Cheddar Review & £5 Referral Code
Cheddar started life as a clever way to earn cashback automatically whenever you shopped, plus an easy way to send and receive money.
For a while, it was one of my favourite “set it and forget it” cashback apps. You simply linked your bank card and cashback would appear automatically when you spent at partner retailers.
Unfortunately, that feature disappeared in 2025.
The Cheddar app has since pivoted towards gift card cashback and peer-to-peer payments, which changes the value of the app quite a bit.
So is Cheddar still worth downloading in 2026, or has it lost the feature that made it useful?
If you’re looking for a Cheddar referral code, you can use the one below to get a £5 bonus when you earn £5 cashback.
Cheddar Referral Code
Use this referral code when joining Cheddar and receive a free £5 after purchasing your first gift card.
Enter the referral code during registration in the Cheddar app, then buy your first gift card to unlock your £5 bonus.
Referral bonuses can change or be withdrawn at any time, so it’s worth signing up while this offer is still available.
Cheddar review
Cheddar has pivoted to selling gift cards with small cashback rates and doubling down on its peer-to-peer payment tool. The result? Still useful in places, but no longer the no-brainer it once was.
Pros
- Gift card cashback paid instantly
- Pays out quickly once you hit the £5 minimum
- Still works well as a payment app
Cons
- No more automatic, card-linked cashback
- Retailer list for gift cards is small and predictable
- Doesn’t work with all banks
- Gift card cashback rates often beaten by rivals
Reviewed by Household Money SavingWhat Is Cheddar Now?
Cheddar is a free app combining person-to-person payments with the ability to buy retailer gift cards at a small cashback rate.
The once-popular “link your bank card and earn cashback automatically when you spend” feature has been removed, leaving gift card purchases as the only way to earn rewards.
Is It Safe?
Yes. Cheddar is owned by Cheddar Payments Limited, launched in 2020, and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It uses secure open banking to connect your accounts if you choose to link them.
How It Works
- Download & Sign Up — Share your phone number and email. You can link your bank, though it’s not essential for gift card purchases.
- Send & Receive Payments — Transfer money instantly using phone numbers, Cheddar tags, QR codes or payment links.
- Buy Gift Cards — Select from a limited list of big-name retailers, pay through the app, and get instant cashback (usually 1–5%).
Also worth reading
Want to earn more? Why not take a look at the best cashback apps for your phone?
What’s Changed in 2026
- Automatic cashback removed — You can no longer earn rewards just by shopping at partner stores with your linked card.
- Gift cards are now the only earning option — Mostly supermarkets, high street chains, and Amazon.
- Spending insights added — The app now gives you monthly breakdowns and personalised “offers” based on your spending data.
- Cleaner interface — Still no search bar for retailers.
Where You Can Earn Cashback
Gift cards for Sainsbury’s, Asda, Amazon, Primark, B&M and a handful of other big names. Cashback rates range from around 1% to 5%, occasionally higher for promotions.
Privacy & Data Use
Per its T&Cs, Cheddar may sell anonymised, aggregated spending data. This is common in fintech but worth noting if you’re privacy-focused.
Referral Bonus
Invite friends and earn £5 when they join and purchase a gift card within 14 days. New users sometimes get boosted gift card cashback rates for their first couple of weeks or a £5 bonus.
My Verdict
Cheddar used to stand out as a set-and-forget automatic cashback app. Without that feature, it’s now just a decent payment tool with a modest gift card cashback section.
If you already use payment apps and occasionally buy gift cards, you might get some value. If you want real cashback earnings, there are better options.
Cheddar referral code
If you want to try Cheddar, use the code WHGQJOO when you join and you’ll get £5 back when you purchase your first gift card.
Cheddar app alternatives
Why not take a look at my reviews of Airtime and TopCashback for some better cashback alternatives? Or, take a look at my post on the best sites to buy discounted gift cards.
FAQ
Is the Cheddar app safe?
Yes. Cheddar is operated by Cheddar Payments Limited and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It uses secure Open Banking connections if you choose to link your bank account.
Does Cheddar still offer automatic cashback?
No. Cheddar removed the automatic cashback feature in 2025. Cashback is now only available when purchasing retailer gift cards through the app.
What is the Cheddar referral code?
You can use the referral code WHGQJOO when signing up to receive boosted cashback rates for around 15 days.
£410.91 out of pocket, let me explain!
Single Parent moved house in February, didn’t have anyone to help me build a wardrobe so bought one with Ikea via Cheddar along with Ikea’s Taskrabbit assembly service.
Ikea sent the wardrobe incomplete, then they sent damaged pieces, then they said replacements had to come from Sweden even though they were in the local store as that’s where replacement parts come from! All this is taking weeks. Meanwhile their Taskrabbit aren’t sorting out someone to build. Enough was enough, we needed to get out of this fiasco and so arranged for a refund on it all and the parts to be collected. Ikea gave a complete refund immediately owing to them being at fault. Cheddar are now in their third week looking into ‘request progress’. I have evidenced to them what has happened, they can see the money is back on the card. They can keep the £12 they discounted it by. JUST PLEASE REFUND ME. I never want to buy a thing from Ikea again and cannot afford to be this much out of pocket. I am not to blame.
In my view Cheddar is really only worth using for supermarkets if they are not prepared to refund in these no-blame situations. But then JamDoughnut would offer a better discount for supermarkets anyway!
Thanks for sharing. I think that’s an important point to consider when using gift cards for a purchase. If you don’t have any joy through Cheddar, you may be able to sell the gift card on somewhere like eBay. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s an option.