Airtime Referral Code & Retailer List

Airtime summary

Airtime review

Cashback app

A very useful app to have. Cashback is earned automatically and can stack with other cashback sites. It won’t suit everyone, as you’ll need to be on a compatible mobile network and be comfortable with Open Banking for some features.

— Pete Chatfield

★★★★★ ★★★★★

4.0/5

Retailer choice

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Cashback rates

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Special deals

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Payout options

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Pros

• Works automatically in the background
• Stacks with other cashback sites
• Generous referral scheme
• Cash withdrawal option

Cons

• Not compatible with all networks
• Does not support American Express
• There’s a fee if you withdraw as cash

Use the promo code 8YXY4BLK when you join for a £2 bonus when you spend £5.

Visit Airtime

Reviewed by Household Money Saving

Airtime

I’m a big fan of making money by using as little effort as possible. And there are two ways that I like the most – cashback and using receipt scanning apps.

But one major drawback comes to using any of these apps, especially for new users. And that’s to remember actually to use them. But Airtime ends that issue.

What is Airtime?

Airtime is a cashback app that links to your debit or credit card and, for some offers, your bank account via Open Banking. When you spend at supported retailers, cashback is tracked automatically.

Instead of only paying out to your bank, Airtime lets you use your earnings to reduce your mobile phone bill. Most offers typically sit between 1% and 10%, depending on the retailer and any promotions running.

You can also withdraw cashback as cash, which makes Airtime far more flexible than it used to be.

Is it safe?

Yes. Airtime is an official Visa and Mastercard partner and is PCI Level 1 compliant, which is the highest standard for handling card data.

For Open Banking connections, permissions are granted through your own banking app. Airtime can see eligible transactions but can’t move money or access your account. I’ve had cards and bank accounts linked for years without issues.

How does Airtime work?

First, download the app and create an account. It takes a couple of minutes.

You then link your debit or credit card. You can scan it using your phone camera or enter the details manually. You can link multiple cards if you want, but Airtime does not support American Express.

For some offers — especially locked retailers and Airtime Up benefits — you’ll also be asked to connect your bank account using Open Banking. This allows Airtime to track spending securely.

Once everything’s linked, cashback is tracked automatically when you shop at supported retailers.

How long does it take to receive your rewards?

Transactions usually track within five days. If one doesn’t, you can submit a claim directly through the app.

Once tracked, cashback typically becomes available between 30 and 90 days, depending on the retailer. If you use Airtime Up, this can be reduced to as little as one day for certain offers.

Locked retailers explained

Some Airtime retailers are now locked in the app. These usually offer boosted cashback rates, but you won’t earn anything unless you unlock them first.

Unlocking is free and only takes a tap. Open the retailer in the app, unlock the offer, then shop as normal.

Once unlocked, Airtime tracks your spending automatically and applies the higher cashback rate.

If a retailer is locked and you don’t unlock it, you won’t earn cashback — even if it appears in the retailers list. This is one of the most common points of confusion.

Airtime Up – what it is and whether it’s worth it

Airtime Up is an optional upgrade inside the app. It’s free to join and uses Open Banking to unlock extra benefits.

According to Airtime, members who join Up save around £28 more per year on average.

With Airtime Up, you get:
• Faster redemptions – withdraw at £5 instead of £10
• Faster rewards – cashback available in 1 day instead of up to 90
• Exclusive retailers – extra offers each month
• Priority support – quicker help if something goes wrong

You’ll need to renew Open Banking permissions every 90 days, which is standard. If you already use Open Banking elsewhere, Airtime Up is a sensible upgrade. If not, the standard version still works fine.

Airtime retailers

The Airtime retailers list changes regularly, which is one of the app’s weaker points. That said, it’s strongest for high-street shopping, food, and everyday spending.

Here are some of the retailers currently supported, grouped by category.

Buying gift cards with Airtime

Airtime also lets you buy gift cards for a range of popular stores, including Primark, JD Sports and Sainsbury’s.

This works much like other gift card cashback apps, but there is a catch. The cashback rates on gift cards tend to be lower than what you’ll find on dedicated gift card platforms.

I see Airtime gift cards as a convenience option rather than the best-value route. If you want the highest discounts on gift cards, you’re usually better off using one of the specialist apps. I’ve listed the best sites to buy discounted gift cards here, which are generally more generous.

Withdrawing your earnings

You’ve got two options.

You can withdraw cashback as cash to a linked card, up to £30 per month.

Alternatively, if you’re on a supported network, you can use your earnings to reduce your mobile phone bill. Depending on the network, this is either applied automatically or done via a top-up code.

Which networks does the app work with?

Airtime currently works with most major UK networks, including:

If your network isn’t supported, you can still withdraw cashback as cash instead.

Any downsides?

The biggest downside is the fact that you are charged a “small fee” for redeeming your cashback to your bank account. That fee is £1.30 for £10. That’s not exactly small. Plus, you can only withdraw in multiples of £10.

Choosing credit for your phone can be a little frustrating, depending on your provider. When Airtime used to be compatible with giffgaff, I would have to request a code when cashing out and then call giffgaff to add each voucher. Then, I would have to buy a ‘goody bag’ from giffgaff.

I know it’s not a big deal, but it’s 10 minutes of my life wasted each time. I could be watching TV.

But apart from that, there are very few downsides to the app. It can just sit there on your phone and you can shop as usual.

Refer your friends

Shopping isn’t the only way you can earn with Airtime. If you refer a friend, you each earn 50 pence. And if they spend within seven days, you’ll earn an extra £1 each.

And occasionally, special promotions are available, which means you can earn £3 each!

What do other people think?

Over on Trustpilot. the app scores an excellent 4.5 out of 5 from close to 5,000 reviews. On the Apple App Store, it rises to 4.7 from over 40,000 reviews.

My Airtime review conclusion

Airtime isn’t going to replace TopCashback or Quidco, and it’s not something I’d change my shopping habits for. But as a passive, background app, it’s genuinely useful.

The addition of cash withdrawals, locked retailer bonuses, Airtime Up and gift cards has made it more flexible. As long as you understand how it works and don’t expect miracles, it’s well worth having installed.

Airtime promo code

If you decide to download, click the button below and use the promo code 8YXY4BLK when you join for a £2 bonus when you spend £5.

Further reading

`if you like the idea of making money from your phone, why not take a look at some other great money-making apps?