Drop App Review: Earn Rewards Effortlessly While You Shop & Play

Earning money passively is one of the most satisfying feelings. From cashback apps to reward platforms, getting a little back after spending your hard-earned cash always brings a sense of gratification.

But choosing a legitimate rewards app is crucial. Not every platform actually pays, and many will waste your time by making rewards nearly impossible to redeem.

If you’re searching for a trusted, easy-to-use earning app, Drop is definitely worth trying.

Drop has been one of my personal favorite rewards apps for years, and in this review, I’ll break down exactly how it works, how much you can realistically earn, and the best alternatives.

What Is the Drop App?

Drop is a free rewards app that gives you points for shopping at dozens of popular brands and purchasing from partnered merchants. Since its launch in 2012, it has grown into one of the most recognizable cashback platforms, with more than 3 million downloads across Android and iOS.

The app is available in the U.S. and Canada, and anyone with a debit or credit card can join.

I’ve personally used Drop for several years to save extra money, and overall, it’s an easy, flexible earning app—especially if you frequently shop on your phone.

How Does Drop Work?

Earning with Drop is extremely simple. The process involves just a few steps:

(1)Download the app & sign up
Create your free Drop account in minutes.

(2)Link a credit or debit card
Drop tracks your purchases and rewards you automatically.

(3)Shop through Drop
Activate special offers and limited-time “Drops” to earn bonus points.

(4)Collect Drop points
Points come from partnering retailers, surveys, and mobile games.

(5)Redeem points
Exchange your points for free gift cards from popular brands.

On average, light users can earn $10–$30 per year without effort, while those who take advantage of high-value deals can easily exceed $100+ annually.

Let’s break down each earning method in more detail.

1. Sign Up & Link Your Card

Once you download Drop from the App Store or Google Play, you’ll be asked to connect your debit or credit card. This allows Drop to automatically track your spending and award points.

The app uses Plaid, the same secure technology used by fintech companies like Acorns and Robinhood, so your financial data is encrypted and protected.

Major supported banks include:

.Chase

.Bank of America

.Wells Fargo

.Citibank

.U.S. Bank

.Capital One

.American Express

.RBC

.Scotiabank

.CIBC

.Tangerine

.Walmart cards
…and dozens more.

If you have a debit or credit card, you’re almost guaranteed to be compatible.

2. Shop Through Drop to Activate Special Offers

Drop used to offer “Power Offers,” which provided automatic cashback at your five chosen favorite stores. This feature has been discontinued.

Now, Drop uses limited-time and unlimited-time Drops, which appear in the “Today’s Deals” section. You must activate each offer before shopping, and offers are tailored based on your spending habits.

Common cashback partners include:

.Nike

.Walmart

.Target

.Starbucks

.Uber Eats

.Adidas

.DoorDash

.Disney+

.Indigo

.Postmates

Drops work for both in-store and online purchases as long as you use your linked card.

3. Explore Additional Drop Deals

Beyond standard Drops, you can browse bonus offers that pay significantly more. Some “boosted” offers provide up to 8% cashback—far better than typical rates.

The highest-earning section is “25,000+ points,” where you’ll find lucrative offers for signing up for services, credit cards, or apps. These can pay between $50–$100 in points.

For example:
A recent Lyft promotion offered $30 in Drop points just for registering and completing a single ride.

4. Earn by Referring Friends

Drop’s referral program is another way to earn quickly.

You and your friend each earn 5,000 points ($5) once the new member earns at least 1,000 points through shopping (survey points don’t count).

You can earn referral bonuses for up to 10 friends.

5. Play Mobile Games for Rewards

Drop recently introduced a gaming section similar to Mistplay and Rewarded Play. You can download and play featured mobile games to earn points.

Available genres include:

.Strategy

.Simulation

.Card games

.Survival

Some game tasks are highly rewarding. For example, reaching a certain level in Rise of Kingdoms could earn you $28 worth of points.

6. Complete Surveys

Drop also hosts quick surveys based on your demographic information. Even if you don’t qualify, you still receive partial points.

Longer surveys pay 25–500 points, and the payout is shown upfront.

Although Drop’s survey earnings are modest, the feature provides an extra way to accumulate points.

7. Use the Drop Chrome Extension

If you prefer shopping on desktop, Drop has a Chrome extension (currently in U.S. beta). Similar to Honey or Capital One Shopping, the extension alerts you to available rewards while you shop normally.

Any points earned are added directly to your Drop account.

Drop Rewards Store

Drop offers a wide selection of gift cards, including:

.Amazon

.Apple

.Starbucks

.Dunkin’

.Sephora

.Best Buy

.Hotels.com

.Gap

.American Eagle

.Uber Eats
…and many more.

However, Drop recently updated its reward system:

To unlock lower-denomination gift cards, you must complete at least one purchase through Drop. Otherwise, you’ll need to accumulate 50,000 points ($50) before redeeming.

Is Drop Legit?

Yes—Drop is completely legitimate and pays users reliably.

In my own experience, points have always posted correctly (though sometimes with a delay), and gift card redemptions arrive without issues.

You won’t earn life-changing money, but Drop is an easy way to pick up free gift cards on purchases you’d make anyway.

My Personal Earnings

Over several years, I’ve earned around $52, with $40 redeemed and $12 still in my account.

About $20 of that came from referrals, and the rest came from normal shopping and bonuses.

If you shop frequently, it’s realistic to earn $50–$100 per year without much effort.

Pros & Cons

Pros

.Wide range of retail partners

.Numerous ways to earn rewards

.High-paying offers worth $50–$75+

.Large catalog of gift cards

.Solid referral program

.Occasional signup bonuses

Cons

.No longer a fully passive earning app

.$25 minimum for most gift cards

.No PayPal or bank cash-out option

Best Drop Alternatives

If you enjoy cashback apps, consider these similar platforms:

.Ampli (Canada) – extremely passive bonus app

.Fetch Rewards – earn by scanning grocery receipts

.NCP Mobile – earn PayPal cash by scanning barcodes

.Upside – get gas rebates (up to $0.25 per gallon)

.Pogo – automatic PayPal rewards for card purchases

.Dosh – fully passive cashback, U.S. only

.Checkout 51 – grocery + fuel rebates

.Bumped – earn stock as rewards

.Receipt Hog – scan receipts of any kind

.CoinOut – earn cash for receipt uploads

Using multiple apps is the easiest way to maximize your yearly earnings.

Who Should Use Drop?

Drop is best for:

.People who shop frequently on their phones

.Users who enjoy earning free gift cards passively

.Anyone who likes playing mobile games or doing light surveys

.Deal hunters who enjoy browsing offers before buying

If you primarily shop on desktop, Rakuten or Capital One Shopping might suit you better.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Drop safe?

Yes. Drop uses bank-grade encryption and Plaid for secure card linking. The app never sees your account balances—only transaction data.

2. Is Drop worth it?

Absolutely—if you want easy, free rewards. You won’t earn a fortune, but it’s great for stacking on top of credit card rewards.

3. How does Drop make money?

Brands pay Drop to send customers their way. Drop then shares a portion of this commission with you as rewards.

4. Do points expire?

Drop points never expire, which is a huge advantage.

Final Thoughts

I hope this Drop review helps you understand how the app works and whether it fits your lifestyle.

After years of using it myself, I can confidently say Drop is a simple, flexible way to earn free gift cards—especially for regular online shoppers.

You won’t get rich from it, but if you check the app before big purchases, you can easily score $50+ in rewards each year with very little effort.

If you like effortless savings, Drop is absolutely worth a try.