UK Sign-Up Bonuses, Cashback & Referrals (2026)
Scrimpr's monthly roundup of UK cashback, sign-up and referral bonuses currently open to new customers — with what's required, what the catches are, and how the mechanics actually work.
Last updated: 20 August 2026. Sign-up bonuses change frequently — always check the current terms on the provider’s own website before signing up.
Sign-up bonuses, cashback and referral rewards from UK cashback and get-paid-to sites — earn money back on your everyday spending, plus a welcome bonus when you sign up. Refreshed at the start of each month.
These offers are often called “free money” in searches and social posts, but that’s a stretch. Every entry below requires some form of action — signing up, spending, referring a friend — and most have conditions like minimum deposits, minimum spends or hold periods. This roundup covers what’s on offer this month and what’s needed to claim; nothing here should be treated as guaranteed income.
What this roundup deliberately doesn’t cover: bank current account switch bonuses and regulated investment sign-up offers. Both sit under UK financial promotion rules and warrant their own editorial treatment.
Cashback and get-paid-to sites
Grouped by how often I actually use them, not by any rating or commercial arrangement. Move up and down the list as you get a feel for what fits your own habits.
Sites I use most
These two do most of the work in my stack. Everything else is a supplement.
Rakuten
Cashback
TopCashback
CashbackSites I use occasionally
I dip into these when they beat the majors on a specific retailer or offer.
CashInStyle
Cashback
Earnlab
Cashback
Gemsloot
CashbackOthers worth knowing about
Not part of my active routine but worth being aware of — each has a niche or a specific reason someone might prefer it.
Airtime
Cashback
Custard
Cashback
EverUp
Cashback
JamDoughnut
Cashback
KidStart
Cashback
Quidco
Cashback
Sprive
Cashback
Swagbucks
Cashback
Tuck
Cashback
Virgin Red
CashbackOnes I’ve tried and moved on from
I signed up, gave them a fair go, and stopped bothering. Reasons in each review.
Budgey
Cashback
Picodi
CashbackHow sign-up bonuses actually work
Most follow the same broad pattern regardless of category. Understanding the mechanics helps you spot the ones worth doing and the ones with too much friction for too little reward.
The offer link matters. Referral bonuses generally require the correct link or referral code — signing up direct (without the code) means no bonus. Cashback sites work the same way: the tracking cookie is set when you click through from the cashback site.
New-customer clauses are strict. Almost every offer restricts to genuinely new customers — often new to the whole company, not just new to a specific product. Some cashback sites go further: no bonus if you’ve had another product with the merchant in the past 12–24 months.
Qualifying actions vary widely. Some offers pay just for signing up (rare). Most require a qualifying action: a minimum spend, a completed purchase, or a period of activity.
Payment timing is often slow. Cashback typically shows as “tracked” within 24–72 hours and “confirmed” after 30–90 days. Sign-up bonuses have their own timelines — a week to several months.
Hold periods can void the bonus. Some require you to keep the account active for a set period; cancel or downgrade early and the bonus is withdrawn.
Stacking offers: when it works, when it doesn’t
Multiple welcome bonuses at once is legitimate provided you’ll use the services. Sensible patterns:
- Different sites — TopCashback for browser-based checkouts + Airtime for card-linked in-store spend + JamDoughnut for gift-card purchases are independent
- Household members — many offers allow one bonus per person, so partners signing up separately is fine (each referring the other)
Where stacking doesn’t work:
- Same company, multiple accounts — explicitly banned by nearly every provider
- Cashback on top of referral — some offers exclude concurrent use of cashback sites; check the offer terms
How Scrimpr chooses which offers to cover
Scrimpr covers UK sign-up offers where the reward is meaningful, the qualifying action is clear, and the provider has a track record. Some offers are marked with an asterisk (*) — that indicates Scrimpr may earn a small commission if you sign up through the link. This doesn’t affect whether or how offers are listed; independent (non-commission) links appear alongside partner links throughout.
Offers with predatory hold periods, hidden fees or opaque qualifying criteria are excluded. Regulated investment and banking offers are covered in separate editorial roundups.
FAQ
Are sign-up bonuses taxable? Most cashback and sign-up rewards from UK companies are treated as a discount rather than income for HMRC purposes and don’t need to be declared. Larger or repeated referral income can be different — worth checking HMRC’s guidance on miscellaneous income if you’re doing this at scale.
Do I need to keep the account open after claiming? Depends on the offer. Some pay and let you close immediately with no clawback. Others have hold periods of 30 days to 12 months.
What if my bonus doesn’t track? Contact the provider (direct sign-ups) or cashback site support. Most have dispute processes. Screenshots at the point of sign-up help — take one before you close the tab.
Further reading
- FCA consumer information — for anything regulated (investing, credit, insurance)