Budgey Review: Is This Cashback Site Worth Signing Up For?
Cashback sites are one of my favourite ways to make easy money online. You simply shop as normal and earn back a bit of cash every time you spend. I’ve been doing it for years and I’ve seen plenty of sites come and go.
Now there’s a new name in the mix – Budgey (which was previously known as Widilo). But is there really room for another cashback site in the UK? And more importantly, is it worth your time? Let’s take a closer look.
Budgey review
Budgey (formerly Widilo) is a solid alternative to the “Big Two” UK cashback sites. While it has a higher withdrawal threshold of £20, it often features unique boosted rates and a generous sign-up bonus that gives you a head start. It’s a great backup to have in your money-saving arsenal, particularly for its “Budgeylove” referral features and loyalty levels.
Pros
- Strong sign-up bonus (£5 for joining + £3 for first use)
- “Budgeylove” feature allows you to earn on shared links
- Loyalty levels (Bronze to Diamond) offer extra perks
- Modern, easy-to-use app and browser extension
Cons
- High £20 minimum withdrawal threshold
- Fewer payout options compared to TopCashback
- Verification of cashback can be slower than rivals
Reviewed by Household Money SavingI have joined a lot of cashback sites over the years. Although they’re a great idea, I find that most of them can’t be compared to TopCashback and Quidco. These are the daddies of the cashback world and are rarely beaten for rates.
But new cashback sites are always welcome. More competition should mean better cashback for customers.
What is Budgey?
Budgey (formerly Widilo) is an online cashback platform that rewards you for shopping through its links. When you buy something via Budgey, the site earns a small commission from the retailer and passes part of that back to you as cashback.
It’s owned by the European company Afiliza, which runs cashback and voucher platforms across several countries, including France, Spain, and Germany. In the UK, the Widilo name is being replaced by Budgey as part of a rebrand.
How does it work?
Using Budgey is straightforward:
- Sign up for a free account – all you need is an email address and password.
- Find your store – browse or search among over 1,500 UK retailers.
- Click through and shop as normal – Budgey tracks your purchase automatically.
- Get paid – once the retailer confirms the transaction, your cashback is added to your account.
There’s also a browser extension that pops up to remind you when cashback is available, and an app for those who prefer shopping on their phone. If you make your first purchase through the browser extension, you’ll get a £1 bonus.
Budgeylove links – earn cashback without spending a penny
Here’s something a little different that I really like, Budgeylove links. This feature lets you earn cashback even if you don’t make a purchase yourself.
It works like this:
- Choose a merchant from Budgey’s list of partners.
- Generate and share your unique link with friends or family.
- When someone makes a purchase through your link, you receive cashback from their order.
That means you can earn money simply by sharing deals. Perfect if you’re the one in your group who always finds the best offers first or you have a decent social media following.
Budgey loyalty scheme: How the statuses work
Budgey runs a status-based loyalty program that rewards you the more you use the site. There are four levels:
- Bronze – default status when you join
- Silver – £25 confirmed cashback within the last 12 months
- Gold – £50 confirmed cashback
- Diamond – £100 confirmed cashback
As your level increases, you’ll earn extra bonuses whenever you:
- Receive cashback
- Leave store reviews
- Refer new members
The higher your Budgey status, the more you earn in points and cash bonuses.
For example, a Bronze member earning £20 cashback would collect around 5 extra points, a small review bonus, and £3 for referring a friend.
A Gold member, however, could earn up to 75 bonus points on £100 cashback, plus larger rewards – £0.25 for reviews and £6 for each successful referral.
In short, the higher your status, the faster your cashback, points, and referral bonuses add up.
How long does cashback take?
In my experience, cashback shows up in your Budgey account within 48 hours of purchase. Occasionally, it doesn’t track (my first order didn’t), but customer service sorted it quickly once I provided a screenshot of my order confirmation.
Once tracked, the cashback usually becomes payable within 30 days, although some retailers can take up to 90 days. That’s actually faster than a lot of rival sites, but the withdrawal time lets it down; it can take up to 15 days for Budgey to approve your request, plus another few days for the money to reach your bank or PayPal account.
Cashback from gift cards
If you’re looking for instant cashback, you can use Budgey to buy gift cards. There are dozens to choose from, including stores such as M&S, Currys, Just Eat, and Nandos. These gift cards can be used towards purchases in-store or online. Cashback rates change, but they are often in the region of 2%- 8%.
Although the cashback rates are competitive, they’re not always the best. Why not take a look at my post for the best places to buy discounted gift cards if you want to save more money?
How much can you earn?
Rates vary depending on the retailer, but you’ll typically earn 1–5% cashback on most purchases. For certain categories, like broadband, utilities, or insurance, you can earn £50–£150 in one go.
Keep an eye out for boosted rates, which Budgey promotes for short periods. These can increase your cashback by an extra couple of percent, which really adds up over time.
How do you get paid?
You’ll need to reach £20 before you can withdraw. Payouts are available by bank transfer or PayPal, but not by gift card. Once requested, payments can take around two to three weeks to arrive.
This is one of Budgey’s main weaknesses compared to TopCashback, which often processes withdrawals within 24 hours.
How does Budgey compare to TopCashback?
To see how competitive Budgey is, I compared a few rates with TopCashback. (Rates change regularly, so treat these as rough examples.)
| Retailer | Budgey | TopCashback |
|---|---|---|
| Adidas | 6% | 9% |
| Boohoo | 8% | 8% |
| Boots | 7% | 7% |
| JD Sports | 6% | 6% |
| Moonpig | 6% | 5.55% |
| Nike | 6% | 5% |
| BT Broadband | £53 | £90 |
Is there room for another cashback site?
Absolutely. While TopCashback and Quidco dominate the UK market, that doesn’t mean there isn’t space for others. The cashback industry is worth over £20 billion a year in the UK, and it continues to grow.
New players like Budgey bring fresh competition, better rates, and sometimes more creative ways to earn. For shoppers, that can only be a good thing.
My Budgey review conclusion
Overall, Budgey is a legit and worthwhile cashback site that’s perfect for anyone who already uses TopCashback or Quidco and wants to double-check rates before buying.
It’s user-friendly, offers good customer support, and has a decent loyalty scheme. The only major downsides are the £15 payout minimum and slow withdrawals.
If you don’t mind waiting a little longer for your money, Budgey is well worth signing up for. After all, it costs nothing to join, and even a few extra pounds here and there soon add up.
If you want to give Budgey a try, use the button below to join, confirm your email address and you’ll get a £5 bonus.
Further reading
Why not take a look at the best cashback sites available in the UK? Or, if you shop more from your phone, here are some cashback apps to check out.
