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5 Passive Income Hacks Anyone With a Smartphone Can Use (Only One App Needed!)

By Chris Pagnani

May 16, 2025

You don’t need a finance degree, a YouTube channel, or a bunch of stocks to start earning passive income.

If you’ve got a smartphone and a shopping habit, you can start building a little side income today—with zero extra effort—thanks to Fetch.

Here are five hacks that turn everyday moments into passive income power moves when you have the Fetch app.

Start turning receipts into passive income - download Fetch

๐Ÿ“ธ 1. Scan every receipt you get 

Every receipt—no matter the store, the size, or the item—earns you at least 25 points, and up to 2,000+ points for participating brands.

Why it works:

  • No action is required beyond snapping a photo.
  • Every receipt works, meaning grocery stores, gas stations, pet stores, restaurants, and more!
  • Scanning takes less than 5 seconds, and rewards are earned instantly.

Passive ROI example: If you shop 4 times a week and average 500 points per receipt, that’s 8,000 points a month = enough for a couple $3 gift cards, a $5 gift card or get you close to your next $10 gift card.

โœ‰๏ธ 2. Link your email & Amazon accounts for digital eReceipts 

You don’t even need to snap photos if you link your accounts.

How it works:

  • Fetch scans digital receipts from Amazon, Walmart.com, Instacart, and others.
  • Points are applied automatically.
  • You’ll get notifications when points get added to your balance.

This is true passive income: earn points while you shop online, order food, or binge-watch your favorite shows.

๐Ÿ‘ฏ 3. Refer friends and earn big bonuses 

Got a group chat? Use it.

Here’s the deal:

  • Each successful referral = 2,000+ points (and oftentimes more!).
  • Your friend also gets bonus points.
  • There’s no limit on how many you can refer.

Invite 5 friends? Boom: that’s 10,000+ points, or about $10 in gift cards.

๐ŸŽฎ 4. Earn while you game with Fetch Play 

If you’re already gaming on your phone, turn that time into points.

How to do it:

Daily gaming habits can net you anywhere from 3,000-10,000+ points/month without spending a cent.

๐ŸŽฏ 5. Redeem for gift cards that save you real money 

Saving money = earning money. Every Fetch Point can go toward gift cards that offset real expenses.

Popular gift card options include:

  • Target & Walmart: To save on everyday essentials.
  • Amazon: To get literally everything.
  • CVS & Walgreens: To score health products, snacks and travel items.
  • Xbox, PSN, Nintendo: To treat yourself.

Use gift cards to reduce your grocery bill, refill your coffee fund, or boost your gaming budget.

๐Ÿ”„ Recap: the 5 Fetch passive income moves

Once you get the Fetch app, simply:

  1. Scan every receipt (grocery, gas, restaurant, etc.).
  2. Link your email and Amazon accounts for automatic point earnings.
  3. Refer friends and rack up bonuses.
  4. Play games through Fetch Play.
  5. Redeem points for gift cards to replace real spending.

๐Ÿ’ธ Why Fetch is the ultimate passive income app

  • It’s free!
  • It rewards what you’re already doing.
  • It takes as little as 30 seconds/day to earn points.

You don’t need to hustle harder—you just need the Fetch app.

Topics: Gift Cards, offers, rewards


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Chris Pagnani

Chris Pagnani is a writer, SEO, coffee snob, and obsessive record collector here at Fetch. In his past life, he taught high school English before leaving education behind to spend several years touring around the country playing drums in a band.