In this guide
You can get cashback on a huge range of products and services, from insurance policies to new TVs, by using the right app.
Using a cashback website is a good way to make a passive income, as the only thing you need to do is visit the site, sign up as a member, and then click through it to earn some extra cash.
The cashback on offer varies from a few extra pennies to hundreds of pounds and the offers change regularly.
Two of the UK’s leading cashback apps are Quidco and TopCashback. They secure deals from a range of companies offering everything from electronics to holidays – even utilities.
Here we look at some of the best cashback apps available.
- What is a cashback app
- What are the best cashback apps for you?
- Which app gives most cashback?
- Do cashback apps really work?
What is a cashback app?
We buy most things online, either by visiting a website or from an app on a smartphone, but by using a cashback app you may be able to earn money on your purchases.
Instead of going straight to the retailer, if you go through a cashback app, you will be shown the amount of cashback on offer. If you click through the app, your visit will be registered. Once you’ve completed the purchase, you should receive confirmation of the cashback you’ve earned.
The cashback is usually paid out within a month of the purchase, and it will go into an account with the cashback company. You can then transfer this to your bank account.
Some cashback apps require you to earn a certain amount before you can make a withdrawal, and in some cases it takes longer for cashback to be paid, such as if you’ve bought an insurance policy or other financial product.
When you make the purchase, you will be told when you should expect the cashback, plus any other terms or conditions around receiving it. You can also earn cashback in physical shops with some apps, such as TopCashback and KidStart. This involves registering your debit or credit card on the app first. Once you’ve made a purchase, the cashback should appear in your account.
Read more: What is Temu and is it legit?
Sign up to Quidco and start earning cashback
With the average user making £300 a year in cashback, Quidco can give your finances a handy boost. It offers cashback off a range of big name brands and stores such as Amazon, eBay, and Argos.
Also, by signing up as a Times Money Mentor reader you can earn an extra £15 in cashback when you spend £5 or more with the provider.
What are the best cashback apps for you?
The two major cashback apps come from the websites Quidco and Topcashback. They tend to have the most retailers signed up and pay the highest offers. They both also have the option for a paid-for membership, which gives members access to higher rates of cashback and other perks.
But they’re not the only ones available – here are some of the best and what they offer:
Topcashback
Topcashback has around 6,000 retailers signed up and the offers change throughout the year. It has a free and a premium membership option, which is £5 a year, taken out of your cashback account.
It says members can save around £300 a year and those with the premium account get up to 16% more cashback paid to them. It also has additional features included such as a payout bonus of up to 25% cashback (compared to up to 12.5% for members with a free account) and a £35 refer-a-friend bonus (compared to £30 for those with a free account).
You can also earn points when shopping at a physical store if it’s signed up to TopCashback. This is through the Snap & Save feature, where you’ll need to take a photo of your receipt, upload it to your account, and when it’s processed you’ll then receive cashback on the purchase.
It also has a comparison feature, where members can compare the cost of products including insurance, mobile phones and broadband contracts.
Quidco
Quidco has around 5,000 retailers on its app and it works in a very similar way to TopCashback. It also has free and paid-for memberships. The premium membership is £1 a month and this is taken out of your cashback earnings. The additional features of the premium membership include a top-up bonus of up to 10% on cashback, payout bonuses of up to 20%, and the option of using the app without adverts.
It also offers a “double the difference highest cashback guarantee” to premium members, which means if a member finds a higher rate of cashback being paid through another app, they’ll get double the difference in cashback.
You can also compare the cost of a range of different products, including insurance policies, broadband contracts, even personal loans through the cashback app’s comparison tools.
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Kidstart
KidStart has around 2,000 retailers on its app and it works slightly differently to the two main cashback apps. It’s designed for parents and carers to save money for their children, and it’s free to sign up.
In the same way as TopCashback and Quidco, you earn cashback by going through KidStart before buying something. However, you need to add a child’s details to the account and the money can then be transferred to a bank, building society or children’s savings account, or put into a special KidSave account for them. You can also choose to donate the money to a children’s charity or a school.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is predominantly known for the surveys it lists on its website, which you can get paid for filling in. But you can also use the app to collect cashback. When you go through Swagbucks to buy something, the purchase is registered and you then earn “Swagbucks” in cashback. These can then be redeemed as gift cards or paid in cash via PayPal.
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Which app gives most cashback?
The two major sites are Topcashback and Quidco and they tend to pay the highest amounts. However, because offers change regularly it’s worth checking both to make sure you’re earning the highest amount possible.
In this table are a few examples of the amounts you could potentially earn at the moment:
| Retailer | Quidco | Topcashback |
| Ebay | 3% | Up to 3% |
| Lego | 5.5% | Up to 12% |
| Tu | 4.4% | Up to 5% |
| Very | Up to 11% | Up to 10% |
| Secret Escapes | 2.5% | 4.5% |
| Levis | 8% | 12% |
| Sainsbury’s | Up to £7.70 | Up to £8 |
| Domino’s | Up to 3.3% | Up to 6% |
| Hotel Chocolate | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| Morrisons | Up to £6.60 | Up to £10 |
Read more: 13 ways to boost your income
Do cashback apps really work?
It might sound a little too good to be true but by using one of the best cashback apps, you can effectively earn money for free. These websites have been around for quite a while now and apps like Topcashback and Quidco are relatively well known and established.
If you go to these apps first, before making an online purchase, you could earn money every time you use them. While this may not seem like a lot, the cashback can add up and if you opt for a premium membership (where the money comes out of your cashback earnings) you could earn even more.
However, as with anything there are a few drawbacks to cashback apps and rules to follow when using them. They include the following:
- Don’t be tempted to overspend: cashback should be seen as a nice bonus, not as the reason to buy something.
- Cashback isn’t guaranteed: in order to earn cashback, you need to click through a cashback website so your purchase can be tracked. However, problems can occur with tracking – especially if you’re using a smaller app which doesn’t have the right processes in place – and until the money is in your bank account there is little protection if something goes wrong.
- You can boost your cashback with a cashback card: if you use a specific cashback credit card, you can cashback on anything you spend money on, and if you clear the card each month you won’t be paying anything for the privilege (unless the card charges a fee)
- Earn cashback without purchases: some websites will pay you cashback without making a purchase, usually for signing up to a new website or opening a free account. At Topcashback, for example, right now you can earn £6 in cashback if you set up a free Experian account through it.
Important information
Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.
