Best UK Cashback Apps and Websites to Save Money in 2026
- Jan 21
- 16 min read
Best UK Cashback Apps and Sites to Save Money
Quick Links
If you're new to cashback, this guide is for you. Whether you're shopping online, buying groceries, or paying for everyday essentials, cashback apps and websites offer an easy way to get money back on purchases you were already planning to make.
My name is Al Baker, 'The Penny Pincher', and I've been earning cashback for years; there's not much I don't know about it, and I believe everyone should be earning cashback on their purchases!
I'll recommend the best UK cashback apps and explain how each one works, when to use them, and share real-life tips from my own experience.
If you want to save money without changing your spending habits, this is the place to start.
What is Cashback and How Does It Save You Money?
Cashback is a way to get money back on your everyday purchases. You shop as normal, but go via a cashback site or app first. In return, you receive a small percentage of your spend back as cashback.
Think of it like a loyalty reward for being savvy. I’ve earned well over £3,500 in cashback, simply by clicking through to retailers via cashback apps before shopping. That’s money back on things I was buying anyway.
Is Cashback Safe?
Yes. Most cashback sites and apps are well-established and regulated. Apps that use Open Banking, such as JamDoughnut, connect securely to your bank to help track eligible purchases and award cashback.
93% of Britons already use online banking. These cashback platforms use the same underlying technology, and I’ve never experienced any security issues while using cashback services.
What is Open Banking, and how do cashback apps use it?
Open Banking is a UK-regulated system that allows you to give an app limited permission to view certain information from your bank account. This access is always optional and can only be granted by you through your bank.
When a cashback app uses Open Banking, it is not accessing your bank account in the way a bank would. It cannot see your login details, cannot move money, and cannot make payments. Instead, it is given read-only access to specific transaction data.
In practical terms, this means the app can check whether you’ve made a qualifying purchase at a partnered retailer. If it detects an eligible transaction, it can then automatically apply cashback to your account without you needing to upload receipts or click through links.
You stay in control at all times. You can see which apps have access, limit what they can view, or revoke access entirely through your bank’s settings whenever you choose.
This same Open Banking system is widely used by budgeting apps, spending trackers, and other money management tools in the UK.
The Different Types Of Cashback
Conventional Cashback Sites
Conventional cashback sites are the most well-known type of cashback service. To earn cashback, you start by clicking through to a retailer from a cashback website or app, such as TopCashback or Quidco, before making your purchase.
When you complete your purchase, the cashback site tracks the transaction and records it as pending in your account. Once the retailer confirms the sale, the cashback becomes payable and can be withdrawn. This confirmation process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the retailer and the type of purchase.
This type of cashback works particularly well for larger or less frequent purchases, such as insurance, broadband, utilities, holidays, or big online orders. Cashback rates can be generous, but patience is often required before the money is paid out.
Gift Card Cashback
Gift card cashback works differently and is often much quicker. Instead of clicking through to a retailer and waiting for cashback to track, you buy a digital gift card for a specific shop through a cashback app.
When you buy the gift card, cashback is applied instantly or within minutes. You then use the gift card to pay for your shopping online or in-store, just like you would with any other gift card.
Many people use gift card cashback for everyday spending, such as groceries, food delivery, or high-street shopping. Some buy gift cards in advance, while others purchase them at the till for the exact value of their shopping, so nothing is left unused.
Because cashback is awarded at the point of purchase, there is no waiting period and no risk of tracking issues, making gift card cashback one of the simplest and most reliable ways to earn cashback.
Automatic Cashback
Automatic cashback removes the need to click through links or buy gift cards. Instead, you link your debit card or credit card to a cashback app, usually via Open Banking or a secure card-linking system.
Once your card is linked, you shop as normal at participating retailers. When an eligible purchase is detected, cashback is automatically applied to your account, so you don't need to do anything else.
This type of cashback works quietly in the background and is ideal for people who want to earn cashback without changing their shopping habits. Cashback rates are often lower than other methods, but the convenience makes it a useful addition alongside other cashback services.
My Top Recommended Cashback Apps
There are lots of cashback apps and websites available in the UK, but some are far more useful than others, especially when you’re just getting started. The three services below are the ones I recommend most because they cover the widest range of everyday spending, are easy to use, and offer consistently good cashback rates.
If you’re new to cashback, signing up for these first will give you a solid foundation. Together, they allow you to earn cashback on everything from groceries and shopping to bills, insurance, and online purchases, without needing to change how you normally spend.
JamDoughnut
JamDoughnut is the cashback service I use most. You buy gift cards for your favourite shops and earn cashback instantly from JamDoughnut. You can buy the gift cards in advance if you'd like, or, like me, you might buy a gift card at the shop till, so you can purchase one for exactly the amount of your shopping total.
It only takes a minute to purchase your gift card, making it a quick and convenient process that doesn't hold up people behind you waiting to pay.
You might be able to stack this with other cashback sites. For example:
Click through to retailer via a conventional cashback service like TopCashback, Quidco or Rakuten, and then:
Add items to your basket
Pay using a JamDoughnut gift card
Get cashback from both cashback services on the same transaction (it doesn't always work, but it's worth trying)
JamDoughnut often "pump up" cashback rates during periods when their customers are spending more than usual, which means users can earn more cashback on their purchases. Busier times examples include:
Payday weekends
Bank holidays
Christmas and Easter
Retailers include mainstream supermarkets such as Morrisons, food delivery apps like Just Eat, restaurants, DIY stores, popular stores like Argos, Apple, and Boots, among many others. As I write this, they have 216 retailers where you can earn cashback.
Cashback is credited to your account instantly after you buy your gift card. You can then withdraw your cashback once your cashback wallet hits £10.
You can either withdraw it from your bank for a small fee, or you can use the balance to buy a gift card for a retailer you want to buy from, or you can use your balance to purchase entries into the JamDoughnut Jamtastic competitions, where you could win gift card prizes.
Pros
You'll get instant cashback when you make your gift card purchase, so you don't have to wait weeks for it to become payable, as you would with a conventional cashback service.
Great cashback rates, with frequent 'pumped up' rates to save even more money!
Lots of big-name retailers are partnered with Jamdoughnut, so there's a good chance you can earn cashback on most of your big-brand retailer purchases.
The gift cards are valid for 2 years, so it gives you ample time to be able to use them, plus you can pay part with a gift card, so if you have a £30 gift card and use £20 of that gift card, the other £10 is still available to be used.
Cons
Must buy gift cards to earn cashback, but it takes just 1 minute on average to buy a gift card, so it's not really a con as such, but as with all gift card purchases, if you buy something with a gift card and take it back, you'll get refunded by gift card, so that might not always be convenient.
Not all gift cards are accepted online, so check that the retailer accepts them both online and in-store. The gift card buying section of the app shows where you can use the gift card. This is down to the retailer, not JamDoughnut, and examples include Boots not accepting gift cards in-store and Morrisons not accepting its gift cards online.
I've written a more in-depth review about JamDoughnut, which provides additional information about how it works and includes a video showing the process of buying a gift card.
JamDoughnut Referral: Use JamDoughnut referral code PPUK for a £3 bonus when you sign up.
TopCashback
This is the biggest UK cashback site. It has over 4,400 retailers partnered with it, ranging from insurance and broadband to fashion and food, so there's no shortage of retailers from which to buy.
They regularly run bonus events. For example:
Spend £5, get a £2 bonus
Snap & Save cashback on seasonal groceries
I've earned over £2700 in cashback with them alone!
They offer free and Plus membership. Plus offers better rates for £5 per year.
You can withdraw as cash or as gift cards with bonus top-ups.
Pros
A vast range of retailers is available via the TopCashback app or website, from which you can earn cashback.
TopCashback are likely to offer some of the highest conventional cashback rates, plus they often have bonuses, and you may be able to score cashback for switching energy providers, banks, insurance companies and banks, without having to actually spend any money, plus some of the bank switching deals will stack with the switching deals the banks have going as well, so you might get switching bonuses from the the bank and also TopCashback! I earned £125 switching to Virgin Media from Sky, on top of Virgin's own Black Friday switching deal!
Extra rewards for withdrawing your cashabck via a gift card payout, rather than to your bank account or PayPal.
You can also purchase cashback gift cards from TopCashback; however, they typically offer lower cashback rates than dedicated gift card cashback services like JamDoughnut.
Cons
Some cashback can take months to clear, which can be frustrating, but thats the same with many of the conventional cashback services.
Occasional tracking issues may occur, so you may need to lodge a claim if your cashback hasn't been tracked, which can also take some time to be investigated.
Annual fees (if you choose that option) make the service more costly to use, but you may occasionally receive better rates and deals, so it can be balanced out.
I've written a more in-depth review of TopCashback on my blog that provides a comprehensive look at the service and its workings.
TopCashback Referral: Use our TopCashback referral link for a £10 bonus after earning your first £10 cashback.
Quidco
Quidco is a solid alternative to TopCashback. They might not have as many retailers as TopCashback, nor might they always offer as good cashback rates, but they can still come up with some great deals, as well as some impressive one-day-only cashback bonuses.
You should definitely compare the Quidco cashback rates with the TopCashback rates when making a purchase, as they tend to compete to offer the best deals. Spending just a minute comparing rates can save you some extra money.
Quidco has a wide range of retailers, and, like TopCashback, you can earn money by switching to different providers.
You can upgrade to Quidco Premium to remove ads and improve cashback rates. It costs £1 per month from your cashback.
Pros
Easy-to-use conventional cashback service
Reliable cashback tracking and the ability to submit a claim if the cashback doesn't track.
You can also compare utilities and insurance deals
They offer some great one-day-only cashback bonuses year-round, but during Christmas or Black Friday, the bonuses can come thick and fast!
Great referral joining bonus of £20 when you have £5 of payable cashback in your account.
Cons
Less user-friendly than TopCashback in places
Premium membership is needed for the best cashback rates
Like TopCashback, the cashback can take weeks, even months, to become payable. However, they have introduced a 'Faster Payment' cashback service for specific retailers, which claims to pay out cashback up to 50% faster than previously.
The one-day bonuses can take a considerable amount of time to become payable. 6 months is far from unlikely; in late May, I'm still waiting for Black Friday bonuses to become payable, but it'll be a pleasant surprise when they are available!
You can read my Quidco cashback review for more information on how Quidco works.
Quidco Referral: Get a £20 sign-up bonus with our Quidco referral link after earning £5 of payable cashback.
Seasonal Cashback Tips
Cashback apps often offer limited-time bonus rates during:
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Christmas and Boxing Day
January sales
Easter
Bank holidays
These are prime times to check for boosted cashback deals.
JamDoughnut is known for hiking rates during pay weekends. I've seen 5% cashback at Morrisons during these events, so plan bigger purchases around these dates to get the most back.
Other Cashback Apps Worth Using
These don’t make my top 3, but they’re still worth using. I always compare the rates of all cashback services when making a purchase to ensure I get the best possible rate!
There's no loyalty to one particular cashback service for me when it comes to cashback rates. Sure, I have my top three favourite cashback services, but if I can save more money with a different one, I most certainly will!
Airtime (Rewards)
This cashback service is a little different. You link your credit or debit cards to the app and earn cash back when you shop with retailers who have partnered with Airtime, using those linked cards.
Once payable, the cashback you've earned can be used to make a payment towards your mobile phone bill, rather than being paid directly to you. It still counts as cashback, but it goes towards your phone bill, which means you don't have to pay as much to your phone provider, so it's still a saving.
It runs quietly in the background. I’ve covered my whole monthly SIM cost this way before, but less so these days as I tend to buy gift cards to pay for my purchases, rather than use my debit card, so I don't earn much, although if we order from Amazon Fresh, which you cant get cashback from elsewhere, it can offer as much as 10% cashback, which is handy!
The minimum withdrawal amount is £10, unless you have activated the 'Ignite' option, which lowers it to £5.
If your network isn’t supported, you can ask for Amazon vouchers instead. I've heard that some people have been able to do this, so it's worth a try!
I've written a review of Airtime (Rewards) that will give you some extra information.
Airtime Referral code: Q8FWLDQB for a 50p bonus, plus £1 extra when you spend.
Cheddar
Cheddar used to offer automatic cashback when you used a linked card or a bank account when spending at an affiliated retailer, however this option has now been dropped by Cheddar.
Now, Cheddar's main cashback offering is via gift card cashback, but the rate is typically not as good as JamDoughnut's. It's still worth checking, as you never know, they can sometimes be the highest for cashback during promotions.
The minimum withdrawal amount for your cashback is lower than some rivals, at just £5.
You can read a more in-depth review of the Cheddar cashback service for more information.
Cheddar referral code: Use referral code PINCHER for a £5 bonus when you buy a gift card within 14 days of joining Cheddar.
Everup
Everup is also a gift card cashback service, where you buy gift cards and earn instant cashback. They also have free-to-play app-based games to win coins that you can use to try and win real money.
They can be quite competitive on cashback rates, so it's worth having the app to compare rates.
Once you reach £1 of payable cashback, you can withdraw it to your bank account or use it to purchase another gift card.
For more information, you can read my review of the Everup cashback service.
Referral code: REF-PENNY-P for 10 million coins to play games, when you've redeemed £10 of cashback.
Complete Savings
This is a paid cashback service costing £18 per month. Ordinarily, this wouldn't appeal to me, as I'd wonder why I'd want to pay to use a cashback service, however, the service offers a minimum of 10% cashback at many high-street retailers, which is a substantial cashback rate!
Additionally, it offers the option to buy gift cards of up to £100 per month for selected big-brand retailers, with 20% cashback, which is impressive.
You can make a bonus cashback claim of £18 every month when you make a purchase of any denomination at the retailer you originally signed up to Complete Savings through, which means you haven't really paid anything for the monthly fee, but can still get great cashback rates!
I've written a review of the Complete Savings cashback service, which will provide you with more information on how it works and how to maximise your cashback. It's well worth checking out!
Rakuten
Rakuten is a conventional cashback service that offers cashback at 3,500+ retailers.
It's another one you'll want to sign up with to compare rates, as they can sometimes offer market-beating rates, so it's worth checking before making a purchase.
They also offer a decent referral signup bonus of £25, available when you spend £50 + VAT (i.e., £60) within the first 90 days of signing up via a referral link and can be spread across multiple purchases.
So if you are looking to make an online purchase of £60, (or multiple purchases of smaller amounts) check to see if the retailer is listed on Rakuten, and if so, make the purchase and you'll then get a £25 bonus!
Most people will place an order via Sainsbury's, Waitrose, or Iceland to spend that first £60, as who doesn't spend £60 or more on groceries within 90 days, making it easier to earn the £25 bonus.
Rakuten Referral: You can sign up for Rakuten via our referral link. Just make sure to spend £60 within 90 days to receive your bonus!
Honey
Honey is a browser extension that helps you find discount codes. to help you save money. If no voucher is found, it sometimes offers cashback instead.
PayPal owns the browser extension, and it can be handy, but on the whole, I find it to be a slow earner and has low cashback rates, it's worth checking out, as it's great for coming up with discount codes, without having to search for them manually!
Sign up for the Honey discount-finding browser extension.
How Cashback Sites Make Money
Cashback sites get paid a commission by the retailer when you buy through them. They then share some of that with you. That’s your cashback.
TopCashback, for example, passes 100% of the commission to users and earns from ads. Smaller sites may retain a larger portion of the commission or utilise affiliate links.
The cashback concept is pretty simple:
You shop at a retailer affiliated with the cashback service
The cashback service earns a commission from your purchase
They then share a percentage of that commission with you, and thats your cashback.
Retailers know that a decent cashback rate can tip the balance. You choose them instead of a rival, and they’re often happy to sacrifice a bit of margin to win your custom.
Should I bother using a cashback service?
I’m always amazed at how many people still don’t use cashback. If someone offered you money just for paying in a slightly different way — by clicking a link or using a specific app — and it only took seconds, would you really say no?
That’s essentially what cashback is. Free money for seconds of effort, so yes, my view is that using a cashback service is the best and easiest way to save money!
There are so many cashback options these days, that it's hard not to earn cashback, and if you get behind the concept, as many of the people I've spoken to about cashback have, you could, if you always think 'can I earn cashback on this purchase' everytime you buy something, save a decent amount of cashback over the course of a year.
People will sometimes say, I can't be bothered to get cashback, I'm not spending a lot, and it'll only be a few pence, and I'll always reply, saying that those pennies add up! If you continue to earn cashback, you'll be amazed at how quickly it'll start to accumulate into pounds, then tens of pounds, and then hundreds of pounds.
Wouldn't it be nice to have your cashback pay for your Christmas food or gifts, or be put towards a nice holiday, or even pay for some extra groceries or a meal out with the family, and the reality is that's precisely what you can do, just by thinking before you spend and earn cashback on things you're going to buy anyway; it's so simple and effective!
Cashback FAQs / Most asked questions
What is cashback?
Cashback is a way to earn money back on purchases you were planning to make anyway. When you shop via a cashback site or app, the platform earns a commission from the retailer and gives a portion of it back to you.
Are cashback sites and apps safe?
Yes, the major ones like TopCashback, Quidco, and JamDoughnut are considered safe. Gift card cashback apps use Open Banking or secure payment integrations and don’t store your bank login details.
Can I use more than one cashback service?
Absolutely. In fact, it’s smart to sign up for multiple services so you can compare cashback rates and use the best one for each purchase.
How do cashback apps make money?
They get paid a commission by the retailer when you click through or use their service to make a purchase. Some keep a portion of that commission, others pass 100% on to you and make money via ads or premium memberships.
How long does it take to get cashback?
It varies. Some services like JamDoughnut offer instant cashback on gift cards. Others, like TopCashback or Quidco, might take a few weeks or months for the retailer to confirm the sale and release the funds.
What if a cashback transaction doesn't track?
Most sites let you submit a missing cashback claim. Keep order confirmations and receipts just in case.
Can I withdraw cashback as cash?
Yes. Most services allow bank transfers or PayPal withdrawals. Some offer gift card redemptions with bonuses (e.g. up to 25% extra at TopCashback).
Do I pay tax on cashback?
No. Cashback is not considered income; it's a discount on your purchase. You may have to pay tax if you buy items for your business; always check with a qualified accountant to see if you are likely to earn cashback for business transactions.
Can I earn cashback on groceries?
Yes. Gift card apps like JamDoughnut often work with supermarkets like Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. You can even stack cashback with supermarket loyalty points.
Is it really worth the effort?
If you’re looking for practical ways to cut everyday expenses, learning how to save money through trusted deals and cashback platforms can make a real difference to your monthly budget.
Over the past few years, I’ve personally earned thousands using cashback apps. Even just 1–5% back adds up across daily spending.
Like earning free cash? If so, check out my receipt scanning apps guide for ways to earn money from your till receipts, or if you'd like to earn some extra cash via a side hustle, read my guide on how to earn up to £100 an hour by taking part in paid market research studies!
