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Reward apps are everywhere these days. And if you’re like most people, the chance to earn money back on everyday purchases sounds great. The problem is that many of today’s reward apps are no longer truly passive—you often need to upload receipts, activate offers, or submit proof of payment just to earn a few points.
Fortunately, the Pogo app is a newer player in the rewards space, and it stands out for one major reason: it’s fully passive. Even better, it pays you real money for your everyday transactions. But is Pogo legit? And is trading your data worth the passive income?
After personally testing the app, this Pogo review breaks down how it works, its pros and cons, and what other users think—so you can decide whether it’s right for you.
What Is the Pogo App?
Pogo is a rewards app for Android and iOS that helps you “earn and save on everything.” Its main mission is to help users monetize their everyday data—particularly transaction data.
With Pogo, you earn points for:
.Any purchase, no matter the store
.Answering short in-app surveys
.Sharing your location data
In a way, Pogo is giving users control of their data again: if brands want to use it, they’ll have to pay you.
If you love reward apps but want something more hands-off, Pogo is worth a look.
Is Pogo Legit? Does It Really Pay?
Yes—Pogo is legitimate. It pays users for sharing data and completing simple surveys. Its App Store rating sits around 4.9 stars, and there are many payment proofs online.
During my testing, I connected a card, made a few purchases, and received points automatically.
Pogo is also backed by several well-known investors, including:
Executives from Stripe
The Chainsmokers
The founders of the Honey browser extension
This kind of support adds credibility. That said, Pogo will not make you rich. It’s best for earning a few extra dollars a year with almost no effort.
How Does Pogo Work?
At the time of writing, Pogo is only available in the United States, and you’ll need to be at least 18 years old since the app requires linking your credit or debit card.
Here’s the 8-step process:
- Download the Pogo App
Available on both Android and iOS.
- Link Your Bank Account
Pogo uses Plaid, an industry-standard secure service (also used by apps like Venmo, Drop, and Dosh).
This allows Pogo to read your transactions and reward you for them.
- Shop and Earn Points Automatically
Every transaction earns you 2–5 points (about $0.02–$0.05).
.No receipt scanning.
.No offer activation.
.No extra steps.
This is what makes Pogo a truly passive reward app.
- Answer In-App Surveys
Surveys pay more than transactions—sometimes hundreds or even thousands of points.
Not everyone gets them consistently, but they help you cash out faster.
- Use Pogo Online Offers
Pogo’s cashback browser shopping feature works similarly to Rakuten, offering:
.0.5%–2% cashback normally
.In some cases, 5–10% or more during promotions
Note: Cashback can take up to 90 days to appear.
- Earn Location Bonuses
Turn on “location rewards” to earn small point bonuses when visiting partner stores.
You can also enable email scanning to detect online purchases—but this is optional.
- Refer Friends
You earn 250 points ($0.25) for every friend who signs up and links a card.
Your friend gets the same bonus.
- Cash Out
Once you reach 3,000 points ($3), you can cash out via:
.PayPal
.Venmo
This is a low minimum compared to many reward apps.
Is Pogo Safe?
Yes. Pogo itself doesn’t store your banking login.
Instead, it uses Plaid, which securely handles your banking connection.
According to Pogo:
.They don’t access your login credentials
.They only see merchant names and purchase amounts
.Millions of Americans already use apps powered by Plaid
If you’re comfortable sharing transaction and location data, Pogo is safe to use.
What Are Other Users Saying?
Pogo has extremely positive reviews in the App Store. Here are a few examples:
.S.S Marie:
“One of the easiest reward apps to use. Just link your card and earn points.”
.RebeccaAndrea93:
“Better than Fetch. I can’t believe how easy it is!”
.CursedAuraKT:
“After a month I earned $2.58. It’s not a lot, but it requires zero effort.”
Most complaints mention slow point accumulation—fair for a passive app.
Pros & Cons
Pros
.Completely passive—no receipt scanning
.Pays for every purchase
.Extra points from surveys and location sharing
.Cash-out through PayPal or Venmo
.Low $3 cash-out threshold
Cons
.You must be comfortable selling your data
.Earnings per transaction are small (just a few cents)
.No signup bonus
.Only available in the U.S.
Best Alternatives to Pogo
Pogo is great for passive earning, but combining it with other apps increases your total rewards. Some of the best alternatives include:
.Upside – Save up to $0.25/gal on gas
.Capital One Shopping – Automatically applies coupon codes
.Bridge Money – Earn passive rewards with linked card purchases
.Caden – Earn for sharing your data (iOS only)
.Fetch Rewards – Scan receipts for gift cards
.Amazon Shopper Panel – Earn Amazon credit for uploading receipts
.Drop – Earn by shopping, gaming, and taking surveys
.Dosh – Automatic cashback at many merchants
.Ibotta – One of the best cashback shopping apps
.ReceiptJar – Works in both the U.S. and Australia
Pogo is the most passive out of all of these.
Final Verdict
Hopefully this Pogo app review helps you understand how it works and whether it fits your needs.
Overall, I like that Pogo brings back the simplicity and passiveness many reward apps used to have. Earnings are small—but earning $5 to $10 here and there with zero effort is still nice.
Just remember:
You must be comfortable sharing your data.
If you are, Pogo is an easy way to earn a little extra cash automatically.