# Open Rewards: Shop Local — user reviews > 104 indexed App Store user reviews of Open Rewards by Open Rewards Inc., rated 4.70/5 from 829 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-rewards-shop-local/id1568128968/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-rewards-shop-local/id1568128968.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 713 · 4★ 50 · 3★ 15 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 44 ## What do users think of Open Rewards? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 💰 Legitimate cash-back rewards for local shopping - 🏪 Supports local businesses and community - 👍 Easy receipt upload process - 🎯 Simple concept and straightforward rewards earning - 🌟 Transparent and user-friendly interface (when working) - 📱 Helps discover new local restaurants and shops - 💳 Rewards accumulate quickly - 🤝 Good customer service (when responsive) **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing - ⏳ Extremely slow payout processing (8-20+ days) - 😤 Unresponsive customer support - 🚫 Rewards not being approved or processed - 🔧 Confusing redemption and claim process - 💸 Rewards expiring without being redeemable - 🗺️ Inconsistent merchant availability - 📊 Poor app performance and glitchy interface - 🔐 Login and account connection issues - ⚠️ Rewards stuck in pending status indefinitely - 💔 Payout failures after approval - 🎯 Annual reward caps limiting utility - 🌐 Requires WiFi for uploads **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes immediately upon opening - App freezes during receipt upload - Rewards disappear from account - Cannot connect bank cards to account - Login fails with 'administrative rights' error - Redemption button not functional - Claims stuck in pending indefinitely - Screen fluttering when viewing reward history - Update notification appears with no update available - Merchant information incorrect or missing - Duplicate account detection errors - App won't open after recent updates - Retry function fails repeatedly - Enrollment process fails at state selection **Most requested features** - Automatic rewards claims from linked bank accounts - Improved search functionality for merchants - Better map display of participating businesses - Direct payout without requiring secondary redemption - Faster processing times (1-2 days as promised) - Clearer instructions on claim vs redeem distinction - Mobile data support for uploads (not just WiFi) - Transaction matching from bank statements - Removal or increase of annual reward caps - Better UX design and navigation - Real-time notification of claim status - Extended reward expiration deadlines ## Newest reviews (10 of 104) ### 4/5 — Great — But *2026-09-05, version 2.2.2* I’ve been using this app for about a year now. Love supporting local businesses and getting cash back! Just did the latest update and now I can’t figure out how to redeem money to my bank account. Seems less user-friendly now. I’m so confused! ### 4/5 — Cant reset paswword *2026-07-14, version 2.1.46* I continue to get an error when attempting to reset my password. ### 3/5 — App clearly has “business hours”.. *2026-06-16, version 2.1.46* Do not try to open this app on weekends or before 10am on weekday- I’m struggling to understand WHY this app won’t open at ANYTIME??? ### 2/5 — Fun program! *2026-05-01, version 2.1.44* I appreciate our local Littleton CO businesses, and this Open Rewards program is a great way to encourage and acknowledge our efforts to shop locally. Thanks everyone! I'm sad to have to report, that I submitted my first redeem request over a month ago, and have seen no sign of it, and I don't see a way to get status of our redeem requests in the app. That doesn't bode well for this program. ### 2/5 — Glitch? *2026-02-12, version 2.1.38* I have used it for a few months and now it won't open. It immediately closes after trying to open ### 3/5 — Great until it wasn’t *2026-02-04, version 2.1.38* It’s worked great until today. Can’t open the app at all. ### 4/5 — Pleasantly surprised! *2025-12-03, version 2.1.35* Thanks, El Paso, for promoting this app as a way to encourage shopping locally. I was skeptical, at first, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how well it works. It’s great to see rewards stacking up in my account. The user interface is not the best—clunky and hard to navigate—but the basic concept is legit. I have used it many times over the last year and plan to keep doing so. ### 2/5 — Great concept, but payout process is a joke. *2025-11-24, version 2.1.35* Let me start by saying the concept is awesome and helps bring shopping to local business. The downside to them is the payout process is a joke. When redeeming a reward I get approved within a week but the payout to my account has taken 20 days! I talk to support and they tell me sometimes payouts can take longer due to high demand. However my wife did a reward redemption after I did mine and got paid in her account within only 3 days. So leads me to believe I was lied to and they’re selective about whom they payout. ### 5/5 — Not like others *2025-08-18, version 2.1.32* This app is nothing like others, it really pays you back real money. Love it. ### 5/5 — Thanks *2025-07-31, version 2.1.31* Love to have this app ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Does Not Work! *2026-07-23, version 2.1.48* After downloading I tried to create an account. With phone or email it gives the error “failed to send the verification code”. Also, the website has dead end links when trying to troubleshoot. I would not recommend this app since you cannot even sign in. ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-04-13, version 2.1.42* I got scammed out of $118. App froze up and when I got back in it wouldn’t let me finish. I emailed customer service and received no reply. I no longer use the app ### 1/5 — Ms *2026-02-12, version 2.1.40* They have never accepted rewards in the local places I’ve asked, they do not even know what I’m talking about 🤷🏻‍♀️ ### 1/5 — Crashes *2026-02-09, version 2.1.38* I’ve been trying for two days to submit a receipt but the app keeps crashing ### 1/5 — Repeated crashes *2026-02-04, version 2.1.38* The app won’t work for me. It crashes and if it does open, it then says there’s an error and to retry. But it still won’t work no matter how often I retry. ### 1/5 — Inconsistent performance *2026-02-04, version 2.1.38* App is sometimes glitchy after an update. They don’t provide a way to contact them or report a problem. After the last update, App is dead. ### 1/5 — New update *2026-02-02, version 2.1.38* The new update keeps crashing the app. It won’t open ### 1/5 — Won’t connect cards *2026-01-26, version 2.1.35* Pretty much self explanatory. App doesn’t work. Won’t connect my cards to account. What’s the point? Retry coding the app again. ### 1/5 — App not working *2025-08-22, version 2.1.32* Keeps telling me I don’t have administrative rights to log in after going through all the steps to create an account. ### 1/5 — Thumbs down *2025-08-16, version 2.1.32* ‼️I had a response from the developer but it really does not change my opinion of the app. I left $175 in my account at the end of the year and lost it because I could not figure out how to get it to work. It seems like it’s purposely made to be more complicated than it needs to be. The idea might be good but the execution is not. So until that changes my one star review will stand‼️ OK, so I go to the restaurant, order my meal, pay for it and get the proper receipt. Then I scan it into this app. Where I’m located, they say you are reimbursed for 100% of the cost of your meal. Well, the “rewards” show up in my account. But according to their instructions in order to get reimbursed in cash, you have to use your rewards at another business and then turn in the receipt for that business and supposedly you can cash out. I’m not feeling very good about this app and about this company. Kind of a shady operation that borderlines on a scam!! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Rewards *2026-08-23, version 2.2.1* Great app shop local and earn rewards super easy to use and definitely influenced me to eat where I can get rewards back ### 5/5 — Great program. *2026-08-11, version 2.2.0* Rewards add up fast and we don’t even eat out that much. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — East to you *2026-08-09, version 2.2.0* This is easy to you once you get it set up. I like the feature of looking up businesses who use Open Rewards in my area. I’ve learned more about businesses in my area. ### 5/5 — Starbucks *2026-08-08, version 2.2.0* Great service. Like their selections. It’s soooo hot out there. Cool drinks ### 5/5 — Great bonus for shopping local *2026-08-05, version 2.2.0* I have been using the open app for just over a year now. I now try to shop closer to home to take advantage of the rewards offered. It does add up since I have redeemed over $300! Easy to use - just have to get in the habit of submitting receipts. ### 5/5 — A Timely App *2026-03-30, version 2.1.41* Thanks Open Rewards! Your app made it easy for partnerships that made a difference! ### 5/5 — Great customer service *2026-02-05, version 2.1.38* I had a problem but received a text from customer support and it got fixed. ### 5/5 — Love it! *2026-01-13, version 2.1.35* My friend told me about this app. I will admit, I did have my reservations at first. But then I found out it was legit and now I just want to thank San Joaquin County for funding this and hope more residents use the app too. I've already told a few friends as well. Again, thank you San Joaquin County, you're awesome! ### 5/5 — Medical Assistant *2025-10-01, version 2.1.33* This app is awesome! Shop local get some back! Love it ❤️ ### 5/5 — Free money for local goods *2025-08-24, version 2.1.32* It’s in the title. I shop at a lot of local businesses and now I’m able to get a little back. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*