Cheap Gift Cards UK: How to Save Money on Everyday Spending (2026)
If you’re looking for cheap gift cards or ways to buy discounted gift cards in the UK, this is one of the easiest wins out there.
Most people I speak to say the same thing:
“Yeah, I’ve heard of that… sounds good.”
But they never actually use them.
I use discounted gift cards all the time, and they’re one of the simplest ways to save money without changing how you spend.
And the savings add up more than you think.
If you saved just 3% on £10,000 of spending over a year, that’s £300 back for doing… pretty much nothing.
Quick comparison: Best discounted gift card apps UK
App | Best for | Typical cashback | Payout type |
|---|---|---|---|
Highest cashback rates | 2–10% | Bank / gift cards | |
Easy everyday use | 2–9% | Bank / gift cards | |
Mortgage overpayments | 2–6% | Mortgage credit | |
Quick payouts | 2–8% | Bank | |
Budgeting pots | 2–10% | Spend-only | |
No app needed | 2–8% | Bank / PayPal |
What are discounted gift cards?
When people hear “discount gift cards”, they usually think you’re buying a £10 card for £9.
That does exist, but most of the time, it works slightly differently.
Here’s how it actually works:
- You buy a gift card at full price
- You get cashback or rewards after
Example:
- Buy a £10 gift card
- Get £1 back (10%)
Same result, just delivered in a different way.
How much can you actually save?
Let’s be realistic.
If you use discounted gift cards for:
- Supermarkets
- Fuel
- Takeaways
- Clothes
You can easily save £100–£300 a year.
I personally use them for places like Sainsbury’s, Costa and Just Eat, stuff I was buying anyway.
It’s one of those rare money-saving tricks that doesn’t feel like effort.
Best apps to buy discounted gift cards in the UK
EverUp
Pros
- Win prizes for buying gift cards
- Free daily games to play
- Good cashback rates
Cons
- Fewer stores than competitors
- The ‘gamification’ isn’t for everyone
- Can be slow to withdraw cash
Reviewed by Household Money SavingEverUp offers cashback on gift cards.
As an added bonus, you’ll also receive coins with every purchase. These coins can then be used to enter prize draws, with up to a million pounds in winnings available.
Out of all the options on this list, EverUp generally pays the highest rates. But not always.
How is cashback paid?
Cashback can be paid in gift cards or withdrawn to your bank for a 30p fee.
Sign up offer?
Use the code RPET541947AIKZRH when you join and you’ll earn a bonus 10 million coins when you redeem your first £10 in cashback.
JamDoughnut
Pros
- Lots of discounts available
- Can be used online and in-store
- Easy to use
- A good referral programme
- Rewards are received quickly
Cons
- A charge for withdrawing cash
- Relies on mobile reception if you’re in-store
- Would be nice if codes were emailed automatically
- Cashback points do expire
Reviewed by Household Money SavingThe JamDoughnut app rewards you with points every time you buy a gift card. These points can either be converted into cash, which can be withdrawn into your bank (for a 30 pence fee) or used towards further gift cards.
Although the cashback rates can be lower than rivals, look out for Pumped Up’ offers, where rates are much higher for a limited period.
How is cashback paid?
Bank transfer or payment towards future gift cards.
Sign up offer?
300 bonus points (£3) when you make a purchase for the first time. Use the code O8ZG
Sprive
Pros
- Cashback goes straight off your mortgage
- Completely free to use
- Helps you overpay without thinking about it
- Good referral bonus
- Simple, clean app
Cons
- Cashback rates are lower than specialist gift card apps
- Only really useful if you have a mortgage
- No option to withdraw cashback as cash
- Fewer retailers than JamDoughnut or EverUp
Reviewed by Household Money SavingThe Sprive app is designed to help you pay off your mortgage sooner. It uses AI to calculate how much extra you can put towards your mortgage each month and takes small amounts from your account. It’s completely free to use.
You can also get cashback from (you’ve guessed it) gift cards, which can also go towards your mortgage.
How is cashback paid?
Paid directly to your mortgage.
Sign up offer?
£5 towards your mortgage when you join. Use the code INRWFKGS
Cheddar
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 SavingCheddar is an app that allows you to make payments and to buy gift cards.
Although it has a fairly decent referral scheme, better discounts can be found elsewhere.
It’s still worth checking out, as rates can be better than other apps… sometimes.
How is cashback paid?
Paid directly to your bank account.
Sign up offer?
Get a £5 bonus if you use the code WHGQJOO when you join and purchase a gift card
HyperJar
Pros
- Good cashback availability at selected popular retailers
- Cashback stacks with budgeting jars
- Automatic discounts at some stores
- Free child’s account available
Cons
- Cashback can’t be withdrawn as cash
- Cashback is locked to specific retailers
- Not ideal if you shop around
- No sign-up bonus
Hyperjar is an app with a lot of features. Not only can you earn money back on gift cards, it comes with savings pots, automatic discounts at certain retailers and a free child’s account.
However, cashback you earn at a certain store can only be spent at that store, which leaves it slightly limited.
How is cashback paid?
Paid into a separate pot in your Hyperjar account. Cashback can only be spent, not withdrawn.
Sign up offer?
No sign up bonus for new customers.
TopCashback
Pros
- No app required
- Reliable cashback tracking
- Easy withdrawals to bank or PayPal
- Occasional boosted gift card offers
Cons
- Limited gift card selection
- Rates often beaten by specialist apps
- Bonuses are inconsistent
- Not gift-card focused
This is one of the biggest and best cashback companies available. And, it’s the only one on this list that doesn’t require you to download the app to use.
Sadly, gift card options are a little limited.
How is cashback paid?
Cash is added to your TopCashback account. It can then be withdrawn to PayPal or a bank account.
Sign up offer?
Most of the time, new customers receive nothing, but there’s an occasional £10 bonus offer.
Which company gives the best gift card discounts?
This is just a snapshot from the beginning of the year. Rates will change constantly.
App | Adidas | Boots | Costa | IKEA | Just Eat | Tesco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EverUp | 10% | 3.5% | 9.2% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 3% |
JamDoughnut | 10.1% | 3.6% | 9.3% | 3% | 4.6% | 2.8% |
Sprive | 8% | 2.5% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 2.5% |
Cheddar | 11% | 3.5% | 7.5% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 3.5% |
Hyperjar | 10% | 3% | 8% | 3.5% | 4% | 3% |
TopCashback | 10.1% | 3% | 8% | 3.25% | 4% | 2.6% |
Which is the best gift card site?
Discounted gift card sites are the same as cashback sites; you can never guarantee which one will give you the best rates. But, looking at the table above, there are two standout sites: Everup and Hyperjar. Both of these offer slightly higher rates from more retailers compared to others.
However, with Hyperjar, it can be a little harder to spend the cashback you earn unless you shop at that store regularly.
So, Everup is the winner. Just.
But remember, cashback rates often change. JamDoughnut often comes up trumps when they have boosts on offer, and Sprive shouldn’t be ignored.
I’ve downloaded all of the apps I’ve listed and use them regularly. And that’s not because I wanted to compare them for this post, but because I like to save money.
I recommend you download all of the above. They’re free and easy to use, so you won’t lose out. It just takes a couple of minutes to check which offers the best cashback before you buy.
Other options when buying gift cards
The apps above aren’t the only places you can buy discounted gift cards from. Here are some other places for you to try.
Banks
Certain bank accounts come with the opportunity for you to get your hands on discounted gift cards. For example, NatWest Rewards gives you cashback for certain activities (such as direct debits). This cashback can then be exchanged for gift cards. Although the range of cards is limited, they are good value.
Tesco
A few times a year, Tesco offers as much as 15% off selected gift cards. There aren’t many cards included in the promotion but expect to see the likes of Adidas and Odeon.
eBay
eBay can be a great site to find gift cards. In most cases, these are unwanted cards that people are trying to sell privately. Although you can find some great bargains, it can take up to several days to receive your card.
Loaded
Loaded is worth checking out if you’re looking for digital cards for gaming such as PlayStation and Xbox. When you make a purchase, you’ll earn loyalty points, which can be used for future discounts. You can also find cards for Amazon, although the discounts aren’t as good as the apps above.
My honest verdict
I’ve got all of these apps on my phone.
Not because I wanted to write this post, but because I actually use them.
They’re free, easy to use, and can save you money on things you’re already buying.
If you’re serious about cutting your spending, this is one of the easiest habits to build.
FAQ
Are discounted gift cards safe?
Yes, as long as you stick to well-known apps like EverUp, JamDoughnut and TopCashback.
Can you use gift cards online and in-store?
Most of the time, yes. Always check each retailer.
What’s the best app for discounted gift cards UK?
EverUp and JamDoughnut are usually the best overall.
Is it worth buying gift cards for everything?
Only if you’ll definitely use them, otherwise you risk wasting money.
