Rebates vs IdleDev.
Both pay you for sponsored lines in your AI coding tools, and both keep your code on your machine. IdleDev supports more agents today; Rebates pays out now and restores your settings byte-for-byte if you leave.
The comparison, honestly.
Where IdleDev is genuinely ahead — like agent breadth — we say so. Every Rebates row is a claim we stand behind; every IdleDev row is what their site states.
| Feature | Rebates | IdleDev |
|---|---|---|
| Where the line shows | Sponsored footer in Claude Code + Codex | Sidebar ad while your agent pauses |
| Supported tools | Claude Code, Codex (Cursor + Gemini CLI coming) | Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, Aider, Hermes, OpenClaw |
| How you earn | A flat credit for every visible impression | 65% revenue share, plus clicks (5× impression rate) |
| Payouts | Live — credited in seconds, cash out from your wallet | Ledger accrues; cash-out "goes live soon" |
| Reads your code? | No — default flow never reads code, files, or transcripts | No — sends a device token + hour-of-day only |
| Install | One-command installer (asks consent, backs up settings) | npm i -g idledev-cli (Node 18+) |
| Turn it off | `rebate off` restores settings byte-for-byte | npm uninstall -g idledev-cli |
Compared against idledev.xyz as of July 2026. Both products are new and change often — check their site for the latest.
The difference is getting paid, today.
IdleDev is a solid, privacy-minded tool with wide agent support. Where Rebates pulls ahead is the money actually landing and your setup staying reversible.
Payouts are live
Impressions credit within seconds and cash out from your wallet now — not "coming soon".
Reversible by design
A byte-for-byte settings backup and `rebate off` mean you can always get back to where you started.
Flat per impression
A predictable credit each time the line shows — earnings do not swing with advertiser bids or clicks.
Questions before switching.
Is IdleDev legit?
IdleDev is a real product that pays developers a 65% revenue share for sidebar ads shown while an AI agent pauses, and it is privacy-forward — it says it sends only a device token and the hour of day, not your code. As of July 2026 its cash-out is not live yet ("goes live soon"), so earnings accrue but you cannot withdraw them yet.
Rebates vs IdleDev — which pays out today?
Rebates. Impressions are credited within seconds and you cash out from your wallet now. IdleDev’s ledger accrues, but its cash-out is still "coming soon" as of July 2026.
Which supports more coding tools?
IdleDev, today — it lists Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, Aider, Hermes, and OpenClaw. Rebates supports Claude Code and Codex now, with Cursor and Gemini CLI coming. If breadth across many agents matters most, IdleDev is wider today.
Do either of them read my code?
Neither, by their own descriptions. IdleDev says it sends only a device token and hour-of-day. Rebates never reads your code in the default flow; its only optional context-sharing is opt-in and redacted on your machine.
Earn from your terminal — and actually cash out.
Install in one command, preview with rebate plan, and get paid to your wallet.
curl -fsSL https://rebates.ai/install | bash