Best UK Cashback Apps and Sites to Save Money
- The Penny Pincher Team
- Feb 22
- 13 min read
Updated: May 30
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 money from cashback for years; there's not much I don't know about cashback, and as I believe that everyone should be earning cashback on their purchases, I'll recommend to you what I think are the best UK cashback apps, and the ones you should be using, briefly explain how each one works, highlight 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 like normal, but through a cashback site or app. In return, you receive a small percentage of your spend back.
Think of it like a loyalty reward for being savvy! I’ve earned well over £2,000 just by clicking through a cashback app before shopping. That's money back on things I was buying anyway.
Is Cashback Safe?
Yes. Most sites are well-established and regulated. Apps using Open Banking (like JamDoughnut ) connect to your bank to process payments securely.
93% of Britons already use online banking. These platforms utilise the same technology, and I've never experienced any security issues while using cashback services.
The Different Types Of Cashback
Conventional Cashback Sites
Click through to retailers from sites like TopCashback or Quidco
Your purchase is tracked
Cashback is paid after confirmation
Gift Card Cashback
Buy a gift card for a specific shop
Get instant cashback
Use the card online or in-store
Automatic Cashback
Link your debit/credit cards
Shop as normal at participating retailers
Cashback is applied automatically
My Top Recommended Cashback Apps
These are the three services I recommend the most. In my opinion, if you want to start earning cashback, these are the cashback services I recommend signing up for first.
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 TopCashback
Add items to your basket
Pay with a JamDoughnut gift card
Get cashback from both services (hopefully, it doesn't always work, but it's worth trying)
They often "pump up" cashback rates during:
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 187 retailers where you can earn cashback.
Cashback is credited instantly to your account after you've bought 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
Instant cashback when you make your gift card purchase, so you don't have to wait weeks for your cashback to become payable, like 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 part pay 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 its 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 convinient.
Not all gift cards are accepted online, so you need to check that the retailer accepts their gift cards both online and in-store. The information on the gift card buying part of the app will tell you where you can use the gift card. This is down to the retailer, not JamDoughnut, and examples include that Boots don't accept gift cards in-store and that Morrisons don't accept their 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.
Referral: Use 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 £1500 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.
Likely to offer some of the best 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 delas the banks have going as well, so you might get switching bonuses from nothe the bank and also TopCashback!
Extra rewards for gift card payouts, over withdrawing your cashback to your bank or PayPal.
You can also purchase cashback gift cards from TopCashback; however, they typically offer lower cashback rates than dedicated gift card cashback services, such as 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, which will provide a comprehensive look at the service and its workings.
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 lead to saving 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, which removes ads and improves 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.
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 using a different cashback service, I most certainly will use it!
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 your withdrawal amount 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 about Airtime (Rewards), which will give you some extra information.
Referral code: Q8FWLDQB for a 50p bonus, plus £1 extra when you spend.
Cheddar
Cheddar is an automatic cashback app. This one allows you to link your banking apps to the Cheddar app, via Open Banking, and then you'll earn cashback on purchases you've made at partnered retailers, using your linked bank accounts, or you can add a credit card to the app as well, which means you'll earn automatic cashback on purchases made via yoiur card as well.
Cheddar also offers gift card cashback, but the rate is typically not as good as JamDoughnut's. However, it's still worth checking, as you never know, and signing up for the automatic cashback feature is worthwhile, as you can earn cashback without even trying.
The app's automatic cashback feature works with major banks, including Monzo, NatWest, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, Santander, and more, and is safe to use.
The minimum withdrawal amount for your cashback is £5.
You can read a more in-depth review of the Cheddar cashback service, which will give you extra information.
Referral code: Use 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 provides the option to buy gift cards of up to £100 per month for selected big brand retailers, with a 20% cashback rate, which is impressive.
You can make a bonus cashback claim every month of £18 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 signup bonus of £ 25, which is 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 within 90 days on groceries, and so it's easier to earn the £25 bonus.
Referral: You can sign up for Rakuten via our referral link. Just make sure to spend £60 within 900 days to receive your bonus!
Honey
Honey is a browser extension that helps you find discount codes. to help yopu 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, but 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
Cashback site earns commission
They share a slice with you
Retailers benefit because they get the sale. Often, they’re happy to sacrifice a bit of margin to gain your business.
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 sopmething, 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.
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?
Absolutely. 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!
