Want to earn some extra money to help with your bills? Then take a look at this ZipZero review to see why this receipt scanning app is one not to be missed.
*Please note that ZipZero hasn’t been paying user accounts for several months (I have been waiting since July 2024). Be warned that you may not earn anything from this app.
ZipZero
Over the last few years, we’ve seen the introduction of quite a few receipt-scanning apps, with even Amazon getting in on the action. Although that sounds great, quite a few of these apps have been discontinued and you have to wonder how feasible receipt scanning is. In fact, ZipZero hasn’t been without its issues (more on that below).
But, it’s still going after several years, so let’s take a look to see what it’s all about.
What is ZipZero?
ZipZero is a receipt-scanning app that will pay you for sending in photos of your receipts. How much you earn is based on a percentage of the total value of the receipt. The money you earn from ZipZero can then be paid towards a utility bill of your choosing.
Is it safe?
Security is always a concern when it comes to signing up for new apps. The fact is, ZipZero requires very little in the way of personal information and the receipts that you upload don’t usually contain sensitive details either. Even if you have a receipt with your name and address on, you don’t have to submit it.
The only concern you may have is that you will need to send over your utility account details to receive payment. However, there is minimal damage that can be made if these details fall into the wrong hands.
ZipZero is owned by ZipZero Global Limited, a UK company based in London, established in January 2019.
How does ZipZero work?
It’s all very simple. Download the app to your phone, either Apple or Android. and create an account. Then, every time you purchase an item, take a photo of the receipt and you’ll receive 0.1% of the total amount back into your ZipZero account.
ZipZero will accept receipts from any purchase made from a UK shop. The purchase does need to be made for personal reasons (i.e. not on behalf of a company) and made by you or a member of your household.
You can also forward copies of your email receipts. When you join ZipZero, they will provide you with a unique email address to send your emails to. Your earnings will be automatically added to your account.
Any transactions on your ZipZero account will initially show as pending. In most cases, it takes one to three months before the money becomes available and will be able to be withdrawn.
You are limited to earning £50 per month with ZipZero, but you will have to spend a lot of money to get anywhere near that.
How are you paid?
When it comes to withdrawing, you will need to add a utility bill to withdraw to. This can be:
- Electricity
- Gas
- TV
- Phone
- Internet
- Council tax
This can be sometimes harder than you would expect. For example, the sort code and bank account number for Octopus Energy weren’t listed anywhere on my bill, so I needed to contact them for the details. And Octopus didn’t seem to understand what exactly I was asking for, so it took several emails.
For council tax, my local council wasn’t registered with ZipZero, so I needed to send them a photo of my bill. But the details were added to my account quite quickly.
However, when an account is linked, you just need to press the ‘pay’ button on the app and enter how much you want.
Payment is usually sent within a few days, but when you see it in your utility account depends on the company.
Earn more with Premium offers
Let’s be honest, 0.1% isn’t much, but there are ways to make extra. If you’re shopping online check Premium offers in the app, which works in the same way as almost all cashback sites. Visit the ZipZero app, click on the link to the website you want to buy from (if it’s listed), make a purchase, forward the email receipt and earn cashback. This is usually in the region of 1-10%.
There are also Premium offers available in store too. You’ll find a list on the app and you will need to select ‘Add to offers’. Once you’ve shopped in that store, take a photo of the receipt and you’ll earn a bonus reward – usually around 1-2%. I often find stores like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Primark and B&M on there
However, these offers are usually only available to take advantage of once per week for each store.
Any downsides?
When ZipZero started, it offered a generous 1% cashback on all apps. However, this dropped to 0.5% a year after launch and then 0.1% in 2023.
Yes, you do get higher rates from certain stores thanks to Premium offers. However, you need to remember to check the app and add the offer. It would be far easier if this were done automatically.
I have found that the app still won’t read all receipts. No matter how many times I try, any receipt that I send in from Marks & Spencer gives me the message that the receipt total can’t be read.
The cashback from online Premium offers doesn’t often offer the highest rates. I find that sites like TopCashback have better returns.
ZipZero promo code
There is a menu in the app entitled ‘promo code’. However, after using ZipZero for several years, I have never been sent a promo code or seen mention of one.
What other people think
Over on Trustpilot, the app scores a great 4.2 out of 5, although this is only from a handful of reviews. On the App Store, it scores 3.6 from well over 1,000 reviews.
My ZipZero earnings so far:
My ZipZero review conclusion
So, is joining ZipZero worthwhile? Definitely. It’s a simple way to get money off your bills.
It’s disappointing that the base cashback rate is now down to 0.1%, but I understand that 1% was never sustainable. And there are plenty of stores on offer where you can get better cashback rates.
Even if you do get just 0.1% on everything you scan, surely this is better than nothing? It’s certainly helped to reduce my council tax bill.
If my ZipZero review has interested you, why not take a look at the best receipt scanning apps.
The issues with ZipZero
As I mentioned above being a member of ZipZero hasn’t always been plain sailing, but I hasten to add that I’ve received payments recently.
After Covid-19 in 2020, they stopped all payments. You could continue to scan receipts and have money added to your ZipZero account, it’s just that they wouldn’t let you pay any bills with it.
This continued into 2021 and 2022 as ZipZero regularly sent out emails to users, telling us they needed to find investors to continue operating.
By the end of 2022, the app was back up and running. Payments have been restored and everything is operating as it should. But I’ll let you know if there are any problems.
Mark
Monday 4th of November 2024
Zip Zero have stopped paying out stating funds not coming from their partners although the fund have been “cleared” on the app suggesting they have been paid.
DO NOT USE THIS APP and submit receipts until the issues are resolved.
sue ind
Wednesday 13th of July 2022
@Money Saver Pete,
good luck with trying to get your money, I have been trying for over 8 months now.
they have changed how they pay you and you now have to get the same amount in premium rates aas base rates!!!
sue ind
Wednesday 13th of July 2022
I joined zip zero a while ago, have around £ 60-00 but when I try to get the money in base rewards am told I have to have the same amount in premium rewards???? not sure how I get the premium rewards so my money has been kept in their account for the last 8 months!!
D. Sadler
Thursday 29th of April 2021
Have been with Zipzero for over a year. Although my receipts are all scanned and accepted l have not had one of the 3 payments l have made to Octopus Energy go through although the amount is minused from my account. Continously says 'processing. Rubbish concept, don't bother!
Marlena
Thursday 3rd of June 2021
@D. Sadler, they said a looong time back that no payouts will be made as they don't have the investors. Surprisingly, other similar companies were able to secure investors but they were not...
Stephen Metcalfe
Sunday 8th of December 2019
Hi thanks for the review just started using ZIPZERO first receipt it was long didnt get it all in correctly .Just been to tesco spent over 100 pound so hopefully will go through not done through internet