(Update) Pepper Rewards App: Buy Top Gift Card Brands & Get 5% Back (Plus $20/$20 Referral Bonus)

Update 3/15/24: Two new tidbits, one for new users and one deal for all users:

1. New users: New users get double points on purchases for 15 days when signing up with a referral code (mine is 584255); essentially you’re getting 10% back on all purchases instead of 5%. The 10% is on top of the regular $20 bonus you get when signing up with a referral code and then spending $100. Getting 10% off Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, etc can be an excellent deal. And you can pay with a credit card for regular credit card rewards on top of that. (It’s not as good as the launch offer which was for 30 days, but 15 days is still nice.) Personally I purchased a number of thousands of dollars in Amazon and Walmart during my intro offer period. Note: the regular 5% will be available immediately for use, and the intro bonus 5% will become available after the 15 period is over. The $20 bonus will become available after 30 days.
2. All users: Uber and UberEATS are now with a 10% instant discount on Pepper. You’ll see the discount directly at checkout. That’s on top of the regular 5% (or 10% for new users) you’ll earn back towards a future Pepper purchase and you’re regular credit card rewards. This deal is valid 3/15 through 3/17 and then again 3/21 through 3/24.

Pepper Rewards

Direct Link | Android download | iOS download

The Pepper Rewards app  is a new app for buying gift cards and getting cash back. They offer 5% back in Pepper points when buying a gift card from many brands. This includes top brands like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Nike, Airbnb, Nordstrom, Chevron, Delta, Ikea, Instacart, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Netflix, Texaco,  Uber, and dozens more.

10% Back Signup Offer

They are also showing an offer for 10% back for your first 15 days after signup. That’s an excellent return for top gift cards to places like Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Target, etc. And these rewards are on top of your regular credit card points. Note: the regular 5% will be available immediately for use while the intro bonus 5% will become available after the 15 period is over.

$20/$20 Referral Bonus

Refer a friend to the Pepper Rewards app and you’ll each get $20 in Pepper credit. The new member will add your referral code during the signup process (my referral code is 584255. You’ll see a ‘promo code’ field during signup where you add a referral link). After signing up, they’ll link a card and buy $100 gift card. Some time later, you’ll each get a $20 bonus to be used on a future Pepper purchase (80 Pepper points = $20).

I believe everyone also gets $1.50 in points (6 points) when signing up.

No referrals in the comments below.

My Analysis

Overall, it should be possible to buy $100 in Amazon or Walmart or similar gift card brand, and then use the $20 referral credit + $10 in points + $1.50 signup to buy another $31.50 worth. Ends up $131.50 in gift cards for $100. It works out even better for someone who has a friend to refer since you’ll each get the $20 referral bonus.

They seem to be delaying  the $20 referral bonus for 30 days, from what I’m reading. And the extra 5% for the first 30 days offer won’t post right away. And so it’s no longer an instant play, but could be a decent deal over time.

The regular 5% earn rate is actually a very solid rate for places like Amazon and Walmart. Remember that’s on top of the regular credit card earn. Compare that with the 5% Amazon card which earns 5% total on Amazon.

This is especially a good deal for the first 30 days where they are offering 10% instead of 5%. Many people would be willing buy a nice chunk of Amazon or Walmart or Home Depot, etc, on a credit card and get 10% back. You do have to wait 30 days for the extra 5%, and so I wouldn’t go bananas crazy with this, but it can certainly spruce up the return.

Our Verdict

I signed up and input a referral code during the signup process. (Don’t forget to do this!) I got instantly $1.50 bonus (6 Pepper points); I suppose for  linking a card or something. Then I bought $100 Amazon gift card which I instantly redeemed to my Amazon account. Then I bought a $5 Amazon gift card and paid for that using my Pepper Rewards. (That’s from the 5%  back on the first purchase; those rewards show up right away.) The $20 referral bonus isn’t showing yet. Hopefully the $20 and the extra 5% ($5) will show up after 30 days.

My thanks if you enter my signup code 584255 during the initial signup process. We’ll each get a $20 bonus, as described. No referral links or references in the comments below, please.

Hat tip to reader snailrock

Two added notes: