Top US Digital Reward Programs

Digital rewards programs are valuable websites or apps that help you get discounts or cash back on your shopping. These reward programs incentivize people to spend more with a particular brand. The more a customer spends using a reward program, the more they get in return through points, cash back, and discounts.

Reward programs, sometimes called loyalty programs, can often benefit both businesses and customers, depending on customers’ spending habits. For instance, someone who always does their grocery shopping at the same grocery store each week might benefit from signing up for the company’s reward program, as it will save them money on their typical and essential spending.

However, it’s not just grocery stores that offer reward programs. Many industries are adopting them. Beauty companies offer tiered reward programs that deliver deep discounts to their most loyal spenders, and even gaming sites use fictional tokens as an extra incentive to keep players playing.

Looking at digital reward programs as diverse as fast food to pet care, the following ones stand out as some of the top options for consumers. Each offers an app or easy-to-use website that makes collecting rewards convenient and redeeming them simple.

1. Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime encompasses everything from free shipping and video streaming to discounts at Amazon’s partner companies, like Whole Foods. It’s a comprehensive loyalty program that has proven incredibly effective for Amazon, its sellers, and its users, with an estimated 184 million Prime members in the US. Prime members get exclusive deals, early access to sales, and free shipping on all orders.

While not all Prime members get cash back through the Prime program, some are eligible for additional perks through the e-commerce giant. These include an Amazon Visa card and an Amazon Points Card, giving members 5% off Amazon purchases and varying discounts throughout the year.

2. MyMcDonald’s Rewards

MyMcDonald’s is an app-based reward system that delivers excellent value to McDonald’s customers, even if they aren’t frequent visitors. If you spend one dollar or more on food, you get a free large order of fries, meaning you can pair your burger or chicken nuggets with the perfect side without an added cost. For frequent users, each dollar you spend earns points you can later redeem for free food.

3. Sephora’s Beauty Insider

Sephora’s Beauty Insider rewards system is tiered-based, where you start as a Beauty Insider who gets 10% off purchases during sales and earns one point for every dollar spent. If you spend over $350 on products in a year, you’ll be bumped up to Sephora’s VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) tier, which will earn you three points for every dollar spent and give you 15% off during sales.

If you spend more than $1000 in a year, you’ll be moved up to the company’s top tier, Rouge. This tier earns Beauty Insiders four points for every dollar spent and 20% off during sales. The points collected can be redeemed on purchases or be used to get free samples of the company’s high-end brands.

Beauty Insiders can carefully track and redeem their points through Sephora’s app, website, or in-store. They will also be notified of sales and discounts as they’re made available online. The rewards program has helped create an incredibly loyal customer base passionate about makeup, skincare, and fragrances.

4. CVS ExtraCare

Getting prescriptions filled or a vaccine are healthcare services that can add up quickly. If you typically take care of these health needs at CVS, the company’s ExtraCare reward program can help reduce the costs. CVS ExtraCare members earn 2% cash back on every purchase, including filling prescriptions and getting vaccines. It also offers free shipping, discounts, a pharmacy helpline, and other bonuses. CVS ExtraCare conveniently provides everything program members need through its app, including a digital card that can be scanned for in-person purchases.

5. My Best Buy

When you join My Best Buy, the free tier of Best Buy’s rewards program, you can access free standard shipping without a required minimum order amount. If you’re a regular Best Buy shopper or planning to purchase a high-ticket product, you can pay to join My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total. The first offers faster free shipping, more time to make returns, and exclusive discounts. The second brings all the benefits of the other two tiers, as well as extended device protection plans, tech support, and discounts on repairs.

6. Delta SkyMiles

Collecting frequent flyer points has been around for a long time, and airlines like Delta are keeping pace with other online reward programs by shaping a digital version of their SkyMiles. It has all the same perks but is now available through the company’s app, allowing customers to check how many points they have and redeem them. The app also lets SkyMiles collectors know about bonus deals and discounts on travel-related expenses through Delta’s brand partnerships.

7. Petco’s Vital Care

Petco’s Vital Care rewards program, which rewards online and in-person spending, is a tiered model. The first tier, Vital Care Core, is free and offers pet owners coupons and discounts they can redeem online or in-store.

The second tier, Vital Care Premier, is paid and includes the same discounts and even more customer bonuses. Vital Care Premier members can save on groomings and exams through Petco and get discounts for Rover, a pet services company. Anyone with a pet knows they can be expensive, even if you stick to just your pet’s bare essentials—so a reward system like Vital Care has the potential to save you a fair bit.

Conclusion

Whether you shop online for groceries, gadgets, or pet supplies, you can find a digital reward program that allows you to decrease your spending without changing your shopping habits. The seven programs highlighted here show the diverse applications of reward programs but also share some of the top options available to digital-savvy shoppers.