GetUpside is Literally Free Money

If you live in the United States and drive a car, then you need to download GetUpside on your phone. You'll regularly save about $0.12/gallon on gasoline and, if you live in the DC area, can get 5-10% back at grocery stores and restaurants too (this service will expand to other areas in the future). If you use a referral link, then you get a bonus $0.15/gallon back on your first fill up, and so does the person that referred you.

GetUpside is a service that aims to help businesses receive more clients by offering customers cash back at their services. The business pays GetUpside for incremental increases in revenue, and GetUpside sends a cut to its users. Everyone wins, except for the companies that do not want to affiliate with GetUpside.

Disclosure: I am NOT receiving compensation from GetUpside for this post beyond the standard bonus cash back from people who use my referral link. I have not been in contact with GetUpside staff and am not affiliated with the company.

tl;dr: GetUpside gives you cash back on gas. Use a referral to get bonus cash back on your first fill up. Here's my link: https://upside.app.link/MIKEY83557.

What is GetUpside?

GetUpside is a company that owns an app by the same name. The company's goal is to help businesses receive more clients, with a current focus on gas stations and convenience stores.  

The company has an altruistic vision and aims to "personalize brick-and-mortar commerce to help communities thrive and connect more than 2 million consumers with over 15,000 businesses nearby so that merchants make more profit, consumers get more purchasing power, and value is driven back to our communities." Right now, the company is expanding its network with gas stations, but is making headway into restaurants and grocery stores.

It does this by offering cash back to people who use it's app to shop at associated brick-and-mortar locations. Businesses that affiliate with GetUpside receive additional customers who are choosing to come to their location in order to receive cash back through the app. As a result, the business increases its sales and pays GetUpside for the service, and GetUpside then pays the app user his or her cash back.

How much should I expect to save by using GetUpside?

At most gas stations, you'll save between $0.06-$0.12/gallon, but you can find gas stations offering more than $0.25/gallon cash back. If you poke around the app, you'll likely find something near your commute to work saving you a quarter on every gallon. For most communities, that's as much as 12% savings on gasoline.

If you live in the DC area, you can also get 5-10% off on groceries and take-out. This service will likely expand to other parts of the country too as the company grows and affiliates with more businesses.

How do I use the app?

First, you download it. My referral link is https://upside.app.link/MIKEY83557, but use a friend's if you have one who uses the app. Do be aware that any revenue I generate through referrals will be used to purchase equipment for my YouTube channel.

Then, use the app's map feature to find locations near you that are offering cash back. You'll likely find a dozen locations in your own community. 

Go to the location, open your app, and it will automatically recognize you are there as long as you have locations settings on. The app will ask you if you intend to make a purchase.

Indicate that you intend to make a purchase, and the app will "claim" you as being a GetUpside customer for the next 2 hours so that they can charge the business for your patronage. If you are at a gas station, you make your purchase and upload a screenshot of your receipt. Some places no longer require you to upload a screenshot. You will receive the cash back on the app within 24 hours.

How do I cash out?

GetUpside offers a number of ways to cash out. You can receive the money as a gift card with no restrictions. You can also claim the cash through PayPal if you have a have a balance of at least $15 (I believe). You can also have GetUpside send you a check if you really want it, but you need at least a $50 balance to receive your payout through a check.

If you choose to receive the money by gift card, it will be emailed to you within a day.

Added benefit: Since this is a cash-back reward, you'll still pay full price at the counter and receive this refund later. That means any loyalty program or credit card rewards you get will still be based on the full price, not he discounted value. That's a double reward for you.

How does GetUpside make its money?

You are right to be asking this question. Any offers of free money should be scrutinized. 

If you look at the company's For Businesses section on its website, you get a picture of how the company makes money. GetUpside's cash-back offers brings more customers to the store and uses the app to determine if the customer is new or existing. 

If the customer is new, GetUpside will charge the business for new patronage. If the customer is existing, the app will determine if the customer is spending more than previously, and if so, will charge the company for the increased spend.

The business benefits by getting new clients. GetUpside as a company benefits by charging the businesses for the increased customer base. And the app user benefits by getting cash back. 

Are there referral bonuses?

Yes, you get $0.15/gallon cash back on your next fill-up when you refer someone. These are cumulative, so you can refer 2 people for $0.30/gal cash back and so on. You will also get $0.01/gal cash back on every future purchase a referral makes, and $0.005/gal back on anyone they refer. This is indeed an element of an MLM, but since very little money is being passed up the ladder and the client is actually using the product provided, it is not a Pyramid Scheme risk. This is just GetUpside's way of crowdsourcing their marketing.

Final Thoughts

- GetUpside will be collecting your purchasing data when you use the app. It does not send spam or ads, but if you are hiding from the FBI or Interpol, I do not recommend this app.

- GetUpside is not available in all areas, but the company is visibly expanding. Consider getting the app in advance if you live in a city so that you can benefit from the teaser rates when businesses first start affiliating.