Gone are the days of guessing your tab total or overpaying for drinks in crowded bars. Whether you’re a casual happy hour goer or a full-fledged nightlife enthusiast, a few well-chosen apps can completely change how you spend—making nights out smoother, cheaper, and more rewarding.
Here’s a roundup of mobile apps that help you drink smarter, track spending, find local deals, and even earn a little money back while you’re at it.
- Happy Hour Finder – Locate the best drink specials near you
If you’re tired of paying full price, Happy Hour Finder is a must. This app lets you search by city, time, or even specific types of drinks. It’s especially useful when you’re out with friends and want to shift to a more budget-friendly spot. While the app works best in major metro areas, even smaller cities have listings.
- Tab – Real-time tab splitting and spending tracking
Tab is perfect for group outings. It allows everyone at the table to see the bill, split it fairly, and pay their share—all without the awkward calculator moment. It even accounts for tax and tip. Tab is ideal for birthday dinners, bar crawls, or any situation where multiple people are drinking and sharing food.
- Fluz – Earn cashback when you drink out
One of the most underrated ways to save money while drinking out is by using digital gift cards through Fluz. Many popular restaurants and bar chains are available through the platform, and you can earn cashback with a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card, get rewards with a Dave & Buster’s gift card, or save money at Chili’s with a gift card—all through Fluz.
Even if you’re headed somewhere not directly supported, Fluz allows you to use a virtual card with Apple Pay or Google Pay, earning up to 1.5% cashback on your bar tab. That kind of flexibility is rare and perfect for frequent bar-goers.
- Ibotta – Cashback on liquor store purchases and more
Ibotta is known for grocery savings, but it also frequently offers cashback on alcohol purchases at major liquor stores or even chain restaurants. If your night starts with a pregame or you plan to stock the bar at home, scan your receipt to score easy cash back on spirits, beer, and mixers.
- Rakuten – Cashback on rides and drink delivery
When you’re ordering delivery cocktails or catching an Uber to the bar, Rakuten can be a useful tool. It offers cashback through partners like Uber Eats, Drizly, and select alcohol delivery services. Pair it with a dining rewards card or Fluz and you’ll be stacking savings from start to finish.
- OpenTable – Score bonus points with drink-forward reservations
Not just for restaurants, OpenTable includes listings for bars and lounges, especially those with cocktail programs or tastings. Some reservations even earn you bonus points that can be redeemed for dining credits—another way to offset future drink tabs.
How to stack savings across multiple apps
For example, a full evening might look like this:
- Reserve a table at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse on OpenTable.
- Buy a BJ’s gift card with rewards through Fluz to pay the tab.
- Use Ibotta to get cashback on wine or beer purchased for the pregame.
- Grab an Uber to the venue and activate Rakuten for a small return on the ride.
- Split the bill in real time using Tab.
Each step maximizes your return, reduces friction, and ensures a smarter spend from start to finish.
Final thoughts
These apps take the guesswork out of drinking out. Whether you’re planning a group night, looking to cut costs, or just trying to avoid post-bar regret, smart tools like Fluz, Tab, and Happy Hour Finder let you enjoy your time without overspending. With the right app strategy, your social life doesn’t have to drain your wallet.
