in more of what you love. With over 100,000 participating gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, cash back opportunities are always around the corner. Upside users can earn an average 8% cash back on groceries and dining—that’s on TOP of your current credit card rewards
Download Upside: Gas & Food Cash Back
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Official Links
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Ratings breakdown
436,000 reviewsDeveloper contact
Name
Upside Services, Inc.
Address
455 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20001-2621 United States
Website
https://www.upside.comPhone
+1 202-470-1852
Support
support@upside.com
Privacy
View policyFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Upside app free to download and use? high
Yes, the app is free to download and use. The 'is_free' field in the metadata is 'true' and the price is null.
Source: app_metadata
What kind of cash back can I earn with Upside? high
Based on the app description, you can earn up to 25¢/gal on gas, up to 45% back at restaurants, and up to 30% back at grocery stores. Frequent users reportedly earn an average of $290 per year.
Source: app_metadata
Why are my cash back offers expiring or changing? high
A recurring pattern in recent reviews shows that users are frustrated with offers reducing in value or expiring. One reviewer said 'a TON of offers... say expired' (May 2025), another noted stations went from 'several cents back to 1¢ or nothing' (March 2025), and a third wished offers 'didn't change on a dime' (October 2025). This appears to be a recent pattern.
Source: user_reviews
Do I need to upload receipts to get cash back? medium
Yes, according to some recent user reviews, submitting receipts can be part of the process. One user described it as a 'hassle' needing to 'end up sending in receipts just to get it' (October 2025). Another user reported a technical bug where the receipt upload fails after reaching 100% (July 2025).
Source: user_reviews
How do I get my money from Upside? high
The app description states you can transfer your cash back straight to your bank account or as an e-gift card to retailers like Amazon and Walmart. One recent review mentioned 'cashing out for the first time' after saving for 8 months (March 2025), confirming the payout feature is functional.
Source: app_metadata, user_reviews
How to Use
To earn cash back on gas, groceries, and dining, users claim offers through the Upside app, pay as usual with any card, and then upload receipts or link their card to receive cash back. (app_description)
Getting Started
Source: app_description_and_user_feedback_noted
- Step 1: Download and install the free Upside app from the Google Play Store.
- Step 2: Create an account and allow location access to see nearby participating gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores.
- Step 3: Browse the offers map or list. Tap on an offer (e.g., a gas station offering 5¢/gal cash back) to claim it.
- Step 4: Pay for your purchase as usual with any credit or debit card linked to your account or by uploading your receipt.
- Step 5: Follow the in-app instructions (e.g., check in at the pump, upload receipt). Your cash back will be added to your Upside balance.
Key Features (from app listing)
Source: app_description
- Earn cash back on gas (up to 25¢/gal) at over 100,000 locations including Shell, BP, and Exxon.
- Earn cash back on dining (up to 45%) at restaurants like Applebee's, Taco Bell, and Domino's.
- Earn cash back on groceries (up to 30%) at stores like Giant Eagle, Piggly Wiggly, and Schnucks.
- Cash back can be transferred to a bank account or redeemed as e-gift cards for Amazon, Walmart, and more.
This tip is derived from a recurring recent complaint pattern where 3 of 5 reviewers mentioned offers reducing in value, expiring, or changing unpredictably.
How this content was created
Content type: pattern_analysis_of_user_reviews_and_metadata
AI generated: Yes
- Google Play user reviews (12-20 preferred; may be smaller if source data is limited per app), March 26, 2025 to October 29, 2025
- Google Play ratings distribution
- App Store listing metadata
- Review samples are not statistically representative of all user sentiment.
- Claims labeled 'low confidence' are based on single-review observations only.
- No real-world app testing was conducted.
- Feature availability may vary by region, device, and app version.
- The sample is limited to the 5 latest reviews only. No high-engagement or mixed reviews were available, so the analysis may not capture the full range of user sentiment.
Pros & Cons
Based on analysis of Google Play user reviews
Pros
- Users find the core cash-back concept valuable and appreciate the savings, often recommending the app to others. high
Theme 'valuable savings and recommendations' identified in recent_reviews #2 (savings over 8 months), #3 (loves the app after a year), and #5 (recommended to family). These three reviews express satisfaction with the financial benefit despite other complaints.
Evidence (3)
“Cashing out for the first time. So far, been saving up for about 8 months.”Rating: 4★ March 26, 2025 1,482 likes“I love the app. I've been using it for over a year...”Rating: 4★ May 02, 2025 2,033 likes“Recommended to family and love the app and how fast the money adds up.”Rating: 3★ July 17, 2025 519 likes - Users appreciate the quick turnover time for cash back and the referral earnings. low
Theme 'fast payment and referrals' identified in recent_review #4. The reviewer explicitly praises 'turnover time is so quick' and 'the continual stream from referrals is nice'.
Evidence (1)
“...the turnover time is so quick, it's pretty much forgiven. And the continual stream from referrals is nice.”Rating: 4★ October 14, 2025 895 likes
Cons
- A recent pattern shows that offers are being reduced or expiring, leading to frustration and lost expected cash back. high
Theme 'offer reduction and expiry' identified in recent_reviews #2, #3, and #4. Reviewer #2 notes 'some stations... now only 1¢ or nothing' (reduction). Reviewer #3 reports 'a TON of offers... say expired' (expiry). Reviewer #4 states 'wish the CB didn't change on a dime' (unpredictability). This is the most frequent complaint in the sample.
Evidence (3)
“Some stations started out offering several cents back, but now only 1¢ or nothing.”Rating: 4★ March 26, 2025 1,482 likes“...I have a TON of offers I claimed and they say expired. That is extremely frustrating...”Rating: 4★ May 02, 2025 2,033 likes“I wish the CB didn't change on a dime and vary so much...”Rating: 4★ October 14, 2025 895 likes - A recurring recent concern is that the process to get cash back has become a hassle, specifically requiring receipt uploads that can fail. medium
Theme 'receipt upload hassles and failures' identified in recent_reviews #1 and #5. Reviewer #1 describes a process of 'having to wait and then end up sending in receipts just to get it' and notes a submitted receipt is 'under review'. Reviewer #5 describes a specific technical failure where the receipt upload progress reaches 100% but then gives an error message.
Evidence (2)
“Lately it seems getting cash back is a hassle. You have to wait and then end up sending in receipts just to get it but then it doesn't go towards your monthly limit for next months bonus. I even submitted a receipt this time and it's under review.”Rating: 2★ October 29, 2025 546 likes“The only problem I have it when uploading a receipt it goes through the progress circle and says 100% uploaded, but then immediately says "Something went wrong..."”Rating: 3★ July 17, 2025 519 likes - One recent reviewer reports that their cash back is being limited by a monthly limit that resets, and receipt submissions do not count toward the next month's limit. low
Theme 'monthly cash-back limit issue' identified in recent_review #1. The reviewer specifically complains that a submitted receipt 'doesn't go towards your monthly limit for next months bonus'.
Evidence (1)
“...it doesn't go towards your monthly limit for next months bonus.”Rating: 2★ October 29, 2025 546 likes
Recent Reviews
Tiffany Aol
2★Lately it seems getting cash back is a hassle. You have to wait and then end up sending in receipts just to get it but then it doesn't go towards your monthly limit for next months bonus. I even submitted a receipt this time and it's under review. Like how?? Been using the same card since I joined and now it's a problem as of this month to redeem anything with reaching out every single time for my cashback. In response to your comment...I have and doesn't solve the issue
Chad Portenga
4★Cashing out for the first time. So far, been saving up for about 8 months. only 2 gripes: Some stations started out offering several cents back, but now only 1¢ or nothing. Also, I wish I didn't have to switch back and forth between regular and premium to see the prices for each. My daily car takes regular, my classic muscle car takes premium. it's just one extra step that I have to take any time I need to gas up the fun car. (Tip - many loyalty programs do not affect the cash back from Upside!
Breanna McClain
4★I love the app. I've been using it for over a year and just recently started noticing that I have a TON of offers I claimed and they say expired. That is extremely frustrating considering I go the extra mile to use the app and I'm not receiving cash back every time. Also, if there is a deal for gas and we get to the gas station and it's cheaper than the app, we should be able to update that price and still get the same percentage off. Just my opinion.
E B
4★I wish the CB didn't change on a dime and vary so much, but overall, I'm a huge fan. It initially felt a bit invasive having to log my card #s and account info, but the turnover time is so quick, it's pretty much forgiven. And the continual stream from referrals is nice. I just wish there were more options and places included, like my preferred gas station.
Ben Neal
3★Recommended to family and love the app and how fast the money adds up. The only problem I have it when uploading a receipt it goes through the progress circle and says 100% uploaded, but then immediately says "Something went wrong We were unable to process your request. Please try again.", if I hit try again it immediately pops up the same error message.