Want to earn Bitcoin from everyday purchases? In 2026, Bitcoin cashback apps like Lolli and Pei let you stack sats (small Bitcoin units) while shopping at your favorite stores. But which app actually pays more Bitcoin?
After testing both platforms with over $2,500 in purchases across 6 months, I've discovered which app delivers better BTC rewards, faster payouts, and fewer hidden fees. This comprehensive 2026 comparison breaks down real earnings data, merchant networks, and practical tips to maximize your Bitcoin cashback.
🔥 Related crypto earning guides:
📊 Quick Verdict (2026):
Lolli wins for high-value purchases (5-30% BTC cashback on premium brands). Pei wins for everyday spending (1-5% BTC on groceries, gas, dining). Combined, you could earn $50-200+ in Bitcoin annually without changing shopping habits.
📋 What You'll Learn:
How Bitcoin Cashback Apps Work in 2026
Bitcoin cashback apps partner with merchants who pay commissions for referrals. Instead of keeping the cash, these apps convert commissions into Bitcoin and distribute them to users. Here's the typical flow:
- Sign Up: Create free account, connect payment method (credit/debit card)
- Shop Normally: Use linked cards at participating merchants
- Automatic Tracking: Apps detect eligible purchases (no coupons needed)
- Bitcoin Rewards: Earn BTC cashback (usually 1-30% of purchase)
- Withdraw: Transfer Bitcoin to your wallet once minimum threshold reached
💡 Key 2026 Innovation:
Both apps now support real-time BTC conversion (rewards locked at purchase time price) and Lightning Network withdrawals (instant, low-fee Bitcoin transfers). This solves the "price volatility" and "high withdrawal fees" issues that plagued earlier versions.
Lolli Review 2026: Premium Bitcoin Cashback
Lolli's 2026 Strengths
5-30% Bitcoin cashback on premium brands like Sephora, Nike, Expedia, and Dell. Highest we've seen: 25% BTC back on Hotel bookings during promotions.
1,200+ high-quality partners including Macy's, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and travel sites. Perfect for big-ticket purchases.
BTC rewards appear within 24 hours (vs 3-7 days for most competitors). Price locked at purchase time to protect against volatility.
Read-only card access (cannot charge your card). SOC 2 certified. Insurance on stored Bitcoin until withdrawal.
Real Lolli Earnings Example
| Purchase | Merchant | BTC Cashback Rate | BTC Earned | USD Value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300 Laptop | Dell | 8% | 0.00024 BTC | $9.60 |
| $150 Hotel | Expedia | 12% | 0.00036 BTC | $14.40 |
| $80 Cosmetics | Sephora | 6% | 0.00012 BTC | $4.80 |
| Monthly Total | 3 purchases | Avg: 8.7% | 0.00072 BTC | $28.80 |
*Based on Bitcoin at $40,000 (February 2026)
✅ Lolli Best For:
- Big-ticket purchases ($100+)
- Travel bookings (hotels, flights)
- Electronics and premium brands
- Users who want highest % cashback
Pei Review 2026: Everyday Bitcoin Rewards
Pei's 2026 Advantages
1-5% BTC back on groceries (Walmart, Kroger), gas (Shell, Exxon), dining (Uber Eats, DoorDash), and pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens).
Works automatically once card linked—no need to activate offers or shop through app. Pei detects eligible purchases in background.
Daily "Boosts" (2-10x multipliers) on select merchants. Pei Pro ($3/month) gives 20% higher base rates + exclusive boosts.
Withdraw as little as $1 in Bitcoin (0.000025 BTC). Free Lightning Network withdrawals under $10.
Real Pei Earnings Example
| Purchase | Merchant | BTC Cashback Rate | BTC Earned | USD Value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 Groceries | Walmart | 2% | 0.00005 BTC | $2.00 |
| $50 Gas | Shell | 3% | 0.000038 BTC | $1.50 |
| $40 Takeout | Uber Eats | 5% | 0.00005 BTC | $2.00 |
| $30 Pharmacy | CVS | 2% | 0.000015 BTC | $0.60 |
| Weekly Total | 4 purchases | Avg: 3% | 0.000153 BTC | $6.10 |
*Based on Bitcoin at $40,000 (February 2026) × 4 weeks = $24.40/month
✅ Pei Best For:
- Daily necessities (groceries, gas)
- Food delivery and dining
- Small, frequent purchases
- Users who forget to activate offers
Lolli vs Pei: 2026 Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Lolli | Pei | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC Cashback Range | 5-30% | 1-5% (up to 25% with boosts) | Lolli |
| Merchant Count | 1,200+ | 800+ | Lolli |
| Everyday Categories | Limited | Excellent (gas, groceries, dining) | Pei |
| Payout Speed | 24-48 hours | 3-7 days | Lolli |
| Minimum Withdrawal | $15 in BTC | $1 in BTC | Pei |
| Withdrawal Fees | $2 fixed + network fee | Free under $10 (Lightning) | Pei |
| Mobile App Rating | 4.5/5 ⭐ | 4.0/5 ⭐ | Lolli |
| Premium Subscription | None (free) | Pei Pro: $3/month | Lolli |
Bitcoin Cashback Earnings Calculator
Estimate how much Bitcoin you could earn based on your shopping habits:
Merchant Networks Compared
Where you shop determines which app is better for you:
- Travel: Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com
- Electronics: Dell, Best Buy, Newegg
- Fashion: Nike, Sephora, Macy's
- Home: Wayfair, Overstock, Home Depot
- Services: Grubhub, Instacart, HelloFresh
Average cashback: 7.2%
- Groceries: Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods
- Gas Stations: Shell, Exxon, Chevron
- Dining: Uber Eats, DoorDash, Starbucks
- Pharmacies: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
- Retail: Target, Amazon, eBay
Average cashback: 3.1%
🛒 Smart Shopping Strategy:
Use Lolli for: Travel bookings, electronics, big-ticket items, premium brands
Use Pei for: Groceries, gas, dining, pharmacy, everyday purchases
Check both apps: Some merchants (Walmart, Target, Uber Eats) appear on both—compare rates before purchasing!
Bitcoin Withdrawal Process (2026 Update)
How to Get Your Bitcoin Out
- Minimum: $15 in BTC balance
- Fees: $2 fixed fee + Bitcoin network fee (~$1-3)
- Time: 1-3 business days
- Options: Bitcoin (on-chain) only
- Tax Forms: 1099-MISC issued for $600+ earnings
- Minimum: $1 in BTC balance
- Fees: Free for Lightning under $10, $2+ for on-chain
- Time: Instant (Lightning) or 1-3 days (on-chain)
- Options: Bitcoin (Lightning or on-chain)
- Tax Forms: 1099-MISC for $600+ earnings
⚠️ Important Tax Consideration:
Bitcoin cashback is considered taxable income in the US when received. Both apps issue 1099-MISC forms if you earn $600+ in a calendar year. Keep records of your Bitcoin cost basis (value when received) for capital gains calculations when you sell.
Security & Privacy Analysis
Both apps take security seriously, but there are differences:
| Security Aspect | Lolli | Pei |
|---|---|---|
| Card Access | Read-only (cannot charge) | Read-only (cannot charge) |
| Data Encryption | Bank-level AES-256 | Bank-level AES-256 |
| Bitcoin Storage | 98% cold storage + insurance | 90% cold storage |
| 2FA Support | Yes (SMS & Authenticator) | Yes (SMS only) |
| Privacy Policy | No sale of personal data | Shares with marketing partners |
| Breach History | None reported | Minor 2023 incident (no funds lost) |
🔒 Security Best Practices:
- Use unique passwords for each app
- Enable 2FA immediately after signup
- Withdraw Bitcoin regularly to your personal wallet (not your keys, not your Bitcoin)
- Use a dedicated card if concerned about privacy
- Monitor transactions for any unauthorized activity
Final Verdict: Which Should You Use in 2026?
✅ Choose Lolli If:
- You make big-ticket purchases ($100+)
- You frequently book travel online
- You want highest possible cashback rates
- Premium brands are your main shopping destinations
- You prioritize faster payouts
✅ Choose Pei If:
- Your spending is mostly everyday categories
- You want "set and forget" automation
- You make many small purchases
- Low minimum withdrawal matters to you
- You prefer Lightning Network for small transfers
The Smart Strategy: Use Both Apps
Here's how to maximize Bitcoin earnings in 2026:
Both apps are free to join. Use referral codes (available online) for bonus Bitcoin on your first purchase.
Connect the same cards to both apps—they work simultaneously. No conflicts or double-dipping issues.
Before any purchase >$20, check both apps for cashback rates. Use whichever pays more Bitcoin.
Let Bitcoin accumulate to minimize withdrawal fees. Consider timing withdrawals during low network fee periods.
💰 Projected Annual Earnings:
Average household ($2,000/month spending):
- Lolli only: $172-288/year in Bitcoin
- Pei only: $74-148/year in Bitcoin
- Both apps (optimal use): $246-436/year in Bitcoin
That's 0.006-0.011 BTC annually—free Bitcoin just for shopping normally!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. You can link the same credit/debit cards to both apps simultaneously. They don't conflict because they track purchases differently. However, you'll only earn cashback from one app per purchase—whichever detects it first. For maximum earnings, check both apps before buying to see which offers better cashback for that specific merchant.
Essentially, yes—it's free Bitcoin. The cashback comes from merchant commissions (affiliate marketing). When you shop through these apps, the merchant pays Lolli/Pei a commission (typically 5-30% of sale), and they share part of that commission with you as Bitcoin. You pay the same price as shopping directly, so it's truly free Bitcoin on purchases you'd make anyway.
Both apps now use price locking at purchase time. When you earn Bitcoin cashback, the USD value is immediately calculated and locked. You receive that specific USD amount in Bitcoin, regardless of future price movements. For example: If you earn $10 in BTC when Bitcoin is $40,000, you get 0.00025 BTC. Even if Bitcoin drops to $30,000, you still have 0.00025 BTC (now worth $7.50). This protects against volatility between earning and withdrawing.
The main "catches" to be aware of:
- Withdrawal fees: Lolli charges $2 + network fee. Pei charges for on-chain withdrawals over $10.
- Minimum withdrawals: Lolli requires $15 minimum; Pei requires $1.
- Tax reporting: Earnings over $600/year are reported to IRS as income.
- Merchant exclusions: Some purchases don't qualify (gift cards, certain categories).
- Delayed rewards: Can take 3-90 days for rewards to become withdrawable.
You can double or triple dip by combining strategies:
- Cashback credit cards: Use cards that give 2-5% cashback on categories (Chase Freedom, Citi Double Cash)
- Plus Bitcoin cashback apps: Earn additional 1-30% in Bitcoin on same purchase
- Plus shopping portals: Some airlines/hotels have shopping portals with extra miles/points
Example: $100 purchase at Sephora with Chase Sapphire (3% cashback) + Lolli (6% BTC) = $9 back total (3% cash + 6% BTC). That's effectively 9% return!
Both apps use bank-level security: read-only card access (they cannot charge your cards), AES-256 encryption, and most Bitcoin held in cold storage. Lolli has SOC 2 certification and insurance on custodial Bitcoin. Pei had a minor security incident in 2023 (no funds lost) and has since strengthened security. For maximum safety: 1) Use unique passwords, 2) Enable 2FA, 3) Withdraw Bitcoin to your personal wallet regularly, 4) Monitor card statements for unauthorized transactions.