Skip to Content

Best cashback sites in the UK: Which pays the most?

Earning cashback is so easy to do. If you’re a regular online shopper, you could possibly earn £100’s in extra cash every year. But which cashback sites are worth using and who pays the most?

Best cashback sites


The best UK cashback sites

Have you ever seen that guy that stands outside of Homebase trying to sell you windows? Well, every time he refers somebody, he receives a fee. Cashback sites work in a similar way. However, instead of the cashback site keeping the money, they send it to you. It’s almost like paying yourself when you shop.

What can you get cashback for?

It’s not only shopping you can get cashback rewards from. Insurance, subscriptions, TV services, tickets and even selling your house!

There are 100’s if not 1,000’s of retailers listed, including most major chains, and you can earn anything between a few pence to well over £100 in a single transaction.

How do you withdraw money?

Once your money has been confirmed (which can take a few weeks to a few months), there are several options to withdraw. This is usually straight into your bank account or by PayPal. Some cashback websites give the option to withdraw through gift vouchers (such as Amazon and M&S) which come with a small % bonus if you choose that method.

Which are the best cashback sites in the UK?

We are lucky enough to have plenty of options available when it comes to cashback. Here is a list of some of the best cashback sites available to UK customers. And a lot of them come with bonuses for new customers.


TopCashback

TopCashback summary

Probably the best cashback site out there. You’ll often find it has the most stores, the highest rates and some of the best cashout options. A must for anyone seriously interested in shopping.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Generous rates of cashback
✅ Long list of retailers
✅ Plenty of withdrawal options
✅ Bonus offers available

❌ Some cashback can take a long time to pay out
❌ Cashback won’t always track with vouchers

4.1

I use TopCashback the most. It claims to be the highest-paying cashback site and it’s free to join. There is also an option of a paid account, which costs £5 a year but pays bigger bonuses. Personally, I would see how much you use it first before you opt for the paid account.

Since opening my TopCashback account, I have received well over £6,000 into my cashback account!

Your cashback earnings can be withdrawn as cash, or you can opt for a gift card, for a small bonus. It also has a generous refer a friend scheme.

My TopCashback earnings


Quidco

Quidco summary

A really useful cashback site to be a member of. They offer competitive rates, have plenty of stores on offer and a good range of cashout options.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Competitive cashback rates
✅ Lots of cashout options
✅ Some cashback available in-store

❌ TopCashback tends to offer better rates
❌ Not as quick as other sites to send payment


3.6

Another option is Quidco. Again, it’s free to join and use, with a paid subscription available. You can withdraw by PayPal, Bank Transfer or Amazon gift card, which comes with a 5% top-up.

It’s always worth checking both Quidco and TopCashback before you make a purchase as cashback rates can and do differ. For example, BT may offer £100 cashback at Quidco and £15 at TopCashback one week and then the following week, the amounts will be swapped.

Quidco also offers a ‘Premium Account’ in exchange for a fee. This pays up to 10% extra cashback and 20% in payout bonuses. The cost is £1 per month, but you only pay if you use it.

I have managed to earn over £600 since 2009. Not bad when you consider I mainly use TopCashback.


Also worth reading

Cashback is a great way to get extra back from little effort. Why not take a look at some of the best free money offers?


Jam Doughnut

JamDoughnut summary

An incredibly useful app to have on your phone and you can find some decent discounts both in-store and online. We’re not talking huge sums, but the money saved will quickly add up. It’s a shame there’s a small fee for withdrawing cash, but it’s something I can overlook.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Lots of discounts available
✅ Can be used online and in-store
✅ Easy to use
✅ A good referral programme
✅ Rewards are received quickly

❌ A charge for withdrawing cash
❌ It relies on a mobile reception if you’re in-store
❌ It would be nice if your discount code was also emailed to you

3.4

This cashback app works slightly differently from the sites above. Instead of clicking a link, you buy a gift card for your chosen store instead.

When you buy a gift card, you’ll be rewarded with points. These points can then be exchanged for cash, which is paid straight into your bank account, or you can withdraw them as a gift card.

You’ll find cashback offers from Jam Doughnut that you won’t find from its competitors and you’ll sometimes receive better rates.

If you want to try it out, click on the button below and use the code O8ZG when you join for a bonus 200 points (£2).


Airtime Rewards

Airtime Rewards summary

A very useful app to have. You can collect cashback without thinking about it and it can stack with other cashback sites. Unfortunately, it won’t be for everyone, as you’ll need to be on a compatible mobile network.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Leave it to work away in the background
✅ A good range of retailers
✅ Can work with other cashback sites
✅ Generous referral scheme

❌ Cashout option is very limited
❌ It won’t work with all networks
❌ Not compatible with American Express

3.3

Airtime rewards allow you to collect cashback to pay toward your mobile phone bill. Link your debit or credit card to your Airtime account and it earns cashback automatically.

You can then use any money you earn to pay off your mobile phone bill from selected providers (including Vodafone, Three and O2).

Airtime rewards don’t have as many retailers signed up as other cashback sites, but you don’t have to remember to click on any links before you shop. Plus, you can use it with other cashback sites!

Click on the button below and use the promo code 8YXY4BLK for a 50 pence bonus when you join.


Sprive

Sprive summary

An easy-to-use app, which is an incredibly useful tool for anybody looking to pay off their mortgage early. It also offers some decent cashback offers too.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

A simple way to pay off extra on your mortgage
✅ Free to use
✅ Some good cashback offers


❌ The money you earn from shopping can only be paid towards the mortgage and not into your bank account
❌ No FSCS protection
❌ Doesn’t work with every lender

3.3

Sprive is an app aimed at those who want to pay off their mortgage early. There are two ways in which you can do this.

First, Sprive uses AI to analyse your bank account and spending and calculates how much you can afford to save each week.

Second, Sprive allows you to purchase gift cards for major stores in the UK – and some of these stores you won’t find on sites like TopCashback. And you’re not restricted to using these just online, but you can also buy gift cards to use in-store too.

You’ll earn cashback in the region of 2 to 10% for every card you buy. This cashback can then be put towards your mortgage.


Rakuten

Rakuten summary

Rakuten offers a good range of stores to earn cashback from and is an easy-to-use site. Unfortunately, the cashback rates are usually better elsewhere, which makes this site average at best.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

✅ Good range of stores
✅ You can exchange your cashback for better rates with vouchers

❌ Cashback rates are often better elsewhere
❌ Very few exclusive deals
❌ Limited voucher options

3

Rakuten is fairly new to the UK market and offers cashback from a large number of stores.

Cashback you earn can be withdrawn as cash or can be converted into points. These points can then be exchanged for gift cards.

However, cashback rates from Rakuten tend to be lower compared to the others on this list and there seem to be fewer special offers.

Still, there’s a £15 bonus for anybody who signs up by clicking on the button below and spends £20 in one transaction in the first 30 days.


Swagbucks

Swagbucks summary

There’s cashback available from stores you won’t find elsewhere. However, rates aren’t as competitive compared to TopCashback.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

A good range of retailers
✅ Some unique stores are not listed on other cashback sites

❌ Rates aren’t quite as competitive as TopCashback
❌ Limited cashback boosts

2.9

Swagbucks isn’t exclusively a cashback site. There are plenty of ways to make money, such as completing surveys, watching videos and searching the web.

However, follow a link to your favourite shops from Swagbucks and you’ll earn Bucks. These can then be exchanged for cash or money-off vouchers at some of the most popular retailers, such as Amazon, M&S and Starbucks.


imutual

imutual summary

A little different from other sites as you can earn shares… which is pointless. But, it still gives you extra options to earn.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Sometimes, they offer better rates than other sites on this list
✅ Some good boosted offers
✅ Forums to discuss deals


Rates are generally better elsewhere
❌ Owning shares means nothing

2.8

imutual is slightly different from the above cashback sites. Not only do you earn cashback from your purchases, but you also earn shares. And being rewarded with shares means that you become a part-owner of imutual.

Although that sounds quite good, I have yet to see any real benefit. Usually, shareholders are paid a dividend (profits shared between the owners) but imutual don’t have any plans to do this.

However, there are plenty of opportunities to earn cash from imutual just by clicking through to comparison sites.


Picodi

Picodi summary

I love a cashback site, but I think you can have too much of a good thing. The site isn’t the easiest to use and there are better cashback rates to be had elsewhere. It might be worth joining though, just to keep an eye out for increased rates.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Access to cashback and discounts
✅ May find some good boosted rates

❌ Better rates can be found elsewhere
❌ Lack of withdrawal options
❌ Site and app aren’t easy to navigate

2.6

Although this cashback site has operated globally for many years, it has only recently entered the UK market. To earn your cashback, you simply have to click on a link from Picodi before you make a purchase.

In general, cashback rates are slightly lower compared to the other sites on this list.

However, it offers lots of boosted rates, so you can earn up to 15% from certain retailers. Plus, it may give you a voucher code for further discounts.


KidStart

KidStart summary

A great idea in principle, but it doesn’t quite work. You’re better off using another cashback site that pays higher rates and then transferring that money to a child’s account directly.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

Chance to earn money from your usual shopping
✅ Unique retailers not found on other sites
✅ Gives your child a helping hand

❌ Better cashback rates elsewhere
❌ You need a child’s account to withdraw to

2.3

Similar to Quidco and TopCashback, KidStart pays you cashback when you click on a link and make a purchase.

But this site has one major difference – you can only withdraw money into a child’s savings account. The child doesn’t have to be yours but could belong to a friend or family member.

It’s a great way to help build your child a nest egg for the future. However, KidStart tends to give lower rates of cashback compared to the other sites.


Nectar

Nectar summary

A cashback site with a limited number of stores and lower percentage rates compared to most of its rivals.

Number of stores listed
Cashback rates
Special deals
Withdrawal options

Pros and cons:

A useful way to build up discounts on your shopping
✅ Pays quite quickly

❌ Limited number of retailers
❌ Cashback rates are quite low

1.9

The Nectar website doesn’t give you the chance to earn cash. Instead, you earn Nectar points.

Each Nectar point is worth 0.5 pence and can be exchanged for all sorts of things, such as money off your shopping or cheap days out. But the rates are generally far lower than those of its competitors.

One redeeming feature of Nectar is you can sometimes earn points from retailers not found on other sites – such as iTunes.

Apart from that, I would only recommend Nectar if you’re desperate to build up your points.


Which cashback site pays the most?

I decided to take a look at five completely random stores to see the difference in cashback rates across some of the sites listed above.

ArgosCurrysDebenhamsClarksBoots
Topcashback1.5%1%7%3.15%2%
Quidco0.75%0.75%2.25%2.25%2%
JamDoughnut4%4%N/A7%N/A
Airtime Rewards2%1%3%5%5%
Sprive5%N/AN/A9%3%
Rakuten1%1%1.5%1.5%1%
Swagbucks1%1%1%2%2%
imutualN/A1% (+shares)N/A3.1% (+shares)2.1% (+shares)
PicodiN/A1.3%2%2%2%
KidStart1%1.3%0.6%2%1.3%
Nectar0.5%0.5%1%1%N/A


As you can see, there can be some really big differences in the cashback rate across sites. But TopCashback and Sprive often come out close to the top.

And don’t forget, because you earn cashback from your debit/credit card through the Airtime Rewards apps, they stack together. So, you could get two lots of cashback if you use them alongside (for example) TopCashback.

Which is the best cashback website for UK customers?

There isn’t one clear winner here. When shopping online, TopCashback does tend to have an edge over its rivals… but only slightly. Sprive and Jam Doughnut are worth using, especially if you want some discounts when you’re shopping in-store.

But it’s worth shopping around and joining as many sites as you can. All of these sites will offer a cashback deal for specific stores on different dates. For example, Quidco may offer 10% cashback for a retailer one day and then reduce it to 1% the next. Then, TopCashback may boost the rate the following day. It’s just a case of checking each site before you buy.

You can be sure that you will save money on your online shopping.

A cashback warning

I must point out though, that unless you’re buying gift cards, these sites do not guarantee that you will receive cashback. They have to wait to receive money from the site you clicked on before they send it to you. However, over the last 5 years, I have only had one £10 payment declined. Just make sure you read the T&C’s to each offer before you click through.

Further reading

If you like the idea of cashback, then why not take a look at how you can earn extra by shopping with your credit card.

And if cashback interests you, take a look at some of the best cashback apps available, so you can save even more money!

Or, take a look at my quick guide to cashback sites for more information.

Gone but not forgotten – cashback websites no longer with us

The following cashback sites are no longer with us.

Scrapped 2021:

Boom25: A cashback site that gave you a 1 in 25 chance to win the full value of your purchase back.

Scrapped 2022:

My money pocket: Similar to TopCashback but rates weren’t so tempting.

Scrapped 2023:

Swapi: A cashback app linked to your bank account.

LoyalBe: Another app that linked to your bank to earn you cashback.

FAQs

Do you need to pay tax on cashback?

No. Cashback is seen as a discount, rather than earnings which means that you don’t have to pay tax.

Are cashback websites worth it?

Definitely. For just a minute of your time before you make a purchase, you can make anywhere between a few pence up to well over £100 back.