Do you love getting cash back on your everyday purchases? Of course you do! And if you're a regular Walmart shopper, especially for online orders, you're in for a treat. Ibotta makes it incredibly easy to earn cash back on your Walmart online purchases, but there's a specific way to do it. Forget scanning paper receipts for online orders – that's not how it works here! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, step by step, ensuring you don't miss out on those sweet savings.
The Ultimate Guide to Submitting Your Online Walmart Order to Ibotta
Earning cash back on your Walmart online orders through Ibotta is all about linking your accounts and making sure you activate offers before you shop. This seamless integration ensures your cash back is automatically tracked and applied. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Engage with Ibotta Before You Shop!
Alright, before you even think about filling your Walmart online cart with goodies, we need to make sure Ibotta is ready to track your savings. This is the most crucial step for online orders, so pay close attention!
1.1 Download and Set Up the Ibotta App: If you haven't already, the first thing you need to do is download the Ibotta app on your smartphone. It's available for both iOS and Android devices. Once downloaded, sign up for a free account if you don't have one. It's quick and easy!
1.2 Link Your Walmart Account to Ibotta: This is where the magic happens for online orders.
Open the Ibotta app.
On the home screen, you'll likely see a "Shop by category" section or a search bar. Look for Walmart.
When you find Walmart, make sure you select the "Online" or "Grocery pickup & delivery" option, if given. Some retailers have separate "In-store" and "Online" sections.
You should see an option to "Link account" at the top of the Walmart retailer page within the Ibotta app. Tap on this.
You will be prompted to enter your existing Walmart login credentials. Make sure these are the same credentials you use for your Walmart.com account where you place your online orders.
Follow the on-screen prompts to grant Ibotta permission to access your Walmart purchase history. Review any terms and conditions and tap "I Agree."
You'll receive a notification confirming that your account has been successfully linked. Congratulations, you've set up the foundation for automatic cash back!
Step 2: Browse and Add Offers in Ibotta
Now that your accounts are linked, it's time to find those sweet cash back deals!
2.1 Explore Walmart Offers in Ibotta:
Within the Ibotta app, navigate back to the Walmart online or grocery pickup & delivery section.
Scroll through the available offers. Ibotta has offers on hundreds of everyday items, from groceries to household essentials and more.
Crucially, before you add items to your Walmart cart, you MUST add the corresponding offers to "Your list" in Ibotta. To do this, simply tap the "+" sign next to each offer you're interested in.
2.2 Understand Offer Details:
Always tap on an offer to view its full details. This is vital!
Check for exclusions: Some offers might exclude certain sizes, varieties, or specific locations.
Note quantities: Does the offer require you to buy two of an item? Or perhaps a minimum spend?
Read the fine print: Any special conditions will be listed here. Ignoring these details can lead to missing out on cash back.
Step 3: Place Your Walmart Online Order
With your Ibotta offers added, you can now confidently shop on Walmart's platform.
3.1 Shop on Walmart.com or the Walmart App:
Go to Walmart.com or open the Walmart app (the one you linked to Ibotta).
Add the items you want to purchase to your cart. Make sure these items precisely match the offers you added to your Ibotta list. Double-check brands, sizes, and quantities.
3.2 Complete Your Purchase:
Proceed to checkout on Walmart.com or in the Walmart app as you normally would.
Use the same payment method associated with your linked Walmart account. This helps Ibotta track your purchase seamlessly.
Complete your order.
Step 4: Automatic Cash Back (The Easy Part!)
Unlike in-store purchases where you often have to scan a receipt, linking your Walmart account for online orders makes the process largely automatic.
4.1 Ibotta Tracks Your Purchase: Because your Walmart account is linked, Ibotta receives electronic confirmation of your purchase once your order is picked up or delivered. There's no need to scan a receipt for online orders when your account is linked.
4.2 Pending Cash Back: After your purchase is completed and Walmart informs Ibotta (which can take a few hours to 72 hours, or even after the item ships/delivers for some online retailers), your eligible offers will show as "Pending" in your Ibotta account. You can usually find this in your "Earnings" or "Recent purchases" section.
4.3 Cash Back Credited: Once Ibotta verifies your purchase against the offers you activated, your cash back will be credited to your Ibotta earnings. This typically happens within 72 hours, but sometimes even faster! You'll receive a notification from Ibotta when your cash back is confirmed.
Step 5: Troubleshooting & Ensuring Your Cash Back
Sometimes, things don't go exactly as planned. Here's what to do if you encounter issues or want to maximize your earnings.
5.1 Missing Cash Back? Don't Panic!
Wait 72 hours: It can sometimes take a little time for the purchase to register. Give it a few days.
Check offer details again: Did you meet all the requirements? Was there a specific size or quantity needed?
Verify account linking: Go back into your Ibotta settings and confirm your Walmart account is still correctly linked.
Contact Ibotta Care Team: If it's been more than 72 hours and your cash back is still missing, or if you believe an offer wasn't correctly applied, contact Ibotta's customer support. Be prepared to provide your Walmart order number, items purchased, subtotal, and date/time of order. Screenshots of your confirmation email can be very helpful.
5.2 Maximizing Your Savings:
Always check Ibotta before shopping: Get into the habit of opening Ibotta and adding offers before you finalize your Walmart online grocery list.
Combine with other savings: You can often stack Ibotta cash back with Walmart's own deals and promotions, leading to even bigger savings!
Look for "Any Brand" or "Any Item" offers: These are fantastic for general purchases like "Any Brand Milk" or "Any Receipt" grocery offers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are 10 common questions related to submitting online Walmart orders to Ibotta, with quick answers:
How to link my Walmart account to Ibotta for online orders? Open the Ibotta app, search for Walmart (Online or Grocery pickup & delivery), and tap "Link account." Enter your Walmart login credentials to connect.
How to make sure I get cash back on my Walmart online order? Always link your Walmart account to Ibotta first, and then add desired offers to "Your list" in the Ibotta app before you place your Walmart online order.
How to check if my Walmart online purchase is pending in Ibotta? After your order is picked up or delivered (usually within a few hours to 72 hours), check the "Earnings" or "Recent purchases" section within the Ibotta app.
How to find offers for Walmart online orders on Ibotta? In the Ibotta app, navigate to the Walmart retailer page (ensure it's the "Online" or "Grocery pickup & delivery" option) and browse the available offers.
How to handle missing cash back for a Walmart online order? Wait 72 hours, double-check offer details and account linking. If still missing, contact Ibotta's Care Team with your Walmart order details.
How to add offers to my Ibotta list for a Walmart online order? Tap the "+" sign next to each offer you wish to claim on the Walmart (Online) retailer page in the Ibotta app before you make your purchase.
How to use a paper receipt for an online Walmart order with Ibotta? You generally cannot use a paper receipt for an online Walmart order with Ibotta if your account is linked for online purchases. Ibotta receives electronic confirmation directly from Walmart. Paper receipt scanning is typically for in-store purchases.
How to confirm my Walmart online order qualified for an Ibotta offer? Review the offer details in Ibotta before purchasing to ensure your item meets all criteria (brand, size, quantity, exclusions). Your pending earnings will reflect qualified offers.
How to get Walmart Cash from Ibotta offers? When you link your Walmart account to Ibotta for online purchases, the cash back you earn from Ibotta offers at Walmart will typically be credited directly to your Ibotta account, not Walmart Cash. However, Walmart also has its own "Walmart Cash" program for manufacturer offers found directly on Walmart's platform.
How to know if a Walmart item is eligible for Ibotta cash back online? Check the Ibotta app for specific Walmart offers. If an item you plan to buy online has a matching offer listed in the Ibotta app under the Walmart (Online) section, then it's eligible.